New-York tribune., 1906-12-26
4 NIGHT IN THE OPEN.
Sleeping on the Sand at the Beach
Described by One Who Did 1t.

Described by One Who Did 1t.
The members Of the group in the corner Of the
piazza relating their vacation experiences
Said one of them: Il had a genuine novelty while
down Long Island last summer For the first
time in my life spent night in the open Mind
you, had camped out before. but this sleep
ing without any shelter whatever. under the wide
and open sky close to Natures heart beside the
sounding The August day had been one OF
perfect conditions. and party of us had sailed
across Shlnnecock Bay to the sand dunes which
separate that beautiful sheet of water from the
ocean for picnic.
Landing at the low place known Bunker Bar
where formerly Inlet from the existed
but which tho tide repeatedly filed up until all
further efforts TO keep it open We're abandoned
made fire TO boil coffee and roast corn. and
ate with the hearty appetite that the salt air al
ways produces The est OF the afternoon was
spent in trip along the beach to where the ribs
Of vessel which went ashore in the spring and
broke up after her had been rescued still show
in the surf and IN bathing in the bay, the be-
ing too treacherOus TO venture into without the
curity of ropes which the regular bathing beach
affords.
Just as the party was about to sail hOmeward
the proposition was made by one OF the younger
members that better opportunity would be af
forded In the course or the season for spending
night on the beach. A similar experience of the
previous year the part Of some Of the group
was referred to q precedent. and it was decided
take the experiment should go home IN the cat
boat, and that the boys who would sail the craft
for them should return with blankets and food, to
supplement what had been left from the picnic
dinner.
After the departure Of those homeward bound
we set ourselves 10 gather the dyiftwood required
for the fire that would afford the needed warmth
in the night hours. Pieces Of broken-up vessels
not too large to be readily moved got to-
getl7er. until sufficient supply had been secured
az in he
open. a huge ships timber rolled into place
for backlog, and against this the kndlings
placed IN readiness FOR lighting.
''By this time 1t growing dark and the little
group gathered on the beach just out OF reach of
the and watched the brilliant planets and
fixed stars gleam out in the sky and waited for
the moon to rise above the silver sea. The paling
of the light of the stars soon indicated the near
approach OF the rising of the moon, and then the
edge Of the copper colored disk slowly appeared
In the east From the top Of the sand dunes the
sun had been TO sink in the west and the
fame Of its last rays had been watched as they
lighted up the sky and reflected in the water
Of the bay until the last gleam had departed
Now on the opposite side Of the heavens appeared
the pageant of the moonrse, with the silver sheen
across the tossing ocean far as the eye could
follow its shining.
Soon the chill of the night air became so great
that We willing abandon the spectacle of
the inrolllng waves, cleaning white in the moon
light and retreat from close proximity 10 the roar
f the ocean The fire lighted and the drift
wood burned fercely, and III ITS grateful warmth
we sat with backs to the moonlight and told
tales Of adventures on land and sea until the mem
ber5 Of the party who had sailed across the bay re-
turned and their shouts of cheer heard. Then
a procession was formed from the landing after
the boat was secured for the night and bearing
provisions and blankets made our way to the
fire There satisfied our appetites with hot
coffee and cold lunch and after another season of
lhtsrGhaaged @ rem.nScences we prepared for sleep
prepared for use throughout the night ana we each
WWIappea ourselves IN blanket and lay down on
circle about II on the windward side so that the
smoke should cause us no annoyance Lying there
Iooklns ~ the starry sky and listening 10 the
% eom9us US sg4d "I Jhe surf one soon forgot that
Ile snhu on which he was lying was hard, and a
soothing restfulness experienced which quickly
the night woke to change NV postinp a
once or twice TO replenish the fire. although usu-
Ing ins tot 10 this needed work when awoke sufficiently
stars ana the moon Tiding high in the be K a. me
the sea shining in its light would resume my re-
raved seave Of care and so oi6 t6e bFbS hl5S
wore on I'LL ,joeund day stood tiptoe the miety
mountain Top. But there mountain ton
near I at hand nothing higher than Sugar Loaf Of
than three hundred feet to their credit but the
Ti T5id Gunes arc, ara the sea alike sh9ne in the dawn.
aues f OF the morning and there was no more sleep
The rising sun foretokened its appearing while the
stars fed away and the moon sought 70 hide her
eects Ell as's the source of the light which she only
Day, q new day, daWred with primeval fresh
ness and the daily miracle of renewed light after
tle night had passed wrought under our eyes
far across the waves came the lines Of light tile
rudy orb at last appeared rising with a sudden
ness finally that reminded of the party of tbe
,daWn came up Ike thunder outer China cross the
pay And the day came. and we resumed
tne round Of our daily life with the memory OF an
ENJOYABLE ana refreshing experience. We stayed our
munger with the remains of supper and fresh
SoHee boiled over the embers down to which the
ite had dWindled and then sailed across the baV
T., oLe early morning light. TO reach home before
pIyakIast- / had nap In n hammock before the
De!I rang for the matutinal meal and ready 10
~gHJ0y a day of outdoor sport and exercise. most
oI, "iHch was taken Il bicycle and included n
er5 P 70 n1 number Of interesting points East
course course OF a two weeks stay in the Shinnecock
Ieglon which gave me more lasting pleasure than
my ntsit IN the open, on the beach beside the
sea sea az ana G,9se 10 Nature. Such an experience is
1ile ot q HIetlIne, for, matter how many times
may 'tpei II, that the FIRST OF It's nature
anu >" fSProlaly pleasing 10 recall and live over
MOTOR FIRE APPLIANCES.
To the ne,. fro .,.... -,