New-York tribune., 1906-07-01

af0ut a dozen New York families have accom-
rlgshed this year and for several seasons past
and any one who is longing FOR similar idyilic
5oys while bound fast 70 the wheel OF labor may
so and do likewise. II IS only necessary TO put
sn an application to the Palisades Park Commits
sion for permission 20 pitch tent somewhere
along the twenty miles ot park Land on this
Flysian shore.
on a narrow strip OF beach between the
water and the precipitous ascent OF the Pali-
saAes. 5ust opposite Spuyten Duyvil. the tents
OF these summer 'colonists have been pitched,
some OF them creeping a little way up the
cliffs Others so close 70 the water that when
the tide rises &c sometimes comes IN and drives
the occupants for shelter 70 those that have
taken higher ground. Doors are always open to
a friend IN need there, and, though the colony
IS not exactly communistic, it is understood that
those who have not are always at liberty TO
draw upon those who have.
ALMOST coMMUNIsTTC.
"If there IS anything you want that you
haven't got you 5ust go down the beach and
get st." is the way one camper put #. land II
the people happen 70 be out you Just walk In
and take st."
Rights OF property are vaguely defined at the
foot OF the Palisades and rules OF fashion are
OF the simplest character. White duck suits are
the proper garb for men, but they are suits
which never see the washtub. and which in
few weeks become so soaked with oil from the
machinery Of the launches that they are thor
oughly waterproof. With these are worn soft
but stout leather moccasins, with or without
stockings, as each individual sees best. The
women cling a little more closely TO the con-
ventions Of dress. keep their sfirtwaists clean
and regularly send their white skirts to the
laundry. The children run about in rompers,
a~iN Ike n
weeds. There is one little fellow who had peri
tonitis OF the upper and lower bowel. COM
bined with pIeuro-pneumonia. this spring, and
was as uale and thin as 8 ghost when taken
oyer 10 tht beach on May Now there lsn u
healthier OF happier child to be found anywhere
IN two counties. And a baby Of six months is
also bappv and rosy though its mothers friends
all predicted that camp life would kill 1t.
housekeeping is also Of the simplest but has
rot been reduced TO the vanishing point be-
cause the outdoor life is wonderfully improving
TO the appetite.
.T eat five times a day." said Mrs. George
Virgins TO a Tribune reporter who visited
Camp Frances. the largest Of the Palisade col
onies, recently. "I have a good breakfast about
6 o'clock with my men folk. AT 10 O'Clock l
eat again at 1880 o'clock have luncheon at
o'clock afternoon tea, and at Z O'Clock dinner
Then very likely have something to eat beiore
I 90 TO bed. Isn't it hard to do so much COOK
ing? I don't find it so at all l like cooking,
and I don't have to devise ways OF tempting
1aded appetites out here. And there are such
delicious things to cook We get the freshest
of eggs and the sweetest Of butter from Spuyten
Duyvil The water comes right out of the rocks
as cold as ice and as clear crystal. 1t is like
the nectar Of the gods and makes one wonder
how one ever managed to drink Croton water.
A little later there will be oceans of berries on
the cliff, and later there will be apples and
cherries right behind our tent, all We can eat
and lots left for canning. Other edibles and
necessaries are brought over regularly every
day by a young man who calls for orders and
brings the things over about an hour later.
GEM OF AN ICE BOX
~As for kitchen conveniences. am almost as
well of as if / were in the city. / can cook
anything like on my oil stove. and have
beautiful ice box. Just look at this"
Mrs. Virgins removed some boards in one
corner of the dining tent and revealed a barrel
sunk in the ground and filed with perishable
food supplies .,,,
commented the mistress Of the house, but
know Il IS clean dirt and we don't mind. II
Is quite an acrObatic feat. too. TO get thlng5
out when they are down near the bottom, but
the men are always ready TO fish Tor them' SO
don't mind that either And il is SO economl-
cal One piece Of ice lasts Tor TWO OF lntee Gays
We can circumvent the Ice Trust besides pay
II is fr1le that all of the campers do not get
on so well as Mrs Virgins. She has the ad-
vantage Of having can1ped since she was TWO
years old, and being as much at home In tent
as IN the most perfectly appointed mousse. Dut
no one seems 20 have much trouble except the
unfortunate men who are trying to run bachelor
halls or. rather, tents. There was one sucn
estab ablfshnent at Camp Frances last year, ana
the occupants nearly starved TO oeatn on OaAeo
beans. and they were canned peahs at Ulal'
This year they established themselves On an
other part OF the beach, and named their place
Camp Perfection. announcing that they intended
to live up TO that appellation. 1t Is rumoreo'
however. that their diet is still somewhat over
balanced with baked beans.
Mr. and Mrs. Virgins have arranged theF
camp around a hollow square. open on the sloe
next TO the river. There is kitchen tent az Lhe
back with bedroom tents on either sloe' wnlie d
nv stretched over the open space makes
dining room. The kitchen and bedroom nave
foors but in the dining room the sand is uncoV-
cred. At the four corners OF the central awning
are placed buckets and barrels TO catch soft
water when IL rains. The camp is not so picIu-
rescue in appearance as some that have been
ritched on the side OF the Cliff but Mrs. Wig
gins considers Il much more comfortable. be-
cause the sand Is free from creeping ana crawl
sng things. There are copperheads and other
yerFnin on the cliff. but they cannot pass the
are not suited to that kind Of surface.
HOME MADE FURNITURE.
Most Of the furniture OF the camp Is home
made, except the beds and stoves. The latter
are the best and most scientific oil stoves that
the market affords, and in only camp IS
there q real stove That is because there are
little folks there who have 90 be kept warm on
chilly days. Some Of the campers have been
sensible enough 20 take over their mattresses
and springs. Others cots. Nearly every
thing else has been made out OF boxes.
There are said 20 be almost no mosquitoes in
this paradise OF the Palisades. When land
breeze blows they are little troublesome but
when the breeze Is from the water they are all