The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-08-16
VACATION NOTES

VACATION NOTES.
The lake this morning is as smooth
as mirror. The sail boats have re-
tired in disgust and only the slowly
gliding row-boats and a few bustling
launches disturb the waters peace.
Now and again some big fish leaps
to the surface, shows flashing fire
and disappears. On the opposite
shore the trees and cottages are dimly
reflected making picture that would
be dear to the 'impressionists" heart.
The gulls sweep over the lake in lazy,
graceful flight, there is a squirrel in
the trees and the birds sing a song of
sweet content. This is Okoboji at
peace.
! Last week we saw the other side of
the picture. The wind dashed the
waters into frenzied rage, the rain
fell in torrents, the opposite shore
was hidden, the trees swayed and
bent before the storm and mingled
with the roar of wind and wave was
the sound of the white caps as they
clashed against the shore.
Down at Arnold's Park there is an
old log cabin and marble shaft COM
memorative of the Indian massacre of
half century ago. We have not
been to see it. In fact we are not
interested. The more we see of
Okoboji the less we blame the In
dians. What happy hunting ground
it must have been. Here came the
buffalo and deer. Here the beaver
and the musk rat had his home. The
waters teemed with fish and from the
tangled wildwood arose the smoke of
a thousand camp fires. The silent
canoes glided swiftly over the waters
as sinewy red-brown arms flashed
naked in the sunlight. What wonder
that the savage fought and fought to
kill, to preserve this paradise from
the relentless on-coming of the whites.
How would we fight to preserve our
homes? How will we fight when it
comes our turn to yield to the mex
orable law of the survival of the
fitest? Despite seals and parchments
and books of record, mans clearest
title to his home is brute force; the
power and ability to hold it against
all corners.
The Indian had his tribe, the white
man has his nation simply to unite
the brute force of all for the defense
of all. Your deed is simply your sign
manual showing your right to call
upon the brute force of the nation to
protect your rights. Our civilization
boasts many so-called reinements but
after all the reliance of any nation is
brute force. Should race arise hav-
ing equal intelligence, and averaging
but a single inch more in height or
ten pounds more in weight, we would
be swept into oblivion like the Indian
q and the buffalo.
1t is estimated there are at present
fifteen thousand ake-dwellers seeking
rest and recreation on the shores of
Okoboii and of Spirit Lake. We see
no reason why there should not be ten
times that number. We believe that
in ten years time every inch of the
shore line will be occupied by the
cottages, that great permanent struct-
ures will take the place of the barn
like summer hotels of today, that a
trolley line will encircle the lakes
and that there will be the great play
ground for all the tired, nerve raclz-
ed people of this rich state At
present Okoboji is comparatively
inexpensive, and very democratic re-
sort. Increasing popularity and ncreas-
ing wealth may deprive it of these
I features, but for many years to come
it will be a place where rich and
poor alike enjoy themselves. We be-
lieve that now before it is too late.
the state should buy section Of the
lake shore and reserve it for the use
of campers and those who cannot
afford the luxury of summer cottage.
1t would not be a bad investment and
4 it would be safe guard to the people
that this beautiful resort should never
be monopolized by the rich alone.
J, Just across the lake from where we
sit is an ideal place for public park
a portion of which could easily be
rented to campers for enough to pay
its maintenance. While we are
providing for high pressure education
why not provide some low pressure"
breathing spot that shall bring rest
and restoration to tired minds and
bodies. With all due respect to our
great system of public education, to
which, personally, we owe so much,
we believe that one hundred thousand
dollars expended here for a state
park and camping grounds would do
as much good as any one hundred