Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
CHOIR BOYS ARE HAPPY
ST. MARKS CONTINGENT ENJOY
ANNUAL OUTING.
'pecial Correspondence Of The Star.

CAM DE OFFEO Point Lookout. Md,
July q. 1907.
The junior members of ST. Marks Church
choir are soon to begin preparations to
break camp their three weeks Of camp
life fast drawing to a close. Unless there
Is some change in the arrangements
made for their departure Mr.. Henry p.
Blair. known as THE Father of the Camp"
will have the boys home Tuesday. One
of the twenty juniors Who will be in the
party Is Main Sandoe, who has been ia
miliarly known the baby of the camp.
And" says the youngest member Of the
camping expedition, its fine to be the
baby. because the baby gets two helpings
to ice cream, buildings and pies, and when
the other boys get two ginger snaps he gets
three
Rev. w. F. De Vries. pastor Of st.
Marks Church, was here for several days.
but he has returned to Washington, and
Will tell the parents of the fine time their
boys are having. The rector shares the
opinion Of all the other camp visitors in
the matter of sounding the praises of the
rather of the colony This is the tenth
year the members of the choir have been
mere for their summer outing, and each
time they seem to be more pleased than
they were upon preceding occasions. Two
houses with long shed connecting them
are occupied by the camping party, and
they also have a large tent in use. The
property is owned by Mr.. James Hall, an
interested church worker, who is connected
with Trinity Church, st. Marys City, and
who has charge of a mission house about
seven miles from camp. He permits the
boys to occupy his property each year, his
recompense being the exercise of their
day.
Mission Workers.
People who attend the mission look for
ward each year to the annual visit Of the
singers. The service is held at 3 o'clock In
the afternoon, the boys riding the seven
miles in a hay wagon. The only springs
about the vehicle are those connected with
the seat upon which the driver sits, and
many of the boys engage in scramble
tor the seat as soon as the team is ready,
to make a start. Last Sunday they were
invited to fill the choir at Trinity Church.
and the Rev. Mr.. De Vries accompanied
twenty OF the singers to the church, going
In the motor launch. The trip was made
against a head wind and high tide, the
party reaching the church one hour late,
but the pastor knew they would come and
he waited. Services were held and the
rector and singers were so late returning to
camp that it was passed around that they
had deserted
DR.. Craig, who has charge of the camp
hospital, has not practice enough to keep
and only a few cases of the results of high
living. Father" Blair has been the busiest
man in camp. acting in almost every
capacity. If there is one man in the whole
world who understands the needs of boys,
and Is willing to cater to them. 1t is
Father" Blair. and it is no easy matter
for man to care for SO many boys. looking
after all their wants. 1t is believed he has
purchased SO many chickens and SO much
fruit and vegetables from the farmers
about here that when the boys take their
departure the same farmers will have to
buy their own supplies in some other COM
munity.
One day while Rector De Vries was here
he took party Of boys out for drive and
stopped at a farmhouse. thinking he would
pay a short visit to tho farmer and per-
haps he would be able to make a purchase
for the commissary officer.
Bushel for Fifteen Cents.
And" remarked one of the boys upon
his return. I'VE found a man who had been
married three times, and had a family Of
twenty-seven children. We turned in and
picked a bushel Of beans and he charged US
Is cents for them
The job Of picking the beans, the boys
declare, was superintendent by the rector.
The lads were all sorry wher. the time came
for the rector to depart, and they accom-
panied him to the landing at Cowarts In
the motor launch.
Strict discipline has been maintained In
camp, the boys being required to keep regu-
lar hours, eat their meals regularly and
take baths each day. Fishing, grabbing and
boating Is INDUCED in to a considerable ex-
tent, the boys having crab feasts almost
every night.
Everybody in camp knows George" the
colored cook. He Is an accomplished chef.
having served in such capacity in the
navy He has been the chef in camp during
each of the ten seasons, and this year his
son, William Mckinley. Is with him. Will
liam has enjoyed camp life much as the
choir boys, and he does not look forward
with pleasure to the time when he must re-
turn to the city.
The older members Of the choir will re-
main here one week after the departure Of
the juniors.