The Washington herald., 1908-08-03


ton and Hunt. and the gUardsmea were
happy a kind Providence answered the
prayers and the wishes Of the men. and
special transportation facilities TO the two
forts were made by the steamboat com
panies and the Mount Vernon electric
line. and the fair visitors came in droves-
Long before the arrival Of the steamers
especially put in commission for the run
&c Fort Washington the miIitiamen were
furnishing up their uniforms and per
sonaI belongings and doing police duty.
IN civilian parlance, doing police duty
means cleaning camp Other than this
there was no duty 10 perform, except for
the uufortunates who were on guard, and
-he men were smiling, happy, and ex-
pectanI-
When the first batch Of femininity ar
rived, they were wildly greeted. and It
might have been supposed that the men
at the forts. from their enthusiasm. had
been away 10 a three-year war Those
who were not favored on the first boat
were just the least Bit unhappy. but theiT
spirits revived when they learned that
there were more boats
Many were the touching scenes Of meet
ing. but these were far overshadowed
when the time came fo- the departing
boats.
Fortunate Fort Hunters
At Fort Hunt the men Eere more
fortunate. as many a dainty foot trod the
road that runs for a mile through the
fields from Fort Hunt 10 The electric
line. Never in its existence has this road.
6ePt IN good condition by the army engi-
neers. been so well trodden- Each dainty
followed, and in the morning this road
vas a long lane Of gayety. Well might iJ
be termed Lovers Lane for while. OF
course. there were some ungainIy mascu-
line foot marks. they were but a fraction
Of a minority Then too there were
wives and mothers, but also a minority,
as but the light feet made buoyant with
the wings Of love laughed at distance as
though il were the prOverbial locksmith-
During many annual eucampments. the
intervening sunday in the two weeks has
been known as visitors day. and while
this Is correct IL should be changed
Swe5thearJs' day Is more poetic and IL
would not be a mislOmer.
All in Holiday Dress.
For the first time during the encamp-
nent officers and men appeared soon
after reveiue in holiday dress Those who
had new and shiny uniforms hauled them
out from trunk bottoms. and those who
did not performed a wonderful feat OF
renovation Every man in both forts
looked spick and span At Fort Hunt the
rrsJ train Of the morning brought q load
Of visitors II was greeted with cheers
as the whistle blew in the distance. and
when Il pulled in there were Joyous cries
Of recognition All the morning Hunter
station was crowded with expectant ones
but each arriving train diminished this
crowd until late in the afternoon when
the tide turned, and the gaiIy bedecked
stream moved IN r-s opposite direction.
The train service was fairly frequent
and sure. and in this the men al Fort
Hunt had distinct advantage over those
at Fort Washington. who anoke this
morning fearful Of miscarried plans
None Of them knew OF any excursion ar
7angementS- except through telephone
.alls from friends. but by the time the
nrsI boat arrived this had spread like
wiIdire. To many il was greeted wiz
JOY but there were others who had made
arrangements for a long detcur by way
gf River View and Marshall Hall and
these were in a quaudary- They did no,
know whether those coming from Wash
-ngton would come direct 10 the fort
when they discovered that an excursion
service had been established, OF would
caused some confusion. but each indlvid-
uai case worked out 20 a happy. concIu-
sion, and everybody on both reservations
was lgHt-hearted and happy.
scores of Small Graft.
Even before the arrival Of boat or train
score or more % launches and row.
boats were plying bUsiIy IN the water
between the two s5rts, resembling moth
ing 50 much as wet bed Of scs16e5
ants. knowing not which way 70 turn
The boatmen are mHlionaires. or they
ought 70 be tonight Each one put IN
q good days work. Some Of the launches
carried as many as twenty passengers
and . cents a round trip was the smallest
charge across the river OF 10 one OF -ha
nearby resorts In addition 10 these
boats plying for profit. the river Was
crowded with small craft. either pilote5
by their owners OF chartered for the run
10 the forts To-day the upper Potomac
must have been deserted II seemed as
though the pleasure craft on the river
were all guided by one hand
Each arriving party was greeted with
enthusiasm. and with many willing guides
was shown around. Elaborate prepara
uons for the entertainment OF guests had
already been made. and by common con
sent all the men Clipped IN for the mess
Good Things 10 Eat.
Each mess tent was a revelation
Where all the good things came from {;
is impossible 70 state, but they were
there Every mess was loaded with good
edi5les that would tickle the palate Of an
epicUre- and over the camps around the
noon hour there spread an aroma that
added a double edge 10 the appeutes al.
ready shzrpened by the open air. Each
menu was in itself complete. and a. one
camp or another you could fnd every
dainty known 20 the culinary art and
that most mUnifcent OF al providers. na-
turs- There was ice cream, cake. water.
melon. cantalOupe. fruits and all the
others, and in nearly every mess the piece
de resistance was chicken.
Dinner over, each party disported itself
as suited the collective taste There
were many things TO do. and many events
70 be discussed
Baseball and Religious Services
At Fort Hunt there was an athletic, OF
rather q baseball, carnival that attracted
men and visitors al both forts. Every
corner Of the parade ground was crowded
and there were half a dozen baseball
games going on ali the while. II was g
sort Of continuous performance, and as
fast as one game was concluded a7t
tae rivals had departed from the ieIt
another was started This programme
continued until the trumpeters sounded