Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1908-07-23
The Boys Brigade Encampment.

Editor PreSs:-
The recent encampment on Bear
Creek near Ridgway was gratifying
furnished the boys a pleasurable and
healthful outing and gave them real
taste of military camp life and disci-
pline, The site of the camp, a nearly
level field on the summit of high
ridge, was we'll chosen both for sani-
tary and scenic purposes. The ar
rangements for sheltering and feeding
over hundred boys for week out in
a wilderness were admirably complete,
and were carried out as we'll as could
have been done by an expert army
commissary or by the most experienc-
ed boss of a lumber camp. Major Bliss
claims as one distinction for this en-
campment that it is the first in connec.
ton with the u B. b. A., to be held
under canvas. He also claims that in
another particular this encampmenu
makes a record never before attained
in any military encampment in Ameri-
ca, whether of the United States regu
lars or the militia of any state. As to
what this particular is we are still
guessing
The food was plain, substantial, we'll
cooked for the most part, and after the
first day abundant To the careful
regulation of the diet of the boys, in
Guiding the prohibition of sweetmeats
and of all fruits save oranges, lemons,
| and bananas and watermelons in mod
Grafton was due to absence of sick
ness among the boys. Parcels of plums
and other forbidden fruit were prompt.
/ ly confiscated.
The regular routine of military
camps was closely followed. Reveille.
roll.call, setting up exercises, policing of
the camp, breakfast, squad and COM
pany drills, dinner, battalion drill,
evening dress parade and review, sup
per, tattoo and taps, with the intervals
filled with detail work and sports. and
guard duty in progress from early
/ morn until nights repose, made full
/ and interesting day. The evening
4sgetherings about the fag.pole we're
particularly enjoyable features of the
4 encampment. On Sunday evening
picked up choir led in the singing of
familiar hymns and stirring address
was made to the boys by Mr.. Morrison,
of Ridgway, a member of the original
company of the Boys Brigade, ,organiz-
ed in Glasgow a quarter of century
ago. Mr.. Morrison, having spent a
whole day in camp quietly obser wing
the boys, was impressed by the entire
absence of any disposition on the part
of the larger boys to haze and bully the
younger ones, an example which the
larger boys in the old country would
do we'll to follow. On Tuesday even
ing battalion talent entertainment
was given in front of the flag pole.
Dawson Wright's dancing and Gordon
McDonough's contortionist stunts re-
ceived uproarious applause.
Co. M made an excellent showing in
camp, and in appearance was general
| ly awarded the palm by spectators.
Having won the company competitive
drill by one point, Co. M is the banner
company of the battalion for the year
In competitive squad drill, however,
our boys stood third. We have con-
siderable room yet for improvement
in discipline and department.
While there was no rowdyism what
ever in camp there was during the first
day or two considerable amount of
profane language used. This can by:no
means all be laid to the score of Co. M,
but Co. M was responsible for large
perhaps the largest, part of it, The
members of the company must, and
now do, understand that profane and
vulgar language is something that alb
solutely will not be tolerated. A per-
sistent offender will be given a dis
honorable discharge. 1t is gratifying
to observe that the general sentiment
of the company and of the battalion is
against profanity, as it is against every
o thing that is low and mean. The en-
campment has served to develop in the
boys in marked degree a proper
, esprit du corps, the feeling which
, leads one to sacrifice his individual
; pride and ease for the sake of the larg
er pride and interest which he takes il
| the organization to which he belongs
Had the deserters remained in camr
, long enough to imbibe little of this
5 spirit they never would have thought
r of deserting. Their conduct has met
2 with the general condemnation it de-
r serves and in due time the officers OF
the local company will carry out what.
ever instructions will be given to Them