The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-25
BOYS ON MOUNTAIN ABOVE VALLEY HEAD Ideal Camping Site for the
 Youngsters HOW THEY PASS THE TIME Y. M. c. A. Crowd Is Now at Home Again, Tired but Happy and
 HeaIthy-Big Things
 for Next Year.
BY BURR BLACKBURN.

"Ain't ye got no pea soup?' are but echoes of the dinner lingo at the Young Mems Christian association boys camp, which came to a close Tuesday night at Valley Head.
 The crowd of 20 camped on the garden spot of North Alabama way up in the air, where a river runs along the top of the mountain, where the goose berries and Nthe huckleberries grow. They came back brown with sunburn, itching from chigger and tick bites, bigger by dozens of pounds and feeling like men.
 The visitor, who was invited to spend a few days with the boys, arrived at Valley Head Sunday morning at o'clock. The quartermaster was on hand to meet him, and after getting the mail and the morning paper they started up the side of the mountain toward camp. One of the first surprises was the big summer home of Maj. Frank Y. Anderson with it's large columns and perfectly arranged lawns.
 straight up the side of the mountain the path led until after what seemed a full mile, he stepped out on a rock which presented view of the whole val ley. The little town below gave every house a farm, and every church block The fields, which are the richest farming lands in the state, could be seen stretch ing under the sun even across two small ranges, until they ran up the side of old Sand, whose blue top mingled with the sky Way up the valley the rumble of thunder attracted his attention to a rainstorm, | II a1av vif atr on the top and sides of the clouds, while below it was black, and the lightning flashed occasionally.
 There was a perfect baseball diamond which shone white in the sun like a geometrica1 example of human nature on a black board of earth. Big, fine homes were dotted everywhere and all were half hidden under groves of large shade trees.
 The quartermaster led the way along the crest to the home of c. H. Mormon, state secretary for the Young Mems Christian association for Alabama and I Mississippi. It would seem that he had gone half way to heaven for headquarters in his campaign.
 The camp was located within 200 yards of the DeSoto river, just at convenient point between the mill dam and the falls. Noah, the cook, was the only person in sight, for the boys had gone off with Professor Brown to Valley Head for church, where, according to later reports, one of the youngest, becoming thirsty, had walked up to the pulpit and helped himself from the preachers pitcher in the midst of the sermon.
 Meanwhile the quartermaster, the out law and the reporter went down the famous falls. The twin cataracts were viewed first from the top of the chasm and were beautiful in themselves, but after scrambling down a path in the bluff the eye feasted on one of natures s boldest works. The thunder of the falls as they poured into the broad pool, which they had hewn 1S0 feet into the midst of the mountain but added to the impress sion The water flowing into one side Of the circular pool causes a miniature whirl- pool sending the water revolving, and according to tradition the currents in the depths of the bottomless pit are swift and dangerous. The boys were not al- lowed to swim below the falls, although the three individuals just mentioned swan around and under the falls to a cave which reaches several hundred feet under the rock, and can only be reached by swim, which becomes very strenuous in wet weather.
 The scenery is all bold and magnificent. Below the falls little path led to tree which naturalists claim to be the oldest in the United States. It's roots are plant ed around the rocks said to have been thrown up by DeSoto for his entrench- ment against the Indians. These trenches run twice across the narrow bluff and form the most impregnable fortress one could imagine. On both sides the walls tut down down hundreds of feet, while caves in the side overlook the valley and commany every approach.
 After walking along narrow ledges , which looked down hundreds of feet , into the valley of green, with the bub- bling river rushing through, they came to the DeSoto caves, where tradition says DeSoto buried his silver. Fresh digging betrayed the search of some dreamer who had within the past week, no doubt, sought the cave at night with torch. trembling with expectancy at each stroke of his pick.
 Other stories of natures beauties T within a stones throw could be told. The mill dam pens up channel 10 } feet in depth for nearly two miles, on which are located several pretty sum- . mer homes. It is scattered with boats and rowers, and each turn reveals some new marvel for the eye.
 But the boys came back from church at 1 o'clock. They strolled into camp , one at a time. There was the little team, Cox and Cosby. who were in for everything, and line of boys, long and short, Charles Jones, c. w. Will , son, Harold Bowron, William Gilmore, ] Clyde Vance, Charles White, Frank Bowling, John Doane. Presley Far rar. George Glover, Ray Watson, Cliff . Pugh R. M. Goodall, IT,, Alex Gilmore, Carl Merritt, s. A. Howell, w. M. Cos by, IT, and Wendal Cox.
 The first cry was for mail. Every boy wanted his letter from home, and most of them were happy when the abundant supply was handed out. Sun { day dinner followed, with fried oh lick en, vegetables and ice cream, and was quickly devoured.