Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-12

I trOOplng
= Ian, Ia. yesterday afternoon, and the Omaha
ID High School Cadet encampment, 1910, has
. passed into history.
If Theodore Roosevelt could have sat in the
reviewing stand at Camp Graft he would have found
weather conditions for the most part rather dis
gratifying manifestation of the Rooseveltan spirit for
agreeable, thus testing the hardihood of the cadets
\ To their credit it be said that inched
Il in the face of rain and wind not complained of
cold although times the weather more like raw
March than bamy June--not a boy in the lot turned
! mollycoddle.
d To state it tersey, it a splendid encampment
d of splendid lads, ably managed by Principal E. u
p Graf of the High school, and his assistant, Prof
Nathan Bernstein professor of physics, with the mill
tary technique under direct charge of Lieutenant
Haskell of the United States army commandant of the
Al High school cadet organization.
The normally constituted boy being dynamo of
energy, is his nature to be always doing something
good health it naturally follows that he is
L buoyant-and there was buoyancy In great measure
y during the entire week at Camp Gran But withal it
N safe and efervescence Of the boyish spirit,
u and conduct of the young such to
pl blazon ther names Harlan annals aggregation
of young gentlemen-boys OF today. men of affairs
d tomorrow
ii There was notable lack of rowdyism, which at
tests the splendid discipline maintained by Messrs.
Graf. Bernstein and Haskell The phase of the outing
- which made the most impression upon the average
locker was the earnestness with which the boys en-
tered into their work They went about the routine
of camp life just like many actual soldiers actual
duty under Uncle Sans flag. They did not make play
of the occasion. 1t serious business with them.
Some of the lads of tender age-seSera Omaha boys
Of 10 and a. well along in high school-doubtless
grew weary limb at the close of the days routine,
but if WEAKNESS entered Camp Graf it was success
fully suppressed that pessmistic hint thereof es-
capped. What striking lesson in optimism and cheer
fitness these boys presented
Its raining in your tent through the front flap "
. newspaper man suggested to one chubby-faced lad
who looked be but little beyond his twelfth
Yes" he replied Il noticed the sitting
: through, but it will dry up. feel Wen
, have good weather tomorrow. Camp life is just bully
/ isn't it?"
tattoo muskery upon the top of the boys tent at
least half his floor waersoaked and the quilts
| on his bunk damp and camy.
Speaking of tent floors brings to mind the generos
Fifty of a Harlan lumber company which loaned the
the boys lumber for flooring, requiring them only to
to the drayage back and forth Harlan wanted
the encampment, and Harlan took care of it in man
ner gratifying to all Concerned-but that is an
other part this story be related at greater length
further along.
"oh, no. do not mind this weather. said an
other high school boy who is in the forthcoming di
ploma class and who has therefore had previous en-
campment experience This is my fourth encamp
ment" he said. this weather is the best we have
had yet. You See anybody can camp out in fine
weather. but it takes real men, the kind out of which
soldiers are made to withstand the wet and cold We
are striving make men of ourselves, and we there
fore find enjoyment in the test to which the raiT
and chilly atmosphere put u.s."
Not every city the size of Omaha has the cadet en-
eampment system and in this respect Omaha stands
high in the ranks of modern school development
There may be some of pessimistic or cynical trend
who without having looked in upon this Omaha Boy
VILE tilt naughty nose knowingly and look askanc
at the proposition doubling the while what practica
benefit is TO be derived from cadet encampments
any there be who doubt let the skepc journey fortl
next yeart is too late for this year now-and lool
upon the boys and their daily routine of outdoor life
No man with red corpuscles and normal liver cal
visit such without drnkins~in mood of rap
turous inspiration.