Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-12-07
Saint Maru's Beacon
A SUMMER
BOOM
3, NJ QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated LII
erary Press.

II was Deacon spooner who started
O. The doctor sent him OF TO q sum-
mer resort for two weeks to get rid
Of fever, and when 20 came home he
had the biggest kind Of an idea in his
head. he got down to the postoface
that same evening and said to the
crowd:
What We want to do IL 70 turn In
end make High Hill summer resort
She's got everything the heart could
wish for. and IL we don't see 10000
people here next summer It win be
our own fault. I'm primed with facts
and statistics. and l move We cali q
public meeting for next Tuesday even
InE."
The idea met with favor, and the
meeting was called, and during the
Interval the price Of butter and eggs
went up 80 per cent. Most Of the
families In town decided on taking
boarders. and they decided that $40
per week would be q fair charge.
There was a large turnout at the
meeting. and Deacon Spooner went
right TO business by calling for order
and saying:
The idea Is to turn High am into
q summer resort and welcome !hou-
sands to her gates. To get q boom
under way our motto must be Pro
Bono Publico.' There must be no
hanging out. no examples Of individ-
ual selfshness. I'm one who II WILL
ing to turn my house into q hotel for
the summer 20 accommodate the
strangers who Will come here, and
I'll also make the price Of board as
reasonable as possible"
Deacon, about what would be your
price for boardT" asked Truelove
White from the audience.
From $40 to $12 a week, guess"
was the reply.
"And what would you fodder the
people OnT'
MOSTLY on meat and taters. but Of
course apple sass and custards would
come in pretty frequent"
'@Ehen | move that the price Of board
be fixed at Sill per week all round.
with extra for washbowls and lookin'
glasses"
The deacon put the motion to the
meeting. and 1t was carried, and he
Chen said:
There will be hundreds come here
who will want 10 buy land and build
cottages. I've got twenty village lots
and In order TO start the ball rolling
I'll put 'em in ut q low value. ] hope
others will follow my example,"
what would you call q low value
deaconT asked Moses Turner as he
rose up.
"weIl. I might say 800 apiece. 1
presume they'd bring twice that, but
we don't want to rob anybody"
Then came the question Of hauling
the people TO and from the railroad
Nothing so discouraGes a person as to
meet with extortiOn on the start He
had thought the matter over. and 1t
was his idea that the charge should
be 81 per capita In each direction. In
case any one started a livery stable in
town-Hnd three or four such institu-
lions would be sure to rise up-the fixed
rate should not be above s. an hour
for n horse and blackboard. When he
was at a summer resort he had long
cd for pumpkin pie. and It was not to
be had. People who came to High Hill
would long. The pumpkin pie would
be ready. but there must be no extOr-
ton Every pie. no matter whether
round or square. should be cut into
four pieces and the price per piece
should be p cents
There was one thing more, and the
deacon proceeded TO state It The
people should turn out to welcome
every new arrival and make him feel
60 home. but for every such turnout
there should be fixed charge Of 80
cents. and the same should be collect
ed with the board bill. The meeting
adjourned amid great enthusiasm. and
several OF the houses were illuminat
Cd In honor OF the occasion. and every
body went to bed happy. They were
still rejoicing next day when a tin
peddler came along. He heard what
had happened. and then he shook his
head and mournfully replied:
I'm sorry. but you people win be
disappointed"
"But how" was asked.
"Why. Halifax is Offering all that
you are and is going to throw In two
mudholes and the brickyard for moth
ing. and the crowd will all go that
way"
-'Then we've got to have a cave?"
said one OF the boomers Everybody
coming to summer resort expects to
see cave and is willing to pay so
cents to wander around In It."
But Halifax has got one. and the
admission is only 10 cents"
But we can advertise spelling
schools every evening in the summer"
They've thought Of that over
there
Then well have a camp meeting
Thntll he a novelty worth a dollar q
head 10 sinners from the city"
Halifax is already advertising that
very thing"
Look a here" said the boomer in
his desperation. I'VE can't be beat
We've two pairs OF twins to show In
this town. and the price won't be
over 10 cents"
And Halifax Is going TO show trip
lets for n nickel" answered the ped
der as he turned away.
Only one summer reSorter appeared
at High nm that season. and he slept
In fence corner and stole apples for
his breakfast.