Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-07-24
Swimming Was the Greatest Pleas
ure-Military Routine Pre-
vailed IN Camp-Little
Sickness.

rely entirely upon himself to see
the real side of life. To say that
the 2S boys from Abilene had a
good time would be putting It mild
ly. They not only had good time,
but enjoyed themselves every min
ute of the time, even though the
mercury was hanging around the
108 in the shade mark.
AA z
The boys arrived in camp Mon
day morning. BY evening all Of
| the tents were up and the little de-
tails of camp attended to, so that
nothing could intel fere with the
usual good time they had planned
to start on Tuesday morning. The
high wind made the work little
more difficult.
Most people wonder what the boys
do all day long. Well, it's a hard
question to answer. Some hikes
were taken by the scouts, the hills
were explored and the timber was
searched for the different kinds Of
wood. The boys made hat racks,
clothes racks and numerous other
things out Of the sticks cut from
the trees. No nails were used, as
boy scouts are taught to use only
the products Of nature.
zee
Swimming was the great feature
with the boys. Twice a day every
boy that desired went to the river.
The river was about five feet at the
deepest point. Ropes were stretch
ed across the river and every boy
was to stay between the ropes. II
you ever saw an interesting sight
1t was those so boys all in the water
at the same time. Some of them
could swim but most of them could
not. And 1t was big job for one
person to watch them. A diving
board was placed and swimming
races was one OF. the features, The
bottom of the river was sand and
while the current was strong, it
was straight and q good place to
learn to swim.
Nine o'clock was bed time. The
bugle was sounded and every boy
was soon scampering to his bed.
His bed was one blanket laid upon
the ground with another blanket
for a covering. Most of them slept
out in the open. Two boys gener-
ally slept together SO a boy only
had to carry one blanket. A lot of
straw had been thrown on the
ground which helped some, 1t isn't
necessary to say that they didn't go
to sleep right away for good many
of them had to talk little longer
but they were not noisy. 1t was an
interesting sight to see fifty boys
strung out along the ground all
sleeping that sleep that comes from
a hard days work of having a good
time.
Six o'clock was getting up time.
But with very few exceptions every
boy was wide awake long before
that time. However they were not
allowed to dress until the bugle
sounded the hour OF six. The boys
we're soon up, dressed. washed and
ready for breakfast, which was at
| o'clock. 1t might be well to add
hat the boys did not always awake
70 early because they did not want
o sleep. but 1t was hard to COM :
lat the sun shining down upon them q
ogether with the flies that always Q
ret busy about sunrise. 4
ZEE
After breakfast one hour was
pent IN writing home, cleaning up
he tents and Strengthening things g
p for the day. A blue ribbon was = =
iven to the patrol having the neat e
st tent, and a red to second best. b
he Wolf patrol, of which Vaughn v
yer is leader. who the first blue ..
ibbon. The next day, the Otter
atrol led by Paul Jeffcoat, won the
Iue while the Wolf patrol took the n
ID. The Junction City boys took r,
lie second prize one day. A
= = -
Meal time was one of the most In 4
resting sights of the camp. The
ltire camp was called together, Il
Id each patrol was placed in ranks. .
ach boy carried his own plate,
rife and fork enoon ga ,,,y, fyrh.,, i.