The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-12

government.
Each tent is represented on the
board of commissioners and there IS
what might be termed rotation OF
officials That is no one boy Is al
lowed to monopolize any one position
the Jobs are handed around. There
is a commissioner of affairs in gen
eral one of water, another of fuel ana
the fourth man" has the position of
commissioner of sanitation.
A commissioner has a gang at MS
disposal-he is boss. The general
work around the camp is done by
these gangs.
But the camp life is not all work.
The youngsters are having the time of
their lives. Two dips in the Wakarusa
are scheduled daily, and there Is run
of all sorts going on around camp at
almost all hours of the day Indoor
baseball played out or doors is the
most popular pastime while the sun
shines, but best of all are the camp
fires at night. Then there is a boat
that accommodates just two boys at
time and of course this is source
of much pleasure.
Country Is Picturesque.
One evening this week a state Jour-
nal reporter was taken out to the
camp in motor car by seward A.
Jones and his son Mark. The road is
everything that could be desired as
far as Berryton, but rough in spots on
the three mile run to the Stone Bridge
farm south Of that town However
the country is attractive and those
who have made the trip have found
, it we'll worth while. The camp is on
: a high hill above the Wakarusa. The
spot is picturesque and wild In ap-
pearance. Upon arrival at the camp
the bows were set to work clearing out
the jungles-there was a dense mass
of underbrush that of necessity had
to be cleared out
The boys were expecting the news
) paper man. They had been told that
when the camp fire was lighted he
would dance the light fantastic in
African style, give few OF the calls
! of the animals of the jungles of the
! Ozark continent" and tell some stories
of native life in that country. dele
| agtion of kiddies was down at the
great stone bridge to meet the auto
mobile. Later they trudged up steep
incline to the camp heralding the ap-
proach of the visitors.
They Pestered the Cook.
An indoor-outdoor baseball game
was in progress. The umpire was
Joseph Reisner, physical director of
the Y. NJ. C. A. The boys-an but
sport swatting the big soft ball. The
three in question had been put on an
all-day work shift-this on account of
i'll directed enegry. In the early morn
Volley of tacks until the ire of that
gentleman of color had become
thoroughly aroused.
These boys were not thinking any
thing good about camp life by the time
that night came. There is no class
to this" one of them said. I'VE have
to work all the time" But another
boy came up about this time and his
version of camp experience was differ
ent. IT'S great" he said. 81 never
had such a good time in my life" and
this seemed to be the opinion of the
10 other boys who had not been con-
intn h. n L., how
rotary, of Fostering the cook.
And the cook. by the way, seems
on the whole to be a popular man
around camp. His presence at the
campfire was demanded by the boys
They cried out in unison I'VE want
Bob Graham. We want Bob Graham.
They Like the Eats"
1t is evident that the good things to
eat provided by the cook have touched
the hearts of all but three of the boys.
The hGdies spent ten minutes telling
the reporter about all the appetizinG
dishes that had been set before them
They are looking forward to a chicken
dinner on Sunday.
Friday afternoon one contingent OF
boys was taken on an overnight hike
30 Richland. about six miles distant
while those that remained at the
camp were scheduled to hike, over
20 Berryton today.
There are a half dozen tents in all
the camp. Four of these are dor
tory tents. One is used for kitch-
and another for dining room.
There are strict rules and regula-
lons at The camp. Nine o'clock is the
, our for retiring at night-10 o'clock
special occasions.
No talking is allowed before 6
clock in the morning. If a boy
wakes early and feels that he simply
cannot remain quiet he has the privi-
iege OF dressing quietly and getting out
into the open air. There is tent in
spection each morning. The tent that
presents the neatest appearance flies
a flag the rest of the day.
, De Witt Lee and Joseph Reisner,
! Y. M. c. A. officials in charge of the
| camp, are popular among the boys al
though fairly strict discipline is OBJ
served
The camp for poor boys will be
opened at the Stone Bridge farm about
July "a. There is still a chance to