The Washington times., 1913-07-04
Y. N. c. A. CAMP IS
BOON TO CITY BOYS
Tent Life on Chesapeake Bay
Makes Healthy Animals of
Favored Lads.

"Oh. can't get 'em up. can't get
EN- up. I can't get 'em up in the
morning" The sound Of the bugle
breaks in pleasantly on ones slumbers.
1t seems scarcely an hour after the
sleepy call of taps" died away on the
soft air of the evening. It is broad
day. Away down the river one can
see the wide expanse of Chesapeake
Bay. The birds are awake and hold
ing joyous carnival in the nearby
woods. The salt air from the ocean
fills ones nostrils mildly, for It is far
away This is certainly a fine place
to dream" one thinks and Is hastily
reused by the breakfast call
Remembering the sign On the bull
letin board, ''Breakfast-one minute
late, 60 hungry" and recalling that
had laughed At It the night before
wondering how one could sleep in this
delightful place, sprang to my feet to
see long line of boys and young
men filing hastily into the dining tent.
threw on q bathrobe-one is un-
conventional In camp. and hurried to
the table Mush, hot corn cakes, syrup,
milk, cocoa, corn bread, were sufficient
no limit to the appetite Of d small boy,
apparently, and the chef saved himself
only by announcing that there was no
more food. OF any kind. ~ ..
Devotions Follow Breakfast.
Breakfast over. there is tent inspec-
ton and on this morning. bible study.
for short period under the trees. An
address by H B. F. Macfarland and a
few inspiring hymns put US all in good
humor and We were ready for the day.
This is life at the South river camp
OF the Y. NJ. C. A. There are about sew
enty boys. 1t Is the most democratic
place on earth. Clothes are at a dis
count here Bathing suits, running
togs. bathrobes, almost any old thing
goes here and when bathing time comes
the boys troop to the shore in a state OF
nature. !
There is something invigorating in this
close touch with nature. No wonder the
boys appetites are limited only by their
capacity and the customary empty
chamber told of by many writer's for
boys. seems ever present.
Camp Is Well Polieed.
Everything about the camp Is run like
clock work. One whistle. Camp in
spection." Presto! Look at those eight
tents. Sides are neatly rolled. floors
swept. hunks carefully arranged. all
baggage piled UP in the middle OF the
floor in a row; even the grass pulled UP
about the tent. The inspector is sup
posed to decide on the best tent In order
to award the prize. There isn't much
choice and this morning he announces
a tie and then cudgeis his brain to think
of some excuse for his choice between
those two.
Appearance at meals Is carefully
timed. Whistles govern the bathing and
the comig out Of the water. No one Is
allowed to go outside the float and a
man in q boat patrols the shore to
watch for swimmers who may be
troubled with cramps. No accidents oc-
to permit 20 chances. There Is full
iedged physician In camp. but thus far
his only calls have been to treat sun
burn.
Sports Rivalry Intense.
Baseball games. volley ball games and
boating and bathing are the most popu-
lar games at camp. Each OF the eight
tents has q team and the rivalry waxes
hot. italy. China. Japan, Germany.
France, Sweden. England and ireland
are the names OF the different tents. The
boys are intensely loyal to their tents.
They occupy hunks OF canvas made In
double tiers, SO that each tent is occu-
pied by eight boys. The leader occupies
the end of the tent on a separate cot.
Every boy has brought his own dishes.
A runner is chosen each day for the
tables, and these boys make a rush
AZ soon as the blessing is over. and at
tempt to outstrfp each other in reach
ing the serving tsbls. Ths chsf. real