Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-26
| ROCK CREEK AGAIN IS
| SELECTED FOR A HIKE
Next Sundays Wanderlusters Are
Promised New Route
Through Park.
More Letters Expressing Apprecia
ton Of the Opportunity to Get
Out in the Open.

Rock Creek Park Is once more to be
the scene Of the community hike next
Sunday, route through the big reserva-
ton having been chosen by Frank O. Mer-
rift and Walter W. Paige who are to
act jointly as leaders. Mr.. Merritt and
Mr.. Paige have been over the route upon
which they plan to take the mixers and
say that 1t covers a part Of the big woods
not previously explored.
The mixers are to meet at Chevy Chase
Circle at $50 O'Clock. From there they
will plunge into the depths of the woods
and the entire trip will practically be in
| the shade. The walk is to be a short
\ one. but for those who care only for a
| still shorter hike, the route after about
three miles will strike near car line
In order to allow any who do not wish
to go further to take the cars for home.
Letter Of Appreciation.
Appreciation of the opportunity offered
by the hikes still continues to be ex-
pressed. verbally and by letter. The
latest communication. addressed to Rep
| resentative Donovan Of Connecticut, lead
er of the hike last Sunday, IS as follows:
| My Dear Mr.. Donovan:
am embracing this golden oppor-
tunity to thank you for myself and
others for your splendid leadership Of
through beautiful Rock Creek Park
Sunday last. Many enthusiastic mixers
are setting that walk down In their
memorandum as the very best of all.
and the older mixers aren't saying a
word against it. Indeed. 1t was an
ideal day. Though the morning dawned
bit cloudy and rain threatened early
In the day. Old Sol was out at 8 o'clock,
the time Of the start, and did his duty
like prince. 1t was as fine a looking
crowd of people as you would fnd in
any city In this glorious old country
| that claimed Representative Donovan
as their leader that day. The women
linen suits Of white. blue or pink. and
the men were happy as shirt wasted
men invariably are when out in the
open enjoying themselves as good citi-
zens should in sane and safe fashion.
I want to say right now 1t was no
mean task to guide that big band over
the rocky ascents. down the slippery
inclines. across the sunny meadows
into the beautiful far-away. Surely
our intrepid leader and his faithful
followers earned their joy by the sweat
of the brow that beautiful. ideal. June
afternoon. In spite of the heat, and
it was warm. everybody was as smil-
ingly happy as the popular Sunny
rustic bridge, Capt. Shannon tore him
self away from this happy crowd most
reluctantly to keep an engagement. All
missed the inspiration Of his happy
presence. He will never know what a
jolly time he missed.
Next Thing to Paradise. =.
IF you want my opinion Of Rock
Creek Park. It is as near Paradise as
~ vuil1 got md
me. At mission Sunday school in New
England little class was asked II 1t
wanted to go to heaven. One little hand
want to go to heaven?' asked the sur
prtsed teacher. If you please said the
youthful dissenter, 7 would rather 80 to
Beckett Now / am sure all the hikers
ence for the little place in thu hills
that had spelled happiness for him for
q weeks vacation II 1t is half as lovely
as Rock Creek Park.
"A bright stream In Syria is called
Meander, and from It we have the word
meander. meaning a journey in winding
ways. Rock creek. with its sweet devia-
lions. is like that. Lovers, we are told.
cannot keep to sidewalk. They pay
scant attention to direction Lovers OF
loaf and invite the soul. We Just
couldn't keep from following close to the
stream. We tested our muscles climbing
the hills, but the sound of the gentle
ripping water and the cool breeze kept
coaxing us back to the highway. where
the stream played high and seek in the
sunlight. Often it found US like big
picnic party lunching on tts banks. Ma
jestic oaks and tall sycamores and sway
Ing willows stood guard. Sandwiches
and bon bons and all the good things
hungry mixers had provjdentialiy snug
gled into their pockets caused thirst
that had to be frequently assuaged at
one Of the refreshing springs along the
way. Supt Joyce must be proud OF those
springs. Such water should grace the
feast Of kings.
And, Mr.. Donovan, II you have never
had the pleasure Of following Supt- Joyce
on night hike you have missed a rare
pleasure. Anybody can find his way on
a moonlight walk, but 1t takes courage
to 20 out on a dark night when the cur
tain Of darkness has been let down and
some one has forgotten to pin 1t with
the stars. It isn't quite the witching
hour Of night, but It is full Of mystery.
and the wind has shaken from the trees
the dust Of day and the lights have
been snuffed out and the river sings on,
as the poets say, and the woods are full
of an adorable fragrance. You are al
most frightened to death as you go along
and you recall how nurse used to say
The COLLINS will catch you II you don't
look OUT and you wonder with shud-
der If they will come in for their in
nings on this trip.
Jolly Song Breaks Silence.
'aThen somebody breaks the magic still
ness with a jolly song. and it is taken