New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-15
BY FRANK A. CROSBY.

"I-cant-get-you- can't-get-you-
up! can't-get-you-up-in morn
ing" The bugle in a boys summer
camp, sounding reveille, echoes these
notes emphatically and with the ring
furnished by lusty young lungs. Then
follow wells and cat-callS and dare y
get wet" from one TO another OF a
dozen white tents, holding each its
quota Of cd-bloodcd lads. There are
a few laggards, but a boy has no mer-
cy for his kind, and they are soon left
shivering without blankets. A sharp
whistle sounds, and from every tent
come tumblinG and whooping a
motley gang-big boys, small boys,
lean boys, fat boys. A setting
Up" drill, brisk and vigorous, sets
blood to circulating quickly for
the plunge into the lake, which fol-
lows Immediately for those brave ones
who dare, and the dare" gets most OF
the reluctant ones before many days
have passed. A dripping, rudy, put
fng crowd soon comes rushing back 10
the tents, and the first act OF camp life
has been completed.
What a change in Dick! His mother
found il so hard 10 arouse HIM IN tme
for breakfast, and the same lad VINO
came sleepily 10 tae table and COM
planned Of the food, is now up at b:3o'
alert and good natured, and eats PLAIN
food with a relish. The camp Is one
Of scores conducted each summer by
tho Young Mems Christian Association,
Row Scouts and churches for groups of
bovs from widely scattered homes the
father in, many instances accompany
inc his boy. In some cases groups OF
homes unite in bringing tenttul OF
lads. Parents of boys need to make
some such camp their ally this summer
in the home training of the boy.
A row of white tents in grass-cov-
ered clearing. with dark pines and
LIGHTER colored oaks in the background,
ali bordering upon a lake, clear ana
blue in the morning sun, makes pct
ture which even the most thoughtess
bov must note. What a mistake II is
TO think that boy does not notice the
beautiful No one will ever know fully
the effect Of such an environment upon
how campers from city streets and ten,
ements. Some boys experience real
nature for the first time when they ar
rive in camp. and the effect is often pa
tbetic. vet comic. One lad could not
sleen the first few nights, because
everything is so still it makes my ears
ring" Another feared the moot OF an
owl, and slyly crawled INTO pea "lth
the tent leader because animals were
cieu;ng at the tent" Another asked
for more ground potatoes ne NAY
always eaten store potatoes and was
c,reatlv impressed by those that came
freshly from the ground. The lnsplra,
t;on such lads receive through contac'
with nature and virile leadership lasts
tbem the wear through, and IS sure
10 helm parents in their problem OF
home sharing. which, after all, is the
secret of home training.
For the hungry boy the air Is full OF
wireless messages for ear or nose
nerbaps for a sixth boy-sense, and the
camp life sharpens these. With a med
lev Of whoops, anticipating and drown
in, tho breakfast whistle, the whole
famished tribe rushes upon the dining
tent. situated some distance from me
sleepinc tents. The invaders are soon
seated. each in his own place, about a
table with half dozen comrades, mead
ed by a leader from home, cluo, loung
Mems Christian Association or church;
zach group is a small camp family, and
one boy. appointed for the day, acts as
waiter for his family, bringing from
the tent kitchen adjoining the steamlhg
camp fare. The adult leader al the hedd
of the table apportions the food and
sees that all are supplied with the
well-cooked oatmeal, eggs, corn bread
and cocoa. prepared by an expert COOK
Although i'm an open tent, with the
e,round for "a floor and Gathered about
N oilcloth covered table, proper man
ners are expected, ANA call lOr the
"cow grease" or the sand is not apt
10 bring butter or sugar The culinary
side of camp life is the pivot around
which all else rovolves. Whatever
"roughing it" the camper may be sub
iected TO otherwise. wise leader Will
not try to tougher" him with coarse,
lily prepared food.
The camp is self-regulating and only
three written rules eXist-no fire arms,
no smoking and no swimming outside
regular periods Every boy is put
upon his honor and seldom is he found
wanting. because justice and OBEDIENCE
are special camp virtues. Home SICK
ness NAV last a day, but the laws OF
Boyville soon force the victim into the
game. A moping, surly boy finds nc
sympathy, and soon chooses TO become
a mixer. rather than be an outlaw.
Likewise. the SISSY boy" that species
of the human young so detested by the
"real boy" and aptly named by him,
finds himself in torment in camp and
outside the charmed boy circle. But
boy Justice prevails, and upon signs