El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-14

~ r. J. A. RAWLINGS has a conn
try home at Mountain Park. N.
NJ. and just beside it is the Y. NJ.
c. A. camp property. which is the head
quarters each summer for the "Y" boys
in their camping season. This makes
it convenient TO get first hand knowl-
edge of what the boys department. Of
which he is chairman, is doing in their
summer work. He says:
'The outdoors camp the Y. NJ c. A.
conducts every year just after the
close Of school is one OF the big events
in the life OF many an El Paso boy.
Just about this time each year you may
see knots Of the boys around the W
with their heads together. discussing
this years camp. For weeks they plan,
save their money, figure schemes for
making additional money, get their
traps gathered up, all looking toward
those few weeks in the Sacramento
mountains that make the joy time OF
the whole year.
why does it so appeal to them? Not
only is it change, and a free life, but.
while they are under regular discipline
and careful supervision all the time vet
it is their own particular proposition;
it is in vital sense their very own
camp; for the time being they are not
children: every minute under some
body's thumb, they are wild free men,
under a discipline that is agreeable,
because in real way. it is their own
self imposed code Of law. And what
these few weeks do to many a boy is
long story.
When n Teller Needs n Friend.
Several years ago we had a boy at
camp Il go back this far that we may
not get too personal with our present
lott who was typical boy where
there is but one child in the family. he
was fine chap all right, but, well,
the first morning he could not find his
clothes, and appeared perfectly help
less amid the general turmoil of dress
ing. The camp director had to come
to his rescue, find his things and help
him on with some Of them.
In the meanwhile the more capable
took occasion to fire some stimulating ,
remarks in his direction about babes in
the woods and other things more sub
stantial also flew in his direction. IN
the midst Of his distressing perform
ance the bugle blew for breakfast, and
he being late, had to come before the
court that night and was sentenced to !
wash dishes all three meals next day.
No more late dressing was charged up !
to him; we have wondered how aston
ished his mother must have been when |
he returned to find him too proud to /
let anybody help dress him. But most I
boys are beyond this particular sort OF !
helplessness.
"Order OF the Red Rag
zone of the great institutions Of the |
camp each year is the order of the !
Red Rag No boy is permitted to wear /
this much coveted insignia "a red I
handkerchief around his neck) until he I
has earned the right. There are ten /
stunts each has to do to win this honor /
One Of these is the five mile hike to /
Cloudcroft and return, all on foot, and !
any attempt to sneak a ride part Of the )
way, or tagging behind and whining, (
kills any hope he may have Of the +
red rag. Frequently there are two or 1
three fat and flabby ones who find af- 4
ter two or three miles of steady up 1
grade. that their enthusiasm has all |
leaked out. and they return to camp. !
But the day hanging around there 1
is not very inspiring one, and then I
at night when the others have returned /
and the stories are told of the days I
fun and adventures IL is a study to 2
see the longing and regret on the faces /
of the failures. In the next day or .
so when the second stunt on that order
comes the climbing of Sugar Loaf (
who flunked before, gather themselves
selves did not know they had. make l
it along with the rest. And the self I
respect that these boys bring home /
is as substantial and lasting as any /
muscle developed.
Boys Exact Discipline
But talk about discipline. il is the /
swimming hole and the cherry orch 1
ards that are the hard stunts after /
all. This camp is in the midst Of small
farms, and cherry orchards galore. 1t is