Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-06-18
TRAVELETTE
THE LEGEND OF CANVAS.

THE LEGEND OF CANVAS.
In the great northwestern country between
the mighty Rockies and the beautiful Cascades
the mountains called the "Huckleberry
Range" They spread their arms comfortingly
about the many small mining towns of Washing
ton. A solderly array of pines and tamaracks
keep watch over all the inhabitants of Huckle-
berry Range-the rough farmers, rugged miners,
and the few native redskins still left
A large tribe of Indians once lived in these
mountains, from the heights of which one can
look far over the blue haze of Idaho, view the
cleaning wide ribbon of the Columbia river, or
behold the white tips of the Canadian Rockies
tale is told by the folk of Huckeberry
Range about Camas, the fairest maid of this an
cient Indian tribe. During of the many
forest fires of the region, when the entire range
seemed threatened with destruction, this Indian
Joan of Arc gathered in her arms some little pink
and white flowers and disappeared down the wind
ing trail.
She went to the very edge of the fire, where
the dried grasses Kissed and sizzled with the
flames and the blazing pines stretched out scorch-
ing fingers toward her and the dainty peace Of
fering. Then-the legend says-the Great Spirit
was appeased and sheets of rain hid the brave
Indian maid from the view of her people.
Nevermore was Camas by her tribe but
every spring since then the strange little pink
and white flowers have covered the wide noun
tains of Huckleberry Range. In honor of the
Indian girl the blossom is called the Camas
flower.
BENEDICT
Benedict, Maryland, has only one excuse for ex-
listing. That excuse, in the native dialect is
"feeshin.'
The little town is located on the tidal waters of
the Patuxent river, some forty miles south and
east of Washington.
1t has all the properties of a fishing village in
the movies-rotting wharves, piles of oyster she'll
picturesque natives in three coors clustering fish
ing craft, and a string of old weatherbeaten
houses with shady yards strung along a struggling
oyster she'll street.
Behind the village lies rich farming country
rolling in low hills, interspersed with woodland
Before it the wide blue waters of the Patux-
ent, typical estuary of Chesapeake Bay, that
most bountiful of all American waters OYSTERS
fish of dozen choice varieties, canvas-back duck
and oTtolan all to be had of it abundantly in
season.
More valuable to the native than any of these
is another creature which has appeared at Bene-
dict only within recent years-to wit, the angler
from Washington Every Sunday he appears in
great numbers, coming chiefly by auto, for Bene-
dict is many miles from the nearest railroad. In
his honor, a number of old farm houses have been
converted into hotels by the simple method of en-
downing them with names, and putting a bed in
the paror.
Native residents have acquired motorboats, the
title of captain" and modest wealth by carrying
these visitors out to the deep places where the
hardheads and sea trout run. They bait the hooks
take off the fish, swear at the cells and toads that
steal the bait, and while away the intervals when
the fish don't bite with colorful stories. After
ward there is big dinner of chicken. fish, oysters
country ham and other native good things; then a
long ride home in the cool of evening.