Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-03
Sojourn of Rev. F. r. Carpen.
ter and Family of Seaford
at Camp Dewitt, Pa.
A BOON TO STRICKEN SOULS
Special Correspondence Every raveninr

ed our car to the express for Milton
where Mr.. Herbert Norton. the sup
erintendent of the camp, was To NEE
us.
"A ride through Pennsylvania /
one continuous passage through neatl.
kept towns, each one OF which tells o
thrift, comfort and happiness, and be
tween fertile well titled fields which
testify of the care bestowed upol
them by the painstaking farmers
Pennsylvania Is noted for large barn
and pretty homes nestled amonl
stately shade trees.
THE ride from Harrisburg to Mil
ton is along the Susauchanna river
/, and is very beautiful. One of the mos
: interesting sights is the men gather
ing coal from the river bed. This Goa
) is washed down from the mines ans
deposited in the river. from the shall
low depths of which it is gathered, ane
after being washed, is used for indus
/ trial and household purposes,
Another object of interest is the
Pennsylvania Masonic Home. On the
train / met a Mason who told me
that the Masons of the State owned
one thousand acres of land which.
under the care Of akillful farmers.
furnished the home with the necessi-
ties of life. On hill top overlooking
the surrounding country stands
group of stone buildings which form
the nucleus of collection which is to
include home for each county OF the
State.
Milton at last was reached and our
journey by rail ended. Here we met
our friend Norton, who took US over
the hills by auto to Devitt,s Camp.
From Milton. city of 10 600 popula-
ton, TO Devitt's Camp, situated on the
side of the White Deer mountain, is a
distance Of nine miles through pleas
ant villages, across cool, clear noun
tain streams and over plain country
roads lying along the base of lofty
hills. each one of which is thickly
covered with woods. broken here and
there by olearings in which are the
homes of the sturdy mountaineers.
Now we leave the country road and
climbing the side of White Deer noun
tain. find ourselves at Devitt's Camp,
one thousand feet above tho level
OF the sea.
THE history of the camp reads like
then a busy physician, was confronted
by the problem Of what 70 do with a
tubercular patient who was under his
care. and whom ne believed with prop
er treatment could be cured. During
his college days and later he had spent
vacation sea sons among these hills,
and the impression grew upon him
that if he could have plenty OF rest,
fresh air and good food. the result
might be attained Through the as
sistance Of Herbert Norton, himself
sufferer of tubercular trouble. he
finally purchased the land on which
the camp now stands. An old building
on the ground was prepared and the
movement had been inaugurated.
sThat was ten years ago. Today
there are thirty cottages and equipped
with modern improvements, each
large enough to accommodate three
persons. There is also a rest haIl
where the persons on the ground may
gather for recreation. The home OF
the superintendent. Herbert Norton
to whom belongs much Of the credit
for the success of the camp. stands
on the slope Of the mountain overlook
ing the entire grounds. It is a mod
ern house. furnished with all modern
improvements, and was the gift Of
John Wilde Of Roxboro Pa. who
from its beginning has been a friend
to the enterprise. The entire grounds
are lighted by electricity supplied by
a plant belonging to the camp. Just
now preparation is being made for
the erection of a dinner hall TO take
the place of the old one. which is
now inadequate for the use of the
camp. At present there are more
than hffy patients. most Of whom are
ex-service boys. who are suffering.
as a result Of their army experiences.
f'It is only fair to DIR. Dewitt, and
those associated with him., that /
state that the camp is not a money
making venture. No man has made.
and no man ever viii make, a dollar
out OF the effort TO restore these af-
fiicted people TO health. The develop
frent Of the kindness of phIlanthropic
persons who have been willing to aid
those conducting the work in their
effort TO give the persons who came
ncre an opportunity TO refit them
selves for their life's work. The house
occupied by me stands a little west Of
the home of the superintendent on a
knoll overlooking the entire valley
Beyond the valley is Bald Eagle
mountain, standing Ike a fortress
to protect the dwellers in the valley.
Behind US rises the summit of White
Deer in the thick woods of which the
black bear still roams and the deer
rnds a place for its young. On Satur- |
day in company with my son / climbed |
tc the top of the mountain. For me
It was real work. for him it was real /
fun The result repaid us for the /
task. for the view was magnificent.
~On our first Sunday at the camp
rain fell in the morning compelling us
TO remain indoors. Toward evening the /
sky cleared, thus making 1t possible /
for US to hold service in the rest +
room. The congregation was an un- /
usual one. In 1t there were Baptists, T
Catholics, Mefhodists and Jews. I +
preached the sermon. my boy sang
and my wife presided at the organ.