Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-07-11

To paraphrase President Everett
V. Perkins of the Augusta Rotary
Club speaking for the Rotarians to
the boys at the State Y. M. C. A.
Camp at Lake Cobbosseecontee. FRI
day evening, when the members of
the local organization made the trip
to the beautiful camp spot on the
East Winthrop shore to enjoy sup
per with the youngsters, the Ro-
tarians probably enjoyed their hour
at the camp more than the bows
themselves will the entire period of
their stay at the great training CEN
ter"
Over three score members of the
Augusta Rotary Club entered the big
mess hall when the bugle call sum
moned the campers. and the guests
to the evening meal. Fish ckowder
was the principal dish on last even
ings menu. and the big brothers.
of the Rotary Club soon learned the
system of working the. youthful
walters for seconds" and those who
did not enjoy q hearty meal could
blame no one but themselves for
their own difidence or self conscious
ness.
Genial JEFF Smith, the guiding and
directing mind for all that vast es-
adjustment which is daily shaping
the character of real Maine boys
from all sections of the State, ex-
planned to the Augusta guests that
their coming had not been heralded
to the boys, and that the program at
tn, supper session would be exact
ly the same, so far as the boys were
concerned, as on any regular camp
day.
jeff said that each and every one
of the boys was taught to make
speeches of welcome or to sing a
solo or to do anything else he was
called upon to do. Joe Mcguire, a
lad of about IL years was asked to
say few words of welcome to the
Rotarians, which he did in man
ner which was the envy of more
than one of the maturer members
of the service organization, who
though they had achieved success
in their particular business. had
failed to acquire an easy and ma
tural manner when called upon for
remarks.
During the supper session the
councillors and older boys presented
a program of instrumental and vocal
music, and the boy members of the
camp Joined in Justify singing sew
eral of the camp songs. At the call
of Chairman Harris S. Woodman of
the boys work committee of the
Rotary Club, Director J. Francis
MacNichol lead the club, which he
designated as his group of especially
trained singers, in the chorus rendi-
ton of a number of old favorites,
and this feature met with the In
stantanous and hearty approval of
the boys as was evidenced by their
full throated cheers and stacato
hand clapping at the conclusion of
each number. For a few minutes
the session developed into singing
contest with the honors about even
between the camp youngsters and
the visiting Rotarians.
Following the regular closing ex-
ercises which included the salute to
the flag and the singing of the Ma
tional Anthem, the entire group ad-
journed to the auditorium. where
Professor Brooks, one of the special
guests of the occasion kept the boys
and their guests interested with an
exhibition of legerdemain and
sleight- of hand tricks.
At the present time there are
about twenty-five boys In the Au-
gusta Rotary Lodge, who are enjoy
ing the program and life at the State
Y. M. C. A. camp as guests of the
Rotary Club. These lads are a part
of the camp membership and parti-
cipate as a group in all the regular
activities as do the occupants of the
several county lodges.