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H Y D E    B A Y
CAMP FOR BOYS

COOPERSTOWN, N. Y.

LAST ISSUE OF THE HYDE BAY HOME LETTER FOR 1931.


WEATHER.
         We have had a nearly perfect week. The days have been clear and sunny but cool. The nights have been just plain cold. Flies have been dormant long after the rising bell. (as some campers are.) The clear cold starlit nights have invited a fire of Hartzellcollected wood on the beach every night. The fire in the fireplace has warmed those who elect to stay within.

BIRTHDAY PARTY.
        In celebration of the eighteenth consecutive birthday of one Tim Pitts much icecream and cake was consumed last week. It was a surprise party given by Mrs. Pitts  and by some deep stuff on the part of the directorate (advt.) was a surprise!

HORSE HIKES.
         The last of the hikes via horse were held this week and the three parties sent out all reported a great time.  The camping ground this year carefully selected by Mr. Jack on a scouting expedition, has been very satisfactory. Horses have not come home alone once!

VISITORS.
         Mrs.E.H.T Talmage came in last week with Mrs Douglas Robinson from the latter's home near Jordanville. Mr. Prescott Huidekoper spent Sunday with us. Mr. And Mrs. Charles Fellowes Gordon were here for a short call the same day. Later in the week Mr. Clarence A. Munger and his friend , Mr. Smith looked in on Eddie Munger.

FEMINIST MOVEMENT.
         The Lxshaw-Symington-Matthews-Pitts-Wickes gang have taken seriously to the feminist movement and through the courtesy of Newberry's new store in Cooperstwon have appeared about camp in garments which would have made the late Queen Victoria quite uneasy.

TOURNAMENTS.
         Prescott Huidekoper annexed the Junior horse-shoe prize after a fierce tussle with Eddie Talmage. Lawry Pickett took the ping-pong gonfallon after defeating Prescott. The senior tournament is now an all master affair with the issue between darkhorse Dunning and Mr. Marrian.  Hambleton Welbourn was the last surviving boy.

HOWE CAVERN.
        The annual descent into Howe Caverns was made Thursday. An added feature was a boat ride two hundred feet beneath the surface -- of the ground.

AQUA PLANE RECOVERED.
         The lost plane appeared on the surface after Mr. Poore had dragged the lake with a heavy pipe for an hour. It was sighted at the awful hour of five in the morning,the reason being the insomnia of the juvenile element who had slept out in front of their tents that night. The insomnia became instantly universally contagious as the find was "whispered about".

INFICIENCY.
           DUE TO PREOCCUPATION WITH ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS WE HAVE NOT touched dramatics this season. Another year we may have a multitude of plays.

TENNIS.
        While the older boys have gone over to the club for tennis there has been no tennis for the small boys. We have never gotten to the preparation of our court. Wet weather has been largely responsible. There has been no demand for the tennis , but it is with regret that we confess not having offered facilities for it. With a dryer seaSon we hOpe to feature it another year. Hyde Bay does not relish such a hiatus between catalog pictures and performances.

AQUARIUM.
          The discovery of some excellent clay far up Shadow Brook has enabled Engineer Jack to coat his dam with clay. The water has been contented in this pool for several days. Many attempts were made at clay models  but the material proved too brittle under fire.

SUPPER.
         The small boys proved their vitality by cooking an impossible combination of food up at the willows Saturday night. Not a one turned up missing Sunday.

FIELD DAY.
         The Hyde Bay Wind Up(poetic pronunciation please) is under way. It is not as yet complete but some very fine performances have been turned in and new stars uncovered for the track world.  The water sports will follow Monday.

LAST ISSUE.
         This will wind up the Home Letter for the season. Next week you will be talked blind deaf and dumb by the campers themselves and words of ours would be shipping oil to Oklahoma.

LETTERS.
         A very unusual number of letters have come to the editor of this sheet expressing a very heartenting interest in the attempt made to give a glimpse to parents of life at Hyde Bay.

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