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Hyde Bay
CAMP FOR BOYS

HERBERT E. PICKETT, DIRECTOR

COOPERSTOWN, NY

DEPARTURE. (Retrospect.) As last week we gloomily anticipated the close of camp, so today, the Thursday after the anticipated Wednesday, we look back rather sorrow-stricken on the devastating events of yes­terday. Well, to resume speed, which always seems to be the reverse of legend, "Men Working".They have all gone but the following named persons: Johnny Kemp Bartlett is here till his parents show up Satur­day or Sunday. Vernon Root is still in bed suffering theresults of a too hasty descent from a horse. Mrs. Root and Vernon's grandmother, Mrs. Townsend, are in Cooperstown and camp till he arises, which is an event anticipated to take place soon. Jimmy Johnstone awaits the ar­rival of his Father which will take place at the end of the week. Ralph Thomas has been joined by Mrs. Thomas and daughter Becky and son Gus.  Anon Mr. Ralph Thomas willappear by train and off they will go again.  Tommy Cassilly shall have his own private paragraph.

PROMISED PARAGRAPH.  Tommy was sure his family were coming for him. Therefore the Director turned in the purchased Baltimore ticket. Tommy's family were sure he was coming by train with the others. Not an unusual situation in a political year, both sides were wrong.  So Tommy is here till we whistle and start over again.

FLIGHT. Eighteen left by train from Fort Plain to split into several groups at Albany. Walter Koppelman took the squad to Baltimore. Mrs. Platt bore off Grandson Chauncey Hall to Cazenovia and so to Baltimore.Dave Ramsey rode to New Haven with the Russells.  The famous Classen brothers assembled their faithful rambler and chugged out. Billy Payne left to ride to Kentucky with Mr. Mercer and "The Lady from Kentucky" (There is mystery for you.) Billy will on to Mississippi and so to football practice in the grilling sun of New Orleans. All the Bisons (Buffalo boys to you of the Hyde Bay extension department) had left on Saturday withJohn Morris' brother and TedHiginbotham sister, also with Mr. and Mrs. Morris.  There were five in the car. Figure that out.Jack Thomas lingered on a la the melody till nine-thirty-five when, like a gun man with his body guard, three of the largest Picketts took him to Herkimer to board the sleeper. After lunch off rode Dressers and Mr. Pun.  Messrs. Marnan and Hartzell are here.

ESCAPE FROM THE SUPERFICIAL.  A part of our Hyde Bay character build­ing program is to show boys that there is much beneath the surface which escapes the common eye. All of us who wanted to, some thirty persons, went to Howe Caverns on Monday. We ate a lunch in the adja­cent grove and made the circuit of the labyrinth.  No mishaps other than the temporary delay when Jack Young was caught trying to follow the boys through a small side tunnel.  He exhaled and scrambled out before his normal expansion resumed sway.

TRENTON AGAIN.  James Leland Dresser and cohorts visited once more the famous gorge.  A great trip was again the result.  Absorbed in deeper things, the authorities forgot all their pots and pans.  Instead of seeking hollow rocks, forked sticks, sharp thorns, and the horns of ancient deer, as Charley would have done, home came J. L. D. and re­trieved the missing hardware.  No other incident in a splendid trip. We planned to take the summer school graduates up on Friday but the rain came down instead.

TREASURE FOUND.  THURSDAY SAW THE GREAT TREASURE hunt resumed.  It was easily the hardest ever put on here.  At last the great moment arrived. John Burwell appeared on the shore attiredin a blanket with his face smeared with Indian paint stone.  Out to the raft he went and lay there prone but snoring till the three minutes had elapsed when he sprung into the lake andsplashed ashore.  He had won, and with him Kennedy Cromwell, Jim Bryant and Manly Jenkins who were presented pen and pencil sets.

TRIPPING. Those great lovers of the out-of-doors, Walter and Charley, took some dozen of our most graceful campers to a delightful dance at Pathfinder’s Lodge.  Miss Deucher and her attendant girls gave them a great time.  The Director and ess paddled down for a while.  The boys of course went by car.  (This is another slam at the younger generation.)

AIR MAN.  On Sunday we had a rare treat. Mr. A. Leo Stevens with Mrs. Stevens were our guests at dinner.  Mr. Stevens brought along a basket of one of his famous balloons, "The All America", an anchor, valve, ring, and rope, of a typical balloon.  After dinner he gave us a very interesting informal talk and posed for numerous pictures and signed many autographs for the boys. Parents will remember Mr. Stevens as a pioneer in aeronautics In America.  A decade ago his exploits made headlines in all the papers in the country.

WIND-UP.  Saturday and Monday were given over to the various events of the Wind-up.  Twenty-seven events on land and sea were hotly contested. On Friday a horse show resulted on Jack Thomas being decorated best horseman with Bobby Pickett and Hyde Clarke next. Manly Jenkins cap­tured both Ping Pong and Tennis among the Juniors.  Charley beat Dave for the Senior Tennis.  Cap was put away by Mr. Marrian in horseshoes. Mr. Mercer carried off the gonfallon in Senior Ping Pong.  Taylor Rodgers won the best bunk award.  Francis Barker was fisherman. Prudence and her staff gave us a wonderful banquet.  The fire on which Mr. Hartzell has been workingfor weeks was the bestever.  For thirty-five minutes it shot its towering flames to the very zenith.  Till morning it glowed and radiated blue flame.  It was a glorious sight. After the younger ones had gone to bed, the seniors held high revels till eleven-thirty. What happened there is not for publication but we may whisper that Mr. Russell repeated his dance.

THANKS!  FAREWELL TILL NEXT YEAR!No rainy days, no serious injuries, a most unusually congenial group of boys, councilors who looked to the Director better than ever.  The Picketts are grateful to all fromparents to boys who helped in this unusual camp season.

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