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Home Letter Volume 32, July 14, 1958 No. 3

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VOLUME 32             July 14, 1958                   No. 3


WEATHER: Let us start with a confession of defeat and get on to happier things. The weather has been a bit out of control. It hasn’t curtailed our activities but it has added a considerable degree of character development to various trips and other events. In this atomic age of all knowledge, we once more humbly realize our eventual helplessness. Perhaps as an augury of better things to come, Sunday is a completely ideal camp day. Fortunately, most discontent with the weather is a grown up avocation. The young, segregated from adults would never pay any attention to it.

END OF AN EPOCH: The end of this week will mark the end of the first four weeks of camp. It seems incredible that so many days have been fed into the giant hopper of time; but calendars share with figures this distinction: they do not lie.

MONDAY: Intrepid Eddie Brown with assistants Pete, Warren and John took off on the famous two-day Susquehanna trip with their objective the environs of Oneonta. Four canoe loads took off to the previously described Sunken Islands. Councilors Boyce and Charlie McManus graciously invited the boys of their tents to a delightful supper on the beach around the corner out of sight of camp. While we hesitate to mention visitors for fear of leaving out one, we must say that a famous old Hyde Bay councilor known as Puffy Evans brought his bride to visit us. They entered our dining—room to the badly strained strains of the wedding march.

TUESDAY: This was just like the day before, atmospherically, with a bonus of heavy afternoon rain. There was excellent swimming before and after the deluge. “Swimming Called Off on Account of Rain” is a curious headline. The baseball team practiced. Bob Rockwell took a group of equestrians to inspect the magnificient stables of that famous horseman, Mr. Ambrose Clark, in Cooperstown. Dispairing of the weather, Dick Carlton led a devout group to inspect the Baseball Museum. This is our normal safety valve en rainy days.

THE NEXT DAY: We like to toss in some intellectual problem in this chronicle, hence the title. It was cool, windy with clouds who made a reluctant departure as the day went on. A flotilla under Admiral Carlton abetted by councilors Boyce and Murphy went by trailer to the lower end of the lake and skirted its remaining shores for the rest of this day, coming back to camp before supper. This is known officially as an Up—the—Lake trip. Admiral Jeff and commadore Charlie sailed to Three—mile Point for lunch, visited Cooperstown and returned using only boreal power. On this afternoon, the fame of Hyde Bay attracted from Camp Len—A—Pe, a good one hundred miles away, a baseball team which humbled us 5 to 2 on our field. Harry Black’s double was the best hit of the day. Alex Wise did a splendid job of catching the pellets hurled in his direction by pitchers Black, Miller and Archie Coupe. The afternoon swimming was excellent. We participated


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in the “Charge at Feather River” on film in our theater and in the evening.

CONY PIG: (See Dictionary) This is what the camp became en Wednesday. The local hospital, desirous of collecting data from an abnormally healthy group, sent skilled operatives to take “nose cultures”. You are familiar with the Mayan culture and the Mycenean culture. This was different. A deft insertion of a small timber padded with cotton in all nostrils from the tiny apertures of the youngest to the cavernous adult openings. We hope we have advanced science. If this is a success, we may apply for the privilege of space for the entire camp in the next cone, which is hurled aloft. This trip will, of course, be optional at no extra charge.

A BEAUTIFUL THURSDAY: Dick Carlton led out a hardy group to capture such fossils as had escaped the dragnet of Councilor Pine, as previously chronicled. An expeditionary force defeated Camp Chenango 11—7 on their own ballfield. Kinni Hawks pitched extremely well. Players Johnson and Archie and Dougie Coupe contributed hits. Loyal fans visited the game by foot and horse and sail. The tents, under the aegis of Heuisler and Samborski, accompanied by our Indian guide, Fish—Catcher Classen, spent the night on Gravelly.

FRIDAY: on which day a Susquehanna trip led by councilor Stanley, aided by Murph, with guest artist from the navy, Jeff Williams, set off at the usual time. As Camp Len—A—Pe descends upon us again soon to wrestle Bob Pickett, borrowed from the Harvard Corporation for the purpose, began wrestling practice.

SATURN’S DAY: (Classical allusion) Intermittent rain prevented us in no way from starting Junior Life Saving examinations, visiting the famous Hall of Fame and having wrestling practice.

DRAMA: In the second season of tent plays, Tent number 5 routed three others in a brilliant burst of histronics. We saw a novel version of Gunsmoke with Matt Dillon sadly shrunk down to Nick King and an authentic Chester in the person of councilor Pine. There was a lampoon on camp life in the boathouse. A strikingly authentic scene on the streets of Brooklyn was the third offering. One could see clearly the absence of the Dodgers. A remarkable bit of projection. The winning tent portrayed a hitherto unknown event in the reign of good King Arthur. The alchemy of costuming and make—up in this skit changed a personable Hyde Bay councilor into one of history’s more forbidding females. His name will be given on request.

THAT PERFECT DAY: (see paragraph one) found Pete Stanley conducting most effectively our camp service with a mountain climbing allegory. David Macky gave the Junior Life Saving tests. Tents #1 and #9 enjoyed a voyage to Cooperstown in the Hacker as a recognition of their unnatural neatness. One might call it, the “Good Housekeeping” award. In softball, the Peanuts beat the Rags to the joy of coaches Brown and Boyce and the uncontrolled grief of coaches Macky and Heuisler. Due to a comedy of errors too lengthy to describe, we had no movies this day despite a letter and a telephone call by the Director.

RECHECK: Please analyze the day—by—cay account to observe how unfair we really were to the weather.

HONOR ROLL: Walt Rogers passed his “D” test as did Ward Kerr and Tom Hammond. Walter Sweepe broke the ‘E’ barrier and “J.J.” Daily also covered the distance.

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