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Homeletter 1936 Vol. 9, No. 5

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Hyde Bay
CAMP FOR BOYS

HERBERT E. PICKETT,
DIRECTOR
Hyde Bay Logo COOPERSTOWN, NY
HYDE BAY HOME LETTER           VOLUME NINE          NUMBER 5  August 1936.

CONGESTION - RESTRAINT - AGONY.
    There is so much to say in relating this eventful week's events that there is no room for verbiage.  For the verbose this is acute agony.

WEATHER.
    No rain at all this week except on one fatal night.  We have had no real rainy day this camp season, so far.  The lake is lower at this moment than it has been at any time for the last ten years.

VISITORS.
    The Beers came in to take away Heidi on Wednesday and stayed over night in the newly erected white tent.  Shortly after came the Littles to stay over night also in the white tent and environs.On Saturday morning Mr. Talmage drew up to the dock in Mr. Bowers' motor-boat and took away Prentice.Sunday was the real visitors day with unprecedented numbers.  On this day came Mr.and Mrs.Bryant with their daughter Mary from Pathfinders Lodge to see son Jim.  Subsequen­tly we took Mary back home in the motorboat.  Doctor and Mrs.Bubert had arrived by this time and made the trip to the girls camp with us.  Late in the afternoon they took away Howdy.  In the late afternoon arrived the Kinders to see Gordon and to leave John for a short stay.

THEY COME AND GO.
    Tuesday saw the advent of David Ramsay, Sophomore-in-Prospect at Yale, who is taking the place at the piano recently held by George McAdams and Leslie.  He has already made a place for himself in the camp.  He is one of those rare people who move about on the plane of the Director.  He too is over six-three.  George McAdams went to join his Father in New York on Friday.  Old camper and U. L. Johnny Burwell, came in with Manly Jenkins, brother to old camper, Ernest Jenkins, on Wednesday.Just now Walter Lord drove out amid farewell cheers of the assembled camp.  With Billy Lynn as escort to the gate, he rattled out with horn moaning like a lost soul, (if Plymouths have souls).As Captain Hartzell remarked “Now what will we do?” It is fun to see them come and hard to see them go.

TRENTON.
    On Monday went out the station wagon with the following passen­gers and crew: Heidi Beers, Howdy Bubert, George McAdams, "Hawkeye" Talmadge, well counciled by the Director, Mr. Dresser, Sunshine, Pick­ett, and Mr. Pine.  We explored the gorge went over the low falls with Mr. Pine setting a new style by going over head first, cooked steak on the rocks, gorged at Prospect and so home again.The canoetrip had to be left to the imagination because almost all the water is being diverted to feed the thirsty Barge Canal.  West Canada Creek looks like a badly paved street in Baltimore of the old days.

HUTTERS.
    Our newly established custom of following in the track of old Tom Hutter in canoe trips about the lake was honored Tuesday by an­other party.  This time the veteran voyageur, Jack Young, with Vice-Admiral Payne, took Hammy's entire tent to all the usual places. These trips have been very popular.

RUM HILL!  RUM NIGHT!
The same day saw three trips made by the motor boat to the other shore of the lake.The first contingent was headed by the director of the expedition one James L. Dresser, assisting him and encumbering subsequent boats were Tag, Classen, (Minor), Koppelman, of the council.Sixteen boys made up the rest of the party.  Donny Tag drove the sta­tion wagon with packs to the very crest of Mount Otsego, or Rum Hill, as it is really known.  Eventually the walkers arrived too.  Still more eventually arrived one of our rare rains.  The expedition was like Abou Ben Adam.  You will recall that exceeding peace had made him bold. Dry weather had lulled to rest our alert council.The thunder storm broke on a scattered and demoralized group.  The scene refutes description.  Refugees sat in the car or moaned about a small fire till morning.Some few hardy souls rolled in their blank­ets and slept.Secretly the Director likes to see the boy- of-the-present have such experiences.  But the hyphenated-juvenile of the last line makes no secret of his dislikes for it.  Anyhow they came home in the morning, wiser if not sadder men.

FIRST OF THE CAVALRY RAIDS.
    This week saw the first horse-hike.  Billy took out Howdy Bubert, Mike Thomas, Hawkeye to the old camping place on the mountain. All reported a great night. Nature was kinder to the horses than to the infantry of the previous expedition.

PLAY BALL!
    The Mohawks on Wednesday scalped and burned at the stake with hot fires of verbal broadsides the unfortunate Delawares who had pre­viously headed the league.  It was a primitive contest worthy of the savage titles born by the teams.  At the end of the contest ten Delaware scalps hung in the smoke of the Mohawk tepee while but one tuft graced the lowly huts of the defeated Delawares.

SAIL ON AND ON!
    The annual sail regatta for boats under eight inches was a huge success.  Hesperus owned, built and sailed by Donny Tag, won.  Some fifteen entries trailed the winner in the four races.  Booky Lynn was run off the grounds by the local police just as he was about to fleece the camp.

SLIGHTED BY SPACE REQUIREMENTS.
    The best manhunt we have ever had came on Saturday night.  The outs won in two hours of constant excitement.  We have put up a magnificent new diving tower and slide.  Cooperstown defeated us in a close and enjoyable swimming meet on Friday.Hyde Bay winners: Hudson in the plunge, Lawry in the dive, Johnny Morris tie in the backstroke.  Cooperstown stars, Eggleston and Root

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