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Courtesy Larry Pickett

VOLUME 22             August 3, 1948                   No. 4

WEATHER The highest recorded temperature this week was 99.5 on Thursday. The lowest seems to be 71 on Monday. It rained a bit Monday evening and Tuesday morning. Wind blew with moderate enthusiasm on Thursday and Saturday. For the rest of the time we have had ideal weather with much sunshine.

HEALTH Tony Clark has emerged from the infirmary, having passed his measles test. Edo Ackerson is in there now in solitary grandeur, possibly developing a case of measles. Pete White and Billy Graham graced the infirmary for a day or so on the basis of minor complaints. Oh, yes, Giffy Cummings dropped into the infirmary for a brief visit.

SWIMMING Fifteen boys recently passed their Junior Life Saving tests. Seven others took the examination, relying on the instruction of previous years. They passed once more and are to be issued new cards. On the first day of July there were twenty-two boys in camp classed as non—swimmers. At the end of four weeks there were eight non— swimmers. These boys have passed the E test, Twenty—eight are D swimmers, Twelve have covered the long C distance, while twenty— six have done the more difficult B grind. So far, only one has been rowed over to Clark’s Point to swim back to camp. This is the highest swimming distinction, the A test. These statistics do not total up to the complete enrollment as Junior Life Savers were not required to take swimming tests.

ADDENDA Since the start of the last four weeks, four boys have passed the E test, three have passed their Junior Life Saving, tile Fred Glann and Toby Hyde have passed the D test.

THE MID-SEASON CHANGE Out went Bailey, Carey, Jack Crowley, Magruder, Waxter and Williams by taxi and train. Parental cars removed Plant and Michell. The auto was the more popular way of coming in, producing Glann, Gould, and Guy, an unusual succession of G’s. Hubie Crowley came by train and bus to the Cooperstown Academy, whence he was transported to camp by the Picketts, around, if not Robin Hood’s Barn, Otsego’s Lake. The influx and the exflux has produced some changes in tent groups which may appear as news items in your Sunday letters.

EXPEDITIONS The second Trenton Falls trip went forth under the leadership of Bob Pickett and Heb, assisted by Hobby, Blaise, and Al (Weaver, not Kerr, who is a home loving body.) They returned on Friday blessed all the way with good weather and grand fun. On this day Mac Rienhoff took his tent to spend the night on Gravelly. While it wasn’t exactly a trip, practically all the camp chased Bob Pickett, Hobby, Edo, Rouse, and Powell, who were playing the role of hares. Hares were never caught. Three cars took somewhat older boys to the movies in Cooperstown.

LATE CHANGES On Friday, Harry Thomas came in, riding up from Baltimore with the Hills. Dick Crisler and Terry Newell departed on Saturday. Warren Hills left early Sunday.

PREMATURE HEAD LINE “It’s a Landslide”, should appear in early November, but at progressive Hyde Bay it came on Saturday night in the form of a Lord-Kerr production of a magnificent play. This was out of the line of tent competition. In the distinguished cast the only real camper was Cub Forman. Walter, of course, impersonated the Director who was running for Congress. Al appeared as a beautiful damsel. Chiefie stalked about the stage as an aged conductor. Andy was a fresh Buster. Blaise once more lampooned the Directress. Bill McCarthy and Dick Terrill played straight rolls, while the Director filled a corner of the stage in the guise of a society woman (and his wife’s expanded dressing gown.) Father of Buster was “Kissin’” Bob Russell.

GALA WEEK-END In addition to the smash hit just described, Sunday witnessed the twelfth annual Eight Inch Regatta which was won by Jerry Eisner. I regret to say that unethical conduct marred the occasion. Certain ones tried to pull a boat ashore with a fish line. They were detected. The venerable Edward Thomas Russell was thrown into the lake by a group of our smallest campers. The calm and peace of the evening was rent when a fire broke out in the shack which had just been erected to sell beachmuck sandwiches. Providentially the Hyde Bay Fire Department had been organized a few hours before. They appeared with suspicious promptness, complete with red fire engine, appropriate suits, and superlative stupidity. The “fire” burned itself out harmlessly on the beach while the firemen, among who could be distinguished the elongated form of a certain yachtsman, then retired to hold high revels.
All in all a grand week which is usually the case when Wally wanders in.

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