A BOYS' CAMP THAT ALMOST BECAME FAMOUS 149 



It is rare that a boys' camp develops as the Johnny Island camp 

 did. Among the names of those who sojourned there during 

 the years of its functioning are m.any who in their own fields 

 have become well known if not famous. Most of the members 

 of the carrp who enjoyed that last year together were facing their 

 life work in missionary or allied fields, and the roll of its members 

 reads almost like a page from the Missionary Who's Who. There 

 was Brownell Gage who took up the work so well begun by Law- 

 rence Thurston in China; Mrs. Lawrence Thurston, then Matilda 

 Calder, now head of a girl's school in China; Enoch Bell, editor 

 of a missionary publication ; Brewer Eddy, a secretary of the Ameri- 

 can Board and one of its m.ost effective speakers; Helen Calder, 

 a Secretary to the Women's board; Robert Hume, professor in 

 Union Theological Seminar}^; Robert M. Brown, professor 

 in the Rhode Island College of Education; Hiram Bingham, dis- 

 coverer and excavator of the Inca Capital; and many others. 



Camping out com.es as a norm.al suggestion to the thoroly Ameri- 

 can bo}^ In m.any cases it is not convenient to carry the suggestion 

 to its fruition, but when it becomes the expression in the first place 

 of a boy's love of adventure and then develops along the lines of 

 his growing ideals, no healthier experience is open to him. The 

 Johnny Island cam.p was unique, — it fell short of becoming famous, 

 as communities in New England have becom.e famous, only because 

 it had to be abandoned when its members were at an early age. In 

 1902 it was abandoned temporarily because of the wide spread dis- 

 persal of its members ; but no hope of opening again was ever seen 

 when death took away its leading spirit. 



Camping is a rare treat. It is frequently the transient experi- 

 ence of the Am.erican boy. When it results from an inner urge 

 it is an experience which broadens the life of every one. The 

 increasing number of summ.er camps advertised in our magazines 

 is a healthy sign that dress and hotel life does not satisfy the youth, 

 but an intimate contact with people and things is desired. If 

 there can be any criticism, of these camps it is because of a super- 

 imposed leadership, rather than a growth along self-imposed lines. 

 The Johnny Island cam.p endured during thirteen formative years 

 becuase the members became m-ore and'tnore self reliant ; because 

 they were able to meet themselves the changing conditions which 

 increasing maturity and larger numbers entailed ; and because they 



