CANOEING. 



A FORTNIGHT IN CAMP. 



WM. ELLIOTT FAY. 



A coat of thick tan is not the only thing 

 the canoeists took home with them when 

 they broke camp, the last days of i\ugust. 

 It was the fourth time the American Canoe 

 Association had camped on Grindstone 

 island, and many an enthusiastic paddler 

 greeted the St. Lawrence as an old friend. 

 The wooded shore at the foot of the Hog 

 Back was the tenting ground of copper 

 colored canoeists, long before the pale 

 devotees of the sport ever trod this land; 

 and arrow heads are still found by turning- 

 over the pebbles. Perhaps the knowledge 

 that the original canoeists once haunted 

 these waters and shores makes the spot 

 dearer to the present generation of pad- 

 dlers. Anyway all have a tender feeling 

 for old Grindstone, and they love the 

 broad stretch of Eel Bay as a sailing 

 ground. 



These canoeists are an heterogeneous 

 mass, coming from all portions of the 

 United States, and several parts of Can- 

 ada; but all are in camp with the same 

 object — healthful sport and a royal good 

 time. They commence at once by throw- 

 ing away the togs of civilization and array- 

 ing themselves in garbs that are cool and 

 comfortable and that give free movement 

 to every part of the body. Sometimes 

 these costumes are fantastic and pictu- 

 resque; but they are always comfortable. 



Of course the first thing to do is to pick 

 out a site, put up a tent and decorate the 

 canvas habitation with trophies and ban- 

 ners, not forgetting to scatter around 

 enough camp duffle to make the place look 

 homelike. The canoeists are experts in 

 camp making and long experience has 

 taught them just what to lug along to se- 

 cure comfort without the bother of a vast 

 amount of baggage. One little kit will 

 contain all the toilet articles necessary; 

 and another one, scarcely larger, will hold 

 all the cooking utensils needed to prepare 

 an elaborate camp dinner. When the ap- 

 petite is whetted by a 5 or 10 mile paddle, 

 food slips down easily, even if not served 

 in its most tempting form; but the canoe- 

 ists are fond of good things to eat. Some 

 of them are even expert in preparing a 

 camp banquet. 



As in tropical climate, the evening in 

 the canoe camp is the principal part of the 

 day. It is a sort of every night Mardi Gras, 

 with conservative old business men acting 

 the part of clowns and the whole camp 

 joining in the merrymaking. Some of 

 these owls are scarcely seen in the day- 

 time, and apparently sleep while the sun 

 is up in order to make good its absence 



with their bright sayings, which rival the 

 very camp fire in brilliancy. 



If you have never seen 200 men and 

 women seated around a blazing camp fire 

 of knots and dead branches, then you have 

 missed the best side show extant. Any 

 minstrel troupe could get valuable pointers 

 from the spontaneous humor which flows 

 incessantly at one of these gatherings. Mu- 

 sic is a prominent factor at these home 

 talent, outdoor entertainments, and charms 

 the midnight air with its melodious strains. 



Paraphrases are especially taking and 

 one can hardly make a move, in the day- 

 time, without having some singer work it 

 into a song, for the delight of the crowd 

 that evening. 



Naturally, so much gazing at stars and 

 flames makes a lazy camp in the morning, 

 but a brisk St. Lawrence breeze soon blows 

 the froth from one's brains, and a cool 

 plunge in the river quickly washes the dust 

 from sleepy eyes. 



The great public events are the sailing 

 and paddling races, for which the contest- 

 ants begin practising as soon as they arrive 

 in camp. Interest in the contests is strong, 

 and craft of every description bring visi- 

 tors to witness the events, the victory be- 

 ing always announced by cheers from every 

 quarter, firing of small cannons and blow- 

 ing of steam whistles. 



The tan which the summer sun imparts 

 will soon wear off, after the return to busi- 

 ness; but the buoyant spirits and the pleas- 

 ant memories of the meet hold good until 

 supplanted by another. 



Franklin, Pa. 



MEMBERSHIP COMPETITION. 



The Commodore and Secretary-Treasur- 

 er offer an Open Canadian Paddling Canoe, 

 with single blade paddles, as a first (1st) 

 prize; also a pair of single blade or double 

 blade paddles, at the option of the winner, 

 as a second (2nd) prize, to the members se- 

 curing, before the opening of the 1898 

 Meet, the largest, and next largest, num- 

 ber of new (active) members, respectively, 

 to the " American Canoe Association." 



The presentation of prizes will take place 

 at the Meet. The re-election of ex-mem- 

 bers will not count in this competition. By 

 sending a postal card to the Purser of your 

 Division, application blanks will be mailed 

 to you. 



Recreation, a monthly magazine, the 

 official organ of the Association, will be 

 sent to each member, free of charge. 



For further particulars apply to the un- 

 dersigned. 



Frank L. Dunnell, Commodore, 



C. V. Schuyler, Secretary-Treasurer. 



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