CAMP COQUINA. 



HARRIET SMITH. 



On a delightful morning in July, our 

 party of 6 young men, 6 young women, and 

 an all around boy, with our chaperone, 

 exchanged our West Virginia homes for a 

 week of life at Camp Coquina, 5 miles 

 up the river. There we set up 5 creamy 

 white tents, on a perfectly level terrace, a 

 few feet above the water, in a grove of 

 towering beeches, bordered on 3 sides by 

 dense woods. Our ample supply of boats, 

 8 in all, was kept at the wharf. Natural 

 steps led to the terrace, and the ground 

 of our new abode was carpeted with a 

 layer of woods mold equal to the richest 

 Wilton velvet. "Old Glory"' floated above 

 the central tent. The camp-fire, kept burn- 

 ing night and day as a safeguard against 

 serpents, panthers, or grizzlies, lent its aid 

 to the scene of comfort. Seven hammocks 

 hung from the trees, every one of which 

 had its lean-to. padded with cushions. Two 

 extra canvas-covered cots, with cushions, 

 served as open-air settees, besides a dozen 

 camp stools. 



The men's and women's sleeping tents 

 were each carpeted, and each contained 7 

 single cots. Two large trees, one near 

 each sleeping tent, had hanging on them 

 good sized mirrors, comb boxes, with 

 small open packing boxes, having the bot- 

 toms nailed to the trees, making con- 

 venient 2-shelf dressers. These boxes 

 contained tin wash basins, soap, sponges, 

 towels, combs, brushes, tooth brushes, 

 etc. A similar dresser, with towel scarf 

 holding small mirrors, pins, needles, thread, 

 scissors and hairpins, furnished the girls' 

 sleeping apartment. 



The third large closed tent, 12 by 14 feet, 

 was the reception hall, where were kept 

 the curio-cabinet, containing lichen souve- 

 nirs, stationery, cameras, of which we had 

 5. games of all kinds, books and magazines. 

 There were stored also shot guns, fishing 

 tackle for casting, trolling, turtle and frog- 

 hunting, besides music and musical instru- 

 ments ; and there we repaired for games 

 when storms came. Thor favored us 

 through the week with just enough of his 

 rumbling to make the lightning darts the 

 more beautiful. One night during our 

 stay the downfall of torrents of rain, defy- 

 ing canvas, induced us to hold umbrellas 

 over us as we lay in bed, sleeping and 

 dreaming of floating peacefully over hill 

 and mountain crest, each steering as his ark 

 his inverted umbrella. 



The first day the gentlemen insisted on 

 preparing all meals, after which lots were 

 drawn deciding which lady and gentleman 

 should be partners in culinary skill ; the 

 couple who were to cook the meals Monday 



preparing the 3 meals of the day, and so on. 

 This plan worked admirably, the lady pre- 

 paring the menu and supervising, while her 

 aid tended fire, carried water, and saved 

 steps generally. The rivalry existing be- 

 tween couples produced excellent meals. 

 Cooks for the day wore white caps and 

 aprons. All dish-washing was done by the 

 all around boy. Bread was brought fresh 

 from the town, Buckhannon, every day, the 

 boatman acting as canoe postal -clerk, 

 carrying and delivering letters. Butter and 

 milk were brought us from a neighboring 

 farmhouse, and were stored on ice in saw- 

 dust in our cellar, a dugout in the bank. In 

 our larder were potatoes, onions, beans, 

 string beans, oysters, soda crackers, canned 

 salmon, chipped beef, Vienna sausage, both 

 sugar-cured and camp-boiled ham, break- 

 fast bacon, eggs, cheese, cucumbers, flour, 

 lard, vinegar, sugar, salt and canned 

 fruit. Among fancy dishes we had turtle 

 soup garnished with lemon, consomme de 

 la pomme de terre with croutons, egg ome- 

 lette, egg salad, salmon croquettes, ice 

 cream, peach frappe and fried chicken, with 

 blackberries in season, at a total expense of 

 $17.50, or $2.95 per couple. 



Our kitchen was a canopy tent, with 

 work-table, store of edibles, cooking uten- 

 sils, complete as convenience suggested, line 

 of tea-towels, and a stove made from a 

 slight excavation in the hillside, with a 

 10-inch brick wall on either side, overlaid 

 with sheet • iron, finished with its stove 

 pipes and elbow supported at the back by 

 clay mortar. Wood was put in at the open 

 front. It corresponded in size and con- 

 venience with a 6-hole range. 



The dining room was another canopy 

 tent, with stationary table in white oil 

 cover, shining tin cups, tin plates, stew- 

 pans for sauce dishes, metal knives and 

 spoons. The table and bench seats were 

 ample to accommodate 18 persons. Our 

 table was always decorated with flowers. 

 On special occasions, one of which was 

 the entertaining of a Sorosis club of 16 

 for an entire day. we employed paper nap- 

 kins and special decorations. 



Breakfast and supper were followed by 

 a row to bait and examine 50 turtle hooks, 

 a row to Silver Springs, 4. miles distant, to 

 get a drink, a blackberrying excursion, or a 

 rowing, minnow-catching or fishing expedi- 

 tion of 2 to 10 miles. 



The noon hour was followed by the 

 make-believe siesta, but woe to him who 

 fell asleep ! He was sure to awaken with 

 the caterpillar-like chestnut blossoms 

 rounding the curves of his ear, or with the 

 snapper of a 20-pound turtle, held by the 



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