Jan. 33, J89l] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Regatta Committee. 



W. C. A. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, JAN. 10. 



THE annual meeting of tlie Executive Committee of the W. O. A. 

 was lield nt, the Wellington, Chicngo, on Jan. 10, Com. D. H. 

 Crane presiding. Tb' re were present of the committee. Com. D. 

 H. Crane, A'ice-Com. N. B. (look, Kear-Com. O.A.Woodruff. 

 SPC'y-Treas. J. H. Ware, C. J. Stedman and G. H. Gardner. 

 Messrs, J. li. Baitlett and H. D. Crane of the Regatta Comrnittee 

 were tilso in aHendanco. In addition to the foiegoing the follow- 

 ing members of the Association were present by courtesy of the 

 TCxeculive Coram ttee: Hon. U. W. Gardner, of Oleveltind; Geo. 



B. B1la.rd and Chaa. WeeJts. of Cincinnati; T. J. Kirkpatrick, 

 Springfield. O.; G G. Case, a. B. Mettler. J. H. HpJraer, .Tackscn. 

 Mich.; H. C. Morse, Peori.a, 111.; C. J. Boiisfie.id. Bay City, Mioh ; 

 W. H. Crawford, Dayton, 0.; Geo. M. Muuger, 0. F. Munger, H. 



C. Waters, C. W. Lee,N. H. Ctok, W. M. Dunham, A. W. KUchin, 

 and C. S. i-!haw. of Chicago. 



The first suV'ject presented for discussion was the location of the 

 next meet. A moiion was at once made and seconded that the 

 meet next summer be held at Ballast Island, Dike Erie, as for- 

 merly. A short talk was indulged in regarding the feasibility of 

 Iccatmgthe camp at Lps Oheneaux Islands, near Mackinac, thus 

 afTording new waters for cruising. Hownver, the great amou at of 

 labor and additional expense that would be enl ailed by such a 

 radical change, in addition to the inaceessihiJity oi the proposed 

 aire, made it a rather one-sided questiou. Besides, a general fond- 

 ness for the old camping place was expi-essed by those present, 

 and a eall for the question brought out a unanimous vote in favor 

 of Ballast. 



A few lunar obser%^atious disclosed tbe fact that should llie 

 camp be held from July 11 to 26, inclusive, moonlight evenings 

 wotild he enjoyed during the whole period, and a unanimous vote 

 quickly settled ihese dates as the time for the next meet. 



Col. J. R. r.artlett, as chairman of the regatta committee, then 

 presented their repnrt to tke meeting, preceding it with a few re- 

 marks giving reasons in favor of the proposed programme of 

 i-aces. By recommeDdation of the regatia coaimittee, and con- 

 sent of the Hon. Geo. W. Gardner, tlie donor of the cup to the 

 j^soeiatiou, tbe Gardner cup was declared open to Class G canoes, 

 thus mnkintr this a free-for-all cup race. Some very pretty racing 

 should result, and the future holder of this cup can congralulate 

 himself upon his prowess, for competition between the classes is 

 keen and a victory in this race now means a supremacy of the 

 whole fleet. 



A motion was then made that tbe programme of races and 

 amendments to the sailing rules as proposed by the regatta com- 

 mittee be adopte.l, which was carried unanimously. 



It was proposed that Article 1. of the by-laws be amended by the 

 aduiiion of the following: "Every member attending the annual 

 W. C. A. camp shall pay one dollar for camp expenses." Adopted 

 unanimously. This was followed by an informal discussion re- 

 garding some minor questions, after which a motion to adjotirn 

 prevailed. J. H. Ware, Sec'y-Treaa. W. 0, A. 



Chicago, Jan. 14. 



PBOQRAMME OW BACKS FOR 1891. 



No. 1 . Paddling, Class J .. 3^ mile. 



No. 2. Paddling, Class II., % mile. Record event. 



No. 3. Paddling, Class Hi., 4^ mile. Record event. 



No. 4. Sailing and paddling, Classes A and B, 1}^ miles; sail 

 first half mile, paddle second and sail third. Record event. 



No. a. Sailing, for Gardner cup, free for all classes, best two 

 heats in three, each heat to be two turns of the course, or 3 miles. 

 Record event for A and B. 



No. 6. Sailing, for the W. 0. A. Trophy, Classes A and B, best 

 two heats in three, each heat two turns of the course, or 3 miles. 

 Record event. 



No. 7. Sailing, for Longv^orth cup, Class C, best two heats in 

 three, each heat two ttirns of the course, or 3 miles. 



No. 8. Sailing, man overboard, free for all classes. At a given 

 signal crew to throw a paddle overboard to leeward, pick it up 

 and continue on course across the line. 

 No. 9, Sailing, passenger race, free for all classes, 3 miles. 

 All races will be governed by the W. 0. A. rules. 

 (Signed) J. R. Bartlett," 



O. H. Root, 

 H. D. Cbank, 

 B. M. King, 



The racing rules were amended by the addition of the following, 

 relating to the cup races: 



RULE XXV. 



Sec. 1. Each cup race shall consist of three heats; each beat 

 shall be two turns of the course, or three miles, and shall be sailed 

 within one hour and thirty minutes to he counted. No two heats 

 In any race shall be sailed the same day unless directed by the 

 regatta committee. 



Sec. 3. A canoe not winning one heat in three shall not start 

 for a fourth unless such canoe shall have made a dead heat. 



Sec. 3. A dead heat shall be counted in the race, and shall be 

 considered a heat which is undecided only as between the canoes 

 making it, and it shall be considered a heat that is lost by all the 

 other competing canoes. 



Sec. 4. Whenever each of the canoes making a dead lieat would 

 h.vn been entitled to terminate the race had it won said dead 

 heat, they only shall start again. 



Sec. -5. A canoe must win two heats to be entitled to the cup. 



S' C. 6. When more than one canoe remains in the race, entitled 

 to be placed at the finish of the last heat, the second best canoe 

 sliall receive the second priz^, if any there be. 



Sec. 7. In deciding the rank of canoes other than the winner, 

 among such as remain in the race entitled to be placed at the con- 

 elusion of t^e last heat thereof, the several positions which have 

 been assigned to each, canoe so contending shall be considered as 

 to every heat in the race. That is, canoes having won a heat and 

 made a dead heat, better than a canoe that has won a heat only; 

 a canoe winning a heat, better than one maklne a dead heat; a 

 dead heat better than no heat; a canoe that has been placed sec- 

 ond one heat better than a canoe that has been placed third any 

 number of times. 



Sec. 8. When two or more canoes appear equal in rank in the 

 summary of tlie race, they shall cast lots for the second prize, if 

 any there be. 



Sec. 9. In ease these provisions shall not give a specific decision 

 as to second prize, the judges of the race are to make the award 

 according to their best judgment, but in conformity with the 

 principles of this rule. 



The Chicngo C. C. is modest and doesn't wish to say a word 

 about the dinner that followed the meeting, but really the letters 

 of compliment which have been pouring in from guests now re- 

 turned to their homes are not to be gainsaid, and history will not 

 have it any way except that the city by the lake has surpassed all 

 similar efforts up to date. As the Hon. Geo, W. Gardner, of Cleve- 

 land, expressed it, "Chicago has out-Cbicagoed herself." Un- 

 biased judgment must say that she has done very quietly and un- 

 pretentiously, and with the modesty which is the better part of a 

 genuine hospitality. 



When Manager Bemis, of the Richelieu, cast his eye over the 

 tables up in tbe big domed banqueting hall of that famous hos- 

 tlery he smiled in a way to do one's sou) good. "These are the 

 prettiest tables I ever set," said h.e. And he sent for a photog- 

 rapher. To-day there are extant pictures of the Greek cross 

 table of that memorable banquet, showing the little round table 

 in the center with its towering mass of bloom, and all the deft 

 arrangement of the choicest linen, the rarest cut-glass and the 

 finest silver the Richelieu ever laid before a guef-t the most dis- 

 tinguished. The purely material processes of eating and drink- 

 iug became refined and spiritualized at this Greek cross board. 

 Moreover, the close ar d compact arrangement brought all the 

 party close together and well within reach of the silverv, lutelike 

 tones of Chairman Marks. The r;ie;!W— but will it not bring tears 

 to the eyes to discuss such good things, gone forever? The menu 

 is worthy of reproduction, but black and white will not reproduce 

 the soft tones of the copper etching, and only those who sat at 

 the board that night may know the tiue fitness of tlie quaint de- 

 signs, conceived by the committee on arrangements, which fell 

 here and there upon the carte. The name of oacli guest was 

 blazoned on his menu, and doubtless it would take much fine gold 

 toiTiduce any member present to part therewith. The card showed 

 a verv definite programme for the evening, further borne out by 

 tlie very clever idea of the printed "Songs of the W. C. A." neatly 

 folded in. Among these songs were historic ones, such as these: 

 "There is a Tavern in the Town," "America," "Golden Slippers," 

 "Hear dem Bells," "Put on de Golden Sword," and "Aukl Lang 

 Syne." The lilt of these tunes is part of every heart that sits hr- 

 liind a sail or wields a blade, and being provided here with the 

 words, which sometimes prove elusive, the boys all sang— and liow 

 they did sing! In canoeing there are no comparisons. Each new 

 experience is the best of all. The C. C. C. banquet to the W. C, 

 A. Is only the last best thing: yet probably some days subsequent 

 to this almost any one of the young and old boys who turn a re- 

 trospective paga of thiB pretty little menu, memorial and pro- : 



gramme of the evening will smile as he thinks of the time, and 

 murmur. "It was a corker!" 



The tables were spread for forty-eight, and up to the last 

 moment it was thought that nearly that number would be present. 

 Sickness kept gome guests away, and letters of regret came in till 

 only forty good mi'u a,i;d true sat down at the hour appointed. 

 Among others there were present the following from without the 

 city: Hon. G. W. Gardner, of Cleveland, O."; G. H. Gardner, 



Kirkpatrick, Springfield, O.; O. A. Woodruff, Dayton. O.: W, H. 

 Crawford, Dayton, O.; H. D. Spencer, Bloomington, O., S. B. 

 Mettler, Jacksun, Micb.: G. G. Case, Jackson, Mich.; John Hel- 

 mer, .Jackson, i^Uch.; H, C. Morse, Peoria, 111.; C. S. Boustield, 

 Bay Cii y. Mid). The (Jhicago contingent included Commodore 

 D.H. Crane, Mepsrs. L. S. Marks, J, H. Ware, C. W. Lee, P. F. 

 MuDgpr, N. B. Cook, h\ S. Waters, G. M. Munger, Dr. Matteson. 

 N. H, Cook, H. C. Waters, H. B. Black, W. M. Dunham, A. W! 

 Kitcbiu, H. B. Cook, D. M. Lord, R. P. Marks, C. E. Stevens, B. S. 

 Shaw and W. E. Lewis. 



Telegrams and letters nf regret were read from Mr, Porteous, 

 Purser N. D., A. C. A.; Vice-Oom. Cartwrigbt, Seo'y Brazer,Vice- 

 Cora. Dorland,Vice-Com. Cotton,Vice-Com. Wiune. Reade Bailey, 

 Gaddis, Sluras, Clark, L. B. Palmer, Grandpa Gates and many 

 otbors. 



The arrangements of the evening were perfect, and more need 

 not he said as to that. But credit should be given the C. C. C. 

 committee, who had the arrangement in charge. Messrs. J. H. 

 Ware, C. W. Lee, L .1. Marks, D. H. Crane and J. B, Kergh. or 

 those of them who did the actual work, deserve compliment cer- 

 tainly. This journal would he remiss in courtesy did it not return 

 sincere thanks to Purser Lee for au assistance unusual and kind. 



As was mentioned, Mr. L. .f, Marks was in the chair. Mr. 

 Marks is a young man of tall and dignified appearance, and a 

 tarovvn and bcHming eye. Mr, Marks is different from most men 

 in anatomical coustrucMon, in that histougue is hung in the mid- 

 dle, loose at each extremity and with brains in both ends of it. 

 As presiding officer and toast masier, Mr. Marks made a hloomin' 

 success of it. It may have been due to his great natural dignity, or 

 to the obvious wish to follow out a definite programme, or indeed 

 most likely to the good sense of all present, but it is certainly true 

 that up to the very last moment the ladyless assemblage was 

 orderly and quiet as a set of deacons. Each speaker was received 

 with courtesy and full attention. Let other banqueters bear this 

 in mind, especially in conjunction with the singular fact the party 

 sat down to dinner at 7:3U and did not rise till 1:.30 the following 

 morning. Of liie whole six hours there was not a dull moment, 

 and yet there was never a boisterous word. It may be in bad 

 taste to comment on this, but any one knows what such comment 

 really implies of compliment to canoeists as a class. 



It was late in the evening when the mandolin orchestra was 

 shamed into temporary silence by the silvern voice of chairman 

 Marks, who requested Col. J. R. Bartiett. of Fremont, Ohio, to 

 arise and make some remarks about the "W. C, A." 



CoL Bartiett was "stuck" on Ballast Island, where the past 

 meets have been lield. la fact, to such an exl:ent did his adhe- 

 siveness attuin that he burst into a wild lyric strain of poesy 

 about "Old Ballast." This made him fool better and he told why 

 he liked "Old Ballast" and the W. C. A. The Colonel will never 

 forget how, a lew years ago, when he was a perfect stranger at 

 the meet, he sailed across the stormy waves up to coast of Ballast 

 and was received with yells of "Bartleti! Bartlettl" from men he 

 never saw and who had never seen him before. They had spied 

 the heraldry of his approacshing sail, and looking up his number 

 in the Year Book recognized him in advance and called out, 

 "What's the matter with Bartleti?" Col. Bartiett thought t here 

 was only one BiUast Island and never would be more than one 

 W. 0. A. He sat down to take on more ballast amid prolonged 

 applau e. 



Mr. H. C. Waters, a Hyde Park canoeist, whose baritone voice is 

 so heavy that he can't take it out sailing with him, now gave a 

 very pleasant vocal solo, and then Mr. R. P. Marks responded 

 to the toast "Our Guests," Mr, M. G. Nixon was to reply to this 

 toast hut was by sickni ss prevented from attending. Mr, Marks 

 was summoned on short notice and out of hand made a rattling 

 address of welcome which sdded a cubit to the stature of every 

 non-resident present, Mr. Marks concluded: 



" While sitting here to-night I have gone back in fancy to those 

 vacation days in the waters of Put-in-Bay, and I see the little 

 Ina pufiing back and forth from point to point, freighted with 

 excurtionists ; the white-wirged canoes scattered here and there 

 over the surface of the water, scudding before the wind ; the boat- 

 house lauding alive with canoeists preparing for a sail, with the 

 ever present Jimmy Shiras in the boat-house tinkering with his 

 tackle ; a gang of thirsty fellows around the old ice chest of the 

 Chicago tent, waiting for the " experts ' to mix them a glass of ice 

 water; groups of twos and threes of hungry stomachs wending 

 their way toward the dinuing-hall after one of those dinners 

 widch would make Mrs. Richelieu turn green with envv ; and 

 lastly, the old camp-fire arottnd which you pass the hours till late, 

 with story and song. Again I was thinking while sitting here, of 

 w^hat would have happened if any one of us had dared to appear 

 on Ballast Island in dress suit. 1 imagine he would have received 

 such a ducking as has not been seen since our good friend Mr, 

 Cook upset in that unfortunate race last summer. 



"Permit me to say thatl hope your association will continue 

 its piosperity with no clashing between Classes A, B, nor C, and 

 should you grow so as to finally introduce Class X, I promise 

 to buy the Great Eastern and join your association. Permit me 

 also to thank you tor your courtesy and hospitality, a,nd to con- 

 gratulate you as an association in having as part of your organi- 

 zation such a company as the Chicago Club to furnish such a 

 diiiuer as this we have risen from, but what else could you expect 

 from a club, the possessor of such a well appointed Kitdien. such 

 artistically decorated Tf'are, two such excellent Coolfs, plenty of 

 Wuod that is pretty hard to beat and a Crane that every good 

 house-wife must admit is admirably well placed." 



Mr. C. S. Shaw, a Canadian canoeist, who is a close relative of 

 Orpheus, now sang a brave baritone baUad. In this way, Mr. 

 W' aters and Mr. Shaw alternated throughout the evening, one or 

 the other singing a solo after each speech. Never was a nicer 

 evening. 



"Brotherhood of Canoeists" was upheld by Hon. Geo. W. Gard- 

 ner, of Cleveland, O., much beloved by all of the craft. Mayor 

 Gardner is the head of the syndicate which owns Ballast Island, 

 the scene of the \^'estern meets, and his uniform kindness to 

 canoe people has endeared him to the hearts of all. He arose 

 amid prolonged applause. Mayor Gardner said: 



"Mr. Chairman and Friends: Another leaf has been taken from 

 the calendar. The log of the past season, full of the most happy 

 recollections, has been closed, and we open the new book for 

 records such as can come only from the great outdoor world with 

 its lurid charms for genial gentlemen, who, possessing pluck, skill 

 and staying qualities, are, m ihe gentlemanly sport peculiar to 

 the Brotherhood of Cancers, their owti masters, gathering strength 

 from contact with the free forces of the universe, wind, waves, 

 rain and sunlight, and courting contests in manly antagonism. 

 There is something healthy in this brief return to the state of na- 

 ture from which modern life is so remote; to paddle or sail from 

 the artificial into the natural world which is before ua, is to out- 

 live and outlast our civilization. 



" The days may not always be glorious in bright sunshine and 

 flpecy clouds, but the cancer's life brings out genius in model, 

 strength, outfit, rig and buoyancy that rises to every sea, begetting 

 romantic charm and attractive excitement— strength for the 

 weak, health for the sick, hope for the despondent, appetite for 

 the dyspeptic, peace for the weary, joy for the moody, and im- 

 measurable bliss for all who don the togs and with paddle- 

 though it may grow heavy at times and show the weak points in 

 muscle, or with sail, which may cause an intimate atisorption, 

 satisfying the most credulous, that water is very wet, yet the web 

 and woof of his enjoyment is so beautifully woven as to remain 

 with him— ' a thing of beauty and a joy forever.' 



"There may be those of us who have been a trifle lubberly at 

 times, but we don't hang in stays nor are we a travesty upon 

 the brotherhood as sailors or gentlemen, and it is just pos- 

 sible that we all of us, at all times, might not be quickly recog- 

 nized, because of the nut brown exposure and little bits of sun- 

 burnt cuticle, covering spots not otherwise enveloped in togs 

 peculiar to us as canoeists, but we do not lay claim to an excess of 

 egotism, however little there may be a smack of it, when we say 

 we are willing to admit the educating influence of our associa- 

 tion—neither will we bulge or magnify non-essentials, for that 

 would bo to forget our unity of purpose. 



"While but comparatively few excel in athletics, constant exer- 

 cise is the best of toed for physical well being. That physical cul- 

 ture, hand in hand with mental development, brings the most 

 d( sir able results must he admitted, for much of the popularity of 

 the older colleges of the East, especially, is due largely to the 

 attention given to tbe different athletic sports, prominent among 

 which as a permanent feature is aquatics. If it were otherwise 

 thfi mental development would be built up at tfie terrible expense 

 of vitality, and results are, we ha ve sportsmanlike and gentle- 

 manly contests attracting large interest throughout the country, 



"With this attractive feature comes eadarance and power, 

 which gftunot in aiU its oonnectiqas and RSSooiatlonB be deejned ao 



extravagant development of certain lines or prejudicial to a per- 

 fection in other faculties. 



"In the specialty of our brotherhood there is much material of 

 interest to all to be worked up by reflective study in camp-fire 

 and experiment for action under paddle and canvas. 



"It is something marvelous, the great accession to'the ranks of 

 canoeists all over the country. There is a belief that to the thous- 

 ands who have thus been attracted there is a fascination that can- 

 not bo withstood, 



"Our brothers of the A. C. A., who for a decade past have been 

 in line of steady growth in membership and progress in all that is 

 implied in modern canoeing, who can give us so much in song, 

 sketch and story, are entitled to receive, and we hereby tender to 

 them our hearty congratulations. Their activity has been a stim- 

 ulant to this, the younger association, and though not our Alma 

 Mater, for we "bate' her— when we can— we plead guilty to being 

 accessory to the accomplishment of an object hs an organization, 

 and in this there is an accepted unity ol: purpose in the entire 

 brotherhood of canoeists. 



"I am reminded, as we sit by this bountiful board enjoying the 

 generous hospitality of our brothers of the Chicago 0. C, who 

 have gathered the brotherhood from many of our local clubs for 

 a .season in communion of the most pleasant character ichagin- 

 able, of the< live feelings of personal regard co-existing in the 

 brotherhood of the Western Canoe Association, to which we all 

 claim the closest allegiance. 



"May this friendship over continue, for with it will follow not 

 only an assured success, which has neen attained, but a lesson 

 taught us from the past of the passibilities of the future. And 

 now, my brother canoeists, the order is given me. 'Your watch 

 below deck, shipmate,' so PlI lay to and go below." 



Mayor Gardner's remarks upon the mother association, the A. 

 C. A., were received with continued applause. 



Mr. P. F. Munger was called upon ro assume the responsibility 

 of replying to the delicate proposition "Our Sweethearts and 

 Wives." Mr. Munger said; 



"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: It is so many years since I have 

 had any experience of the former half of this subject, that I can 

 hardly speak by the card. I have heard of late years of the 

 summer girl, the sea side girl, etc, etc., but the sweetheart that I 

 used to know of was the old fashioned, all around girl. It may be 

 that the new style also includes the canoe girl. I have been tbinlc- 

 ing how I could say something ftmny on this subject, for it is 

 humorous talk that is most liked on an occasion like this; hut 

 being a married man of many years standing, and remembering 

 that the characteristic that chiefly distinguishes the wise man 

 from the fool is the ability to proHt by experience, I have con- 

 cluded that I will not attempt to say anything funny about wives. 

 It is a subject that must be approached with respect and dis- 

 cretion. 



"In its romantic phase this topic has so often been presented with 

 wealth of imagery and poetical inspiration, that for me to assume 

 to say one word that had not alrpady been said, or to add one jot 

 or tittle to the love and devotion due our wives and sweethearts, 

 would he like carrying coals to Newcastle or sprinkling perfume 

 on the violet. 



"But there are sides of this subject that are delightfully human 

 rather than idealistic, and all the more refreshing for being so. 

 The rose is no Ipss the queen of flowers because it has a thorn, and 

 our dear ones are not always angels except in name. And let us 

 stop a moment to consider how graeiouf-ly an all wise Providence 

 has ordered this thing. If they really were angels they would be 

 so good that we could not appreciate them; and then how embar- 

 rassing upon taking a friend nome unannounced, to find that your 

 wife has gone out flying to try a pair of new. fashioned wings and 

 bad taken her harp along. No, we prefer them, as they are, with 

 enough of the worldly admixture to give life a ze'=<t. 



"To those of us who are not looking backward, hut like the 

 Irishman have their experience before them, our subject is sur- 

 rounded by a halo than discloses only the colors of thii rainbow 

 or the brilliant glow of sunset tint". But to those of us who know 

 the sweetheart of old as the wife of the present are discernible 

 the more subdued but less evanescent colorings which denote the 

 presence of the qualities that make life happy and without which 

 beauty is a mockery. 



"Perhaps It was an error not to have included the wife in her 

 more important character as mother in th's toast, for to the 

 mother is due the inculcations in our impressionable minds of a 

 respect for it not love of one phase of our chosen sport. But for 

 the early maternal corrections, applied to that part of our anat- 

 omy that most appealed to our understanding, this banqueting 

 board would not be honored to-night by the presence of so many- 

 men eminent in their chosen walks of life, nor by so many more 

 of us who are willing to set the world on fire but don't know how 

 to do it. 



_ "The great interest evinced in the recent political agitation in 

 Kilkenny is an unconscious evidence of the esteem in wliich we 

 hold our womankind. Not that the idea of putrnacity or quar- 

 relsomeness, which the mention of that famous I' ish locality sug- 

 gests, has any couuectlou wit,h our peace-loving subject. Oh, no! 

 But it is a fact that our wives are the most potent and orthodox 

 of home rulers, and our sweethearts no doubt expect to be. 



"It is interesting to note the development of a timid, trusting, 

 dependent sweetheart. At first her norizon only has scope to 

 take in her hero, who is so competent to paddle his own canoe 

 and would like to take her aboard too. In due course of time they 

 ship together in the matrimonial canoe, and glide down the placid 

 river of life mid banks fringed wit h perfume laden flowers, sweet 

 flag, skunk cabbage, lin cans and dead horses, objects familiar 

 to all cruisers. She soon tires of only being a passenger and longs 

 for a more active participation in the work. She assumes a paddle 

 and becomes indeed a helpmeet. The placidity of the waters is 

 occasionally disturbed by rapids and storms, but our fair paddler, 

 gaining confidence from her experience, not only assists but takes 

 a hand in the guiding, and occasionally is the sole pilot, though 

 our brave canoer is complacent in the thought that he is doing Si 

 the steering himself. 



"Milliner Rapids and Hired Girl Dam, (which by the way is a 

 dam with a great big D) are safely passed, and even banquet 

 shoals by dint of hard work are gotten through, and the little 

 craft comes to rest at last in the tranquil bay of domestic felleiv, 

 stirred occasionally to hH .sure by puffs and squalls, but neverthe- 

 less a sweet haven of rest, 



"Yes, to our wives and sweethearts we owe much that goes to 

 make life worth the living, but most to the wife. She beautifies,, 

 adorns and makes attractive our homes; she mends our socks, 

 sews on our buttons, tells us not to stay out late, deprecates the 

 necessity of our attending a banquet from which she is barred, 

 and under guise of a kiss smells our breath when we get home. 



' But there are times when it is perhaps more pleasant to eon- 

 template her in the abstract; when (let it not be recorded against 

 me) distance lends enchantment. Tnat this is such an occasion, 

 and that this accounts for her absence here to-night, I leave it to 

 each guilty conscience to determine." 



"Ballast Island" was the theme which gave Mr. Geo, W. Ellard 

 the inspiration for a lt> e and touching talk. Mr, Ellard was one 

 of the founders of the A, C, A. and one of the early commodores. 

 The hoys listened with the closest attention to his every word and 

 applauded him to the echo when he had concluded. In the course 

 of his speech Mr, Ellard remarked: 



"There have been, from time to time, some slight murmurings 

 of discontent. There have been some who seemed to have a de- 

 sire for pastures, pardon me I mean waters, nesv. Bat their griev- 

 ances were mostly imaginary and passed away, or will pass away, 

 like the shadow of a summer cloud. Some few have left us and I 

 sorrow for it as we all do. But if, after this meeting, any mem- 

 ber desires to try the Feejee or the Falkland Islands, or the 

 newly-acquired German possession on the Gilbert or Marshall 

 Group, I will only say 'Joy be with you,' but 1 don't think you 

 will blame me if I say 'You won't be missed.' The Irishman 

 claims, in the language of his native poet, that his island is 'the 

 first flower of the earth, the flist gem of the sea;' and I claim for 

 Ballast that she is an emerald in a sapphire setting, with a sward 

 and a foliage as green and fresh as nature's hand can make them, 

 and surrounded by waters, bright and sparkling, as 'deeply, 

 darkly, beautiful blue,' as the Bay of Naples. 1 never visit Ball 

 last but I feel as if I had got a renewal of my lease of life I 

 never leave it but with keen regret, and as the outline of the 

 island fades from the view 1 feel, with the old ode to Venice. 

 'What sweet recollections cling to my heart as thy fast-fading 

 shores from my vision depart." Shipmates, I have a sentime nt 

 to offer, and I will ask you to fill your glasses and drink to it 

 standing. Ballast Island— The birth place of the W. C. A., the 

 cradle of its childhood, the home of its manhood and the haven 

 of its age!" 



The toast to "Tbe Press" was to have been acknowledged by the 

 Forest and Stream representative, but he being absent through 

 sickness the reply was made by Mr. H. D. Spencer, a hack-slidden 

 newspaper man, who is now studying law at Bloomington, III. 

 Mr. Spencer is an ardent canoeist and a rattling good speaker 

 withal. He showed the intimate relation between the press and 

 the honorable sports of the field. 



"The Ace of Clubs" was the closing formal speech, and Mr. J. 

 B. Keogh made it one of the pleasantest. The ace of clubs is the 

 totem or the Chicago Canoe Club, and the sign by which it con- 

 quers and the token of a top-card organisation. Mr. Keogh re» 

 ceuntad in a series of amnsjog anecdotes the adventures w^REerta 



