In Camp At Island Lake

Among the many thousand visitors at Camp Eaton, Island Lake, Sunday, it could not but be feit that a sad, serious undertone prevailed. Twentytwo excursión trains brought visitors trom all pafts of the state. It was said there were doublé the number of visitors present than ever on any Sunday during the annual encampments. The camp with its tents has often been described and this year had no new features, except that if anything it was more strictly military in details. The militia is largely composed of young men and are a fine healthy looking body of bright, intelligent faces. What has been said in eriticism by foreiguers of tbeir lack of discipline may be true, in a measure, but it must not be forgotten that just such young men fought the battles that have made this country what it is today. There has been much" talk of insubordinación among the men but when it is sifted, it will be found that these young men will prove true patriots, and Uien inborn good sense will triumpli over the necessary unpleasaut features of reorganizing the troopsas the exigency of the occasion demands. Our Michigan men will then say that they are ready to fight for tbeir country, be itin one official position or another and will not hesitate to go to the front, because this colonel or that colonel can not go. The day was pleasant until 5:30 p m. when it rained for a time. As at this time most of the visitors were seated in the cars little inconvenience was feit. During the afternoon the boys held general open house and there was hardly a tent that did not have its visitors. They were generally very quiet, the f uil seriousness of the occasion being visible in every one;s demeanor. Possibly it ruay only be a summer's picnic, toward which the troops are looking forward, and it may be battles in which strong men may be tried. The sweethearts of the men were very much in evidence, and male visitors, no matter of how close relationship, were "not in it" as compared with the "best girl." Both of the Washtenaw county companies, Co. A, of Ann Arbor, under command of Capt. Granger, and Co. G, of Ypsilanti, under command of Capt. John F. Kirk, made a fine appearance in the dress parade at :30 p. m. This was closely watched by the thousands of visitors who in their imagination saw the Michigan troops charging the Dons and defeating those representatives of everythingthat is cruel, bloodthirsty and evil, and complete what should have been done a ceutury ago, wipe theSpanish rule of oppression and hellishness from the face of the Western Hemisphere. The men universally declared they were well and had ravénous appetites, whieh tbey satisfled with plenty of good food. That their condition of health was good was proved by the fact that only two rneu were in the hospital, one a case of pneumonía contracted on the way to camp and the other a case of poisoned ivy. Among the most interested visitors in camp were many old soldiers of the rebellion of '61. Many of these had sons in the regiments. Taken all together the present encampment is the most notable one held for many years, in that everyone knows that it will prove the real patriotism of every man in the militia and show conclusively that they are not tin soldiers. One result of the present war will be that the men enlisting in the state militia hereafter will know that if they expect mere fun they will be mistaken. It is the duty of every citizen to sustain our state militia with words of encouragement and pecuniary assistance. This country must either have a laiger standing army or a good militia organizjj.tion. The men in camp must have had occasion to think of their friends on Monday when they cleaned up. The camp ground was covered with orange peel. banana skins, lunch boxes and papers. They were all evidencea however that they had been thought of by loving friends. When the time catue to leave for home many a sad farewell was given, being more sad in a measure, on account of .the uncertainty as to the future which exists. The people of Michigan are closely watching the men at Camp Eaton who will not betray the trust reposed in them.