Martha Bell’s Diary April 14, 1914
Well, the work is on in full force once more and now I believe I have time to finish telling about my grand vacation.
Friday afternoon, after saying goodby to father, I came out here and got ready to go out to the camp. The girls all had to take their bedding and most of them rolled it up in bundles and carried it that way with middies, old skirts, sweaters, and those ungainly bundles we, seventeen in all, started off. We went to the park and took a boat there for Picnic Point. The hour and a half ride was lovely. When we got to the dock we had to walk about three quarters of a mile to the cottage along the prettiest road thru the woods, beside the water. That is the most ideal place I ever saw and I at once completely fell in love with it. The house is a delightful one so convenient and nicely furnished. On one side is a big living room with a huge fire place. That opens onto a big porch which they use for a dining room in summer. On the otherside is an inside dining room and out of that a kitchen. Then there are several rooms upstairs, too. The house is in the midst of “the tall timbers” with a beautiful view of the sound which is just a little ways off.
This beach is on a big bay which is so quiet and peaceful and it seems more like a lake. Well, after exploring and enthusing over everything we proceeded to go out and chop fir boughs to sleep on. How we did eat that dinner! I was simply starved. We twelve girls ate on the porch and the three McKays (Mr., Mrs. and Hazel) and Miss Bedell and her sister ate inside. We divided ourselves into relays of three each to take charge of the four meals. Bertha, Pearl and I came first so got our work over with the first whack. Then we made a huge bonfire down on the beach. It was simply perfect. We all sat around and sang and toasted marshmallows. After a while the moon came up and Florence Mustard, Jeannette and I went out rowing for a long time. The water was like glass. We sang, talked to the echo? which was wonderful, and were supremely happy. I won’t soon forget that night. Finally, we tore ourselves apart and went up to get our beds fixed. We strung them out the entire length of the room. Mildred and I slept together and rather lost out on branches altho [sic] we got an awful lot, so our bed wasn’t exactly what you’d call downy although it was down. About six in the morning Florence woke me and we got up and went rowing for an hour and a half before breakfast. I won’t attempt to describe the beauties of that early morning on the water, I couldn’t. Most of the morning was spent on the beach digging clams. I never saw such quantity this. There were almost hundreds of them. The tide was very low that day and we had such fun examining the many interesting things that were left on the beach. Then we took some pictures, rowed over to the landing with some of the baggage and came back to the grandest clam dinner. The afternoon was spent doing just as we pleased and I did so enjoy it. We had such a nice congenial bunch and the McKays were lovely to us. I like them all so much. Mrs. McKay is a perfect dear. We left about six and surely did hate terrible to leave that beautiful place. We ate our lunch or rather supper coming home on the boat.
Sunday morning Jeannette, Mildred and I got up early and went down to take the seven o’clock boat for Seattle. We just had time to go and get a little bite of breakfast. The ride over in the early morning was glorious. In Seattle we walked around the business part till church time and then went up to the First Presbyterian. It is the largest Presbyterian church in the U.S. The building is a beautiful one-very large. Dr. Mathews is the minister and it was he that we went to hear. He is one of the most powerful, popular ministers in the west and he certainly is perfectly wonderful. His sermon was simply grand, one of the most forceful, original sermons I’ve ever heard. He has a wonderful way of putting things. His topic was “The Song of the Unfolding Life”. I wish I might remember a great many of the things he said. The rest of the Easter service was very beautiful too. Then we went to an awfully nice cafeteria and had a dandy dinner. After that we went to the University. It is a beautiful place. The campus is very pretty indeed. We had a little time before the boat left after coming back to the city so went to the library. We took the five boat back, had the nicest supper- strawberry shortcake, etc. – and finally got back here. Yesterday I did a few of the many things I had planned to do during vacation. All day of course the girls were coming in and there was much embracing, talking etc. Haven’t studied a lick tonight so must get busy. It surely has been one ideal vacation. I don’t see how anyone could have had a grander time.
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A College Year 1913-1914 - Whitworth Archives 