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Had usual swimming and horseshoes this afternoon and finally we had our picnic down at the "spot" near the beach - Bowers, Tafts, Atwells and Cratons and Arnold Smith took care of us. Gathered at Atwells first for two or three "dividends" to get in the proper mood - and incidentally the Doc makes 'em plenty stiff and he pushes you plenty hard to drink 'em down - and then we repaired to the beach and prime spot in the grove up above the dock. Immediately the Doc said he felt we should unlimber the dozen cans of ale we had brought down so that kept us all in a very good mood. We had chicken sandwiches, stuffed eggs, etc. and Arnold made a coffee over a fire in the big grate. After supper we all went canoeing and Rog ate it up - a great enthusiast. I let him and Bab paddle and they both did well. I was careful to keep in close to the shore just in case but all went well.  Canoeing along the mirror like lake beside the cool dark forest at dusk was almost too good - it was hard to believe it be back at my desk in about 2 days - such a contrast. The only bad spot in the picnic was my camera which refused to run - the governor seemed to stop it - and I had bought a roll of film this morning just to use on the picnic. It's the first time the camera has acted up and was a shame it had to happen tonight.

When darkness settled down, we repaired to the Atwells for bridge and more "dividends" and it was a very hilarious party. Mrs. Atwell misunderstood "Forie" to be "Boris" - so I was "Boris," Taft was "The Commodore," Collis was "Franco" (Carlos Franco) and the Doc cleaned up the money including four out of five cold hands of poker - never saw such luck. In the midst of it, we all went out to see the most gorgeous and brilliant display of Northern Lights I've ever witnessed - so bright, it was as light nearly as a full moon!