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My Trip to Eagle’s Mere

by Lucy West

This story appeared in The Carlisle Arrow, Carlisle Indian School, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, volume 11, number 1, September 4, 1914, p. 2. Lucy (West) Gilmore was born in 1895, the daughter of Frank West, a Kitkahahki / Pitahawirata, and Carrie West (a Kitkahahki). Lucy married a man named Roy Gilmore, who my father was named after (Walter Roy Echo-Hawk). The story also mentions Myra (Lone Chief) Eppler, a Skidi daughter of Lone Chief and Jennie Lone Chief. Myra married a German named Joseph Eppler.

When I was asked to write upon our trip to Eagle’s Mere, I felt there was so much to say about it that I hardly knew how or where to begin.
“Begin at the beginning and tell as much as possible in a few paragraphs,” I was told. So I shall try to do that.
Myra Lone Chief and I were chosen to represent our Y.W.C.A. at the Middle Atlantic Student Conference which is held yearly at Eagles Mere.
We were delighted at the prospect of meeting students from other schools and seeing a place about which we had heard such interesting accounts from other Carlisle girls who had been there before us.
We were to be there ten days and plans were made accordingly, so on June 23, in company with the Dickinson College Y.W. girls we left for our destination.
The trip seemed short enough, and when we were told we had arrived, it did not seem possible. Nearly all the way the scenery was beautiful, and we enjoyed it greatly for some of it reminded us of home.
Our room at the Forest Inn Cottage was ready for us. The Cottage is in the woods yet quite close to the bathing beach and the steamer landing, which is the center of all out door activities at Eagles Mere.
The program for each morning was as follows: First period, Bible study; second, mission and community work; third, addresses on “Fundamentals of Christian Faith,” and kindred subject, by Professor William Hutchinson of the Oberlin Theological Seminary.
The afternoons were devoted to study and recreation, and in getting acquainted with other student delegates, who represented schools and colleges in Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Each had something helpful to tell concerning the association work that is being done in her own particular school. The exchange of ideas was very beneficial, and we brought back with us many thoughts which we hope may be of help to our own Association.
We met a number of very interesting people and all were kind and seemed greatly interested in us. We made acquaintances that we shall never forget. And certainly we shall not soon forget the good fellowship, the beautiful scenery, and the inspiration of it all.
We returned to Carlisle with a better understanding of what Association work really means and what it is accomplishing all over the world.

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