THE fact that the attention of our people is being directed to the Southern field in general, and to Nashville in particular, will make this meeting of more than common interest. Undoubtedly others will officially report the meeting and its results, the object of this writing being only to describe the camp and campers.
Located on one of the city's many street-car lines, in a southern suburb just outside the city limits, the meeting is very accessible from all parts. For one five-cent fare, by means of the excellent transfer system one can reach the ground very quickly from any part of the city or suburbs. On several lines this may mean a ride of ten or twelve miles. At one side of the line leading to the camp, on a high hill, is seen from the cars an old fort that was held at times by both the Federal and Confederate forces during the war.
The camp is in a beautiful grove of maple and oak trees. Among the several varieties of the latter the chestnut-oak predominates. We had never seen these trees till coming to Tennessee. They have the trunk and bark of the common white oak, but the leaves are like those of the sweet chestnut of the Alleghany hills. The size of all these trees gives unmistakable evidence that they were old before the time of the late war, the effects of which are still seen in this section of the country.
The site chosen is a knoll about thirty rods long and ten wide, from which the ground slopes in every direction. The whole enclosure contains upward of one hundred acres. The large tent occupies the center of the elevation, the family tents being arranged around it at suitable distances without regard to exact measurements from one another, in a way that could not be allowed on a large encampment on account of economy of space. But this feature adds much to the attractiveness of the arrangement, being more as nature does things.
A well-patronized dining tent is set at one end of the elevation. Near a rustic bridge crossing the dry bed of a creek which gives evidence of sometimes being more than full, on the path leading to the street-car station only a few rods distant, is a nice book tent where a good stock of literature from the Southern Publishing Association is offered for sale.
Several views of the grounds were taken by amateur photographers encamped, one of which we present with this. We were pleased to meet many friends whom we had formerly known from different States. England, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois were represented in these, while the number from Michigan reminded us of the Michigan camp-meetings of years ago. There is still room for more.
We are pleased to say that all these are now naturalized Tennesseans, and are in the field to stay till their work is done.
This is the prettiest camp we have ever seen, and we are glad to report that the excellence of the camp and surroundings is not the only good thing in connection with the gathering, as a most excellent meeting is also in progress.
