OZARK WILDERNESS WATERWAYS CLUB
Lake Quivira
Kansas City 6, Kansas
May 10, 1962
Dr. Neil Compton
216 North Main Street
Bentonville, Arkansas
Dear Dr. Compton,
Can't say I am sorry to hear that you have caught a severe
case of canoeing fever. We are well acquainted with the disease and have
seen a good many cases in the ten years we have been enjoying the Ozarks. I
do not know of a single fatal case but the nagging symptoms seem to increase
with the years. Temporary relief can be had by strenuously canoeing as
many streams as you can.
Equipment for canoeing seems to be a related disease as we
are still equipping ourselves and enjoying every moment of it. It isn't as
expensive as it may sound and it is loads of fun. We'll be happy to help you
but we find a good deal of our stuff in catalogues and not in the local stores.
We are happy to know that your relationship with Dick Moseley
was most pleasant. He suffers from white-water canoeing and is about as
severe a case as we have in the club. His equipment fever is almost as bad as
either or both of these subjects. He is a 'go-lighter' and we have great
fun teasing him and visa versa.
We are happy to hear you say that Tudor is just spoiling
his own cause. Perhaps he'll hang himself.
Congratulations on your selection of Ozark Society for a
name. You won't be sorry.
I am enclosing a copy of the Kansas City Star with the names
of the canoers. Only Harry Stoops (father of John Stoops) and Rodney Dungan,
canoeing partner of Harold Alexander's are missing from the list.
We are canoeing the Buffalo (if there is sufficient water)
on the 26, 27 and 28th of May and would love to have you to join us.
Please let us know when you will be in Kansas City. We
would like for you to stay with us while you are here.
Sincerely,
Harold Hedges
