Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-06-12
Camping Cut.

The instinct of barbarism that lead;
people periodically TO throw aside the
habits OF civilization and seek the freedom
md discomfort of the woods is expli,able
enough. But it is not so easy to under.
stand why this passion should be strong.
est in those who are refineL and moSt
trained in intellectual and social fastidious
ness. Philistinism and shoddy do no,
like the woods, unless il becomes fashion.
Ible to do so, and then as ,pepdilv AS nos.
sible they introduce their artificial luxurIes
'nd reduce HE life in the wilderness TO
he vulgarity of a well,fed picnic. 1t is
hey who have strewn the Alirondacks
Nth paper collars and tin cans. The
real enjoyment of camping and trampino
n the woods lies in return to primitiye
conditions of lodging, dress and food.-in
rs total an escape as may be from the
requirements OF civilization. And it re.
mains to be explained why this is enioved
most by those who are most highly civ.
llz"d. 1t is wonderful to see how easily
he restraints of society fall off. Ofcourse
II Is not true that courtesy depends upon
'Iothes with the best people, but with
others behavior hangs almost entirely upon
dress. Many good habils are easily gol
rid of in the woods, Doubt sometimes
seems 10 be felt whether Sunday is "A lptl
holiday there. 1t becomes II que ton of
ctsulstry with n clergyman whether he
may shoot at - mark on Sunday if none of
hla congreg Ition are present. He intends
no harm; he only gratities curiosity to
see II he can hit The mark. Where shall
he draw the line? Doubtless he mioht
throw a stone at chipmunk, or shout at
! loon. Might he fire at II mark with an
alr-Sun that makes no noise? He will
not h'h or hunt on Sunday although he
IS no more likely to catch anything that
day than any othey,-but he m,v eat trou.
that the guide has caught on Sunday, if
he guide swears that he caught them Sat
nrday night? Is there such Il thing as a
vacation in religion? How much of our
virtue 10 we owe to inherited habit>9
by the time twilight falls the cook
mas prepared supper. Everything has
heen cooked IN tin pail and skillet
potatoes, tea, pork, mutton,h htnjacks. You
wonder how everything could have been
prepared IN so few utensils. When you
eat the wonder ceases: everything mi hit
have been cooked in one pti. 1t is n
noble meal. and nobly it is disposed of by
these amateur savages sitting about upon
logs and roots of trees. Never were there
such potatoes; never beans that seemed to
have more of the bean in them: never
such curly pork; never trout with more
Indian meal on them; never mutton more
distinctly sleepy; and the tea, drunk out
OF tin cup, with lump of maple sugar
dissolved in tit is the sort of tea that
takes hold, lifts the hair. and disposes
the drinker to anecdote and hilariousness
There is no deception about it; it tastes
Of tannin and spruce and creosote Every.
thing, in TACT, has The flavor of the wilder
ness and free life. 1t is idvllic. And
yet with all our sentimentaltv, there is
nothing feeble about the cooking. The
'laRlaeks are solid JOB uf work, made to
last, and not to 20 to pieces in II persons
stomach like trivial bun I'VE might record
IN them, in cuneiform characters, our
nclpent civilization, and future genera
ions would doubtless turn them up AS
Acadian bricks. Good. robust victuals
IRE what the primitive man wants.-Chas.
Dudley Warner IN June atlantic.