Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-08-30
COLORADO LETTER.
CAMPING our.

pleaSUre-on any considerable scale, our
experience in this line has been limited to
military tents and camp meetings. In this
Centennial State, /" however, We find al
most villages Of pleasure camPs-Within
two miles of us there are over hundred
tents. thought to contain population
equal to our three respectable-sized hoteiS'
The CAMPERS are composed Of merchants,
bankers, clergymen, professors, teachers,
sudents. farmers, mechanics, indeed, all |
cI,sses in society, except the very poor who |
have not the means to indulge in this lux
ury. The butchers, bakers, groeerS and
milk wagons, make regular rounds among
them, and they hsYe the general appear
ance of good livers.
The plains of Colorado ara elevate ed above
the sea leYsl from five to six thousand feet
The soil is very porous and will dry in an
hour after heavy rains. The air is dry,
cool and bracing, all of which are favor
able to enjoyment of life in tents. Hotel
accommodations are insufficient for the
great numbers of people who rush TO TINS
new country in the summer.
Many regard camping in this dry climate
PECULIARLY FAVORABLE TO HEALTH.
Not few are attracted by its freedom
and novelty, and no doubt many are in
fuenced by considerations Of economy:
for one camper said he could support his
family in that way for whole year for less
than it would cost in hotel for single
month.
The law allows tents to be pitched on any
uninelosed grounds and there is .Plenty OF
room of that sort-the open praries would
furnish camping ground for the armies OF
the world, but few camps are found there.
whereas Oh some small shaded brooks the
tents are SO thick that they almost inter
fere with each other.
Many come to settle down for consid-
erable-perhaps for their whole vacation
these appear to prefer the vicinity OF vii
lages; they travel by public conveyance
taking their tents and outfit as baggage, or
forwarding them by express. Their tents
are often substantial and comfortable
they are generally hoored and often ear
peted, and contain many articles Of useful
furniture. Cooking, eating and visiting
are generally transacted in the open air,
reserving the inner courts for retirement.
a few take their meals at hotels.
THEY MAKE AcqUARTANcEs READILY
And have very social good time among
themselves, especially are they kind to each
other in cases Of sickness.
1t is said the churches and Sunday
schools receive more help from he inmates
of the tents than from the hotels. In this
village the superintendent of the Sunday
school, the leader of the singing, and some
of the most intelligent members Of the
bible class are campers; and in some cases
the teachers meetings are appointed in a
tent. u
These people appear to have the love OF
change which is common to humanity, for
now and then we see posted on the tents
the familiar words, For Sale or To Let, in
dsed when they break up for the season
they always sell out if they can.
TRAVELLING CAMPERS
Form another and large class, and they
are found wherever night overtakes them.
A travelling camper will hire or purchase a
strong square box, canyas-eoYered wagon,
with pair Of good horses or mules-some-
times they have one or two saddle horses
and not unfrequently are accompanied with
their buggy or covered spring carriage.
Their outfit consists of tent, trunk or
two, supply of mattresses and blankets.
boxes of provisions, sheet iron cook stove,
few cooking utensils and dishes and a
small medicine chest. The whole of these
, must not exceed the capacity of the wagon,
and must be slowed in such manner as to
afford seats for the party by day and a bed
e fer at least two of them at night. This
will show that travelling camper must
, learn to do with small amount of bag
, gage. With such an outfit there are num-
erous parties constantly travelling in this
:, State in the summer. They wind up
3 among the valleys, ascending the mountains
: they - = 5-3- = go.
PROSPECT FOE GOLD AND SILVER
And seek out whatever is good in their
; own eyes. They say they enjoy itand find
e it beneficial to health--they certainly ap-
pear to be healthy, jolly people-and their
example attracts many of the delicate
! guests Of our hotels, who viii procure out
fits be of for few days or few weeks and
come back so enthusiastic as to keep the
> eontagion constantly spreading, and new
t parties constantly outfitting.
: We occasionally call at some camp and
h are always cordially received. One wa:
occupied by an old gentleman and his wife,
After few Introductory words 1 said,
, suppose you must enjoy this kind Of lifei
: The old lady replied, eyes, we enjoy ii
. when the weather IS good but it is very
| dismal when it rains and we have to shut
ourselves inside" This remark afforded q
{ clue to what was probably fact-that the
old lady was sacrificing her own taste to
! crafty her husband. We saw great deal
of that kind of a--o e4lL
SELF SACRIFICE
: On the part of young wives who came tC
I Colorado to nurse sickly husbands, but We
! rarely found healthy man taking care ol
an invalid wife.
We called at tent where the man was
: unpaeking his family stores. He said can
a ned meats, fruits and vegetables we're the
principle and their best supplies, indeed, he
did not see how they could comfortably
Il live in tents without canned goods.
At one tent there was nice bale o.
! bright sweet hay-a rarity in those parts
i The man said the general practice was tC
|. hooble the animals:a and turn them out tt
n get what feed they could. but he had mort
regard for his horses. he said the pasture
was poor and the animals were liable tC
d stray, that his neighbor had occupied tht
whole of the day before in searching for {
y pair Of mules, and at last found then
.r quietly grazing among some thick bushe.
not hundred rods from their tent.
In one tent was lady in the
)f LAST STacE or ,o,,s,,,.,