The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-21

storm converts you with wonderful rapid
ity to realization of the beauties of a roof
over your head. A roof in camp suggests
a tent at once
1t may not be denied that a tent is an ex-
ceedingly awkward thing to carry ard that
you become very tired of handling it. 1t
/ is heavy, and if you are forced to transport
your impedimenta on your own back you
are apt to wonder, as the pack slips for the
hundredth time, whether it is not better 10
dump the unwieldy thing into the bush
and go on your way rejoicing. Still, if you
are wise, you will grin and bear the tent
on, for when night comes and the rain,
verify you shall have your reward. Tents
are made of all shapes and Sizes and in Sc
Letting one it is the part of wisdom to see
that it is not too large nor too small. The
best way of testing this is to put it up at
home and have the party sleep in it for
night, making due allowance for the guides
if you intend hiring any.
In patterns or shapes, there are the shell
ter tents, the smallest and simplest of all;
the A tents, the circular tents and the
marques. The shelter tents consist of
stretches of tent cloth which may be put
up anywhere with nothing but ridge
cord fastened to two trees. They will pro-
tect you from the rain to certain extent
and serve well enough when you are out
for few days only But i'll no sense of
the word do they furnish you with house
or home in the woods, and when the party
consists of more than three persons and
is away for more than two or three days,
the shelter tent will not answer.
The a tent is so well known that de-
scription would be an unwarrantable waste
of space, and space is valuable. Ii it lie
carried, by all means carry tent poles and
pegs. 1t is a popular delusion that the
woods are full of straight poles which will
do for the tent. l have known good men
who after an hours search were willing 30
swear wild wood never grows straight.
The ridgepole should of course be jointed
and have good long ferule of brass at the
point of junction. Tent pegs should be
made of some tough wood like white ASH
be bored and the guy lines run through
and have metal rings driven on the tops to
prevent splitting. Carry at least a dozen
extra if you wish to have peace of mind.
The circular tent put up with one center
pole is handy, but not very large. The
marques are never taken into the woods
unless there is a very large party.
know men who are masters of wood
craft, and for whose opinion | have great
respect, who insist on having the tent cloth
waterproofed. Personally l care little
about this, not having found in my own
experience the advantages claimed for it.
If the cloth be reasonably new it will shrink
enough when vet to keep out an ordinary
rainfall, and if one of those driving storms
should come no waterproohng will help
much. There is, however, great advan-
tage to be had from fly ia heavy weather,
and if possible one should be taken.
If a tent be not taken the question Of
building a sbanty or wigwam becomes of |
Importance. 1t may be laid down as rule
that it never pays to put up one of these
unless you intend to remain some weeks in
the same place. Should you have fishing
or hunting station to which you expect TO
come summer after summer, it is wise to
erect a small house or log cabin. Building |
your house of boards when you can get |
them is not as romantic, perhaps, as the |
logs, but it is far and away easier, and for /
this work no directions are necessary. |
Nor is it worth while to tell you how to !
build log hut. The chances are there |