The record-union., 1891-08-15

ences is the camping. To test ones dis
position, camp with him where there is
little water, less wood, and a depleted
provision-box. Let him tip the coffee
pot over, spill the sugar, and cut his
hand on the broken pickle-bottle. Then
ask him If camping out is as good as 1t is
represented, and if he replies calmly,
mark him as one man in thousand.
To the women, whose lives are a Strug-
gle with dirt, camping comes as relaxa-
ton from long strain. Be it understood
before the party sets out, that everything
is to be considered clean. Only in this
way can peace and contentment be Sc
cured. The party may wipe hands on
the dish towel, drink from the pitcher,
help themselves to any food (butter eX-
ceptedl with the fingers, ignore intrud-
ing insects-all is clean. Let the word
meat" be forbidden during the trip. One
feels greater leniency toward Indian
modes and greater faith in ''clean Dirt
| have found, eXperimentally, that
wild gooseberries cooked in the horse
bucket have a peculiar wildwood flavor,
though we eat them, thorns and all. For
the benefit of those who may wish to
pick them, let me suggest an edge of
sharp tin that cuts the stems and allows
the berries to fall into the can.
Be not discouraged If you fail to pick
this protected fruit of the wilderness.
can have drink from the icy springs and
creeks. One grows really Incorporate in
the use of water. We hear 1.-THE rush Of
the mountain stream from glaciers, clear
and cold" and the song it sings takes the
place of bird music, for birds are not
| plentiful in these forests. Perhaps the
| winters are too severe. High over our
heads (were we giratfes, / could say the
Same) are boards nailed to the trees at
intervals. These boards mark the snow
fall Of 1890. One of these boards evil
IDENTIFY taken from goods box, bore the
advice, Keep dry" Some one had
needed the warning, for on the ground
lay shattered bottle that was not made
to hold pure water. Could not Sacra-
mento adopt the plan of posting in many
places the needed words, keep dryI'
These long rides through the frs ought
to bring us to some point of interest
Shut your eyes; expect to see lake.
Now let your eyes descend from those
lofty peaks opposite the high, graded
road. Look farther down (What a long
distance y TO the clear water. There are
rings that show breathing places for the
fish. But for that the water is still
Toward the head large dead trees stand
thick in the water. Trees could not grow
III such water. Look in the other direc-
tiOn-the water seems to stop suddenly
along a smooth white line that must be a
new ii Tree IlldI Is IilS NOOJi Ol tIlS
dam. This is Bowman's. Once this can
| yon contained d farm. When the farm
was bought, the dam constructed and
! gradually filled with water, the poor, de-
/ serted house went floating round under
the dead trees that once sheltered it. The
old house is gone; the grove of dead trees
still stands, keeping vigil, and reminds
US that Bowman's Dam is not lake.
A short ride brings us into the land Of
| the oak and the manzanita. The holly
| bushes are all making preparations for
Christmas. Ia the higher Sierras we saw
none Of these things.
! We saw none Of these, but saw new
| scenes. Who is not discoverer enough to
! enjoy that? We saw the Sierra Nevada
in SUMMER dress. We saw enough to
make us loyal Californians henceforth.
! We saw what all people ought to enjoy,
! but there were no people to enjoy it.
! One brings home summer enjoyment as
! foundation for winter work. May you
! build well on the foundations.
California has treated me well, notwith-
| standing pOisOn-oak and summer show
ers and other disadvantages. 1t is regret
! fully that l say farewell and return to
pupils who, like their teacher, prefer
! brooks to books and trees to theories.
g. =. BUM, b. s.