St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-01
How Teachers and Scholars
May Enjoy Their Summer
Vacation.
Suggestion for the Establish
ment OF Outdoor Schools
in the State.
Tent Life on the Lake Shore
a Delightful Expe-
Pienee.
The Minnesota Climate Is
Specially Adapted for
Camp Life.

Plans and schemes to vary the routine
OF the school room are in the minds OF
good teachers from September TO June,
during the regular school year. Naca-
ton brings a break. Outdoor life sue
eeeds indoor work. What cam be done
for young people during this trying
period? One answer, and a good one, Is
to continue instruction, but let it be out
Of doors.
Minnesota offers greater inducements
for this purpose than any other state i'll
the Union, says the Great Western Bull
letin. 1t has more water surface, in
lakes and rivers, than any other state.
1t has large forests of pine and hard
wood trees. A thousand pretty camp
ing places in the woods, or by lake and
river side, can be reached quickly and
easily from st. Paul and Minneapolis.
The summer of the North Star State is
an ideal season.; warm days without
languOr, and nights cool enough to as
sure sleep. The air is like wine, invig-
Grating, and apDetiteS are whetted to
hunger by exercise on the waters and
in the woods and fields. The rain is
limited to occasional light showers; fOgS
and continued damp spells are rare.
Neither are there dangerous reptiles nor
insects to annoy those who seek pleas
ure, health and recreation, somewhat
after the manners of the abOrigineS. but
with modern and desirable improve
mentS and giving
Better Results.
The idea suggested in this connection
is outdoor schools in which natural
history can Is taught in a popular Way,
besides the chance of a variety OF other
occupations ana studies. Boys and girls
as well can be taught TO care for their
temporary quarters, to use tools, to
make a camp fire, to pitch a tent. row
or handle a row or sail boat. construct
shelters, prepare fishing tackle, make
traps and camp furniture and engage IN
various features of woodcraft and out
door games and sports. all of which pro-
dHee practical thought so helpful In. +
cases of emergency. Instruction, how
ever, can be extended beyond mere
wOodcraft to very profitable and
fascinating lessons in natural history in
all of its varied branches, to which may
be added astronomy, surveying, sketch
ing, photography, taxidermy and mill
tary manual training and athletics.
Musical instruments might be taken
along, too. and beginners given their
initial. lessons in the woods, away from
sensitive ears.
The outdoor life gives ample scope
for youthful activity, manifested in
running, jumping, swimming, boating.
etc. Kite flying can be INDUCED in;
marks shot at with blow guns, with
slings, bows and arrows; tests of
strength and agility be made in tugs-of-
war, in leapfrog, in pitching quOitS,
climbing trees, in playing ball and
scores of other games
known t o Boys.
Swings can he put up, hammO cks
swung and See-SawS made, and no end
of healthful and pieasurable paStime
obtained. at no cost eXcept-a little head
work and beneficial muscular exercise.
The field for the study of natural his
tory is unlimited. The bOtanist Will
find plants, flowers, %clinging vines and
fern life in a hundred delicate forms,
and mighty trees whose lofty branches
shaded lOng-perished races. in whose
mounds the arch3Ologist a delve and
read from bones and rude pottery the
story of the past. For the ornitlol-
ogist, with gun and glass. birds
haunts, notes and habits of the
feathered tribes can be studied
with an ease and freedom
hardly equaled anywhere else in the
country. The entOmolOgiSt, with net
aud collecting boxes and bottles. will
not find as many flying, creeping and
swimming things as in the tropics. but
material is not lac king for immediate
instruction and future study. The geot-
ogist, too, with pick and hammer can
work among ancient rocks. Great
boulders. torn from their native beds
by the mighty glaciers, are scattered
over the prairieS. while the shores of
the lakes abound in agates, earnelians
and other pretty stones. each telling the
story of he turmoil of
World Building.
The interesting labor of preSerY ing
objects of natural history can be carried
on in the pure air of Minnesota much
easier than in the hot and damper at
mosphere of the South and East. Per-
sons of artistic taste may learn much of
the art of preparing and mounting the
skins of birds and animals i'll lifelike
attitude, while in camp, by giving the
matter proper are and industry.
You press the button and we do the
reSt"-Surveying Instruments. sketch
ing and painting materials, etc, can be
provided and lessons given, to the pleas
ure and benefit of all interested.
Sketches can be taken from nature, and
photographs made, to be studied in tine
quiet of home life in after years.
The evenings can be spent with in
structiVe talks and scientific lectures
and Jolly stories and songs under skies
as clear as those above Chaldean plains,
which gave birth 10 astronomy. There
cannot be more glorious nights than
those of the Northwest. To those inter-
ested in the study of the upper deeps,
Minnesota is the place, and summer the
right season.
This camp life need not consist of
children and teachers engaged in the
multiform duties outlined. Family par
ties can be made up for a few days or
weeks in the woods. No rest can equal
a change of surroundings, food and air.
Cottage OF tent life on the lake shore in
the long, bright summer time, is a de-
lightful experience. Nowhere in the
world is there a climate better adapted
to camp life. The women folk learn to
row and sail and with other exercise
on their cheeks with colOrS not to be
found in the drug stores. The men
throw aside the artificial restraints of
city life and business cares, and feel
better for so doing, while the children
store up vigor for coming school days.
Existence for a time is like a chapter
from a fairy story.
Write OF wire Frank l. Tedford, men,
Der Duluth Stock exchange, what iron.
| stocks to invest in on the MeSaba range
THE COLLEGE GIRL.