The morning call., 1894-07-30
FOR THE CAMPERS
Benefit of a Few Weeks
in the Country.
Delights of Tramping, Fishing, Hunt
ing and Change OF Scenery.
Plain, Healthy Food.

In the rush, hurry and skurry of the work.
aday life OF Californians there is little time for
play. The only play comes in patches, as II
were during the year. The growing love OF
camping is one OF the best safety valves for
workers. There is no rest and no change to be
compared with camping. You get close down
to mother earth. Dirt does not Offend You
wear clothes for comfort, not looks. Every
physical want is varied. Hunger is a good
sauce, and plain food is most palatable. The
constant outdoor living Is tonic. The running
water 0Or whoever camps anywhere but by a
stream?), the trees close about rest the mind,
The trees. the stream, the hillsides TEEN with
living things and occupy the thoughts. News
papers, books, people are nothing; strikes, the
birth of an island republic scarce cause a ripple
OF excitement-if by chance such knowledge
reaches camp.
Curled up in hammock or lying on the sand,
noisy insects all about you, busy birds over
head, the ever-swaying branches of the grace
full alder or beech or sycamore overhead and
beyond, over all. the changing sky-one has no
time to read or talk, only to rest, TO admire, 10
enjoy it all.
Ii fond of tramplng start early; put on heavy
shoes ana proper dress of wash goods always
Il am talking from womaa's standp6inD, put
plain sandwich lunch in your pocket, select
as companions only those who can and will
walk at least len or twelve miles and be ready
TO enjoy the day. Every hilltop you meet opens
wider expanse Of valley and canyon to ad-
mre. every canyon Is full of botanic beauties,
every stream invites 10 further acquaintance.
Ii Is astonishing what unconscious lovers OF
nature we all are. Without knowing why or
how we are betler and purer and stronger
physically and mentally when we have had a
time, away from men and things, 10 live close
to the hills and trees and living things In
nature. 1t surely is true. "God made the coun-
Try, Dus man made the town."
Perhaps you like fishing. If so get your
tackle ready and start by daylight. The crisp
morning air is delicious, the birds sing, every
one different song, the golden lights of sun
rise touch Ihe hilltops, follow down their
WOODED Slopes scatter the early mists and
morning has come. Meanwhile. with rod and
reel and artistic flies, or bamboo and grass
hoppers (the result depends entirely upon the
skill of the fisherman and not the outtlt), cast
IN your line only for trout for the gamy fel-
lows are IN all our streams; scramble along the
edges OF the rifles with line well out, work
your way up stream from bowlder to bowlder,
casting your line here and there or from under
some overhanging alder, angle for the lazy fell
lows laying at the bottom OF the dark pool al
most too wary TO be caught. A couple of dozen
trout, all over 10 inches, are worth while and
enough for breakfast.
A 4 or 6 inch trout is large indeed, but 8
and 20 inches is far above the average fisher
mans expectations Two fine trout, one fall
20 inches, the other just under Is inches were
caught in the Calaveras TWO weeks ago, and
doubtless there are more as fine In that and
other streams which receive any care and are
stocked every year or two, as they should be.
And now TO cook them, for those who like TO
ca ch them like 10 cook them and like TO eat
them: so here Is oUe good way. Throw into
the hot spider large handful of bacon, or salt
pork is best, cut into half-inch squares Stir
well until half done, spread out in The pan, aud
lay in the tisn we'll rolled in cornmeal IA
good substitute fer rolled cracke), turn the
fish over only when we'll done on one side;
serve hot. The scraps of salt pork or bacon
aAB rn hn hsh nd ipnn hn flaw rf,f
the fish.
Perhaps you are fond of hunting Quail and
dove or Squirr and rabbit are all welcome on
the camping-table and bring many an hour Of
enjoyment TO the hunter But take your rife
and knife, travel further from camp until In
the widest, deepest canyons, the home of the
wildcat, lynx, panther or California lion. Send
in your dog, or, If you have none, brush" the
ground with companion il you find good
one. and wait-you Will find your deer. You
may only see their tracks or see them at long
range at hrst but keep at II day after day; you
will be rewarded, and when you get it the walt
ing has been worth while. Where there are
deer there are the Others-the lion, etc.-in all
our California hills, but 1t is wise 10 let them
alone; they rarely attack, but are dangerous
when attacked. Indeed, they are so wary of
man that they are seldom seen, and their pies
ence is often discredited. but they are there
Ii camping gives renewed vigor to ne mind
and rests the body, 1t also helps 10 keep the
purse tull No mountain resort or seaside
clothes are needed, no great board bills are
reach desirable site is small indeed and the
cost of living is much less than IN city.
1t IS estimated that over 10000 people from
San Francisco or over the bay camp every year,
and yet not half the possible camping sites
have been disturbed.
Every stream within reach OF the trains has
its villages of tents, whsre husbands sweet
hearts ana sous can come each night from
Work. But farther away are solitary tents
filled with merry parties, or travelling over the
state are people who spend their vacation,
camping from day TO day, and seeing In a few
weeks more of our Stale than one can see by
his of travel in trains
There are certain discomforts which, as a
rule, must be bOrue. Soft beds are not always
to be had for tired bodies, clothes cannot
always look fresh and clean, and the stomach
must b. content with plain food plainly cooked.
IL is good plan to encourage camping. Ii
broadens the idea of our young people, it
brings them into c0se acquaintance with
people, 1t gives them a. least speaking ac.
Quaintance with nature, and lastly, it makes
them appreciate the comforts of heir homes
when they return, and so makes them as well
as their elders con eni, and conten:ment is a
blessed thing in home life.
MRS. j. E. IHANE.
Niles, July 2S, 1894.