The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-13

Providing for Your Necessities.
But go where he will the wise summer
traveller looks well to the ways of his
own household, and provides for his own
such comforts as hammocks, bathing
suits, books and boxes of assorted crack
ers and cookies to refresh one when one
comes in from nobody where
hungry enough to eat grass If one can
get nothing else, and one generally can
not out of regular hours in any place
short of a hotel. The wise man or
woman knows too much to depend upon
the average host for these essentials
however happy some of his experiences
may have heen. Angelic hosts and host
esses are born, not cultivated, and like
angels visits are few and far between.
You are lucky to get anywhere outside
Of your own house what you pay for.
Most good things cost two prices. 1t
is not the average farmers wife who
ekes out the income with summer board
ers who is generally to be expected to
treat you like one of the family. 1t was
business arrangement, and it is not to
be expected,unti you show some broth
erly traits, you are to be treated like
one by entire strangers.
Don't Expect too Much Anywhere
One must apply little common sense
to his expectations in regard to summer
entertainment in out-of-the way places,
farmhouses and "roughing it." For this
last fitch Of bacon, tin coffee.pot and
frying pan are the only luxuries. and
these must be of your own providing.
City people go into the country expect
ing to have all the luxuries of high
state of civilization with clover blossoms
fresh butter and sweet milk butter
that tastes of the first grass. If it have
not touch of garlic" in it too.
These are the things that make the
country attractive, and going without
stationary washstands and tiled bath
rooms and gas will do you good If you
take your privations right, and you will
not be very unhappy withal, either.
To be sure we do want our moneys
worth, but was it not fresh air, sunshine
shade, the breath of kline and milk and
eggs that tempted you and me to leave
the other Injuries and heat and dust
behind?
Be sensible then, and enjoy these
country Injuries, and make yourself
agreeable, and possibly the host and
hostess may come to esteem you as one
of themselves, than which no higher
compliment could be paid you.
Things to Leave out When You Pack
Your Trunk.
In packing ones trunk for an outing
it is very short-sighted of You to let your
cares and troubles slip unaware in with
your best gowns to spoil your pleasures
at inopportune moments. Studiously
leave business, and care, and worries be-
hind, and with them, if possible, slough
off your natural disposition. like snake
his skin, to cavil and find fault. 1t does
not pay to be too critical in summer
weather. Let go. and enjoy yourself
naturally, as God meant you should
sometimes, else he had not made you
capable of it.
The other day we were discussing our
rights and privileges in regard to secur-
ing and keeping place for ones ham
mock for instance, at the place we have
selected to soiourn this year. a lovely
valley between two mountain ranges in
Virginia. Now, one of US depends upon
that hammock for more than half the
pleasure of her summer while the PROBES
sor is away sketching, and she inclined
to the opinion that having secured the
most desirable tree on the lawn early in
the season that place ought to be recog-
nized as hers,-the place to swing her
gaily fringed hammock, hers to keep dur
ing her stay in that vicinity. OF course
none of us would let that selfish opinion
stand unchallenged. For have not we
hammocks to swing, and are we not as
much entitled to best place as is she?
Especially. if we get out onto the lawn
earliest of a summer morning.
OF course we have. Human nature is
built on that plan. Each one of US has
as good right to the best place some
time as another-if we can get it. One
cannot afford to be selfish away from
home any more than at home 1t is give
and take everywhere, in every relation
of life if you have any expectation or
right to expect happiness.
And then we elaborated on that sub.
ject OF hammocks. Is it good form to
take down ones own private hammock
the moment it is necessary to get out of
it to prevent those loafng round ham
mockless-from appropriating our con.
veniences? There are some people.
good people too-who regard hammock
as some other people do umbrellas, as
public property, and he is entitled to use
it who comes first into its presence;
public property. and as such as lawful
prey. We have seen people with con-
sciences just like that, and shall we en-
courage them by letting our hammocks
swing in our ABSENCE or shall we save
them from dissertation. and them from
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