Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-05
ADVICE TO CAMPERS.
Provisions to Curry and How to Pre-
pr. Them.

Provisions to Garry and How to Pre-
pare Them.
From the Chicago Inter Oce1n.
This is the time Of FEAR when Natures
most insistent calf goes out to her Grant
but still loyal Children in the cities All
hear the call: alf obey it who can. He
renders most perfect Obedience who camps
out, for it Is he Who Gets nearest to Ma
lures heart. To camp out on a moderate
and sensible scale Is easy, inexpensive and
enjoyable-if you's know how. Given q
congenial party. goSd location, and a
properly arranged camp. the man who does
not have a good slime is lacking in some
essential quality of the real man. Here are
some useful hints for amateurs, based on
the teachings OF the only good teacher
experiences!
In preparing your personal outfit use your
every day knowledge as far as it will go;
then fall back on your common sense. Take
two complete suits OF warm, comfortable
durable clothing. You must have a rain
coat and heavy waterproof Shoes Don't
forget your tooth brush. soap, towels, and
little things necessary to your comfort.
at home
Make your personal outfit complete, but
keep it within the limits of easy transpor-
tation, and pack it so that 1t will stand
rough handling. Almost any tent sold by
a reputable dealer will do. You need two
blankets and rubber sheet for your bed.
Have your cooking and table utensils of
stout ware. Patent stoves and bake ovens
are q luxury, not necessity, but there
should be one large alcohol lamp or small
Kerosene stove in the party.
In selecting provisions keep close to the
staples, and pack everything as If you ex-
pected to be shipwrecked every twenty-four
hours Avoid all canned goods except con-
centrated soups Use bacon instead Of Ia rd
for frying. In camp bacon is civilization
best gift to man: therefore have plenty of
it. Pitch your tent on high ground in an
open space where the sun Shines freely.
Face it to the east. If possible have the
ground slope from back to front. Dig
trench at the back and sides. Pull the
canvas taut, and see that it reaches 10 the
ground. Thus shall the floods descend and
you keep dry within.
Nature has provided your bed close at
hand. The springs are slender hemlock
boughs laid with the curve I'D. The mat
tress is a thick layer of fragrant cedar.
With rubber sheets and blankets here is a
couch for the gods; the feather bed of our
grandmothers or the hair mattress of the
furniture dealer is a joke beside it. Air
your bedding every day in the sun and add
to your springs as they flatten out from
use
On the camp fire hangs the fate of the
camp; But the camp fire is not one. but
two-the big roaring one at evening that
you sit around, singing and telling stories.
and the little cooking fire. Any one can
build the big fire. Here Is the Sc
cret of the little one: Set stones or green
logs SO that the frying pan will just reach
across over the bed of Goals between them.
So shall you get no smoke in your eyes nor
burn the bass to cinder, nor melt the
handle from the coffee pot And the camp
shall rise up and call the cook blessed
Go to camp determined to have a good
time. Do your share of the work with a
cheerful heart. Go to bed and get up with
the wild things OF the woods So shall you
fill your lungs with fresh air, and make
your blood red again, and harden your
f1abby muscles and eat like prize fighter
and sleep like little child. For these are
Natures rewards to those who seek her
with understanding.