Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-11
WHEN YOU CAMP OUT
Essentials and Comforts That
Are Necessary.
MAKE YOUR COOL BOX
NOT AS EXPENSIVE AS THE CITY
ONE.
Just Dig a Hole in the Ground and
Put in the Bottles and
Boxes.

There are a great many families who
spend their summer in town under the mis-
taken impression that they cannot afford
to go away from home If they only knew
it there is one sure means of passing the
heated season in most enjoyable way and
even at less expense than is entailed by
keeping house in town. Camping out will
solve the problem. as many people can
gladly testify. 1t is always an easy matter
to find a pleasant camping site within a
few miles Of home. and 1T Is astonishing
what fun can be derived from leading the
life of the gypsy, to say nothing of the re-
sultant benefits to health. Provided one
takes proper precautions there is less dam
ger Of the children falling Ill than there
would be in the most comfortable city
house. and mother herself will welcome the
change as a gladstone respite from the
cares Of housekeeping-fo needless to say
half the enjoyment Of camp life comes from
a division of responsibility, the children
sharing with their parents all the little
tasks that present themselves from day to
day.
The first thing to do is to decide just
where the camp shall be located. If posi-
Bile 1t should be near a lake or limpid
stream Of water, for apart from the pleas
ures Of boating and bathing fresh water is
one of the great neceSSarieS of the camp
just as it is a necessary of the house. In
any event care should be taken to see that
the summer home "in the wilderness" is in
a healthy spot, not too difficult of access
and yet removed from anything that may
serve to remind the campers of the town
they have deserted-for nobody can really
enjoy camping out until he can unrestrain-
edly enter into the spirit of the woods and
mountains The site of the camp finally de-
p3H cd 70 fhnr md mot chr hold
sultation to determine just what Is needed
in the way Of accouterments and food
supply.
They will do well to consult, II possible,
somebody who has had experience in spend
ing a summer in tent, else they may fall
into the grievous error Of taking more
things along than they really require, and
while 1T will not do to go into camp empty
handed it is almost equally inconvenient to
carry much baggage that one does not
know what to do with 1T. One of the most
important items is clothing, for while camp
Is the place where old clothes reign supreme
it should be remembered that If it rains or
the nights chilly it is necessary to have
a warm suit or dress to take the place of
the light clothing that would normally be
worn. Strong, heavy boots should be pro-
vided for the youngsters. who will undoubt-
edly display a tendency to get into the
dampest parts Of the surrounding woods or
meadows. For like reason serviceable
undercothing must be worn in camp. Bath
ing suits must not be forgotten If the tent
Is to be pitched somewhere near lake or
pond or creek.
The Leading Question.
In regard to the question of food the de-
cision will vary according to the plans of
the head of the family. If he is able to
come up from town every night the supply
taken in the first instance need not be at
all extensive. and the same holds good If
e, l.;
only with the family. But If father is also
going into camp, or If he is unable to join
the campers save at infrequent intervals,
a goodly supply of such articles coffee.
tea, sugar -four salt, pepper and the like
should be taken from town. In regard to
meat, butter, eggs and milk, it is almost
always possible to establish trading rela-
tons with the nearest farmer. Nor is there
any need to worry about ice, for If it is
difficult or impossible to procure this useful
commodity, nature offers refrigerator
which will answer the purpose. All that
is required is to dig a hole in the ground
and place in it the butter, milk and other
perishable eatables, using covered glass
jars to hold them, and then cover the hole
with leafy brush. The supplies will keep
all right until they are wanted.
What Goes in the Kit.
The camping kit proper will of course in
clude plates, cups, knives, forks spoons.
coffeepot, boiler ard frying pans. 1t will
be found advantageous to stock up with
utensils made of aluminium, which is light,
bright, easily cleaned and will defy even
the most destructive of children. A certain
type of aluminium frying pan is so con-
structed that it may be used with a pole
handle, very gratifying to the cook who
will not be obliged to bend over the Camp
fire, with Its annoying smoke, but can ma
nipulate the pan in comfort at some dis
lance from the heat. 1t is also well to buy
a small alcohol stove to heat water or
make tea quickly but it is utterly unneces-
sary to cumber oneself with the evil smell
ing oil or gasoline stove. The best camp
fire for cooking purposes is to be obtained
by setting stones or green logs SO that the
frying pan will just reach ACROSS the bed
of Goals between them. For boiling pota-
toes, eggs. etc, the boiler may be suspend
ed over the fire by an iron tripod or from
a crosspiece supported by stout poles on
either side of the blaze.
There are a few more articles which II
Is advisable to include in the camping bag
gage. Rubber blankets sheets are al
most Indispensable for aside from their
usefulness as part of the camp bed they
can be spread on the ground when the dew
is on the grass or when it has been raining
and by their aid one can eat ones break
fast in comfort. Camp stools are an I'M
necessary evil, but it is well to take along
a couple of hammocks, since there is moth
ing quite so enjoyable lying in ham
mock under the shade of some giant tree
and doing the hours peacefully away or
reading the latest novel, The outfit should
also include a hammer, AK, nails, plenty
of rope and a milestone, to say nothing of
mirror, matches, soap, towels needles and
thread. Even when blankets, pillows and
sheets added it will be surprising to
find how easily all can be packed into small
If 1t Is deemed desira ble camp
beds may be pressed into service but the
nest enjoyable bed for woodland life is one
wrested from nature-a bed of hemlock.
balsom or cedar boughs, with a pillow
stuffed with pine needles.
Where to Pitch a Tent.
In pitching the tent select knoll In prefer.