The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-13
FOR COLLEGE BOYS GOING WEST
TIMELY HINTS ON EQUIPMENT
FOR FREFGHT-CAR TRAVEL.

Nct OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES lin MOuto.
So many college graduates and other vent
uresone young men are now riding West
on tho bumpers and the brake beams OF the
freight cars, to help in the Kansas wheat
harvest, that few words OF advice nc to what
to wear and carry on the journey may not
be amiss.
Simplicity is the prime essential for the
outfit, because even II one has whole brake
beam to oneself (which Ii unlikely In the
rush season) the travelling quarters are
cramped, and there is no opportunity and
no occasion for an elaborate toilet. A good
stout suit Of some dark material 10 the best
A football jacket which laces instead OF
buttons is an excellent thing to wear on the
trip, because buttons are almost sure to
be shaken of by the constant jar.
The same warning applies to the bristles
in toothbrushes. Economic on everything
else II necessary, but don't get q cheap
toothbrush, as the bristles are sure to be
joggled out In going over switches. Oppor-
tunity to use the brush will be afforded
frequently when the train goes over the
long open tanks placed between the rails
from which the engine scoops up water for
the boiler without stopping. Tha looo-
motive not only leaves enough water In tho
ditch to moisten the brush, but the scoop
splashes up enough to assure the traveller
the daily bath which adds 80 much to the
comfort Of a journey.
A hair brush Is unnecessary and should
be left at homo to save weight and space.
On awakening each morning simply thrust
the head forward In the direction that the
train ia travelling and the rush Of air will
smooth back the hair very nicely. By
holding the head at this or that angle an
even parting may be secured wherever
desired.
The traveller who insists on the daily
shave may hone his razor ON the rapidly
revolving car wheel. But he should insist
on travelling under a car which has the
modern wheels OF compressed paper pulp.
The old fashioned iron wheel will ruin q
where the mustache Is sufficiently de-
yeloped to warrant their Use may be heated
by holding them against the wheel Tor about
Ave miles.
The ideal practice, however, IL not to
shave until the journeys end. so that the
traveller may keep a reasonably aocu-
rate account Of the passing Of time. A
watch is out Of the question because Of
the constant jarring. But by feeling, OF
his whiskers every morning the traveller
who has attained an age TO have them
may know about how long he has been on
the way and about where he is in Kansas.
Time passes very. slowly. One young
him in calculating time stood the journey
just as long as he could and thinking
that he must have got to Kansas " not
way past 1t by that time crawled out from
under his car and discovered that he had
Just reached the western edge Of Jersey.
Instead Of being hailed with Joy as har-
vest hand he was arrested for vagranoy
and stealing q ride:
There can be no disadvantage in whiskers
unless the train runs through a prairie
fire, which isn't likely after the recent
heavy rains.
Some travellers affect automobile goggles
to protect the eyes, But they are not
advisable. The trains run over long
stretches of rock-ballasted road and flying
particles of the rock are sure TO break the
goggles. IL Ia far better to depend on
natures own kindly provision for the in
voluntary and instructive closing OF the
eye in time to shut out foreign substances.
Daily exercise, Of course, ia absolutely
necessary, If the traveller wants to he in
condition to participate to advantage in
the work Of the harvest A simple but
effective movement is to lilo with the small
of the back resting on the brake beam, with
the arms we'll stretched out toward the
wheels and the toes pressed firmly against
the bottom of the car Having taken
this position, initiate the chest slowly, and
then raise the lower part OF the body, with
out moving the feet, till the knees touch
the bottom Of the car. Az first do not do
this more than ten times The number
may be gradually increased, but never to
the point Of exhaustion. After the exer-
4 kny, hnkh 40 -. Gy-pf
tank the train goes over, and then rub till
a warm glow is secured.
Do not take old shoes. 1t is best not to
remove the walking shoes at any time
during the trip. as there is no place to hang
them except on the brake beam, where
they are sure to get FULL OF stones. This Is
annoying in the extreme, Footsoreness
ing, but that is not SO. 1t is due to the
habit of removing the shoes while travelling
and getting them full of gravel.
A good-sized rubber bag is Indispensable.
The ordinary hot water bag, such as may
be bought at any department store, will do
nicely. When not in use az carry
it takes up but little ROOM, and may be
readily inflated for pillow by night or a
cushion by day. 1t counteracts more than
half the jar. e,
Modern science has m ade the food
problem for such a journey remarkably
simple. Until condensed food pellets were
invented such a trip In short period OF
time was we'll nigh impossible because OF
the frequent necessity OF getting OIL for
food and missing connections. Now the
traveller may easily take enough food
for a weeks journey in his coat pocket
and not sacrifice anything OF the daintiness
or variety which he might have at home
in any of the pellet cafes or restaurants.
But be sure and get the colored sets OF
pellets so that you may tell at a glance what
a Dill contains. They are just as cheap as
the all-white sets and make embarrassing
mistakes impossible. With the white sets
one might naturally make the mistake OF
eating the fish pellet before the little neck
pellet, and nothing can be more annoying
especially when one is travelling.
A dainty pellet breakfast which may be
suggested, Just as a sample, Tor the brake
beam traveller would be:
Green -Gooseberries.
Red peet-RaSpberrles.
Trab pellet--Breakfass food
Notified pcliet,-Condonsed broled maokerel.
Yellow pellet-Corn muf1in.
Gray pellet-Coree.
Similar menus arranged for the three
meals day may now be had In sets designed
for week
A small rug or mat can be had aS slight
expense to spread over the brake beam.
Get the reversible kind, 30 that 1t may be
turned every morning.
HARVESTING NOT A PICNIC.
Eastern College Men Find That Ont in