Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-09-22
COMMUNION WITH NATURE,
When to Seek and How to Find True Rec.
reatiOn.

or woman faiis OF Its good purpose.
Most people come home from their
season by the sea, or at the resorts OF
the lakes and rivers, tagged and spent
with their efforts to have what they
Call "a good time"
Admitting that they have been
merry, granting that what they are
pleased to call their "outing," has
been success, yet the best motive OF
their vacation remains unfulflled.
Of course, am assuming that recrea-
ton, not in the distorted sense, but in
the prime meaning of that word, is
the excuse and purpose of the Sum-
mer vacation. Doubtless there are
thousands OF busy workers in the
cities who never achieve the luxury of
a vacation trip, and who imagine that
so remote, and perhaps impossible, a
prize, would mean for them, at least, a
physical and even mental reincarna-
ton.
And yet, less than ten per cent. OF
the multitudinous army that annually
goes out of the cities, comes within
hailing distance OF the actual pres
ence Of Nature, or, having come with
in reach OF her gentle heart, know
how to touch it, or, having come un-
awares upon her, respond to the
infinitely wise and tender messages
that tremble forever upon her yearn-
ing lips and light with learned love
the yelled mysteries OF her eyes.
have a theory that epwardice-
the same sort OF cowardice which has
made most religion a mawkish mix.
ture Of fulsome adulation and fawning
fear of God-is at the bottom OF the
common failure of mankind to know
Nature at first hand. l have noticed
that most OF the men who are alive to
the wsnton splendors of natural
phenomena, have yet that artificial
fear of the frowning face of Nature
which is born OF the unnatural life OF
cities and enhanced by the narrow aud
narrowing environments OF what is
called civilization. / have seen the
peace OF whole bevy of women de.
stroyed for an hour because q hum.
ming honey.maker winged his friendly
course across the ten.acre meadow
where they were disporting. I have
seen grown men, after days-balmy,
sunlit days-of fishing by some forest
river. run, stampeded like cattle-to
the safety OF brick hotel because q
peculiar shaped cloud was seen, and
they knew by it's portentious shape
that q terrific something was going to
happen, or because the wind came
roaring amongst the bent masts of the
forest, or because the lightning dazzled
and q slight mutteripg Of thunder, OF
which they were intensely afraid.
sounded in close proximity to their
affrighted senses.
The invalid, the ignoramus and the
coward may not be born again in
Summers vacation; but the healthy
man Of wit and courage can be and is.
II you are one OF these, you will not
90 to the crowded watering places,
nor to the fashionable resorts, nor
even to the farm clearinghouse.
Nature disintegrates and absorbs the
weak as she reclaims the withered leaf.
Her lessons are always cryptic to the
dull. She evades and loathes q COW.
ard. If you are none of these 60 into
the primeval wilderness for your Sum.
mer recreation. Pitch your ten atop
high, dry. wind.swept. sun.bathed
hill. Never mind how fierce the sun
glares at your flimsy shelter during
the day, it will be cool enough at
night. If you are hearty, you will
spend very few daylight hours about
your camp. But dig q trench beneath
the pitch of your cloth.caves 90 that
the rain OF the days and Of the nights
will gutter away. At the back and
sides of your tent will be enough, for
you should choose the slope OF q hill,
and the waters will flow away and
leave the ground.aoor of your house
dry and wholesome and cosy, rain it
never 90 fiercely. The sun will waken
you at dawn and tho warm wind will
hail you into the open.
Having pitched your tent with taut
walls and made your trench, spread
your poncho, or rubber banket, upon
the enclosed ground, and with your
Ak and knife 60 into the timber and
hew and pare the hemlocks till you
have small mountain OF twigs. Spread
them up.curved upon your tent.Aoor
and salasm Nature for the odor of
them and for the yielding, resilient
couch which you have found ready to
your hand. Two fiat rocks, six inches
high and laid q foot apart, or, if you
cannot find rocks, two water.logged
hulks Of wood will make you q per.
feet cook.stove. Your skillet will
span it. Your coffee-pot will sit in the
embers or perch On the sides. Upon
it you can bake, or broil, or fry. Place
it at the rear of you tent so that the
fumes of your cookery will not in-
trude upon your dormitory. Here
now, is your home. There is in all