Evening star., 1905-08-20

GOING TO THE WOODS?
HERE is NEEDED ADVICE
Just What the Camper Needs for Week or a
Month in the Country.
1onth in the Country
BY JAMES A. CRUIKSHANK.


& s e e & q s & & 4 z z
August, more than any other month of
the year, sees the vacationers taking to the
woods by the thousand. Contrary to the
general impression the fall is by no means
the most popular time for trips TO the
woods AS a matter of fact backed up by
the reports of general passenger agents
from all the railroads serving vacation ter
ritory throughout the United States, there
are nearly five times many people VINO
go into the woods in the spring for hsh as
go into the woods in the fall for hunting
purposes And the number who make out
ings into wild country in August nearly
trebles the combined total of spring and
fall.
The early summer by general consent now
seems to be given over, at least by our east
ern people, to short trips here and there,
brief soiourns at fashionable shore resorts,
steamer cruises to any one of a score OF
beautiful and popular places. But When
August comes, the heat, humidity and Gus
tom combine to send all who can on outings
far into the heart of the wildwood. Inc
Adirondacks are in some respects the most
beautiful and interesting piece or vacation
territory in the near proximity 10 great
cities which our country affords. Maine is
par excellence the vacation state of the
east where one may have choice between
magnificent hotels, situated in the very
heart of wild country or simple unpreten-
tious camps roughly thrown together, but
perfect hayens of rest and interest 1or
tired city dweller and the lover of wild NE
and wild game. And Canada, fast claim
ing that rowing and pioneer coterle VINO
Invariably seek out and enjoy the choicest
places for the angler, hunter and sports
man, and to which in steadily increasing
numbers the eyes of our Travelled Americans
are every year turning.
All the long-distance trains are CROWDED
to the platforms during August with folks
whose baggage clearly indicates that their
outing is to be spent on no gay piazza OF
crowded hotel, but far in the silent fast
nesses where roam the moose and deer, and
where the pink flesh of the broiled trout
appeals alike to the eye and the palate or
the epicure.
This little yarn is not addressed, however,
to the piazza sportsman" nor the "parlor
athlete" 1t Is aimed primarily at the young
people who will make this year perhaps
their first real outing into Gods country,
who will soon sleep their first sleep under
canopy of canvas, silk, boughs, or. best OF
all the diamond-studded blue itself 1t Is
in praise of the real true spirit OF getting
close to Nature nerSelI ana nearing Win
listening ear the mysterious and beautiful
message which tiny cricket, stirring leaf,
whistle of deer, drum OF partridge and
plash of brook convey to sympathetic vis-
itors.
But the beginner, we will assume, is this
year anxiously looking forward to the time
when with a few chosen companions, he
will spend a week, or perhaps a month, IN
real camping. Perhaps the camping Will
consist of a season at some Adirondack or
Maine camp with its series of big build
ings and central dining room, or participa-
tion in genuine camping party IN
either of these cases there are a few useful
things to know which generally come only
by experience but which are here set down
for the benefit of all concerned:
First as to the carrying of your baggage.
No matter where you are going or for how
long or what you intend taking, or think
YOU need discard at once the idea of carry
ing your stuff in trunk, vallse, suit case or
even case of wicker, which in your enthu-
sasm you have selected on account Of Its
extreme lightness. You have forgotten, evi-
IDENTIFY, that the wicker case has other quail
ties, too. 1t is treacherously leaky, will
fairly suck up water from any damp place
and is most ungainly thing to pack or
carry on the shOulders-Which, by the way,
is the method of carrying everything in the
woods. from the canoe itself to the supply
of clothing. food and shelter.
Buy case of some kind, ana
learn to make it your trunk. After one ex-
perience you will use nothing else. There
are several good canvas carrying cases on
the market now and any of them will be
found efficient. In the sporting goods
stores YOU may buy cylinder shaped cases
of various sizes, open at one end, with ham
dies at sides and ends. These are good.
But better than anything else is the trav-
cling bag knapsack and carry-all known as
I<iptSler bag, made IN ChlcdRO
1t fully deserves the small measure OF fame
which has already come TO IL from the
group of experienced outdoor folks VINO
have learned its merits Perhaps If the de-
mand increases the maker may enjoy suf-
ficient prosperity to spread abroad the news
of his remarkably efficient invention.
The case is made OF Waterproof canvas
having fine quality leather mountings and
handles, opens very WIDE at top; can be
carried as a hand bag, or, when It's strap
fastenings are rearranged, is most Serv-
iceable knapsack. 1t can De carried py
man or woman without exciting the slight
est comment l have had full-blooded In
dian guides actually break into words in
praise of it's simple efficiency for woods
life Such recommendation means more
than the average person can imagine.
Now as TO weather protection FROM your
very door there must be truce said TO all
such effeminate evidences of civilization as
umbrellas and rubbers. In their place you
will substitute a thin rubber automobile
shirt opening only at the throat sufficiently
to let your head through and having close
fitting wristbands. Or you may have
coat fahioned of the famous English Bur
berry's" a ventiating cloth, fully water
proofed for which we have no American
substitute. Or If you really want the best
au-around protector from rain. something
you may make into a blanket to sleep on
or use to wrap up your entire outfit, or
even make an emergency tent of, in pinch,
you should buy "pantaSote poncho. This
is a large sheet of the new waterproof ma
terial having a slit In its center, and that
slit furnished with snap buttons.
When it rains you put on this sheet, put
your head through the slit. fasten the snap
buttons, and with arms and legs free go on
your way rejoicing-and dry. 1t is without
question the best rain protector so far de-
vised for any man who requires freedom
of action. Uncle Sam furnishes this ar
ticie to his soldiers, and their equipment is