The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-02-11

And on the other side of the
world some folks are overdue.
One of these is that restless spirit
who means to step from the White
House into hunting togs and to
pursue in Africa the big game
that abounds in its equatorial re-
gion.
This hunting of big game has a
double fascination. There is the
fascination that all big game
hunters confess to-the danger of
it for one thing, and which to
many is lure alone. Some of
these hardy ones who live on the
excitement that it supplies have
likened it to the taking of opium
or the imbibing of strong waters
habit that grows until, as in the
case of the hunter, there is no
animal too formidable and no jun
gle too thick. That is one side of
the fascination that it holds. The
other is for the stay-at- homes and
who follow big game hunting by
reading about it.
These may find some solace in
reading of the preparations which
President Roosevelt is making for
himself and his party of the
weapons which will be carried, of
the camp equipage and Of the
game that may be encountered.
The tents that are being provid-
ed for Mr.. Roosevelt and party are
of green waterproof silk-a ma
terial so light in texture that an
entire tent with it's telescoping
pole weighs only Is ounces. 1t is
'sential that its color be green,
this because of the fact that a
rhinoceros, reckoned by big game
hunters as the most dangerous and
vicious of all wild animals, will
charge a white tent the moment
he sees it, no matter if the tent
were surrounded by a whole cara
van of attendants. One can mag
inc the restless slumber of hunter
who goes to sleep with the knowl-
edge that he might have his life
crushed out at any moment by the
infatuated charge of one of these
vicious animals.
Besides being Of color which
will not invite such attack, it is
also essential that the tent be in
sect proof. Africa is infested with
many Kinds of poisonous insects,
and while hunters guard against
their bites by day, yet, without an
absolutely insect-proof tent to
sleep in o'nights the white man
who seeks big game in Africa is
| liable to be bitten by some of
these numerous poisonous insects.
But the tents that are being pre-
pared for Mr. Roosevelt are said
to be proof against the tiniest
things that crawls or flies.
The pole that goes with the
tent is made of bicycle steel tub
ing. 1t is of a telescope pattern,
weighs only three pounds and can
be extended to height of eight
feet. Each tent will accommo-
date four persons. The hunters
will sleep on pneumatic mattresses.
These, when debate, can be rolled
up in a bundle no larger than a
blanket. Very light Hudson bay
blankets will be furnished with
each mattress.
A dealer is furnishing the arms
and ammunition, but from another
source it was learned that the
president and his party will be
equipped with the 4o5 Winchester,
a weapon of extremely high power
and very flat trajectory. Some
idea of the extent of its shocking
power may be had from the state
ment that the impact of its bullet
is equivalent to the lifting of 1907
pounds one foot. The bullets are
soft pointed, which means that
they will mushroom" on hitting.
This it the kind of bullet that
EFFECTIVE TOWN BEAUTIFUL