Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-03
FEVER IN ENGLAND
Men and Women Alike Have Taken
to the Road.
FAvoRs THIS STYLE VACATION
They Travel in Caravans and on BIZ
cycles and Camp at Night in
Fields Or BY the
ROADSIDE

LONDON, Sept. 15.-The famous old
Pilgrims Road" which Chaucer pictured
in his Canterbury Tales" as alive with
travellers on their way to Canterbury, is
once again peopled with pilgrims-pil-
grims who are wandering not to any par
ticular city but in search Of health.
The friars and knights and ladies have
vanished, and nowadays the pilgrims are
men in knickerbockers and sweaters and
women in short tweed skirts and heavy
boots who use caravans and bicycles to con-
vey them on their journeys. once again at
night all along the road camps are set up
and fields and wooded paths are packed;
this time with toilers from London shops
and offices snatching a week or two Of
outdoor life or with more wealthy wander
ers who prefer this sort of vacation to
any other. The explanation Of all this
is that England has the camping fever
more virulently than ever before.
The Pilgrims Road is the most popular
one with the campers because it winds
through beautiful, fertile Kent, but on al
most any road in England this summer
one could encounter caravan and cycle
campers in great numbers travelling by
easy stages from town to town, the greater
proportion Of them being women and girls.
A caravan drawn by one horse can be
obtained for something like s. for two
weeks. It's exterior is painted in vivid
colors. Little curtained windows dot
either side, while the door is at the back.
Its interior is fitted up with a chair
fastened to- the floor, a tiny stove, a few
kitchen utensils and a bed
Sometimes four women take one of these
caravans. They bring extra bedding, a
tent and various other necessaries. One
OF them drives and looks after the well
fare of the horse. always a gentle, elderly
beast. One volunteers as cook, a. third
viii keep the caravan neat and the fourth
will forage for food and spots in which to
camp. If the weather is fine the bed 10
the caravan is in small demand, as sleep
ing out Of doors is half the fun Of the
trip.
Many suffragettes have been spending
their holidays in caravans this year. The
chances of winning over converts under
those circumstances is very great, and
fresh air and sunshine after the winter
struggle are Of benefit. Besides these
campers with a purpose there are hundred
Of other women who take their holidays In
this way and gain health from them.
English farmers were at first somewhat
suspicious of the women caravaners, bu'
now they chuckIe at their idiosyncrasies
and willingly allow them to camp on theil
premises. Some farmers charge for the
use Of their fields and for the grass tbs
horse eats, and Of course for milk and
fresh eggs, but there are others who vii
not take a penny from the campers anC
treat them as guests.
The number OF women who go cycle
camping is much smaller than the number
Of feminine c~aravaners. though it is in.
creasing yearly. The original cycle camp.
ing club did not include women in it.
membership list and the first feminine
camper Joined the party by mistake. He
husband had understood hat he could
bring his wife If he chose to do so, ant
he did choose, so she came, to the horror
OF other members Of the club. But sh,
proved a valuable acquisition 10 the party
and since her day women have been in.