The San Francisco call., 1910-06-19
ny ARTHUR II. DUTTON

Did you ever build a cabin or hut in
the woods for cosy retreat on a hot
summers dayf If not. you have missed
lot of fun. 1t is easily done.
Every healthy boy or girl loves the
woods, and now, with vacation time at
hand. come the opportunities for roam
ing afar among the tall trees. the
gentle streams and rushing brooks,
with birds singing and wild animals
near by
The wilder the spot for a days out
ing the better the average boy likes it.
1t seems closer to nature. For genu-
Inc fun a small party OF boys and girls
can do nothing better than get up early
on one of these bright summer morn
ngs, take the ferry across the bay to
some of the wild spots back of Berke-
ley, or In Marin or Contra Costa coun-
ty. and there make camp for the day.
Here is where a knowledge of hut
building becomes useful.
Most young people have no settled
idea of where to go, what to take along
or what to do Here is what was done
not long ago by party of three girls
and four boys, between the ages of Ia
and Is, and the mother of one of the
girls. who took charge of the party.
They had heard, in a vague sort OF
way, of a thickly wooded canyon,
northeast of Berkeley, where there was
a beautiful stream, tumbling over
boulders, and all the characteristics of
wilderness Two of the party went
in search Of 1t one Saturday, and came
back with such glowing reports that
the whole party was off bright ana
early the next morning, equipped for
a long hike. Food was carried in
army knapsacks of canvas, which also
carried a couple of frying pans, coffee
pot and other simple utensils. An axe.
hatchet and a small bag of nails
completed the outfit save for small
p caliber rifle. which one of the boys
took along to shoot ground squirrels,
and some fishing tackle.
The glen they reached was better
than they expected. They could easily
imagine themselves pioneers in the
wilderness, blazing the path of civiliza-
tion. There was not habitation. fence
or other sign of man in sight. They
depended upon themselves for every
thing
The first thing suggested was a cabin,
and the suggestion was greeted with
giee. OF course, as it was, as they
thought. for only days use they made
it very simple Four saplings were cut
OF about the same size, and planted in
holes dug with sticks, rocks being then
piled around the bottoms, the holes
were not deep enough to make the poles
secure. Across the tops of the upright
poles TOUR other poles were laid norl-
zontally. three resting in forks left in
the uprights. the other being nailed.
and thus was the frame of the hut
made.
Boughs of trees were laid across the
horizontal poles on top. and in this way
the hut was rooted in Boughs were
then hung on three of the four sides.
closing the hut in. 1t was not roof
to keep out rain, but it was a shelter
from sun and wind. and very coZy. 1t is
surprising to find how comfortable such
a bough hut may be made.
The boys did the chopping. but the
girls were not idle by any means. or
course boys always expect girls to do
the cooking. and the girls in the party
cheerfully performed the household
duties, although the boys washed the
dishes afterward. But the girls helped
in the hut building. They chopped OF
boughs and one of them was as good
as any of the boys in mailing the place
up The whole hut was built in less
than four hours, and there 1T STANDS to-
day, members of the little party re-
turning to it and taking others.
rustic table has been built, also benches.
and an oven made of rocks, so that the