Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-08-25

ed in my nina the various experiences
had had in previous years in the
woods l did not stop to consider the
many interesting things that l knew
about animals, trapping, hunting and
woodcraft.
These two months in the forest l sat
time and time again in front OF my
campfire and really thought for the
first time in my life. 1t seemed as II
every experience l ever had came back
to me in the most minute detail This
made my brain worth something 10
me. In a word, my two months in the
woods have been a wonderful educa-
ton. The experiment made me find
myself. 1t gave me perfect health. 1t
demonstrated to me that there were
thousands Of things in our present So
called civilized life that are unnecessa-
ry, in fact foolish, ridiculous, wasteful
practices that stand in reality for moth
ing.
It established for me the realization
that people are slaves to luxury, and
on the mind and health.
My friends know that the notoriety,
which perhaps has come as result OF
this experiment, means nothing to me.
have always aspired to do my part in
the world, If could but make start.
For every man it is a hard thing to
start. l made up my mind one day
that l would get such start. Then
the idea of this trip came to me just
as l have previosuly described it.
/ am glad that the idea stuck with
me- and l am glad that l gave the time
to think it out. The thought that per-
haps l was doing something was an in
centive, although many times in the
forest l wondered just what the people
on the outside were saying about the
experiment.
Perhaps the experiment will demon
strate to the man who is lost in the
woods that all is not lost. Perhaps
the thought that l existed for two
months without the slightest aid may
help a man under such circumstances.
sincerely hope so.
The one thing that stands out more
strongly than the rest, perhaps, is the
health side of the question. l mention
this about myself just as l would tell
the story about any man because I be-
live the comparative values to be of
vital interest.
On July 80, just before 1 left for the
northern Maine country, l was exam
ined by DR. Dudley Allen Sargent,
physical director Of Harvard universi-
ty.
At that time, DR. Sargent made the
following statement:
Il have made a thorough physical
examination of Joseph Knowels OF
Boston, and from the results am GER
tain that if it is possible for any hu-
man being to accomplish the expert
ment, Knowels can do it.
His attempt to live like a primeval
man will have scientific value. 1t
will also have a practical value, de-
pending in extent on what he actually
accomplishes in the woods.
II believe it is possible for man to
revive many things which he has ksxt
during the progress of civilization
There is no question that in our ad-
vancement from primeval life we have
dropped through disuse a great deal
of natural knowledge; our artificial
life has robbed us of some of our great
est powers and had stunted others.
THE getting back to nature move
ment, which l have consistently in
dorsed and which is now gaining
ground everywhere, is turning the tide
backward. Out of door life is today
being demonstrated as the ideal and
natural life for human beings.
THE attempt of Knowels to live en-
tirely cut off from civilization is a
further move in the right direction,
and it reaches the fundamentals. Few
men dare attempt such a sweeping
change Of living, and few men are
equipped physically to accomplish the
result. Still fewer men have the pre-
vious knowledge Of the woods which
is necessary.
mans success in living independently
in the woods for months would be Of
great value to people who enter for
ests. A lost man should be self-sus-
tanning. He should know how. To
know that it had been done would give
him assurance, and any actual expert
ence under these circumstances should
furnish him with methods.
I'VE will be interested to know how
the lack of salt will affect Knowles and
to find the effect Of a sudden change
of diet from city fare to wild things.
We want to know how his wild life will
affect his physical condition, his
weight and his measurements. How
greatly the cold will affect his comfort
after he becomes Injured is also inter-
esting to science.
when Knowles returns to Boston
after his two months in the woods, l
will again make a complete examina-
ton and by comparison with his con-
dition when he entered will be able, |
think, to say what effect his expert
ment has had.
when | examined him he showed
considerable fat, which will aid him
in resisting the cold. He had a re-
markable vitality and much reserve
energy and was altogether fit for the
experiment.
Il fully believe that, with his pre-
vious experience to aid him, he should
be able to accomplish his experiment"
(To Be Continued).