Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-09
GREAT PLAY GROUNDS OF THE WEST
ny FREDERIC j. MAsKIN.

WASHINGTON. d. G.. June s.-You
can't run at high gear unless you keep
%our machine in perfect repair. and
even then YOU can't run at high gear
all or the time. That is the rationale
OF the need of modern man for vnCa-
non iie does more in q year than his
loreiatherS did in five. and he there
fore has pressing need TO knock off
ono" a year. ana do nothing. or some
thing else for n least two or ,hrce
weeks. All Of the mort important bust
ness organizations Of tho country are
maklng vacation a regular and impor-
tant institution. They are organiZiri.
camps and Fairgrounds. They realize
that human efficiency is the deciding
factor in the success OF any business
and that efficiency IS a matter of
health
same problem. his success depends
uron the amour, OF 2cst that he puts
into his work. and the 2cs, depends
UPON health Many Of us never 10 catch
i ,.l WIN the modern pace. Weare Jagged
aegarGs all the way through the
struggle only a fcw OF us are as
much rs nve-cighths alive most Of our
waking time. W. drink butLefmilk
L" live long. hUt AT" only half alive
while living And so fcv OF us ever
!" try harder, hut 10 quit trying for
Il while, 10 give our nerves the tonic Of
freedom from responsibility, and our
lungs breath OF fresh air.
Change is the prim. essential az va
cation. II YOU live In the country and
raise cuCumbcrs, the proper thing FOR
YOU TO do is TO nave your whiskcra
curlcd and 60 10 New York But most
of us live in the city. and therefore
the thing "" need is 10 20 out doors.
Now, living out OF doors is at once
habit and achievement John Muir
says that going back 10 the woods is
gong home. hc cause We = II came from
the woods To many y West"rncr this
Is very true The Eas, has somewhat
10 learn from the West along that
or for n hike every few weeks or
months Most OF the men hunt and
most Of the women ride. and throwing
n squawhitch over a pack is n . com
mon an accomplishment playing
golf is in the East.
How the Wc.,crner Plays.
When your real Westerncr gets a
vacation he has no doubts about what
10 do. Only 10 mics away there ~
trout stream that he has been in
tending 10 try for several years, He
puts the grub box and bed in the
blackboard, bitches UP his team OF
native cayuses and arrives at his de-
sired trout stream in two days without
fatigue. He knows how 10 take care
OF himself and have a good time ont
uf doors. And TO that familiarity OF
his with the mountains and mesa you
may trace much Of what is best and
most typical in nim--his breadth Of
thought. his physical stamina, his
resolute love OF freedom.
Now there is no denying that there
are many good amateur woodsmen In
the East but numerically they are the
,nerest handful. The typical Fastener
is about submerged In his own urban
Tn, n inn N \
and he is lost and miserable. Give
him freedom and he does not know
what 10 do with II. He falls heavily
back upon the resort hotel. which is
very well for women and children and
invalids. but surely reveals lack of
all Imagination and spirit OF adven-
ture In youth and manhood
so the East has something to learn
from the West, and-this is the nub
OF the story--thc West is now ready
to teach. Through the Department OF
Interior. ably and enthusiastically
abetted by several large railroads. the
West is inviting the East to come
out and take a look at its great
tional parks There is room for hum
dreds OF thousands without any crowd
ing Scattered from the Canadian
border TO Southern California. these
national parks contain the most won
derful variety Of scenery and wild life
TO he found anywhere in the world.
Yet until recently they have been al
most entirely neglected except by peo-
Pile living within Il few hundred miles
OF them, and occasional adventurous
globe trotters. who have looked and
proclaimed them far more striking than
the Alps. and wondered they were not
better known
East Hears West Calling.
Now the United States government
has determined to make the Ameri-
can people aware that they possess
these wonderful Fairgrounds. Robert
r. Mather, a wealthy Westerncr, has
been placed in charge of the work,
and is pushing it with all the energy
and executive ability of n successful
business man. And the East is already
needing the invitation. More persons
visited the parks last summer than
ever before. and this summer will see
their numbers grow still further. The
West is showing the East how TO 20
back TO the woods
And the best part of i, is that you
can take just as stT Or just mild
course az you wish. You may get
n pack horse and saddle hore and
take to the wilds 10 look out for your
self or you can hire n guide to bear
the responsibility and do the work or
you can set up your tent by n steam
ond stay right there, or you can rent
n little chalet and keep house. or you
can stay ut a carefully organized and
conducted camp, or you can get II first.
class room at II frat class hotel and
! look at the scenery through the
window
The whole thing has been planned
| Ro that any taste. and any amount of
| initiative and imagination or any lack
4 M ny ri ~ u