Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-03
Hints for Vacation
BY Frederic J. HaskIn,

n vacation is largely n matter Of observing
n few rules, Sonic Of them very old ONES.
The veoatiouist is an adventnrer ia the
sense that he lcaves his native element
for entirely different surroundings. The
danger is that in his engerness TO mako
himself at home he often gets into trouble.
Therefore the rules are needed for refer
ence.
The first rule for vacationists is 20
travel light. Many an able-bodicd, OPP
tirnistic member Of society hos contracted
cramps, crouch and permanent one
sidedness from being tied down 20
collection Of luggage that would make a
doughboy loaded for marching look un-
tranmelcd by comparison. A several
months stay at tho beach may require
more baggage than a toothbrush and an
extra necktie, but for persons who expect
TO be hopping on and off trains or boats
every unnecessary ounce is a bother.
The person who travels by rail is
advised TO equip himself with a dozen
fax seeds So long "a trains are run by
coal, and cindcrs aro produced in sizes
small enough TO sift through window
screens, riding on a train will be attended
by eye Casualties. Flax seeds are the
recognized, infallible remedy for cinders.
One or two seeds are inserted into the
eye and the seed softens and becomes
glutinous. AZ lit floats about in the eye
IN this state it takes Up all foreign matter,
and 1t can be removed in a couple Of
minutes. If you travel alone, pocket
looking-glass should be a part Of the
clnder equipment.
LOOK OUT FOR SNAKES.
OF the live things that make vacations
hazardous the most universally feared IL
the snake. In the United States people
seldom run across any venornOls kinds
except an occasional copperhead, rattler,
water m0ccasin, or coral snake The
black snake, which IL sometimes regarded
as dangerous, is known 70 be harmless
Another mistaken idea is that whisky
is good for snake bite. In some places
a real snake bite is still good for pre-
scription" But the Smithsonian snake
expert holds that whisky is not a remedy
The old reliable first aid treatment for
snake bite IL TO have some one suck the
venom and spit il out As the poison
is not transferable in this way there Is
no danger unless the person sucking the
poison has an open sore in his mouth
The best general advice about snakes
Is 70 watch out for them when walking
in underbrush or tall grass, and not %
make friends with any snake unless you
are sure you understand his disposition
A more common pest than the make
is the mosquito. This ubiquitous and
voraclous insect succumbs most readily
10 the scent Of pennyroyal. He also
Hees from the fumes Of citronella, punk
and to some extent from tobacco smoke
If lusty blOOdhunter gets past one ~
these furne barrages and inserts his pro-
boscIs into you, a scratching spell can
be aveTted by quick treatment with am
monia water to take out the sting. Va
cation IN a mosquito summer resort can
be rendered more Teposeful II Won keep
with you tiny bottle Of regular house
hold ammonia with a rubber cork.
According TO tradition, bees and hornets
are unlike mosquitoes in that they do not
make the first advances-1f YOU get stung
It is your own fault This theory =
incorrect. We have seen man who was
peacefully sleeping in a hammock sudden
ly assaulted by bee for no reason az all
And we remember a lunch party IN the
woods that broke up hastily because one
guest took a small bee into her mouth
along with bite Of salad. such nci-
dents are unusual but il IS well % be pre-
pared for them
A bee sting responds quickly to baking
soda slightly molstened with water 10
make il stick. Or lacking this. a plaster
Of mud, mixed from a little earth and
water, viii reduce the swelling and pain
II the sting Is left IN the skin it should be
removed first Of all.
Besides the creatures mentioned. the
vacationIst may have TO cope with
chIggers, bulls. sand feas, tarantuias
or man-eating sharks. In dealing with
any Of these enemI 5 we can only say
that It IS well 10 depend on inspiration
and a speedy retreat.
BEWARE or sUNBCRN.
So much for live enemies. After NOS
quitoes, sunburn Is the most frequent
worry which spols the comfort necessary
to a real rest. In the country the best
way TO avoid the agonies Of peeling Is 20
keep out Of the sun during the hot part
OF the day. At the beach YOU have 70 20
a step farther and look out for the water
when the sun IS under a c loud. To 20
swimming when the atmosphere IS in his
hazy condition IS 70 invite the most m
comfortable attack Of sunburn possible
unless YOUR skin j. hardened 20 the sun
Even when riding IN a small covered boat
on such a day, YOU mast watch 1lt for
the glare reflected from the bottom ID the
boat. Sunburn Is relieved bv cold cream
or If that fails, by very weak salt solu-
tion. Not more than a tea,poonful of
salt should be used 20 d pint of water
Closely AKIN 70 sunburn in ll-ssghtlincss
and the misery Of the viylm Is poison
ivy. The poisonous oak and ivv es YES
are not difficult 20 recognize. and .nv
one not familiar with ,hem should ave
them pointed out. The leaves - both
are arranged IN clusters of threc ON
stem. Some persons are less vulnerable
10 the poison than others, but IL i always
d safe step TO wash the hands and face
thoroughly with soap after handling
plants in a wood or meadow.
The poison takes the form Of rash
with bhsters. There are numerous TREAT