The Washington herald., 1920-06-06

Several hundred Washington fam
lilies. anxious to combat the high
cost of living. are making their
homes in tents on the outskirts Of
the city.
Along nearly every road leading
out of Washington tents are
pitched. The banks OF the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal have at
tracted scores of tent dwellers so
that a continual row of white
canvas appears in places.
"Au Modern Convenience"
That a comfortable home can be
set up under canvas is the claim of
these campers. who have taken
with them sewing machines. pianos
and other requirements of the mod
ern home.
A tent home not only Is a solar
pleXus blow to the rent profiteer,
claim some of these people, but 1t
means greatly reduced grocery,
meat and clothing bills.
Most elaborate of the tent cities
which have sprung up during the
past few weeks is Camp Frank H.
Lawton on the Conduit road, six
miles from Pennsylvania avenue.
One hundred homes under canvas, a
dance hall, "a poolroom and cafe,
electric lights, running water and
shower baths make up this open
air haven where 800 army officers
and civilian employees connected
with the zone quartermaster depot
have taken up their residence for
the summer.
Lives ON 81 n Day.
NJ. A. Reid. noted master of
woodcraft, who lives the year
around with his 6-year-old daugn-
ter in a tent pitched on the bank
of the Potomac at Macinac, six
miles above Cabin John postoffice.
goes so far as to say that living
costs can be cut two-thirds by liv-
ing under canvas.
Washington families can live on
the fat on the land all summer for
so cents a day for each person. Mr..
Reid declares. His expenses are 81
Ia day and he makes no secret of
how he gets away with it.
He pays no rent.
He wears old clothes and overalls
He buys eggs and vegetables from
farmer neighbors for less than half
the price charged in Washington
markets.
In a half hour any evening he
can catch enough Mississippi cat
fish from the river to make ap-
petizing meals for himself and his
daughter all day.
Helps Prospective Campers.
During the past few years he has
helped more than one Washington
IA hn f0h nf lix-iy er
during the summer months by
showing them a good site for a
tent and giving them practical les
sons in woodcraft.
."The trouble is that too many
people, get discouraged after a few
days experience without knowing
how to make themselves comfort
able" says Mr.. Reid. Mosquitoes.
for instance, shouldn't bother any
body. The secret is to have no
lights near your tent until you are
ready to- go to bed. Then undress
by candle light as quickly as pos
sible. Mosquitoes seldom enter a
tent unless they are attracted by a
light.
"A housewife can keep just as
good a house and not work half so
hard under canvas as in a city apart
ment. A gasoline stove is the best
for my purpose. although women
can use an oil stove in a pinch.
live in a tent all winter and find
that a gasoline stove not only gives
enough heat to make the tent COM
Portable but that almost anything
can be cooked over 1t.
Chickens, Rabbits and Fish.
After the camper once has de-
veloped an acquaintance with the
farmers he will find them willing
to sell their produce very cheap
rather than go to the trouble OF
sending it to the city market. But
there is no reason why he cannot
keep his own hens. They give
little trouble, can pick up most OF
their own living, and will Law
eggs all summer. to say nothing OF
the chicken dinners they will fur
nish.
THE prospective camper can
make no better investment than
in few Belgian hares. 1t costs
almost nothing to feed them and
l have found they cut the cost of
living tremendously. One pair at
Nht SldIl VI d is
for a foundation.
The river is full of catfish and
they are easy to catch. Mississippi
catfish are the most abundant and
the easiest to catch. They are fine,
no bones and all white meat"
COULD the average city-man
CATCHY these fish," the reporter
asked.
"City-Never Again."
He could after someone who
knew how showed him the ropes"
answered the woodsman. Other
wise he might waste hours with
out a nibble. But l can go out
any evening just after sundown
and get as big a catch as l want.
You have to be shown the right
places first, and fish at sunrise
and sunset.
Il lived in a tenement on F