The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-07-24
HIKING DOWN THE
LONG BROWN PATH
vacationists With Shelter Tents
and Tin Cow Learning to
Walk All Over Again.

Walk All Over Again.
Oh. It's not the pack that you carry on
Nor the i've inch crust Of khaki-colored
That makes you feel your limbs are
growing older:
And It's not the hike on the hard turnpike
blooming blistersE
It's the last long mile.
-Plattsburgh Marching Song.
Stringing out from the suburban
transit terminals Of New York every
Sunday and holiday goes the army OF
khaki-clad mixers. There may be an
automobile for every twenty of the
country's population, but host OF
city folks disprove the theory of a
future leg enfeebled citizenry and are
learning to walk all over again.
To the more casual minded, the hike
is just exercise, but to those whe
catch its real significance the hike
means great deal more It In the
cheapest form of recreation and
therefore appeals to those living In
crowded districts and unable to avail
/ themselves of the more expensive
amnsements. And these people, be
1t noted, are just those the country
is so anxious to have spread out and
settled in the farming sections The
hike, indeed, has possibilities as a
real starter for the "back to the farm
| movement
/ Doughboy and Boy Scout Lead Way
Just brief survey of the rellicking
groups which move on from the out
lying terminals on holidays estab-
! fishes few general types There Is
| the ex-service man and his friends
who win hear from him the story
| OF more serious excursions on the
muddy roads. of France. He tight
ems strap here and another there
| on the blanket roll adjustment or the
shelter half" in which the commits
! sary Is packed for the midday feast
by the roadside. Expert directions
come from him on the method of
Singing the pack so 1T win not feel
30 heavy or interfere with the free
body movement He wiz pass along
the information gained In his army
days, of how that same pack was
evolved after numerous experiments
| to find the easiest way of carrying
the heaviest load. With results he
now compliments, but which he char
acterized when a doughboy as q
''blankety-blank total failure
Then there are the boy scout par
| ties, adept at everything pertaining
! to "shanks mare" travelling and wood
1 craft The ex-service man and the
boy scout are pioneers In the hiking
game. Listen to one of them right
| off the train and making ready for a
twelve mile jaunt: -Get that can
1 teen over to the side, Jimmie, and
1t won't keep bouncing OF your leg
every step. Is It f1lled3 Well, then,
we drink. How about the eatsf Let's
/ check 'em of. You got the spuds,
| Bill; the bacon Jimmie. Who has the
coffee and the Borden tin cowT
Right here" announces a freckled
comrade Of the road, patting bis KNAPP
sack. Switched the mocha and the
/ can of milk when Sis wasn't looking"
/ well, then, let's gor' snaps the
| commander of the expedition
1 This party in travelling light for real
distance. Another must expect to
make a shorter hitch or else be count
| ing greatly on its power, Of endur-
/ ance. Perhaps the camp Is not far
/ Off because the group Is equipped for
an overnight stay with heavy blanket
| rolls. matches, lanterns, canvas wa
| terpafls, rubber ponchos, kettles, pots,
| new tangled frestand, etc, etc. The
blankets are laid out for better
/ packing of the bags and cans Of food.
When the party commences to load
up the members bristle all over with
camp tools and equipment.
| Back to the Farm
The veteran from the crowded city
tenement has found a new territory
to roam and one almost unknown to
his associates. He is introducing them
to this newly discovered land and
teaching them how to be Independent
of any transportation but their own
good legs and Of any subsistence but
what they can carry and prepare.
walk, and cook your own" Is his
motto.
Who viii say the leayen thus fer
menting In the city crowds win not
bear fruit in keener appreciation OF
country delights, especially as these
are added to by Increased comforts
on the farm. With his radio hitehed
up. the farmer listens In on the best
entertainment the country has. to
offer. Modern home devices wipe OUT
many hardships formerly imposed
upon isolated dwellers. There is, In
short, a rapid cutting down Of the
dfferential between farm and city
life.
| In the meantime, knowledge must
Iprecede a true appreciation of what