Thibodaux commercial journal. (Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish, La.) 191?-1959, 1922-08-26
HIKING DOWN The
LONG BROWN PATH
Vacationists With Shelter Tents
and Tin Cow Learai1g to
Walk All Over / s3I1.


dust mia nj -coAOF'
That make makes you feel youy uubs al
And it's not the hike on the hard t,,rnnii
Ihat drives away your smile.
4$of the socks of sisters that raise tn
blooming blisters- y
II the last long mile.
-Plattsburgh Marching Song
Stringips out from the suburba
ffransit terminals of New York ever
Sunday and holiday goes the army o
ki,aki-clad hlkers. There may he Al
automobile for every twenty of tn
country's population, but a host D
city folks dtsprove the theory of
future leg-enfeebled citizenry and ar,
learning to walk all over again.
To the more casual minded, Ehe hik,
Is just exercise. but to those whc
catch lis Fea! significance the hike
means a great deal more. 1t is the
cheapest form of recreation and
therefore appeals to those living In
crowded districts and unable te avail
themselves of the more expensive
amusements. And these people, be
It noted, are Just these the country
Is so anxious ta 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.
ooushbey and eey Scout Lead Way
Just a brief survey of the rollicking
groups which move off from the out
lying terminals on holidays estab-
fishes few general types. There is
the ex-servics man and his friends
who will 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 ar the
Shelter half" in which the eOpe-1,,s
sary is packed for tA~ - 1.u eaa..
hv tha rosssIs midday 1east
.sIss..as .slde. Expert directions
~-ne from him on the method of
singing the pack so it will not feel
so heavy or interfere with the free
body movement. He will 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 a
"blankety blank total failure"
Then there are the boy scout par,
ties, adept at everything pertaining
to "shanks mare" travelling and wood
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
teen over the side, Jimmie, and
It won't keep bouncing off your leg
every step. Is it filed? Well, then,
we drink. How about the eats? Let's
check 'em off. You got the spuds,
Bill; the bacon Jimmie. Who has the
coffee and the Borden tin cow"
Fright here" announces a freckled
of the road, patting his KNAPP
sack. Switched the mocha and the
can of milk when Sis wasn't looking"
"Well, then, let's gep snaps the
of the expedition.
This party Is travelling light for real
distance Another must expect to
make a shorter hitch or else be count
ng greatly on Its power of endur-
snce Perhaps the camp is not far
off because the group is equipped for
IN overnight stay with heavy blanket
'olls. hatchets, lanterns, canvas wa
:erpails, rubber ponchos, kettles, pots,
lew tangled 1restand, etc, etc. The
blankets are laid out for a better
packing of the bags and cans of food
When the party commences to load
lp the members bristle all over with
amp teols and equipment.
Back to the Farm
The veteran from the crowded city
enements has found a new territory
% roam and one almost unknown to
lis associates. He is introducing them
% this newly discovered land and
eaching them how to be Independent
# any transportation but their own
rood legs and of any subsistence but
What they can carry and prepare.
Walk and cook your own" Is his
MOTTO.
Who will say the leaven thus fer
nenting in the city crowds will not
,ear fruit in keener appreciation Of
country delights, especially as these
ire added to by increased comforts
n the farm. With his radio hitched
ID, the farmer listens in on the best
the country has to
,ffer Modern home devices wipe out
many hardships formerly imposed
Ipon isolated dwellers. There is, in
hort, a rapid cutting down of the
between farm and city
ife.
In the meantime, knowledge must !
,recede a true appreciation of what |
he country holds, and this is what |
he hike supplies. There is more ap-
zeal in one apple tree in blossom than
n reams of printed matter put out to
induce the citizen of the city to
hange his abode to the country The
Iikers constitute a growing army,
quipped with bacon, spuds, coffee
nd tin cow for merely days outing
ut nevertheless seeing sights that
nake them yearn to be among them
IL the time. It is not too much to
ssume that the army may one day
ecruit the open places. /