Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

OUTFITTING 27sentimentalism, but that pure, intense, thoughordinarily mute affection which finds pleasure inher companionship and needs none other. As OliveShreiner says: " It is not he who praises Nature,but he who lies continually on her breast and issatisfied, who is actually united to her." Donald G.IMitchell once remarked that nobody should go tothe country with the expectation of deriving muchpleasure from it,as country, who has not a keen eyefor the things of the country, for scenery, or fortrees, or flowers, or some kind of culture ; to whicha New York editor replied that " Of this not onecity man in a thousand has a particle in his composition."No doubt a gross exaggeration ; but theproportion of city men who do thoroughly enjoy thehardy sports and adventures of the wilderness is certainlymuch larger than those who could be entertainedon a farm ;yet the elect of these, the oneswho can find plenty to interest them in the woodswhen fishing and hunting fail, are not to be foundon every street corner.If your party be made up of men ^experienced inthe woods, hire a guide, and, if there be more thanthree of you, take along a cook as well. Treat youiguide as one of yourselves. A good one deservessuch consideration ; a poor one is not worth havingat all. But if you cannot afford this expense, thenleave the real wilderness out of account for the present;go to some pleasant woodland, w^ithin hail ofcivilization, and start an experimental camp, spendinga good part of your time in learning how towield an axe, how to build proper fires, how to cookgood meals out-of-doors, and so forth. Be sure toget the privilege beforehand of cutting what woodyou will need. It is worth paying some wood-geldthat you may learn how to fell and hew. Here,w^ith fair fishing and some small game hunting, youcan have a jolly good time, and will be fitted forsomething more ambitious the next season.In any case, be sure to get together a company of