It does not need that Herbert Spencer should cross the ocean to tell us that we are an overworked nation; that our hair turns gray ten years earlier than the Englishman's; or, "that we have had somewhat too much of the gospel of work," and, "it is time to preach the gospel of relaxation1." It is all true. But we work harder, accomplish more in a given time, and last quite as long as slower races. As to the gray hair—perhaps gray hair is better than none; and it is a fact that the average Briton becomes bald as early as the American turns gray. There is, however, a sad significance in his words when he says: "In every circle I have met men who had themselves suffered from nervous collapse2 due to stress of business, or named friends who had either killed themselves by overwork, or had been permanently3 incapacitated, or had wasted long periods in endeavors to recover health." Too true. And it is the constant strain, without let-up or relaxation, that, in nine cases out of ten, snaps the cord and ends in what the doctors call "nervous prostration"—something akin4 to paralysis—from which the sufferer seldom wholly recovers.
Mr. Spencer quotes that quaint5 old chronicler, Froissart, as saying, "The English take their pleasures sadly, after their fashion"; and thinks if he lived now, he would say of Americans, "they take their pleasures hurriedly, after their fashion." Perhaps.
It is an age of hurry and worry. Anything slower than steam is apt to "get left." Fortunes are quickly made and freely spent. Nearly all [Pg 2] busy, hard-worked Americans have an intuitive sense of the need that exists for at least one period of rest and relaxation during each year, and all—or nearly all—are willing to pay liberally, too liberally in fact, for anything that conduces to rest, recreation and sport. I am sorry to say that we mostly get swindled. As an average, the summer outer who goes to forest, lake or stream for health and sport, gets about ten cents' worth for a dollar of outlay6. A majority will admit—to themselves at least—that after a month's vacation, they return to work with an inward consciousness of being somewhat disappointed—and beaten. We are free with our money when we have it. We are known throughout the civilized7 world for our lavishness8 in paying for our pleasures; but it humiliates9 us to know we have been beaten, and this is what the most of us know at the end of a summer vacation. To the man of millions it makes little difference. He is able to pay liberally for boats, buckboards and "body service," if he chooses to spend a summer in the North Woods. He has no need to study the questions of lightness and economy in a forest and stream outing. Let his guides take care of him; and unto them and the landlords he will give freely of his substance.
I do not write for him, and can do him little good. But there are hundreds of thousands of practical, useful men, many of them far from being rich; mechanics, artists, writers, merchants, clerks, business men—workers, so to speak—who sorely need and well deserve a season of rest and relaxation at least once a year. To these, and for these, I write.
Perhaps more than fifty years of devotion to "woodcraft" may enable me to give a few useful hints and suggestions to those whose dreams, during the close season of work, are of camp-life by flood, field and forest.
I have found that nearly all who have a real love of nature and out-of-door camp-life, spend a good deal of time and talk in planning future trips, or discussing the trips and pleasures gone by, but still dear to memory.
When the mountain streams are frozen and the Nor'land winds are out;
when the winter winds are drifting the bitter sleet10 and snow; when winter rains are making out-of-door life unendurable; when season, [Pg 3] weather and law combine to make it "close time" for beast, bird and man, it is well that a few congenial spirits should, at some favorite trysting place, gather around the glowing stove and exchange yarns11, opinions and experiences. Perhaps no two will exactly agree on the best ground for an outing, on the flies, rods, reels, guns, etc., or half a dozen other points that may be discussed. But one thing all admit. Each and every one has gone to his chosen ground with too much impedimenta, too much duffle; and nearly all have used boats at least twice as heavy as they need to have been. The temptation to buy this or that bit of indispensable camp-kit has been too strong, and we have gone to the blessed woods, handicapped with a load fit for a pack-mule. This is not how to do it.
Go light; the lighter12 the better, so that you have the simplest material for health, comfort and enjoyment13.
Of course, if you intend to have a permanent camp, and can reach it by boat or wagon14, lightness is not so important, though even in that case it is well to guard against taking a lot of stuff that is likely to prove of more weight than worth—only to leave it behind when you come out.
Clothing
As to clothing for the woods, a good deal of nonsense has been written about "strong, coarse woolen15 clothes." You do not want coarse woolen clothes. Fine woolen cassimere of medium thickness for coat, vest and pantaloons, with no cotton lining16. Color, slate17 gray or dead-leaf (either is good). Two soft, thick woolen shirts; two pairs of fine, but substantial, woolen drawers; two pairs of strong woolen socks or stockings; these are what you need, and all you need in the way of clothing for the woods, excepting hat and boots, or gaiters. Boots are best—providing you do not let yourself be inveigled18 into wearing a pair of long-legged heavy boots with thick soles, as has been often advised by writers who knew no better. Heavy, long-legged boots are a weary, tiresome19 incumbrance on a hard tramp through rough woods. Even moccasins are better. Gaiters, all sorts of high shoes, in fact, are too bothersome about fastening and unfastening. Light boots are best. Not thin, unserviceable affairs, but light as to actual weight. The following hints will give an idea for the best foot-gear for the woods; let them be single soled, single backs and single fronts, except light, short foot-linings. Back of solid "country kip"; fronts of substantial [Pg 4] French calf20; heel one inch high, with steel nails; countered outside; straps21 narrow, of fine French calf put on "astraddle," and set down to the top of the back. The out-sole stout22, Spanish oak, and pegged23 rather than sewed, although either is good. They will weigh considerably24 less than half as much as the clumsy, costly25 boots usually recommended for the woods; and the added comfort must be tested to be understood.
The hat should be fine, soft felt with moderately low crown and wide brim; color to match the clothing.
The proper covering for head and feet is no slight affair, and will be found worth some attention. Be careful that the boots are not too tight, or the hat too loose. The above rig will give the tourist one shirt, one pair of drawers and a pair of socks to carry as extra clothing. A soft, warm blanket-bag, open at the ends, and just long enough to cover the sleeper26, with an oblong square of water-proofed cotton cloth 6×8 feet, will give warmth and shelter by night and will weigh together five or six pounds. This, with the extra clothing, will make about eight pounds of dry goods to pack over carries, which is enough. Probably, also, it will be found little enough for comfort.
During a canoe cruise across the Northern Wilderness27 in the late summer, I met many parties at different points in the woods, and the amount of unnecessary duffle with which they encumbered28 themselves was simply appalling29. Why a shrewd business man, who goes through with a guide and makes a forest hotel his camping ground nearly every night, should handicap himself with a five-peck pack basket full of gray woolen and gum blankets, extra clothing, pots, pans, and kettles, with a 9-pound 10-bore, and two rods—yes, and an extra pair of heavy boots hanging astride of the gun—well, it is one of the things I shall never understand. My own load, including canoe, extra clothing, blanket-bag, two days' rations30, pocket-axe, rod and knapsack, never exceeded 26 pounds; and I went prepared to camp out any and every night.
Preparations
People who contemplate31 an outing in the woods are pretty apt to commence preparations a long way ahead, and to pick up many trifling32 articles that suggest themselves as useful and handy in camp; all well enough in their way, but making at least a too heavy load. It is better to [Pg 5] commence by studying to ascertain33 just how light one can go through without especial discomfort34. A good plan is to think over the trip during leisure hours, and make out a list of indispensable articles, securing them beforehand, and have them stowed in handy fashion, so that nothing needful may be missing just when and where it cannot be procured35. The list will be longer than one would think, but need not be cumbersome36 or heavy. As I am usually credited with making a cruise or a long woods tramp with exceptionally light duffle, I will give a list of the articles I take along—going on foot over carries or through the woods.
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1
relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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outlay
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| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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lavishness
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| n.浪费，过度 | |
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humiliates
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| 使蒙羞，羞辱，使丢脸( humiliate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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sleet
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| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
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yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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woolen
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| adj.羊毛(制)的；毛纺的 | |
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lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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slate
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| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
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inveigled
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| v.诱骗，引诱( inveigle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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pegged
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| v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的过去式和过去分词 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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33
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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34
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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35
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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cumbersome
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| adj.笨重的，不便携带的 | |
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