4 The Book of Woodcraft 



throwing them into the woods, saying, "Go and have a 

 glorious time." 



The boys sulked around and sullenly disappeared. An 

 hour later, on being looked up, they were found in groups 

 under the bushes, smoking cigarettes, shooting "craps," 

 and playing cards — the only things they knew. 



Thus the well-meaning rich man learned that it is not 

 enough to take men out of doors. We much also teach 

 them to enjoy it. 



The purpose of this book is to show how Outdoor Life 

 may be followed to advantage. 



Nine leading principles are kept in view: 



(i) This movement is essentially for recreation. 



(2) Camp-life. Camping is the simple Hfe reduced to 

 actual practice, as well as the culmination of the outdoor Hfe. 



Camping has no great popularity to-day, because men 

 have the idea that it is possible only after an expensive 

 journey to the wilderness; and women that it is inconven- 

 ient, dirty, and dangerous. 



These are errors. They have arisen because camping as 

 an art is not understood. When intelligently followed, 

 camp-Hfe must take its place as a cheap and delightful way 

 of Uving, as well as a mental and physical savior of those 

 strained or broken by the grind of the over-busy world. 



The wilderness affords the ideal camping, but many of 

 the benefits can be got by living in a tent on a town lot, 

 a piazza, or even a housetop. 



(3) Self-government with Adult Guidance. Control from 

 without is a poor thing when you can get control from 

 within. As far as possible, then, we make these camps self- 

 governing. Each full member has a vote in affairs. 



(4) The Magic oj the Camp fire. What is a camp with- 

 out a campfire? — no camp at all, but a chilly place in a 



