AFTERTHOUGHTS 



makes men of iron out of, sometimes, the most 

 debilitated specimens of humanity. 



My advice to all men, as emphasized in Out- 

 door Life and personally, has ever been directed 

 toward living as much of their life in the open as 

 possible. Learn to cultivate a participation in 

 some outdoor hobby (if you haven't been be- 

 guiled in that direction already) to such an ex- 

 tent and with such fervor that it will actually 

 infringe on your official and social duties, and 

 occasionally be allowed to upset even some of 

 your most profitable and highly cherished busi- 

 ness plans. Take this hobby home with you and 

 treat it as you would your best friend; listen to 

 its whims, answer its call and walk with it in the 

 open. I care not whether this outdoor pursuit 

 happens to come in the form of dangling an 

 earthworm over an inoffensive and untenanted 

 water-hole, or bringing down an elephant in the 

 jungle. One is as good for your health as the 

 other if you get enough of it. 



Bear in mind that if you would promote and 

 keep alive that great organism which you call 

 your m.ortal coil, there are a few fundamental 

 rules you should observe while straying along 

 this here earthly trail. If you don't so listen to 

 the call of nature you'll become mouldy of mind, 

 yellow of skin, crooked of shoulder and so over- 

 wrought and nervous that in the end you will 

 not be a fit companion for even a prairie-dog. 



213 



