packing all over the place, he very often leaves behind 

 him a neglected fire that may destroy the whole forest. 

 He forgets why he selected that particular spot, for a 

 camp. because it looked so fresh and green and un- 

 spoiled by man. He forgets the thrill of joy that the 

 first sight of that place sent through the explorer ele- 

 ment which exists in every man's soul. He acts, not 

 maliciously, but in the spirit of careless abandon. He 

 means no harm, but his point of view is wrong. The 

 chances are that he is not the first to visit that spot; 

 there is no possible prospect that he will be the last. 

 Think how you feel when you come back to an attrac- 

 tive camp site and find its beauty spoiled. There are 

 always others coming in joyful anticipation to the 

 places you have left and you have no right to disap- 

 point them, to tear up their moss, to peel their trees, 

 to burn their forest. 



You can do all these things; the forest is helpless 

 to protect itself, the policemen are few and far be- 

 tween, the owners care little for their property. And 

 there's the fault. There are so few who care or think 

 that the whole obligation of the future welfare of these 

 wildernesses devolves upon those who love them. Act 

 in this wise. An old woodsman breaking camp upon a 

 portage for the first time cuts and fashions a frying 

 pan handle. It is a small job, but he does it with care 

 and makes a good one, no mere makeshift to be used 

 for a single meal. And when he leaves that cold camp- 

 fire in the morning he places the frying pan handle in 

 a conspicuous place for the use of the next comer. So 

 that frying pan handle serves its time in many hands, 

 each saving it for the one to come, till some thought- 



11 



