640 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



THE LATCH-STRING IS NOT OUT TO THE TOURIST HERE 



This is a case where the owner is apparently unfriendly to campers indicated by the two 

 signs and the long notice posted on the padlocked gate. Such a situation often exists as 

 a result of the continued carelessness of campers, who might otherwise be made most wel- 



owner of the place a half a day to round up his stock. Or 

 it may be that he lost a valuable horse because of it. 

 Now, soberly speaking, is such an act worthy of anyone 

 who loves the outdoors? 



Do you or your neighbor picnic in the woods? 

 Everyone loves to eat a meal in a cozy little park-like 

 space in the timber. But did you or your neighbor leave 

 a clean camp? Well, that is another question. Often, 

 very often, a picnic party using a picnic grounds wears 

 it. .out with the one visitation. Cans, string, egg shells, 

 banana peelings and paper 

 plates litter the whole out- 

 look and one who comes later 

 finds that his predecessor has 

 dissipated the beauty which 

 beckoned to stop and there 

 lunch. 



The jitney tourist is not 

 the single malefactor. Men 

 who drive high-powered cars 

 often show the most despic- 

 able traits when trampling 

 on the courtesy of the out- 

 doors. By a campfire that 

 crackeled far in the depths 

 of a western forest three men 

 talked of another man of 

 their set who was not there 

 and they breathed fervent 

 prayer that he would not 

 come for he was unwelcome. 



One of these men came of 

 a family of New Yorlc finan- 

 ciers aid his name is a power 



in the money market. A sec- 

 ond had made several for- 

 tunes in oil and one or two 



in steel. The third had hunt- 

 ed lion in Africa and invaded 

 Bolsheviki Russia with the 

 American Red Cross. His 

 name is known internationally 

 as that of an experienced ex- 

 l)lorer and hunter. Many 

 campfire tales were told of 

 hunts and hunting, but never 

 a night went by when these 

 men, leaders in their own in- 

 dustries and in sport and then 

 at the campfire, a part of the 

 group of good fellows who 

 may be found in many a 

 camp, did not softly or stri- 

 dently condemn the absent 

 one who was of their clubs, 

 society and business planes, 

 but was not a gentleman out 

 of doors. 

 There is a real serious phase to this problem. It affects 

 everyone who travels in the open country. Carelessness 

 on the part of a few affects all for the local resident 

 does not discriminate between the classes of traveler- 

 visitor. They are all tourists and if he has become con- 

 vinced that all tourists are bad through the acts of some 

 petty vandal it will take many associations with the gen- 

 tle folk of the road to change his mind. He is not going 

 to risk one act of wilful vandalism in order that he may 

 be host of many people who will be good guests. 



REFUSE LEFT BY CARELESS CAMPERS 



Once a cozy little nook, near a picnic spot, the most enthusiastic optimist could not call it 

 pleasmg now. Such a sight is as distressing to a good. camper as a littered backyard to a 

 good householder. 



