Around Our Camp Fire 



/ leave this rule for others when Prn dead, 

 Be always sure you 1 re right — then go ahead. 



—....-. VID CROCKETT. 



The present issue of Recreation will reach 

 most of its readers just before the leaf be- 

 gins to turn. Ere the October issue, in the 

 great hardwood forests of the North and 

 Northwest, the wizard of autumn will have 

 passed through the woodlands, betwixt sun- 

 set and dawn, transforming the wilderness 

 into a blaze of glory such as no mortal pen 

 can describe nor brush picture. With 

 the fall of the leaf the old hunting spirit 

 struggles for supremacy in a normal man, 

 and year by year the 

 number of those that 

 shake off the shackles of 

 business life for a brief 

 return to primeval con- 

 ditions becomes greater. 

 This is as it should be; 

 but now is the time to 

 remember that example 

 is better than precept, 

 and that one little doe 

 spared is better than a 

 whole lot of finely-spun 

 arguments in favor of 

 game protection. 



Let Us Be 

 Practical 



Should the chance 

 come to us to make a 

 record slaughter, may we 



pass it by. We are not Borneo Head Hunt- 

 ers, and a very moderate bag should sat- 

 isfy the sportsman of to-day who under- 

 stands the evil days that have come upon 

 the wild things of the woods and coverts. 

 The educated, wealthy sportsman can do 

 grand missionary work among his humbler 

 brethren if he but show the right spirit. On 

 the other hand, he can do infinite harm by 

 overstepping the boundary between sports- 

 man-like conduct and its opposite. 



Then, again, don't jeopardize the existence 

 of a fellow-mortal, perchance of a comrade, 

 by carrying your rifle or shotgun in a slov- 

 enly, careless way. If in any doubt as to how 

 to carry your weapon, just glance at the 

 sketches by Mr. Bellmore Browne, illustrating 

 Mr. Kelly's excellent article, in our August 

 issue. 



THE MYSTIC FIRE. 



Sometimes September Is a Dry Month 



We have seen Septembers in which a ter- 

 rible conflagration could have been started by 

 a spark. Should this be the case once again, 

 be doubly careful. Clear the ground before 

 you start the fire, and imitate the, careful In- 

 dian hunter who never leaves his camp with- 

 out "sloaking" the embers with a bucketful 

 of water, or a half-dozen if necessary. 



Now that the close season is over, Recrea- 

 tion is going to get down 

 to its work. We propose 

 to make this magazine 

 absolutely indispensable 

 to every man who hunts, 

 fishes, and camps. In or- 

 der to do this, you must 

 send us in the best you 

 have. Let us be deluged 

 with stories and photo- 

 graphs, written and taken 

 by the men who "have 

 been there," and don't 

 forget to put your name 

 and address on the man- 

 uscript as well as on the 

 letter. Even in the best- 

 regulated offices letters 

 and stories sometimes 

 become separated, and 

 then we have a delight- 

 ful time trying to find 

 but to whom to credit certain stories. Many 

 of the readers of this magazine are tyros. 

 They have everything to learn, and may con- 

 fidently look forward to much pleasure in the 

 learning. You, who know what is what, 

 should do the teaching, and Recreation 

 throws open its columns to the schoolmaster. 

 Thousands are now preparing for their an- 

 nual camping trip, and tens of thousands are 

 ready to hear what their more fortunate 

 brethren have done. 



Recreation is the clearing house for sports- 

 men, wherein they may relate their experi- 

 ences and exchange ideas. Doubtless, you 

 have many friends and among them are some 

 sportsmen. Send in their names and ad- 

 dresses and we will see that they receive 

 a copy of Recreation with your compli- 

 ments. 



