GUESTS OF THE FORESTS 55 



wilderness to let down their back hair, as the saying goes, to relax, to impart. 



No forester, whatever be his special mission afield — to cruise timber, to 

 audit staff accounts, to check equipment, to trail wood thieves, firebugs, fake 

 "miners," game hogs, or to examine the effects of human ministrations upon 

 returning forest cover — no present-day forester, however specialized his 

 training and interests, can entirely put out of mind the very human and 

 pressing problem of natural recreation as he goes about his job today. 



This, on the whole, has been an excellent thing for the Forest Service. 

 Direct contact with the public on outings maintains a direct human 

 approach. There are instances, even, of some of the most technical of foresters, 

 out on specialized scientific research, accepting a friendly cup of coffee at a 

 lone campfire and departing hours afterwards a little embarrassed at the 

 thought of all they themselves contributed to the campfire confessional. 



