164 
FOREST AND STREAM 
r 
March, 1918 
An Emergency Shoelace Tip 
OMETIMES the metal tip of a shoelace 
will come off and the lace will begin to 
unravel; when one is in camp this is very 
annoying, as it doubles the time needed for 
dressing. I have a little kink for use at 
these times which is a great temper-saver. 
I cut the ragged end of the shoelace so 
that it tapers and wax it well with a bit of 
candle, then I roll it into a fine point, and 
proceed to dress in comfort. If the point 
blunts, all that is needed is to stick it in 
the fire for a second, then point again with 
the fingers. When it cools it is as firm as 
ever. I have been surprised to find how 
few people know of this kink, which comes 
in handy even in the city. 
L. F. H„ New York. 
Combination Scoop and Strainer 
CONVENIENT form of strainer 
which will remind one that he is en¬ 
joying nature is here described. Cut a 
forked sapling branch, peel it, and then 
bend it into a loop as illustrated and tie 
ends together. Then cut a round piece of 
cloth—preferably cheesecloth—and sew or 
tie it around frame, and you have a serv¬ 
iceable strainer. A fine scoop can also be 
made on the same pattern. Bend the fork 
around a tin or aluminum cup and tie ends. 
The cup can be removed when desired, the 
handle keeping it from falling through 
when inserted again. 
J. Jonassen, New York. 
“As Light” Camping Stove 
AM sending you a drawing of a camp 
stove which is as light as any you can 
find. I have used this stove a great deal 
and have found it very satisfactory. Be¬ 
sides being light in weight it folds into a 
very small space and can be put under the 
rear seat of an automobile, in the tool 
box, on running board or, in fact, almost 
anywhere. The size of the stove depends 
entirely upon the size of the party it must 
cook for. You will generally know 
whether your party averages two, four or 
six, and can judge the size accordingly. 
Do not make the legs too long. You do 
not need a big fire to cook with. If you 
are cold, build a bonfire and take some of 
the coals to a spot a little distant and out 
of the smoke and there set up your cook¬ 
ing stove. 
My stove cost twenty cents and was 
made by a country blacksmith in a few 
minutes. He used three legs of %" x 
iron, pointed at one end to drive in 
ground; two horizontal bars of J4" x 
iron drilled at each end to take J4" stove 
bolts; top of legs were also drilled to take 
same bolts. Bolt one leg between the two 
horizontals with a bolt 2" long so as to 
allow some play. Bolt a leg to each of the 
other two ends of the horizontals. The 
top of the stove, as shown in the cut, 
shows how it is used. My stove is only 
28" long as I seldom use it for more than 
two people, but three feet is a good length 
for general use. The legs fold up and 
horizontals swing together when closed, 
making a package 34" x %" x 3 ft- which 
can be accommodated in automobile, canoe, 
or motor sidecar. 
Charles L. Burns, Maine. 
Rest for Camp Washbasin 
N the December issue of Forest and 
Stream I noticed the description of a 
camp wash stand. Here is, in my opinion, 
a quicker and a better way than your cor¬ 
respondent describes, and no injury is done 
to a tree. Cut three sticks about three feet 
long point one end and drive them in the 
ground like a tripod, meeting at the top. 
When you place the washbasin on, you 
spring them apart so they hold the basin 
firmly, each stick pressing toward the 
center. 
Seeing Bro. Ferguson’s hint about straw, 
I would like to tell how I fix my sleeping 
bag. I had a bag made of brown canvas, 
8 oz. weight, 7 feet long by 3 feet wide, 
open at one end by flap and tied with tape 
string. This was filled with straw or hay, 
when it is tied none of the filling can work 
out. Placed inside a sleeping bag it makes 
a fine bed. It can be shaken every morn¬ 
ing. I have a cover made for it of un¬ 
bleached cotton which can be washed 
easily. Whenever one wants to move camp 
all that has to be done is to dump out the 
straw or hay, fold up the bag and it is 
ready to the next place. 
The hints in Forest and Stream have 
helped me in the past. I like to read 
Nessmuk’s Camp Fire and I hope it will 
never go out. I am sure it never will with 
so many warm admirers. 
H. Dutton, Alberta, Canada. 
Hints From a Summer Tramper 
VERY summer my wife and I take a 
walking tour through whatever part 
of the United States seems to strike our 
fancy. We take our tent and outfit on a 
little cart which I push, and camp where • 
night overtakes us. Naturally we like to 
travel as light as possible' and we have 
worked out many contrivances for our 
comfort which may be interesting to others 
around Nessmuk’s Camp Fire. 
Recently you published a hint of mine 
about how to keep a bottle corked. I have 
just learned a good way to get a cork out 
that has got pushed down inside a filled 
bottle. Take a string with a button on the 
end, drop the button down into the liquid, 
then with a long needle or hatpin draw the 
cork up in the neck of the bottle. Pull 
on the cord and out comes the cork. This 
was told to me by a friend who laughed 
at the idea of sending it in as a new hint, 
for he said it was an old trick. I told 
him it was new to me and so I am sending 
it to you, for what is new to one is new to . 
another and this hint is very useful. 
A handkerchief knotted loosely around 
the neck is much more comfortable than a 
collar in warm weather. If it is clean and 
neatly adjusted it looks fully as well as a 
collar. I adjust mine in this manner. I 
fold it from corner to corner and place 
loosely about my neck with the ends in 
front; instead of tying it, I use a slide 
made from a piece of stiff leather 
x 1 34 ". Round the corners, then make two 
slits in it 1%" long. The two corners 
i 
