Life in camp, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, In the mountains and by the sea or Inland lakes and rivers, has a peculiar charm, not the least of which Is found In the camp cookery. Epicures whose palates are tired of entrees and game In city restaurants, who fret and fume If their planked steak Is not to their liking, or If the after-dinner coffee has not the de- sired soupqon of chicory, will eat like lumbermen when fed upon camp ra- tions, with never a word save of praise for the camp cook. Possibly It's a matter of environment ; for Mother Nature has a way of soothing tired nerves and of tickling jaded palates to such an extent that the hum- 37 A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD Around the Camp Fire blest fare is fit for a king, and the muddiest camp coffee nectar to the tired, hungry man just in from a day's fishing or hunting in the wilds. Most men who camp do not need to be told the little things that combine to make camping comfort- able: how to dig a trench around the tent and how to make a stone fireplace or a stove from rocks and an old stove-top; or how to shave off fir boughs for a hard but fragrant bed. They all know that a deep hole should be dug some distance from camp in w^hich to throw refuse and debris, covering it daily with fresh earth, which so quickly kills all odors. They know the staple rations to be taken — prepared flour for griddle-cakes and hot bread, with rising already in it ; salt pork, smoked ham and bacon, dried beef, salt fish in case the fresh ones fail to bite; pilot-bread, crackers, and biscuit of all sorts, potatoes, beans, onions, canned fruit and vege- tables where fresh cannot be obtained ; Indian meal, salt, sugar, pepper, mustard, molasses, vinegar, butter, tea, coffee, chocolate — powdered and sw^eet — rice, oat- meal, baking soda, ginger, spice, soap, paraffin candles, matches, and kerosene oil. These and such luxuries as milord demands compass the culinary needs. But lest he forget — and it's so easy to do that in the excitement of going into camp — a list of other necessi- ties may not come amiss, and it includes tin kettles with covers, spiders with covers, coffee and tea pots with lips instead of spouts, gridiron, pans, basins, tin 38 A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD Around the Camp Fire cups, pails, milk cans, knives, forks, spoons, lanterns, bags (paper and "gunny" sacks), strings, thread, needles, matches, shovel, axe and hatchet, hammer, tacks and nails, sticking plaster, Jamaica ginger, towels and bath towels, dishpan, dish towels and cloth, pins, mosquito netting, oil of pennyroyal if In fly season, plenty of old newspapers, fishing tackle, guns, ammuni- tion, and last of all, extra stockings and flannel gar- ments. If flannel Is worn, one should never take cold even after a thorough soaking; but of cotton and linen, for use In camp or on ranch, beware! Parties scorning the Idea of bothering with all these things when rough- ing-It will find camp life quite rough enough, even with the things provided that are mentioned In the list. The need of a match or a pin or string can never be realized until one has had to do without them In camp or on the water.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Life in camp, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, In the mountains and by the sea or Inland lakes and rivers, has a peculiar charm, not the least of which Is found In the camp cookery. Epicures whose palates are tired of entrees and game In city restaurants, who fret and fume If their planked steak Is not to their liking, or If the after-dinner coffee has not the desired soupçon of chicory, will eat like lumbermen when fed upon camp rations, with never a word save of praise for the camp cook. Possibly It's a matter of environment ; for Mother Nature has a way of soothing tired nerves and of tickling jaded palates to such an extent that the hum- Around the Camp Fire blest fare is fit for a king, and the muddiest camp coffee nectar to the tired, hungry man just in from a day's fishing or hunting in the wilds. Most men who camp do not need to be told the little things that combine to make camping comfortable: how to dig a trench around the tent and how to make a stone fireplace or a stove from rocks and an old stove-top; or how to shave off fir boughs for a hard but fragrant bed. They all know that a deep hole should be dug some distance from camp in which to throw refuse and debris, covering it daily with fresh earth, which so quickly kills all odors. They know the staple rations to be taken — prepared flour for griddle-cakes and hot bread, with rising already in it ; salt pork, smoked ham and bacon, dried beef, salt fish in case the fresh ones fail to bite; pilot-bread, crackers, and biscuit of all sorts, potatoes, beans, onions, canned fruit and vegetables where fresh cannot be obtained ; Indian meal, salt, sugar, pepper, mustard, molasses, vinegar, butter, tea, coffee, chocolate — powdered and sweet — rice, oatmeal, baking soda, ginger, spice, soap, paraffin candles, matches, and kerosene oil. These and such luxuries as milord demands compass the culinary needs. But lest he forget — and it's so easy to do that in the excitement of going into camp — a list of other necessities may not come amiss, and it includes tin kettles with covers, spiders with covers, coffee and tea pots with lips instead of spouts, gridiron, pans, basins, tin Around the Camp Fire cups, pails, milk cans, knives, forks, spoons, lanterns, bags (paper and "gunny" sacks), strings, thread, needles, matches, shovel, axe and hatchet, hammer, tacks and nails, sticking plaster, Jamaica ginger, towels and bath towels, dishpan, dish towels and cloth, pins, mosquito netting, oil of pennyroyal if In fly season, plenty of old newspapers, fishing tackle, guns, ammunition, and last of all, extra stockings and flannel garments. If flannel Is worn, one should never take cold even after a thorough soaking; but of cotton and linen, for use In camp or on ranch, beware! Parties scorning the Idea of bothering with all these things when roughing-It will find camp life quite rough enough, even with the things provided that are mentioned In the list. The need of a match or a pin or string can never be realized until one has had to do without them In camp or on the water.

A bachelors cupboard