A Tent Away from Home

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Today, we have two string hammocks which are fist-size when folded. We mount them between trees, so in 1900 we would doubtless have had to choose a "Mexican woven hammock, made of sisal twine, fancy assorted colors" weighing about three pounds, but costing only 80¢.

For cooking and other camping tasks, we would have chosen from pages of equipment all from a supply company which modestly called itself "the Cheapest Supply House on Earth:" A jack knife, or Dick's hand-fitting easy opener pocket knife, would have set us back about 50¢. Other cutlery—bread knife, kitchen fork, paring and general kitchen knives—cost about a dime each, while the fish scaling knife cost 25¢. For a buck we could have bought Japanned tin box to keep the squirrels and birds from ap propriating our food supplies. Given our lack of experience we would probably have settled for Wilson's camp kook kit. "Just the thing for camping out. 53 pieces. Fire jack, two boilers, fry pan, coffee pot and all utensils and tableware for a party of six. The entire kit nests in shall space. and can be firmly locked up by ordinary padlock." $5.75, weighs 20 pounds. And we would have also bought a cedar water pail, 2 1/2 pounds, 17¢.

We'd have cooked over wood or charcoal rather than our current propane two-burner, but we could have made mealtime a brave and joyous occasion by blowing a large dinner horn, more than a foot long, japanned, and with all improved mouthpiece, for a nickel. For evening entertain ment we would certainly have chosen a harmonica, avail able for a dime to a dollar; although it may have been difficult to pass up "Koch's Concert Bell harmonica, 40 reeds, 10 double holes. Full concert harmonica of powerful tone (and with) bells...of good quality, well made and sup plied with strong, durable strikers, producing a really sweet and musical ring." All that costs 70¢ plus 8¢ postage. For rhythm we could have thrown in solid ebony bones for a quarter. Or we might have wanted to read or play cards under the reassuring glow of Ham's Cold Blast 'Tubular Lantern, "...made on the same principle as a street lamp, with wind break. Very desirable for use in places where there are strong drafts of wind." Weight: 2 1/4 pounds; 80¢.

We would have brought our clothes from home but might have thrown in an extra poncho for $1.25. Weight 3 1/2 pounds. We might also have ordered new bathing suits for the occasion. Mine would have been a "one-piece best cotton bathing suit. made like a Union Suit (with buttons in front). It is like an ordinary shirt and knee pants, but all in one piece" available in solid dark colors or horizontal stripes, for $1.00. "The Ladies' Union Suit with skirt ...navy blue cotton fabric, with sailor collar, blouse effect with collar and skirt trimmed with white braid" for $2.50, or in a racier model with V shape front, for a dollar more. My rod and reel would have set me back about $6.00, for which sum we could have bought three kites for more assured beach fun.

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