OCR Text |
Show WilMAM m fifawder Pepple " --' wrrr IT fte past few years , F ' h ftil$$:M&: feikif representatives of outdoor & , ,V, , I:JljsS . sports among the women fplK ISIISI Si;;t&J2.' of this countt'y have mul- - Ij;.,i v$Ss&it tiplied and increased to a U W0&M mmMSffm i! ' ) ml greater extent than in any X 'V 4 ifc' W4i4hs previous era. Although felS &i-)Iti. tmmMmmim$ti'm have been a few devotees WMmM40P4 iM0m0MBm. ot the more strenuous . W$0MMmm ftlft!fti! sports and recreations, the modern woman WSivi'ilSiSfTfeBI IsiSSSSfk has just begun to realize all that outdoor Slii;lSiSsW?f::J& i life means to her. and the benefits she may $XM W? if lS Sti$Ssl 6 "t derive thereby. y$$t W- K----? A great number of the women who are V 1 V r f j today living a life of health and pleasure . li , !jf W established through generaUons of riding to in the outdoor world have developed from V , U hounds in the open air, for it is a sport that is timid, feeble beings of no physique what- ji ' t indulged in to a great extent by women, and it V. ever, whose only so-called pleasures were y ; l A v is worthy of note that they have proved to be '-- - found over cards and other social - tunc- v ' the most rearIess as well as most graceful of tions the nature of which not only sa the f-MflWk ' ri,;ers- physical, but impair the mental vitality as 1 ' f In the wilder portions of the west where the well. These women date their convalescent " ' V " turbulent broncho and the fiery mustang hold period from the time these enervating 1' 'I supreme sway, riding is one of the prevalent pastimes were abandoned for a life free j4lfJJOSyyA'&J?JVJ4yjAW? modes of enjoyment, although in a very different from petty worries and cares the life of MYDlftG Tf f?JY5 manner from that of riding to hounds, for the the ereat outdoors estern horsewoman differs as much frcm the a i ?5r!w?- ITIilM the past few years tf$, $f representatives of outdoor 1$ft$$&$f sports among the women SlteV?-. f this countt'y have mul- tiPliecl d increased to a (w!ftf)M)n reater extent than in any XxWiy W previous era. Although SiiZ' in the years past there szs have been a few devotees of the more strenuous sports and recreations, the modern woman has just begun to realize all that outdoor life means to her, and the benefits she may derive thereby. A great number of the women who are today living a life of health and pleasure in the outdoor world have developed from timid, feeble beings of no physique whatever, what-ever, whose only so-called pleasures were found over cards and other social - functions func-tions the nature of which not only saj the physical, but impair the mental vitality as well. These women date their convalescent period from the time these enervating pastimes were abandoned for a life free . from petty worries and cares the life of ij the great outdoors. What a blessing it would be to womankind if more husbands and brothers, being sportsmen I'aemselves, would say oftener: "Come, go with me 'into the woodland's cool retreat, to the clear lake where lurk the wily bass, and the air is filled with the fragrance of growing things," or perhaps, "Come where Bob "White is hiding in the lonely willow swale." As a rale, man is, or has been, a selfish creature crea-ture where sport is concerned, and until recent years has considered his work well done when, after a fortunate day of sport he came home, glowing with exercise and vigor bringing the fish or game for the "meek and humble" wife to prepare. pre-pare. But mankind also is beginning to "see the error of his ways," and each season there are more and more recruits to the army of happy men who have fitted their wives out with all necessary equipment for the life outdoors, whether to meet the requirements of the gentle art of angling or the more exerting though not less congenial recreation with the gun. In the United States, those women who have asserted themselves, either for their inherent love for nature, or the acquired attachment that invariably in-variably springs up the result of close communion com-munion with nature have proven the equal, and not infrequently the superior of man contestants. In games that try the utmost skill and endurance endur-ance in his or her special sport. To the woman who has, as 6he will probably express it, "lost her health," and whose strength and courage with which to combat evefy-day tribulations is fast deserting her, the one physician who cau answer every time as positive to a permanent cure is old Doctor Outdoors, and his prescriptions are many and varied. This physician will never advise a timid, nervous woman to go for the first time, armed with shotgun, nor would he tell a woman who never had held before a more formidable weapon than a "straight flush" to start out after big game without some preliminary instructions In this line. The first advice would be: Learn to love the outer world, cultivate a taste for natural beauty, learn to look, learn to listen, learn to walk correctly, to tread the woodland paths lightly, and learn to breathe, fully and freely expanding, exhaling, till the blood coursing cours-ing merrily through every vein brings a warm i'nw to checks that have long been pinched and 'aded. In using the terms, looking and listening, I ' efer to the cultivation of the senses, without ' -"'Inch life iu the open air loses much of its eu-; eu-; rhantraent. Cultivate the sense of hearing", hen out alone in the woods, pause occasionally tnd Dote bow many different sounds you can hear listinctly and remember. Perhaps it is the music 3f a stream as it ripples softly over a bed of gravel; maybe it is the voice of the waterfull as it tumbles over great bowlders or through a narrow nar-row gorge, and simultaneously you may hear the twitter of feathered songsters in the neigh-Soring neigh-Soring trees, and the cry of some great bird of prey on its pilgrimage through the air, while v.vny off In the opposite direction comes the faint ;lnkle of S cowbell. While grapsing these separate, separ-ate, distinct sounds and storing them in your nind your eyes have kept busy. Perhaps you nay notice a bent or broken twig or a bush near '.v. so your eye involuntarily foiled the course f the path and seeks the next shrub to find ''ire bent In the sam? manner. Your conclusions - i established through generations of riding to hounds in the open air, for it is a sport that is intlulged in to a great extent by women, and It is worthy of note that they have proved to be '-- the most fearless as well as most graceful of riders. In the wilder portions of the west where the turbulent broncho and the fiery mustang hold supreme sway, riding is one of the prevalent modes of enjoyment, although in a very different manner from that of riding to hounds, for the estern horsewoman differs as much frcm the cultivated horsewoman of the south and east as the broncho differs from the thoroughbred; and yet the daughters of the west are fearless riders, many of whom are expert ropers and spend their spare moments in the healthful, albeit rude, atmosphere of the camp. , Archery claims many devotees who are very " " c thusiastic over their favorite pastime, but as yet the game of William Tell has not gained national na-tional pre-eminence. It seems to be growing, in popularity, however. ?tore than a century before our beloved Izaac Walton had published his immortal work, "The Complete Angler," another book was written on the. subject so dear to the heart of the angler this by a venerable dame, Julianna Berners. It was called "Treatyse of Fyssbynge wyth an Angle," and even in that remote time (1496) there must have been the same existing charm of outdoor life and proof that a woman might profit by this recreation either beside still waters or running stream, as demonstrated in the old y". de.me's words: "It nede be the dysporte of S fyshynge wyth an angle that catiseth a long life, - ' and a mery." And truly, what life can be more fuli of the sweet, seductive charm than an outing beside a running brook? Take a warm day in early spring when all nature is awakening from her long winter sleep. Go away off "far from the maddening crowd" to some, sequestered nook where the trees are beginning be-ginning to wear their green dress of the season, and where the lurk sings. Take with you the light rod and little coaxer, and try your luck with the finny tribe. It is not all luck, however, and it is interesting as well as instructive to note under what conditions, the greatest amount of success in angling can be attained. From a practical viewpoint, angling has much to recommend it as an enjoyable means of recreation, as the sport need not be made an expensive one, although with angling as1 with-all with-all other sports. It may be made as expensive as one would wish, according to the richness of the outfit to be em rdoyed and enjoyed. Many an old fisherman, and any little boy will tell you that he can catch more fish using a pole cut from a neighboring tree, wMh home-made tackle, than with the most elaborate set of bamboo rods and tlys ever manufactured. Trap shooting is a great sport and claims cumber of women devotees in this country as well as abroad; it. is said that Queen Margharita of Italy is an adept with both shotgun and rifle, trap shooting being her favorite diversion. Gradually but persistently the outdoor wo.nan and lover of this means of recreation is asserting herself, and at 7resent time plans are under way to perfect an organization composed of the women trap shooters of the United States. At the head of this movement Is one of the most enthusiastic and able representatives of trap shooting among the fair sex. More than ever women are beginning to realize how much outdoor out-door life means to them, and they will soon find that no one but the doctor has a kick coming if they spend their vacation in the wilderness or on the plains. My advice Is "Throw your powder rags and medicine bags to the first stray goat you meet and come with me Into the open." thereby placing plac-ing your name upon the great roster a.; an outdoor out-door woman. . are rapid. Some animal has passed that way. As the twigs alone, and not tha branches being mutilated, you know the animal has not rushed by in fright, and the nipped leaves higher up will indicate the leisurely passage of some her-, bivorous animal, and if you feel inclined to follow fol-low this trail you will be rewarded in the end by finding a stray horse, as at first surmised. Not big game, far from k, buc you have learned one lesson in the book of woodcraft, which is only a page of the many volumes yet in store for the earnest student. It may have been smaller tracks that have clairned your attention, tracks (that are visible in the sof. earth. Learn to distinguish these of a rabbit from those the squirrel has made. This is easy if you will.be member that in running the rabbit places both fore feet close together and spreads the hind feet apart, while the squirrel places all feet at nearly equal distance apart. In using the olfac-tor. olfac-tor. sense you can stand perfectly still and tell what' trees or bush Is in blossom. Truly, one season spent out of doors in cultivation culti-vation and close observation will be of more real benefit than years over books Tnese things, then, are the first rudiments toward that higher education, the education of the outdoor woman. Perhaps the most important tiling to be considered during the preparatory stage Is the clothing to be worn, for without comfortable attire, advanced lessons will be of little real benefit. Although the outing costume varies with the individual taste, and also with the expense to be considered, still the most popular and the one universally adapted to most needs is a suit consisting of a plain short skirt worn over knickerbockers, a coat of i.he same material, which may be made plain for camping purposes alone, or -supplied with the proper pockets for hunting and fishing. A soft flannel shirt will be found more convenient than a waist, and stout shoes worn with loggings are lighter and less fatiguing than the high top boots, although al-though they may be worn to advantage in colder weather or where there is a rough tramp to be taken. A soft felt lint, or cap v-ith generous i:or to protect the eyes completes 'he costume. After simplicity, durability is an item to be considered. Strong, serviceable duck, canvas and khaki cloth are durable and easily cleaned, but of recent years whole suits of waterproo' mate-ri. mate-ri. 1 cau be had at such reasonable cost that it is folly and a greater expense to make one's outing out-ing garments at home. , Cultivate a love for nature, which you can do with neither rod nor gun. the t se of which implements im-plements of pleasure should corne after the first rudiments are mastered. With new strength and nerve gained through a life out of doors will also come new courage and confidence. Iu some respects the prevailing variety of sport is characteristic of that portion of country wherein it is most indulged. In the southern and some of the eastern states, fox hunting is one of the most popular of recreations, as the physical physi-cal features and topography of the country make it the natural home of the fox, red and gray: and in the sunny south for generations fox houndi have been bred with the exhilaration of the chase In view; horses have been judiciously bred in order to keep up with the hounds; and who may say but that the beauty of the famous women, especially of Kentucky, has not been |