Life Along the Highways

Proving That Motor Camping Is a Sport for the Luxury Loving, as Well as for Hardier Souls

GEORGE W. SUTTON, JR.

GRADUALLY the growing streams of camping vehicles on all the highways of America are being augmented by the motor cars of the wealthy and the well-to-do. The knowledge is growing that motor camping is really a universal sport and not, as heretofore believed, a privilege to be enjoyed only by the owner of a Ford car, his wife and their eight children.

It is still true, of course, that the majority of people who seek health and recreation as gasoline gypsies are people of extremely moderate means, to whom motor camping spells a glorious freedom from the cares, restrictions and expense of home life. But it is also being recognized that it is a sport equally enjoyable by people of means and culture and that it need not have any of the disagreeable elements of "roughing it". The successful accomplishment of a motor camping trip, whether for poor man or rich, is purely a matter of thoughtful preparation.

Last year, well over one million people took to the highways in their cars on motor camping trips of various lengths. Out of that wandering horde, a single camping party may be taken in perfect illustration of the point mentioned in the preceding paragraph—thatmotorcamping may be a life of luxury, if properly done.

In the issue of June last year we had an article telling of the pleasures of motor camping and detailing some of the necessary steps to take before starting on a camping trip. Several months later, the editor received a letter from one of our readers saying that, as a result of that article, she had determined to go motor camping and had accomplished her purpose with tremendously satisfactory results. Therefore she wished to thank Vanity Fair on behalf of herself and her family for a summer of rare enjoyment without the slightest discomfort or inconvenience. The letter was signed " Roshanara".

Sometime later the writer called on Miss Roshanara to learn the details of her camping experience. Roshanara, as you know, is a marvelous interpreter of Indian dances, and is well known to American theatre audiences almost everywhere. She is a dainty, very feminine English girl and, at a glance, you know instinctively that she is not the type that enjoys the comparative hardships and frequent squalor which many persons endure as a concomitant of outdoor life.

Roshanara was delighted to tell of her trip, and called in her mother and brother to verify her opinions. At my request she has written some of the conclusions she has arrived at concerning motor camping, and they are here set forth in her own words, for the benefit of those who still believe that the sport is only for hardy explorers and Ford owners with small incomes and large families:

"When reading Vanity Fair last summer, I came across an article entitled, Are You a Motor Gypsy? I promptly decided to find out if I could possibly become one without having to 'rough it'. Unfortunately, I am one of the many who cannot take their pleasures unconditionally, for I must be comfortable before I can enjoy myself. A jolly picnic becomes a tragedy if I am bothered by mosquitoes, and a night in camp would be a nightmare to me if I could not sleep on a spring mattress.

"It sounds a bit difficult to reconcile this attitude with the desire to go camping, but as I really love the woods, I simply had to find a way to wander through them, and at the same time to combine comfort with pleasure. The problem was easily solved, however, and I soon found myself a real 'Motor Gypsy', traveling with my mother, brother and a friend. The cost was a very small sum, and the benefits of the trip very many. These were my arrangements.

"Having read a great deal about the advantages afforded by a trailer in au tomobile camping, I went to the Curtiss Flying Field to see the trailer built by the Adams Trailer Corporation, and found the most adorable little 'Motorbungalo' imaginable. Oh joy! It had real spring mattresses, a perfect kitchenette with an ice box and plenty of room for all necessary provisions. Then there was a little hanging wardrobe, a folding table, and no end of room for bags and odds and ends. No rain could get through, and no mosquitoes. I soon decided to take the little 'Motorbungalo', and discovered that being a Motor Gypsy under such conditions is really great fun.

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" At first I was a bit apprehensive as to how camping in America would compare with camping in India, where we had elephants to ride on, camels to carry the baggage, and a staff of servants whose duty it was to see that all went without a hitch. I could only try. In spite of the fact that I missed these luxuries, the trip I took last summer afforded all I could wish for on a holiday.

"We did not look around for a suitable camping ground near running water as the good-advice books tell us, nor did we worry over the manner of building a fire in five minutes. We just drove along till about 5 o'clock, when we would stop at the nicest looking farmhouse nearby, and ask permission to camp on the farmer's field and draw water from his well. The New England farmers were exceedingly kind, and not once were we refused. I must add that we promised to build no fires, as the farmers appeared most apprehensive about them.

"After setting up the Motorbungalo, which took only a few minutes, the boys would walk to the farmhouse and buy fresh eggs, butter, milk, cream, fresh

corn, vegetables and often chickens. We carried a supply of tinned provisions, but seldom had to resort to them. If the farmers did not have all we wanted, the boys would take the car— which was detached when the Motorbungalo was set up—and run to the nearest village for whatever was necessary. Often the farmers cooked the dinner for us and also the lunch for the following day; when they were not able to do so, our gasoline stove rendered valuable service.

"The expenses of the trip I consider very moderate. We seldom, if ever, exceeded $10 for all four of us each day, including three or four dollars running expenses for the car.

An Important Detail

WHEN starting out on the trip I was advised that the correct thing to wear if I wanted to be a real gypsy camper was a khaki shirt, khaki knickers, boyish coat and a soft felt hat. This advice did not appeal to me at all, because it seemed to suggest 'roughing it', which I had no intention of doing. Moreover, I proposed to call on my friends on the way, and could not picture myself dropping in to tea, or sitting down to a formal dinner party, in khaki knee breeches and shirt! Perhaps campers are not supposed to pay visits; I did, for I was going on a long picnic, not into exile.

"When motoring, I wore a simple Pussy Willow frock, over which I had a coat dress made of Roshanara crepe patterned in the same Persian design as the frock beneath it. This was very practical, for the ertoe does not crush and soon sheds the dust. I also carried a heavy cloth cloak for chilly evenings. In my medium-sized bag I took a black crêpe skirt, a few gay blouses, a black sweater, a simple sport dress of Roshanara crêpe and a black silk evening frock. A soft turban fitted into the case with a few necessities.

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"We had agreed to carry only one grip each, and the four fitted comfortably into the Bungalo; our toilet articles fitted on the shelves, all footwear went into a canvas bag specially made for the purpose and our night attire folded away into the canvas pockets attached to the roof of the Bungalo, the bedding being strapped to the beds. With all such conveniences at hand, the trouble of packing and unpacking each day was done away with. The boys used the camp beds and the car served as a dressing-room when they did not use their tent.

"We made for Bar Harbor, where I had promised to give a performance in the exquisite little Building of Arts. Our reception at the office of the Lafayette National Park was so cordial that it made me feel thoroughly at home.Mr. George B. Dorr, the Superintendent of the Park, was more than kind to us, and made our camp there most delightful.

"A perfectly beautiful spot was our camping-ground, a spot where the woods meet the sea. We frequently went boating, and greatly enjoyed bringing fresh fish for supper.

"I wonder if there are many beauty spots in this country to compare with the Lafayette National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine? The combination of mountains, woods, lakes and the sea is enchanting, and I could hardly tear myself away when the leaves began to change color and the woods to put on their autumn coats. But it had to be done, as I had to give a performance in Lenox, Mass., at the end of September.

"Our return trip led us through the White Mountains over the Mohawk Trail and through the beautiful Berkshires. It was glorious!

"Our route I will not attempt to give, because we wandered about so. What I enjoyed most was the fact that we had no set schedule; we therefore did not have to bother about making a certain number of miles every day, nor reaching any given spot by any given time. Like real Motor Gypsies, we just wandered around."

"No Camping Allowed!"

HERE are two or three minor points in Miss Roshanara's story which may be discussed. In the first place, not all motor campers can expect to find the wayside farmerso agreeable. It depends principally upon the campers themselves, their appearance, their attitude and their manner of approach. Throughout the country "No CAMPING ALLOWED" signs are going up. Motor campers have brought this upon themselves. As a matter of fact, I should say a few motor campers, because it is a very small minority of the clan who carelessly start forest fires, steal fruit, vegetables and fowl, chop down trees and fences for firewood, leave behind disreputable looking camp sites, fish in posted waters and in other ways bring discredit upon all who follow. Wherever you see the prohibitory sign on a farmer's ground, you may know that the owner has suffered at the hands of motor campers from the city who, lacking breeding and feeling suddenly freed from the conventions and restrictions of their urban lives, view the country dweller with contempt and ride roughshod over his sensibilities, his intelligence and his property.

The farmer is usually a wide-awake citizen, ready to exchange amenities and opinions with the city man. But he must be approached as if he were a human being. There are very few farmers who, in spite of their "no camping" signs, will not allow camping on their land if assured in advance that the visitors will conduct themselves in a seemly manner. And it is always the part of wisdom to buy eggs, milk, vegetables, fruit, chickens and so on from the man on whose ground you camp.

Motor camping is largely a matter of equipment and judgment and, for the purpose of clarity, may be divided roughly into several parts, namely, the vehicle, sleeping, eating, miscellaneous equipment and destination. On all of these subjects it is possible to give only a few words here, but the writer will be happy to go into the personal camping problems of readers, to recommend equipment and tell where it may be obtained, and to refer inquiries to the proper organizations for the securing of road and route information.

Ways and Means

SO far as vehicles are concerned, there are five ways of going motor camping. They are as follows:

1. Packing everything, including passengers, in touring car or sedan and making and breaking camp at each stop.

2. Carrying tents, bedding and other equipment in a small commercial trailer. This also necessitates the setting up of camp at each camp site.

3. Hauling behind the car a completely equipped camping trailer, as Roshanara did.

4. Traveling in one of the several types of standard camping cars manufactured on various chassis.

5. Having a special camping body built on your own chassis.

A large majority of motor campers follow the first method. In this case the selection of the equipment must be carefully studied out and its packing scientifically devised, so the weight will be evenly distributed, so there will be sufficient room for passengers without undue cramping, and so each piece of equipment is placed where it will take the least valuable room yet be most readily accessible.

Hauling the dunnage in a commercial trailer is not widely practiced, but its advantage is that it leaves the car free for the use of passengers. The fully equipped camping trailer is growing in popular favor, especially in those sections of the country where the roads are level and in good condition. A poorly designed trailer is difficult to manage on narrow, rocky, mountain roads, but on good roads there is much to commend the better makes of trailers. They eliminate the necessity of pitching tents, setting up beds and so on at each camping place. The average trailer has two double beds for four people, high off the ground, comfortable, and always fully protected from the weather. When it rains, the party can stay indoors in the trailer, play cards, read, cook and eat in perfect comfort.

There have been many criticisms of the camping trailer, some of them founded on imagination, others on the fact that the trailers employed were not scientifically designed as to connections, springs and other vital parts. However, the well built trailer, and there are a dozen or more of them manufactured, is not open to these objections. It follows along after the car without fuss or worry at almost any speed. The extra pull imposed by the trailer on even the lightest car is practically unnoticeable on level roads and is not sufficient to prevent the climbing of steep hills. The brakes, when using a trailer, should be applied a little sooner and a little harder. Going down steep hills the engine should be used as a brake. The trailer will not teeter or skid going around comers unless the roads are slippery, in which case chains should be applied to the trailer as well as to the car.

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There are one or two companies making standard camping car bodies for various chassis. One of these is located in the Middle West. Its 4-passenger body for Ford cars comes in sections like a bookcase and can be set up easily at home, or in your local garage. For Dodge, Reo, Marmon, White truck and other chassis it is necessary to have the company make the installation. A company in California makes an excellent camping body on the Reo Speed Wagon chassis and will incorporate in it, if desired, any practical individual ideas of the purchaser.

Sleeping Arrangements

TENTS and sleeping equipment must be chosen with care, with due regard to the comfort of the campers, especially women, and the general make-up of the party. There are any number of combinations which may be carried out in this respect. For instance, a party of six persons, consisting of father, mother, two sons, a baby and a maid, can be easily disposed, as to sleeping arrangements. Father, mother and baby can use any one of a dozen excellent auto-tents, with folding cots, sleeping bags or sleeping pockets. The two boys can sleep in the car on an auto-bed which, in the daytime, can be folded or rolled up against the back curtain. The maid can be supplied with a small running board tent-bed. There are a half dozen other ways in which this party might be made comfortable. It is all a question of preliminary study. A small toilet tent, which can be set up in a few minutes, is an excellent adjunct to a group of this kind.

The bedding to be carried along sometimes constitutes an unnecessarily troublesome problem. Any variety of sleeping arrangements are available, regardless of weather conditions. The main thing to remember is that there must be at least as much bedding wider the sleeper as over him. Ordinary light wool blankets— four for each person—may be fastened at night into a sort of sleeping bag by folding them under and over the sleeper and securing them at the bottom and along the side with heavy horse-blanket pins. There are on the market several excellent makes of sleeping bag and there is also the sleeping pocket which consists of a pneumatic mattress surrounded by a heavy water-proof felt-lined cover. Any number of blankets may be used in this pocket, which can be used on the ground, in any kind of weather, without a tent.

The Camp Kitchenette

NEXT to sleeping, eating is the most important factor of camp life and calls for a certain amount of judgment in the selection of the proper equipment. I have recommended to hundreds of prospective campers that, in spite of Roshanara's observation regarding fire restrictions, they carry a 2-burner gasoline or alcohol stove and an outdoor grill with oven for roasting and baking. For pots and pans, nothing yet has been devised to excel the nesting aluminum set made especially for motor campers. This set comes complete with knives, forks, spoons, plates, cups, coffee pot and pepper and salt shakers. Many campers, however, find that aluminum cups burn their lips when used with hot liquids, and for this reason cups of retinned steel or enamel ware are frequently used. Since aluminum plates scratch easily, some prefer enamel or agate ware or avoid the scratching of aluminum plates by fitting in them paper plates which may be burned when the meal is over. Aluminum spoons and forks are not very satisfactory and the more experienced campers usually have a set of stainless steel cutlery which comes in a handy canvas roll which can be hung on a convenient tree or wall and packed away in small space when not in use. Aluminum pots and pans cannot be improved upon.

The carrying of food is a comparatively simple matter. There is no need for an icebox on a camping trip. Butter, eggs and milk can be secured fresh at almost any farmhouse or village and if put away in a food box or other container wrapped in wet cloths or newspapers will be fresh and cool for a considerable time. The same applies, somewhat, to drinking water. The best way to keep water cool in camp is to carry it in a canvas water bag. While under way a small bag of water may be hung in the car where the breeze will reach it. In camp this bag, or a larger one, can be hung from a tree. A number of vacuum bottles will perform the same service in an excellent manner.

If your trip is to be undertaken in a touring car, there are several very efficient luggage carriers to be placed on the running board to take care of large quantities of suitcases, duffle bags, folding cots and other impedimenta.

Route Information HE matter of securing accurate road and route information has not always been an easy one. Now, however, this subject is coming in for increasing notice and there are several reliable places to obtain advice. Such organizations as the Yellowstone Trail Association, the Automobile Club of Southern California and others are well prepared to give expert and timely information concerning routes and road conditions in the territories they cover. If you are a member of a recognized automobile club, that club undoubtedly belongs to the American Automobile Association, the National Motorists' Association or some other parent body which maintains a comprehensive information bureau for the purpose of answering queries on routes and road conditions.

The United States Touring Information Bureau, at Waterloo, Iowa, conducts probably the largest and most complete bureau of this kind in the country and its information is available to all motorists at small cost. This reliable organization publishes a very complete booklet giving the location and details of over 2500 public automobile camping grounds throughout the United States and a large, minutely detailed road map of the United States with the camp sites, paved roads and other important details indicated. Our Shopping Department can send this book for Si. 10.

Furthermore, this bureau will, for a moderate charge, outline an entire trip of any length for the individual motor tourist, suggesting each day's mileage, points of interest, hotels, garages and other important information; and will keep him informed during his trip of road conditions he may expect to find ahead of him.

The writer will be pleased to answer inquiries concerning motor camping equipment, road information and so on. It will help considerably if, when writing, you give some details of the trip you contemplate. These should include the make and type of car, the number of people in the party and their relation to one another, the length of the proposed trip, the territory to be covered, and any other details that would assist him in recommending equipment.