In a short while the very group of people who only ten days before were being shown to their places in the Worldlys’ own tapestry-hung marble dining-room at Great Estates by a dozen footmen in satin knee breeches, file into the “dining camp” and take their places at a long pine table, painted turkey red, on ordinary wooden kitchen chairs, also red!  The floral decoration is of laurel leaves in vases made of preserve jars covered with birch bark.  Glass and china is of the cheapest.  But there are a long centerpiece of hemstitched crash and crash doilies, and there are “real” napkins, and at each plate a birch bark napkin ring with a number on it.  Mrs. Worldly looks at her napkin ring as though it were an insect.  One or two of the others who have not been there before, look mildly surprised.

Mrs. Kindhart smiles, “I’m sorry, but I told you it was ‘roughing it.’  Any one who prefers innumerable paper napkins to using a washed one twice, is welcome.  But one napkin a day apiece is camp rule!” Mrs. Worldly tries to look amiable, all the rest succeed.

The food is limited in variety but delicious.  There are fresh trout from the lake and venison steak; both well cooked in every way that can be devised appear at every meal.  All other supplies come in hampers from the city.  The head cook is the Kindharts’ own, and so is the butler, with one of the chauffeurs (when home) to help him wait on table.  They wear “liveries,” evolved by Mrs. Kindhart, of gray flannel trousers, green flannel blazers, very light gray flannel shirts, black ties, and moccasins!

The table service, since there are only two to wait on twenty including the children, is necessarily somewhat “farmer style”; ice, tea, rolls, butter, marmalade, cake, fruit, are all on the table, so that people may help themselves.

=THE AMUSEMENTS OFFERED=

After luncheon Kindhart points out a dozen guides who are waiting at the boat-house to take anyone who wants to be paddled or to sail or to go out into the woods.  There is a small swimming pool which can be warmed artificially.  Those who like it cold swim in the lake.  All the men disappear in groups or singly with a guide.  The women go with their husbands, or two together, with a guide.  Should any not want to go out, she can take to one of the hammocks, or a divan in the living-room, and a book.

At first sight, this hospitality seems inadequate, but its discomfort is one of outward appearance only.  The food is abundant and delicious, whether cooked in the house or by the guides in the woods.  The beds are comfortable; there are plenty of warm and good quality, though not white, blankets.  Sheets are flannel or cotton as preferred.  Pillow cases are linen, towels of the “bath” variety because washing can be done by “natives” near by, but ironing is difficult.  Let no one, however, think that this is a “simple” (by that meaning either easy or inexpensive) form of entertainment!  Imagine the budget!  A dozen guides, teams and drivers, natives to wash and clean and to help the cook; food for two or three dozen people sent hundreds of miles by express!