Many of the large camps provide mucilaged labels or “stickers” to paste on the end of the trunk or box making identification easy at railroad baggage room.  Initials and camp number should be painted on outside of trunk or box.

Neatness

“A place for everything and everything in place” should be the real key to find things in your trunk.  Neatness is good discipline for the mind, and should characterize every real camper.  The trunks of some boys in camp look as if a cyclone had struck them.  “Full, pressed down, and running over.”  Every old thing in any old way is both slovenly and unhygienic.

About once a week everything should be taken from the trunk or box, and exposed to the sun.  Let the sun also get into the trunk or box.  Then repack neatly.  This will prevent mould and dampness, and be the means of discovering lost articles.  Finally be sure to go over with care your “check list” or inventory the day before camp breaks.  This will prevent rushing around excitedly at the eleventh hour, hunting lost articles.

GENERAL HINTS

Gray and khaki are the most inconspicuous colors for camping.

Shirts should be provided with breast pockets.

Each lock should have a duplicate key to be given to the tent leader, or in a large camp, to the camp banker.

Have an old laundry bag in which to put soiled clothes.  “Wash day” is a popular day in many camps.  No camper need be dirty when there is abundance of water.

There is a luxuriance in a piece of soap and a clean towel that only experienced campers can understand and appreciate.

Wet towels, swimming suits or tights should not be placed in the trunk or box, but hung upon a rope, or non-rust wire outside of the tent.

The poncho is the camper’s friend.  It makes a good rubber blanket, a wrap, a cushion, a bag, a sail or a tent.

Be sure to take enough bed clothes.  You will need them on cold nights.

Stamps wiped over the hair of your head will not stick together—­the oil of the hair does the trick.  Take a self-filler fountain pen—­no glass filler to break.

A small Williams or Colgate shaving stick box, with screw or hinged cover, makes a good match box.  A better one is a water-tight hard rubber box, with screw top.  If dropped into a lake or stream it will float, whereas a metal box will sink.

Some one has said that “Good temper is as necessary for camping as water is for swimming.”  Be sure it is on your “check list.”

[Illustration:  Personal Labels]

CHAPTER VI—­ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION AND DISCIPLINE

A recognized law
cooperative self-government
council meetings
department administration
rules
discipline by whistle
discipline by conscience
self imposed discipline
seven things which god hates
liars and sneaks
A “Meditation log” And other methods
private talks
perfect freedom