soft. A camper needs simple living. The desire for a real struggle with hardship that Nature has planted in his heart is too often left ungratified. While in the city, the stone sidewalk, the paved street, the cement basement, as a playground, prevent him from carrying out Nature's intentions. If he starts to wrestle, he puts forth but half an effort, for he knows he will have to fall on a concrete floor instead of our Nature's grass. He merely pretends at playing hide-and-seek, for the city street makes it possible for him to run in only one of two directions. Accordingly, he does not develop the brisk thought and skill of the game

"ONE STEP NEARER AND I'M "CREEPING UP" IS AN INBORN OFF" IMPULSE

in the forest. Chasing a neighbor's cat under the piazza is not as exhilarating as matching wits with a snowshoe rabbit or shooting birds with a camera. At best, much of city education is merely surface education, when its motive should be stirring from the soul within. A setting-up exercise in a gymnasium is a half-hearted muscular drill, a mechanical-doll affair, when it should be a passionate pursuit of red-blooded exploits in the woods. Camping should supplement and not duplicate school training. It should offer the hardiness and the intellectualness of the training of the wild.

"There are some who think that dogs possess real intelligence. If by intelligence they mean the ability to learn new things, the evidence is all in the affirmative. Others believe that dogs can reason; but animal psychologists have not yet proved this to be so. I have several times seen evidence that lead me to believe that Rex solved his problems by means of some sort of reasoning power. For example, if I throw a stick into the lake, he will swim out after it. Then I begin running along the shore. Instantly he drops the stick and strikes out by the shortest route toward land instead of following his original impulse of swim

ming toward we wherever I may happen to be. Again, when we let him out in the morning, he runs to the front porch for the newspaper, brings. it to the back door, and stands there whining. If no one opens the door, he puts down the paper, barks, and picks it up again only when he can enter the house with it. Such a series of acts seem more complex than mere instinct or chance.

"A further comparison between dog education and human education may help us get the right perspective toward camping. Rex has been taught to sit up, to shake hands, to speak, to roll over. These tricks are about as foreign to natural dog life as is marching to scouting or camping. A drill is nothing more than a stunt with which to show off. Its only use is in a parade. A settingup drill is about as foolish a way to exercise a camper as a dog. Just think of Rex getting his muscle training by such commands as: 'Right Face!' 'Left Face!' 'Forward, March!' 'Right Paw! Raise! One, Two! One, Two! Run by Twos! Run by Fours!' This artificiality does not begin to compare in effectiveness with Nature's method of chasing and hunting. Yet I have known some camps to resort to regular setting-up drills.

"And another factor I want to bring to your attention is the use of names. I call my dog Rex; but that is just a convenient title to use when I want to summon him to breakfast. When Rex goes out for an airing, he meets my neighbor's dog, whose name happens to be Rover. Rex does not care in the slightest what the other dog's name is, but he is much concerned about knowing whether Rover is a friend or a foe. There are innumerable things more important than names, yet many counsellors think that if they can get their girls or boys to name so many birds, or so many trees, that they are thereby winning the right to certain camp awards. Nothing could be further from the aim of such awards in nature lore. It is far more important for your camper to wear his merit badge in his heart than on his sleeve.

"I advise you to have a dog in your camp. Get him when he is a pup and let him grow up with the girls and boys as their mascot. Encourage them to draw up a list of games that he likes to play. Take him on a ramble in the woods; lead the campers to observe his habits and then start a contest among them as to which one can write the best story on his inherited instincts, or the manner in which he expresses his emotions. See what camper or counsellor can teach him the

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greatest number of new tricks. To avoid confusion in this contest, assign a definite week for trial to each competitor. And, further, it is great fun for the boys and girls to compete in trying to take the best photograph of the dog, or to make the best sketch of him in a characteristic pose. An excellent campfire stunt is to have certain campers tell why they think the dog is endowed with intelligence.

"A word to the wise is said to be sufficient. But some counsellors are too often like old dogs. You cannot teach them new tricks; but on the other hand both are noted for their faithfulness and devotion. The dog has had his share in developing those higher qualities of man that tie up with responsibility and sympathy. The person who can win the confidence of a dog gives the best possible testimony of his kindliness. The care of a dog is a great humanizing element. If human beings follow more closely canine methods instead of saying 'another man gone wrong, we will exclaim 'Dog-on Right!'"

SUGGESTIONS FOR LIBRARY READING

How is a dog able to track in the right direction?

What dog has webbed toes for swimming? What is the origin of the following names: Shepherd, Bull, Turnspit, Setter, Pointer? Why does he have tushes?

FIRESIDE STORIES

Wild Animals I Have Known, "Lobo." Ernest Thompson Seton.

Lives of the Hunted, "Tito." Ernest Thompson Seton,

Watchers of the Trail, "The Passing of Black Whelps." Roberts.

"The Coyote," Bret Harte.

Jungle Book, "The Law of the Pack." Kipling.

Wild Life on the Rockies, "Faithful Scotch." Enos Mills. Houghton, Mifflin.

Greyfriars Bobby. Eleanor Atkinson. Har

per.

Stories of Brave Dogs. M. H. Carter. Century.

Stickeen. John Muir. Century.

Bob, Son of Battle. Alfred Olivant. Doubleday.

Beautiful Joe. Marshall Saunders. Double

day.

Polaris. Ernest Harold Baynes.

The Nature Guide

School

The Cleveland School of Education has launched a unique undertaking. It has a detailed plan to give back to the city child the very things that the city takes away from the child-the love of adventure in the forest and fields. This novel scheme is to be a school of the wilderness. It will train leaders and along with the adults there will be a group of children for practice work.

The Nature Guide School is to be under the leadership of Dr. William G. Vinal who is already well known to readers of THE PLAYGROUND. Many have played on the beach with him at Atlantic City. Or possibly they went on one of his nature trips at Memphis. The booklet announcing the school has a list of fourteen instructors. There is every indication that plans have been made in minute detail.

The school is to be located at Western Reserve Academy, Hudson, Ohio, which is about twentyfive miles from Cleveland. In the winter the (Continued on page 56)

Recreational Games and Programs

Compiled by John Martin

Many recreation workers are familiar with John Martin's Recreational Games and Programs which has been used for a number of years. In this new edition many additional games and activities have been incorporated, notably a section on Suggestions for a Progressive Game Party. The book now includes approximately 200 games, stunts and activities, classified under Grand March Figures, Introductions and Mixers, Active Games and Relays, Quiet Games, Stunts, Relays and Games in Which a Few Entertain the Group, Musical Games, Active Classroom Games and Suggestions for a Progressive Game Party.

Playground and Recreation
Association of America

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$.50

New York City