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Stockings

Categories: Iv What To Wear On The Trail

Select your stockings with care. Let them be of wool, strong, soft, and

absolutely satisfactory when the shoe is on. The aim of the entire camp

dress is to have it so comfortable and well adapted to outdoor life that

you will forget it; think no more of it than a bird does of its

feathers. When woollen stockings are worn, wet feet are not apt to give

one cold, for the feet do not become chilled even when it is necessary

to stand in the reedy edge of a mountain lake or stream. If, however,

you cannot wear wool, use cotton stockings. Remember that wool often

shrinks in the wash. Allow for this when purchasing goods, though it is

said, on reliable authority, that if laundered with care the garments

will not shrink.



When washing woollen underwear use very soapy, cool water (not icy) with

addition of a little borax, or ammonia, if you have either, and do not

rub soap directly on wool; it mats the little fibres and this causes

the wool to shrink. For the same reason avoid rubbing the garments if

possible during the cleansing process. All that is usually necessary is

to squeeze and souse them well, then rinse in water of the same

temperature; do not wring the things; squeeze them and hang them up to

dry. Changes of temperature in the water when washing wool will cause

the wool to shrink. To alternate between cold and warm, hot and lukewarm

water will surely cause the clothing to grow much smaller and stiffer;

keep both wash and rinse water either cold or lukewarm; cold is safer.



Allow no one to persuade you to take old clothes to camp; they will soon

need mending and prove a torment.



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