SELECTING THE COSTUME
"You like Father, don't you?" asked Kate of Ethel, as they briskly
walked toward the shopping district.
"Like him!" replied the girl, "why, Kate, I just love him. He reminds me
of Grandmamma and Papa, but he's more like Grandmamma."
"He _is_ like her," replied her cousin, "and I tell you, Ethel, he's
just a dear. But, by the way, wasn't Aunt Susan clever to get your
mother to consent to your becoming a Camp Fire Girl? I was so surprised.
You see I had already spoken to Grandmother and you about it. Then I
thought I'd tell Aunt Bella and get her interested in it, and ask her to
let you join _my_ Camp Fire, for Uncle Archie promised me that you
should come out to Ohio and make me a visit. I had it in my mind that
were you to come this summer it would be lovely for you to go with us
to Camp, but do you know, Aunt Bella didn't like it a little bit; in
fact, she became very angry, nor could I convince her of the virtue of
the Camp Fires nor even the Scouts. She made me promise not to mention
the subject again, and on no account in your presence. As I was her
guest, I promised. What knowledge you had you received before. In this
case the 'end has justified the means,' and it was consummated by Aunt
Susan, so it's all right. But here we are. This is the store where they
take orders for Camp Fire costumes. It will take four days to make what
you need. We'll have to hurry them as we leave in five."
"Oh, Kate," began Ethel in a worried voice, "do you think that I should
let Aunt Susan pay for them. She was awfully generous to offer, but when
I accepted I thought that she was wealthy, you know, and now it's
different. I really feel as though I should not accept."
"Do you wish my advice?" answered Kate. "You accept them. Why, you might
offend her by refusing. It's her pleasure to start you in this good
work. She obtained your mother's consent and she wishes to present you
with an outfit. Oh, no, it would not do to even demur. Besides, they are
very inexpensive. If you wish, the ceremonial gown of khaki color you
may buy yourself. It can be purchased by the yard and it's of galatea
which is cheap. You are clever with your needle and you can embroider it
with beads and shells. You can also make the leather trimming in no
time, and there's your costume complete. But let her pay for the other.
So come in and be measured."
The girls selected a blue cloth skirt with pockets. The skirt buttoned
all the way up and down the front and back. They selected two
blouses--serge and galatea--each matching the skirt. The waists were cut
open in the neck. They also ordered a pair of blue serge bloomers to be
used in camping or hiking. These with a hat completed the purchase.
The hat was of blue cloth with a silver grey "W" on a dark blue
background. The "W" meant "Wohelo" and could be used as a cockade. The
saleswoman explained to Ethel that an emblem of two brown crossed logs
was to be worn on the chest of the blouses. Honors gained in water
sports might be embroidered as decorations around the collar. The same
crossed logs woven into a blue background were used as sleeve emblems.
Ethel saw the sample suit and was charmed. The decorations were unique
and stylish.
"Please send them direct to Columbus," said Kate, as she paid the bill,
and turning she said to Ethel: "You will be there, and it will save
time. They generally fit perfectly; if not, as you know something of
sewing, we can alter them to fit."
"I guess I do know something of sewing," replied Ethel. "I can do
beautiful work and I can ride horseback, and I'm at home on a 'bike'."
Cousin Kate laughed.
"Well, I'm glad of that, for at first when you start in you'll be a
Wood-Gatherer. Three months is the regular time, but you will be living
in camp and will probably be able to fulfil all requirements in a
month. Your knowing these things will help you too."
"Tell me something about it, Kate," said Ethel on their way home. "After
you have been a 'Wood Gatherer' you become a 'Fire Maker'?" she asked.
"Yes. When you first enter, the Guardian of your Camp Fire gives you a
silver ring on which is engraved a bundle of seven fagots, representing
the seven points of the law. You give her the size, your address, etc.,
and she gets it at Headquarters for you, announcing your desire to
become one. You must promise not to sell nor give it away. It may belong
only to a Camp Fire Girl. Upon your right arm, as you already know, are
the crossed logs, etc. When you become a Fire Maker you may add the
orange color to your Wood Gatherer's emblem. This color represents
flame, and when you advance to the position of Torch Bearer you may add
a touch of white which represents smoke from the flame. Then, while you
are in that class, you may wear the Fire Maker's bracelet. 'Fire' is the
symbol of our organization. For decorative purposes it may be
represented by the rising sun.
"Now the symbol of membership is the tall pine tree. That stands for
simplicity and strength. Of course, you know the watchword--'Work,
Health, and Love.' The first two letters of each form the one word
'Wohelo.' After joining you'll learn everything.
"Honors are symbolized by different colored beads--'Health craft,'
bright red beads; 'Home craft,'orange; 'Nature love,' sky blue; 'Camp
craft,' wood brown; 'Hand craft,' green; 'Business,' black and gold; and
'Patriotism,' red, white and blue. These, and the seven laws, are
represented by the seven fagots on the ring. The beads are strung on
leather and may become part of the ceremonial dress.
"Now the name of my Camp Fire is 'Ohio.' It is an Indian name and means
'beautiful.' You know Ohio is called the 'Buckeye State,' Buckeye
meaning 'Ohio Horse-Chestnuts.' Unlike your horse-chestnut, our tree is
small and its flower is red. So our 'totem' or symbol is Buckeye,' or
the 'Horse-Chestnut.'
"The girls are to meet at our house the night before we start. Then you
can learn the sign, how to keep count, and the different poems you are
to say; and the 'Wohelo' ceremony, toasts, songs, etc. This is all that
I shall tell you now. Our camp is near the Muskingum river. We have no
very high elevations in Ohio. The highest is only about fifteen hundred
feet. Where we go is a pleasant stretch of woods. There we camp out for
a month or so. A clearing has been made; we can put up tents and be very
comfortable. It is not far from a small town and the girls can walk in
when they choose. Other 'Camp Fires' will be there as well, so there
will be no lack of society. But, my dear girl, if I were you I'd join
one in New York and keep steadily at it. It's the only way to become
proficient and gain honors and advancement, and that's your aim, isn't
it?"
"It is, Kate," replied the girl, "I shall surely join this fall. An aunt
of one of the girls in our set is a Guardian of eight girls or more, and
she's simply lovely. I shall certainly keep it up--never you fear."