The Vegabonds by Jeff Guinn

The Vegabonds by Jeff Guinn Henry Ford, John Burroughs, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone took trips to the 'wilderness' in the beginning of the 20th century. A way to 'get away' that was well publicized because they were actually very well coordinated publicity stunts to promote the products and initiatives of all 4 men. Later sometimes accompanied by their wives, the 'roughing it' trips consisted of a caravan of cars with servants and cooks to setup camp and prepare meals. Edison batteries provided lights for the tents, and they sometimes gave up the rouse and stayed at luxury hotels. This is an interesting snapshop of the times, from about 1910 to the late 1920s. When all of these men were very well known, and Burroughs and Edison in particular not young men. Into the commerce that they peddled with their 'camping' trips they also wove the politics of the day. So nothing new that the publicity machine can get to the public and create images that are still known today, even though it all came out of a marketing campaign.