The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-07-28

uOn, III the lOne1eSt country parishes,
In towns and hamlets from Lands End
to John O'Groat's. Whenever any
thing happens-when there is a rail-
way accident, OF a horse runs away, or
house catches fire, or man falls
into the river-Boy Scouts seem to APP
pear on the scene as If by magic, to
make themselves useful in any and ev-
cry way. They are trained to deal
with emergencies, to give first aid to
the sick and wounded, stop runa-
ways, put out fires revive the suffo-
Gated, and to rescue and resuscitate
the drowning. Go where you will, in
England, Scotland or ireland you will
meet Boy Scouts. And If you are in
any trouble, you may trust them to
help you out If they can, for every Boy
Scout is pledged to do a good turn
whenever the chance comes"
This movement has spread to the
British colonies and throughout Eu-
rope. There are various grades, the
tenderfoot Scout, second class and first
class Scouts, the Kings Scouts, etc.
A first class Scout must be able to
swim fifty yards, have a shilling in a
savings bank, and be able to send and
receive a message either in sema-
phore or the Morse code. of sixteen
letters per minute. He is sent on
two days journey alone or with one
other Scout, and on his return he must
write an ineligible report of his e6-
perience. He must be able to deal
with ordinary accidents and cook GER
tain dishes suitable for camp life. He
must be able to use and draw maps,
be able to fell timber, and judge dis
lance, area, size, numbers, height and
weight within twenty-five per cent
error. And last of all he must pre-
sent a tenderfoot whom he has train
ed who can qualify for tenderfoot's
badge.
There are nine points in the Scouts
Law, "A Scouts honor is to be trust
ed"
"A Scout is loyal" This means 10y
atty to country, to parents, to en-
ployers and to his Scout officers.
"A Scouts duty is to be useful and
to help others"
"A Scout is a friend to all, and a
brother to every other Scout, no mat
ter to what social class the other be-
longs" The real force of this law will
be appreciated in England, where
aristocracy means so much more than
it does in America.
"A Scout is courteous" This law is
teaching boys that they must not ex-
pect a tip for every act of common
service.
| "A Scout is friend of animals"
"A Scout obeys orders
"A Scout smiles and whistles undel
all circumstances"
"A Scout is thrifty
| The secret of the wonderful success
of this movement is that it recognizes
the underlying traits of boys charac'
ter. 1t takes the love of play, o.
scouting and initiating soldiers, with
luc uHIlOIIlS. tuS WILLS, Tie oSSlc
codes and passwords, and turns then
all into right channels. The bolster
GUS, animal spirits that sometime.
trouble those of us who are older, an(
causes ill-concealed annoyance, are
diverted from rowdyism or something
worse, into useful and manly charac
teristics. The boy is given task tina
he enjoys, and that appeals to his i'm
agination. He not only has whole
lot of wholesome fun, and learns
how to do those things that every DO!
should know, but he is also trained
to become an honorable, chivalreu'
man, good citizen in the best sens
of the term. 1t is to be hoped that thu
idea may become popular in thi
country. The possibilities for gooc
oro ,Nro ctio 1lxy J;,oit1occ