The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-15
Il BAEL'Kl..s-&
BOOK REVIEW
boy SCOUTS on AMERIcA. .

The Boy Scout movement has not only
been a great success in England. but It
has spread throughout the British en-
pire and has succeeded far beyond the
expectations Of the founder. Gen. Baden
Powell Some years ago Ernest Thomp-
son Seton, after a careful study OF our
present-day sports. such as baseball
football, &c, and comparison Of the ten
dency Of things in our own country with
that which preceded the fall OF Rome.
concluded that degeneracy was the word
that describes our present condition. TO
combat this system that has turned such
large proportion OF our robust. manly.
self-reliant boyhood into a lot Of fat
chested cigarette smokers. with shaky
nerves and doubtful vitality" he tells
us, I began a woOdcraft movement IN
America" He considered the movement
fairly successful; at least one 10000
young people Joined, But as Gen. Baden
Powelrs Boy Scouts In less time achieved
greater popularity - England. he
adopted the latter's innovations. and the
result is the Boy Scouts OF America
This handbook is meant to give every
essential TO an understanding OF the
movement Part I gives the plan of or
ganization. adopted from Baden Powell.
After reading the part on organization
it is not difficult TO see that the Boy
Scout movement means 10 do for the
boys OF to-day ali that was best IN chlv-
airy did for the men OF the Middle Ages.
Honor is the first word In the Scout law.
Loyalty 10 the President, 10 his parents,
his country and his employers, comes
next. The scout Is supposed 10 obey all
commands from the persons named. even
when he thinks the command wrong:
and. after having done his duty by obey
ing, he may make his protest. Great
stress Is laid upon courtesy. and no re-
ward must be accepted for being helpful
and courteous The influence Is against
Smoking, for the best scouts do not
smoke, as it makes them shaky and
nervous. Injuries the sense OF smell, and
units Il scout for the best work. The
punishment for swearing and bad Ian
guage for each ofrense IS a mug OF cold
water TO be poured down the offender
sleeve by the other scouts 1T was the
puiASlilutuL invented Dy the OLD BrlllSn
! scout Capt John Smith, 300 years ago.
In short. scouts are taught in an inter
esung and practical manner. patriotism.
discipline. courage. self-reliance. self
control, courtesy thrift, helpfulness, and
chee-fulness.
As we glance through the remaining
parts OF this and-book-signs and signal
/ ing: camping; games OF which there are
over nifty, all OF which call for alertness,
both physical and mental: and honors-
we have no trouble 10 understand the
widespread popularity Of this movement
in England and in her colonies. From Il
the boy not only derives Just the kind OF
play that appeals 70 his nature. but the
moral. mental and physical education a
few years OF such training gives the boy
is Of no mean order Mr. Seton says an
| organization OF this kind would fail OF
its object II II did not bring it's members
10 knowledge Of religion. SO there is a
place for religion. Indeed. the Boy Scout
movement seems 10 cover all the healthy
demands OF the boy. and we expect 10
see II have rapid growth In America.
(New York: Doubleday. Page & Coz