The Washington times., 1911-01-15
BOY SCOUTS TO GO
. ON JUNGLE TRIPS
Scores in Capital Willing to
Take Oath of Allegiance
TO American Body.
MUST LEARN TO
BE REAL HEROES
Trapping, Scouting, Rowing, SWIM
ming, and Aiding Friends and
Country Required.

Romps. scouting trips. and trapping
expeditions are to be given boys who
are willing to raise their right hand
and say:
'On my honor. I promise that l will
do my best to do my duty to God and
to my country; to help other people at
all times; to obey the scout law" The
only other thing required is the learn
ing of a few signs and something of this
nations flag.
Simple, isn't it, boys? Yet, 1t has a
deep meaning, and is the foundation of
the Boy Scouts of America, an Organi-
zation now having $4,000 members.
These boys are in every State in the
Union, and after February IS, there will
be several hundreds Of them in Wash
ington, because at that time a troop is
to be organized here.
A. NJ. Chesey, boys work secretary
of the Y. N. c. A. has been made scout
commissioner for Washington. and all
ready he has the names of 200 boys who
want to join. Colin H. Livingston, of
the Second National Bank, is assisting
Secretary Chesley.
Taft Honorary President.
President Taft is honorary president
of the national organization, and
Colonel Roosevelt is vice president. Both
are much interested in the Boy Scouts.
James e. West, a Washington attorney,
is COMMUNICATIVE chief of all the Boy
Scouts of America.
The Washington troop is bound to be
one of the biggest in the country. for
the Washington boys are brim full of
life and energy, and are lin for such
good, clean sport. and manly duties as
the organization demands. They are
eagerly waiting the day when the troops
will be organized. and because every boy
between twelve and eighteen can join.
the interest is not confined to any one
class.
The boys who meets the requirements
in sign and salute knowledge, knot ty-
ing, etc, and takes the Scout oath, i'm
mediately becomes a ''tenderfoot," and
is entitled to wear the buttonhole badge.
After that it is not so easy. Before he
becomes a second class scout he must
learn how to give first aid to the in
jured, and how to bandage wounds: he
must know how to lay a fire and light
1t with two matches; he must know the
sixteen principal points of the compass,
and many other things, and before he
gets TO be a first class scout he will
have to be able to perform ten more
difficult undertakings.
Must Swim and Row
For instance, he must be able to swim
fly yards, row boat seven miles, cook a
camp meal, and perform the tasks nee
essary for boys livi in the open. Boys
who become first class scouts are given
merit badges to wear when they do
things, such as signaling, pathfnding
and cycling, exceptionally well.
Boys who like to live out of doors;
to camp and hike, and learn the secrets
of the woods have great fun belonging
to the Scout troops. Some of them
have regular Scout uniforms, with khaki
trousers, leggins, wide sombrero, and
a scarf. They are taught obedience,
neatness and order. The scouts can't
are Boy Scouts all the time, but they
the Boy Scouts all the time, and are
always on duty. If their help is needed
when there is an accident or when prop
erty is in danger, they are pledged to
give service. And the pledge of a scout
ts sacred.
Always Patriotic.
Boy Scouts are taught to be loyal to
their country, their officers, their par
ents, and their employers. They stick
to them through thick and thin. The
Boy Scout tries TO do a good turn of
some kind every day. He Is taught
never to be a snob.
When the scouts are organized in |
Washington next month, there will be |
several scout masters chosen by Mr.. |
Chesley. Each of these masters will
have charge of a patrol They will |
plan camping expeditions, trips in the |