Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-10-20
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
Troop is Formed in Cresco.

net near the high school building anc
under command of their leader, Supt.
IL. l.. Nearpass, marched to Baldwin s
hill where all the tests for the tender.
foot degree in the Boy Scouts OF
America We're performed. No one who
did not witness the scene as the boys
sat on the side of hill and in turn
arose ant with upIftei hand gave the
scout oath can rea!iz. what it meant to
those boys as they solemly repeated
from memory the following: "On my
honor, | will d. my best-1. To do my
duty to God and my country, and to
obey the Scout law; 2. To help other
people at all times; 3. To keep myself
physically strong, mentally awake, and
morally straight"
They then repeated the twelve plank s
of the Scout law, as follows: l. A
scout is trustworthy. g.. A scout is
loyal. 8. A scout is helpful. 4. A
scout is friendly. 5. A scout is cour-
teous. 6. A scout is kind. z. Ascout
is obedient. 8 A scout is cheerful.
8. A scout is thrifty. TO- A scout is
brave. II. A scout is clean. IL. A
scout is reverent.
Each boy then gave the scout sign
and scout salute, after which they
answered every imaginable question on
the history and comp osition of the
American flag, having previously hand
ed in All essay on the same subject
The tests closed by each boy proving
that he could tie at least four kinds of
knots.
Then for diversion. a half hour was
spent in tracking, much to the delight
Of the boys. All proved to have sharp
eyes, as the hounds in each instance
soon ran the hares to cover.
Returning to the top of Baldwin's
hill after a refreshing drink at near
by spring, a small campfire was built,
the boys using only one match to do SO,
and gathered around this the leader
made up the patrols and reminded the
boys that they should do someone
good turn every day, as each boy at
the regular meetings must report some
kind deed for every day of the week.
AS the sun had reached the zenith
and all had worked up good appetite
for dinner start was made for home,
everyone feeling delighted with the
mornings experience. Some even
wanted to go to Steamboat Rock in tn
afternoon, such is the exuberance of
boy nature.
Although organized only six years
ago there are already over 300, 900 Boy
Scouts.
The reasons for this wild-fre spread
over the country are not hard to find.
Boys in the adolescent period love to
De doing something. especially in the
open air. Then, too, they are imbued
With the gang" spirit. They are al
ways forming "clubs," much to their
letriment often unless guided by an
'lder person. The Boy Scout move
nent supplies an opportunity to band
ogether. it takes them out into the I
woods and fields where they obtain first
land knowledge of Nature, it makes
LAY of their work, and unconsciously
evelops them into good and useful
itizcns.
The tests tor all the degrees and
onors Of scout.hood are so arranged
$ to secure the all around development {
the boy. In addition to the require.
"nts for tenderfoot, already men I
oned, a second-class scout mast be {
BILE to track half mile in twenty five
linutes; run mile in twelve minutes
Scouts pace; give satisfactory evil U
ence of an elementary knowledge of ]
rst aid aad bandaging, also of signal I
g by the scmaphore, Morse, or Mey- T
r alphabet. He must be able to use |
nife or Ratchet. cook in the open, a
now the sixteen principal points of
re compass, and have earned and de-
Dsited at least one dollar in a public
ank.
The requirements to become first
ass scout are even more eXacting :
he scout must be equal to ffty-yard :,
vim and fourteen. mile hike; have
1vanced knowledge of first aid and
gnaiing; be abe to make and read
'rrectIy road maps; be good Judge
distances. heights and weights; give :
roof of trained powers Of observation
animal and plant life; enlist a tender :
not he himself has trained; and have
armed and deposited in public bank
, least two dollars
In addition to these requirements, !
,ecial honor badges are awarded for !
roficiency along fifty or more different !
mes, so that each boy can specialize in ::
hatever appeals to him most. &
The scouts motto is "Be Prepared, !
nd it is with this idea upper-most in !
is mind at all times that he goes about !
IS daily tasks and pleasures. He is :
YER on the alert to do someone good !
i'm; thus the good he does to others :
ELECTS back upon himself IAN hundred !
DID," No boy can honestly attempt .
, perform his duties as Boy Scout I
ithout becoming a better member Of !
,ciety 1t is impossible to estimate
re effect on the citizenship life Of to-
orrow of the attempt on the part of .
lndreds of thousands of boys to five