Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1911-03-02
THE BOY SCOUTS
Some Facts About the Great Move
ment That is Spreading SO Fast in
the United States.

W Seize tue wy . CAdi dCtCl IL ieS
red-hot stage of enthusiasm and TO
weld it into the right shape and en-
courage and develop it's individuality
so that the boy may become a good
man and valuable citizen
This is the object of the Boy Scout
as expressed by Sir Robert
Baden-Powel1, father of the Boy
Scout idea and Chief Scout in Eng
land
But it is the way this object is ac-
complished that appeals to boys.
There is a certain amount of energy
in boy that he's got to get rid of. Il
he doesn't do something good he'll DO
something bad. Scouting gives him
something good to do, something that
appeals to his imagination, fires his
spirit of chivalry and strengthens his
sense of honor. It takes him out
into the open and teaches him the
lore of the woods, the handicraft of
the pioneer, and absolute self-reliance
at the same time that it builds him UP
physically. 1t is practical, common
sense education presented in such a
form that no healthy red-b1ooded boy
can resist its allurements
Six or eight boys form a patrol,
named after some animal, and head
ed by a patrol leader who is himself
a boy. Two or more patrols form
troop which is in charge of a scout
master. who must be man. and
life appeared to him when ne was Il
boy-a clean, energetic man, with I'M
agination enough to enter into the
scout work with the same enthusiasm
as the boys themselves. It is not
hard to persuade such men to take
Up the work, for it is just such men
that the work appeals to-the opor-
funity for doing good attracts them.
Weekly meetings are held at which
the boys practice such features Of the
work as knot-tying, first aid and
+ Bandaging, signaling, memory work,
compass reading, and a score Of other
! things, while they make plans fer
! their scouting excursions into the
country. On these excursions they
track, judge distances and direction
observe animals and trees. cock
meals, build shelter camps. and do
other things that may be suggested by
1 a resourceful scoutmaster
There are three degree Of scouts,
and the scout advances from one de
gree to another Only on passing set
examination on The most practical
subjects
To attempt to &c into the details of
the work is futile, for they would fl
volumes. But there are two things
that stand out very clearly One IS
the Boy Scout motto. BE Prepared. y
i The other is a part Of the Boy Scout
1aw-oh, yes, they have laws. not Sc
stringent as to scare a boy out. just
enough to held him in check without
infringing On his liberty In this law
which a scout pledges. on his honor
he will obey, the scout promises to Dc
"a good turn" every day It's the old
golden rule again, practically applied
Such is the movement which has
spread over the United States in less
; than a year, which mas enlisted l,cvs
by the hundreds of thousands aDc
which has been taken up by clubs. SO
cieties, individuals and churches.
The men behind the movement are
proof enough OF its character. Presi
! dent Taft is the honorary president
Theodore Roosevelt is vice nresiden
OF the national committee. Ernes
Thompson Seton is Chief Scout, ans
. Admiral George Dewey, Clifford Pin
chot, David Starr Jordan. Dan Bear.
and Jacob Riis are among the fit,
prominent men who are members D
the national council.
In dozens Of towns in the Northwes
Boy Scout patrols and troops hav
9 been organized, and scores of othe
/; towns are preparing to introduce tn
movement. Most Of these will b
assisted by Z. S. Dale, the Northwes
organizer, whose work is indorsed b
Ramey Council No. 1, Boy Scouts c
America, at st. Paul, and by the off
cia1s of the National Council in Ne,
York. Mr.. Dale will come here an
. explain the movement and assist I
organizing patrols, without charge,
) his services are desired Il would b
!, ,lwell for citizens who are interested
= the movement to communicate wit
II Mr.. Dale, whose address Is Room 81