The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1911-02-04

about 100000 lads enrolled in the Boy
Scouts of America in 46 states, though
the organization is only few months
old. Those who have been watching
/ the movement here say that nothing
has ever seemed to appeal so strongly
to the boys of America.
Ten years ago Mr. Seton organized
the Woodcraft Indians. About 10o,-
900 boys became members, but soon
after Gen. Baden-Powell's organiza-
ton, begun only two years ago, at
tained such quick and wide populari-
ty in England Mr.. Seton and those
working with him adopted its best
features and merged the Woodcraft
Indians into the Boy Scouts.
Every American boy a hundred
years ago, he points out, lived either
on farm or in such close touch with
farm life that he reaped its benefits.
He had all the practical knowledge.
that comes from country surround
ings; that is, he could ride, shoot, rum.
swim; he was handy with tools; he'
knew the woods; he was physically
strong, self-reliant, resourceful. well
developed in body and brain. In ad
dition, his moral training was got at
home, and it was good. He was re-
spectful and obedient to his elders,
and, as Mr. Seton thinks constituted
altogether the best material of which
nation could be made.
I'VE have lived" says Mr.. Seton,
ito see an unfortunate change. Part
ly through the growth of immense
cities, with the consequent specializa-
tion of industry, each individual has
been required to do one snail special
ty and shut his eyes to everything
else, with the resultant perpetual mar
rowing of the mental horizon. Part
ly through the decay of small farming
which would have Offset this condi-
ton, each mixed farm was college
of handicraft And partly through
the stereotyped forms of religion los
ing their hold, we see very different
type of youth in the country today.
The new boy scout is tenderfoot.
He is usually about 1" years old. In
time he will become a second-class
scout. the next higher grade, and final
ly a first-class scout To become a
graduate in this outdoor school boy
must do these things:
l. Swim fifty yards or run mile in 8
minutes.
2. Must have so cents at least in the
savings bank.
g. Signaling. Send and receive a mes
sage either in senaphore or Morse, six-
teen letters minute.
T. Go on foot, or row boat, alone to
point seven miles away and return
again; or If conveyed by any vehicle or
animal, go to distance of fifteen miles
and back, and write a short report on it.
It is preferable that he should take two
days.
| s.. Describe or show the proper means
for saving life in case of two Of the fol-
| lowing accidents (allotted by the exam
| iners): Fire, drowning, runaway carriage.
sewer gas, ice breaking. or bandage an
| Injured patient, or revive apparently
| drowned person.
| g. Cook satisfactorily two out of the
| following dishes, as may be directed:
| Porrride. bacon, hunters stew; or skin
and cook rabbit, or pluck and cook a
bird. Also make "damper'' of a half
pound of flour. or twist" baked on a
| thick stick.
| T. Read map correctly and draw an
Intelligent rough sketch map. Point out
compass direction without the help OF
q compass.
| s. Use an ak for telling or trirmfnp
| light timber: or as an alternative. pro-
1uce an article of carpentry or joinery
Or metal work. made by himself salts
| tactoriy.
| g. Judge distance size, numbers ana
height within rs per, cent error.
This first-class scout must also
know lot of other things. He must
know how to fling life line, the DO
sition of the main arteries, how to
stop bleeding from veins and arteries,
how to improvise splints, and many
other things which constitute FIRST
aid to the injured.
All the leading branches of the gen.
aral scout movement in this country
have now been consolidated