The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-02-25

ABOUT ZOU,OOO 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 100.-
600 boys became members, but soon
after Gen. Baden-Powell's organiza-
ton, begun only two years ago. at
tanned 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, run.
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
a 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 SPECIALIZE
ton of industry. each individual has
been required to do one small 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 a 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 a tenderfoot.
He is usually about L. years old. In
time he will become a second-class
scout, the next higher grade. and final
ly a first-class scout. To become q
graduate in this outdoor school boy
must do these things:
L Swim fifty yards or run mile in 9
minutes.
2. Must have 50 cents at least In the
savings bank.
Sfopolipy Car1 ar1 raoa;uo
sage either in semaphore or Morse, six
teen letters a minute.
4. Go on foot, or row boat, alone to
a point seven miles away and return
again: or IL conveyed by any vehicle or
animal. go to a distance of fifteen miles
and back. and write a short report on It
1t is preferable that he should take two
days.
5. 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
s. Cook satisfactorily two out of the
following dishes. as may be directed.
Porrride. bacon, hunters stew. or .tfn
and cook a rabbit. or pluck and cook =
bird Also make a ''damper' of a hair
pound OF flour. or a twist" baked on a
thick stick.
Z. Read a map correctly and drau an
intelligent rough sketch map. Point o,,t
compass direction without the help Of
q compass.
s. Use an ak for Telling or trimn,,r~
light timber; or as an alternative Drc-
duce an article Of carpentry or jofnerv
or metal work. made by himself satis-
g. Judge distance. size. numbers ana
height within 3 per cent. error.
This first-class scout must ayso
know lot Of other things. He must
know how to fling a life line, the no
sition of the main arteries. how tn
stop bleeding from veins and arteries
how to improvise splfnts. and manv
other things which constitute first
aid to the injured.
All the leading branches of the gen.
eral scout movement in this country
have now been consolidated.