Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-07

Monday, Aueust Z. 1911:
with only a suggestion or lead here or
there.
"Teaching the boys is sometimes
comnlex" said Seton. when we have
a. number of groups of boys camping
over there on the lake it Is Just IKE
running a college in woodcratt. Some
,pick it up quickly with but little teach
ing. others have to be taughts every
step. and some never get the real
knack of it.
"Ten years ago l began bringing
boys here for annual camps. we mad
no organization except the Birch BARK
Rool, which was joined by about lVo'-
600 Young people,. The roll embodied
practically the same principles tnat
are now embodied in those OF the BOY
Scouts. For instance, the introduction
to the third edition of the Birth-BarR
roll said: Something to do, some
thing to think about, something to
enjoy in the woods, with a view always
to cnaracter-building, for manhood,
not scholarship, is the first aim OF
education"
Seton explained that he started the
woodcraft movement to counterfeit the
signs of approaching degeneracy in
youth. He said that instead OF the
time when every boy lived at least
part of his life on farm and was IN
iiose touch with nature, different
type of "flat-chested cigarette smok-
ing youth has sprung up. 1T Is the
rare exception now" Seton wrote re-
Gently, when we see boy THAT Is
handy with tools and capable of TAX
ing care of himself under all circum-
stances. It is the very, very rare ex"
ception when we see boy whose life
is absolutely governed by the safe old
moral standards" He went on to .ex-
plain that personal interest in athletics
has been superseded by spectacular
arena games participated in by few
specialized persons, and cheered on
by thousands from whom no physical
discipline is necessary. Again Seton
wrote: "This it will be seen, is re-
production of the condition that ended
in the fall of Rome"
Seton took his visitors to the far
side of Pipe Stave Lake where where
Rolf, got his first lesson in huting
muskrats. There, on the site OF an
ancient Indian camp ground, Seton
showed his visitors the places where
dozen or more groups of boys, once
of Of the Birch Bark Rool, now OF
the BOY Scouts. annually 60 back to
nature. Across the placid little lake
was Seton's home skirted by a beauti-
full Italian garden, making the one
touch of civilization, but here all was
primitive. To one side was log cabin
used for storage purposes. In front
of it was a hard beaten yard with a
big rock seat for the Sycamore. Paint
ed on its foud sides were the Indian
signs of the Wild Goose of the South
Wind, the Rising Sun Of the Feast,
the White Rabbit of the West, and the
Grizzly Bear of the North. At one
end of the yard was the totem pole.
Seton had been explaining that many
of the city reared boys must be taught
first how to enjoy themselves In the
woods. "You must have boys con.
fidence first, he had said, "and then
appeal to his imagination. The effect
of the picturesque is magical. We
utilize the charm of title, gay cos
tunes, beauty in ceremony. phrase,
and dance"
1t was easy to understand how a
normal boy would enjoy this real In.
dian camp ground under such circum'
stances.
AS we walked up along the high
bank of the lake the naturalist
pointed out the camping spots Of the
various groups of boys. these sites
are religiously respected" he explain
ed. There is no law, except custom
why one group should not take the
camp ground of another group, but
such encroachments are never made
and would be frowned upon If they
were. It Is only an instance of the
boys spirit of fair play but it Is typi-
cal.
"Of course the boys learn woodcraft,
and how to take care of themselves,
and their camps in the forest. In
many, many things, the ways of the
Indians have been found the best.
Our rules regarding fire and santa
ton, though, are absolutely inflexible,
Each boy learns that the proper sani-
tation of a camp is one of the first
things, and no fire is ever left unpro-
tected. For the rest as much Is left
to the ingenuity and initiative of the
boys as possible. Control from with
out is not desirable, so the camps are
made self-governing as far as possible,
by giving each full member a vote in
It's affairs.
AS have said before many times.
| seek to hold up constantly an ideal
that is heroic, clean, manly. and lead
Ing to higher things.
6lDS WANTED.
Sealed bids will be received by tPe
Board of Richmond School District
No. 10 of Burleigh county, North Da-
kota, at the clerks office (Mistress
Hattie Gambs) up to 4'o'clock in tie
afternoon of Saturday, September 3,
1911.
The successful bidder will be re-
quired to give bond double the amount
Of his bid.
The building is to be erected in
with plans and specifica-
tons which may be seen at district,