Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-09-05
BOY SCOUTS
OF AMERICA.
Movement Has Been Amsrieanizsd.

Movement 6oo ooon AmortooHlSeos
The leaders Of the Boy Scouts Of
America feel that at last they have
adapted the principles Of the boy
scout movement to suit the needs OF
the American boys. The movement
has been Americanized. It may seem
strange that an organization that was
started In this country, adopted In
England and then in new form trans
ferred to this country should need
Americanizadon. The fact is that
General Sir Robert Baden-Powell add.
ed new ideas to the principles which
be found here. and when the Boy
Scouts Of America was started more
than a year uyo 1t had many foreign
phases. So popular did the organiza.
ton become that the English manual
with several chapters by Ernest
Thompson aeton was hastily adopted
for the American boys. The require
ments for the various classes OF scouts.
badges. various articles In the manual.
scout law. equipment and many Of the
activities had foreign characteristics
A New Manual.
II was apparent that this obstacle
must be overcome before the boy scout
organization could really find the place
In the heart OF the American boy for
which the leaders hoped. TO this tre-
mendous task of Americanizing
movement that originally was Ameri-
can many men have given months OF
serious thought and work. 1t included
a conference In Washington under the
auspices of President Taft and consul
tations with many eminent educators
and philanthropists interested in the
development Of American boys into
splendid citizens. The frst tangible
result of this work Is the new manual.
Scout Oath Changed.
A brief summary Of the contents OF
the manual shows at q glance how
thoroughly the activities have been
adapted to the ideals Of the American
boys. The requirements for the three
classes Of scouts have been changed
and made more thoroughly American
The scout oath has been changed
The scout law has been amplifed. Tc
It have been added planks In keeping
with the American ideal Of manhood
and citizenship. It Is aimed to train
the boys to face evils which threaten
them daily.
Badges Show tho Eagle.
The badges of the boy scout move
ment have been changed The Amer
lean eagle forms a part Of the design.
The models for the various merit
badges and hero medals have been
revised The requirements for these
badges are In keeping with the activ'
tiles Of the American boy. There are
instructions for the playing Of games
not included In the British manual
Many activities that are strictly Amer
lean, but at the same time train to
"be prepared" physically, mentally
and morally for emergencies. have been
added The equipment Of the boys
has been worked out carefully. 1t h
made more compact. and yet more
things for the comfort and the enjoy
ment of the boys have been added
At the same time the price has been
greatly reduced
Another interesting phase Of the new
manual Is that the Illustrations are
distinctly American and replace the
foreign pictures In the old manual
The old illustrations as well as many
words ami phrases often puzzled the
American boys. These difficulties have
been eliminated
Aae Of Admission.
Appeals have been made to the ex.
ecutive board of the Boy Scouts OF
America to permit boys under twelve
years to qualify as scouts. The ex'
ecutive board gave the requests care
ful consideration and finally decided
that In view Of the aims Of the boy
scout movement 1t is much wiser to
keep the age limit. twelve years. uni
form throughout the United States
Scouts Must 30 Neat
The Boy Scouts Of America are re-
Quired to keep their finger nails clean
and attend to their teeth. The new
scout law imposes these duties upon
them. for plank No. II says: "A boy
scout Is clean. He keeps clean In
body and thought and stands for clean
speech. clean spirit and clean habits"
The boys have received directions for
the care Of their dnger nails and are
told that they are cut once week
and cleaned daily. Il b hoped that
the hundreds Of thousands OF boys
stimulated by the new boy scout prin.
ciples will exhibit clean. glistening fn'
ger nails hereafter. Special instruc'
lions also are given the boys for the
care of the teeth. Boys are taught
that many diseases are spread because
Of failure to clean the teeth and are
told that clean teeth never decay. Ac-
cordingly boys are urged to give care
ful attention both morning and even.
ing to their teeth.