The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-22
How Friday .Evenina Was spent.

TOW rTIuay Evening was 0Pent'
The boy scouts are always using
their spare time to advantage. The
learning of something that will benefit
them in after life, the doing of some
kind deed. the playing Of some good
game that exercises not only their
bodies but their minds. teaching them
the Importance of observation, Of fore
sight, of self-reliance, of fair play and
a countless number Of other virtues.
The play night of the boy scouts
is Friday night. Having no books to
think about, they can enter some sport,
throwing their whole selves into the
game and come out of the contest bet
ter scouts, better boys. PLAY night"
was spent very successfully the past
week. At seven o'clock the scouts
joyed for a while the playing of a
game called quit" At 1880 the scout
commissioners whistle blew and 1t
was announced that the drill scheduled
for the evening would pc called off
and the game of "hare/and hounds"
be used as q scent was brought out
and given to the hares. and led by
Patrol Leader Langford, they were
turned loose with five minutes start.
When the five minutes had expired,
the hounds were put on the trail. 1t
proved an exciting race. Down one
street, up another they went. After
half hours chase the hounds caught
sight OF the hares. Then the fun be-
gan In earnest for three of the five
hares had to be caught before the
| hounds were declared winners. If
three hares succeeded in reaching the
starting point before being caught
thy would be the winners. After
much yelping and yelling the three
| hares were run down. The whistle
was blown calling in the dogs" and
| the scouts started back to headquar-
| tiers, marching in tours, singing, whist
| ling and giving yells. Mr.. Cunning
ham was ready with a story at their
return and thus the rest of the even
| ing was spent very pleasantly.
Requirements for Membership.
There are numbers Of boys in Pen
sacola who should be getting the
| benefits offered by the scout move
| ment. Any boy over twelve years of
] age is eligible for membership. No
membership fee is necessary. The
only requirement is a desire to become
| a better and more useful boy than
! heretofore. After signifying an inten-
| ton to become a member a card is
| given the applicant to sign. He then
! obtains a scout manual that tells him
how to pass the three degrees in scout
| craft. After a weeks preparation he
is ready for the tepderfoot examina-
| tion. After successfully passing this
/ test he prepares himself for the exam
| ination emitting him to be called a
| second class scout. Then comes the
| first class scout. Becoming a first
/ class scout does not end the schooling.
There are numbers of badges of dis
| tinction that are awarded for pro-
| Set In, lfrA has
that scoutcraft is a process il followed
up will make boys who can take care
| of themselves in any emergency. who
| are in a position TO aid others in I'M
/ fortunate positions ad who are more
| virile and manly for having studied
| and practiced those things that made
| our country what she is.
Miseonesption as to the Boy Scout
| Scheme.
Two important factors have caused
| utterly wrong impressions to be spread
/ throughout the country about the Boy
| Scouts Of America. The first is the
| confusion of the Boy Scouts of Amer
| lea with the organization known as
| the American Boy Scouts. The two
| organizations are entirely different in
| aim and activity. The American Boy
| Scouts, which was promoted under the
| auspices of William Randolph Hearst
of the New York American, is distinct
| " military in its purpose and it's OPP
| eratons. The scope of that organiza-
| ton and the methods of several of its
| officers caused Mr.. Hearst to resign.
/ The ideals and activities of the Boy
| Scouts of America are for peace and
| building up of mind, body and char
| acter.
| Another cause for confusion was the
| unfortunate use in the book tempo
| rarity used as a manual for the Boy
! Scouts of America of certain material
/ from the English manual which was
| Objectionable to the labor organiza-
| tions, as well az to the leaders of the
| scout movement. This mistake was
most natural. In the effort to meet
| the urgent demands of the boys in all
/ parts Of the country, ciamoring for