The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-03-01
CONCERNING
BOY SCOUTS

The scout Commissioner Of Mid
dletown, Conn.,, takes exception to my
eulogy of Sir Francis Vane.
I frankly admit I do not know that
Sir Francis Vane wrote the article IN
the January American Maya which
was the basis Of my article, I only
know that it is attributed to him,
therefore this issue lies between Sir
Francis and the Scout Commissioner
My critic plumbers out-whthout
stopping for breath-"I have been in
terested in boys work for several
the World Scouts And there are
SO few in other countries that their ex-
istence has not been recognized. This
is as translucent as mud, and measu es
the degree Of intelligence one would
expect to find in a whirling dervish OF
militariSm.
This scout denies the existence of the
World Scouts-except as a Pigment OF
the febrile imagination Of Sir Francis
Vane - because che never heard or
them''-then 'tthere are so few" etc.
It is strongly suggested that Vane
is a romancer of the Vaudeville and
Munchausen type.
Scouts motto isn't BE ready but
"Be Prepared'-"which means that
you are always to be in state OF
readiness. Isn't that what said?
Then he drivels There is no inten-
ton of making the lads into soldiers,
Or Of teaching them blood thirstlness.
And Immediately galloping over the
pons asinorum of the next sentence
But they will be taught that citi-
zen must be prepared to take his fair
share among his fellows in the de-
fence of the homeland" etc. Also, 4
have never met a man who has seen
war in a civilized country. who re-
=, fi-H0t
(Why "so-caIled"?
And lot more from the same slush
kettle. Convicted Of acute mi1itarism
out Of his own mouth!
I repeat that the Boy Scouts-since
they were seduced from the beneficent
guidance Of Ernest Thompson-Seton
by that king of saphists, Ba-
den-Powell - are taught, by precept.
example, influence, and suggestion,
that militarism is commendable and
trustworthy.
Their vanity is tickled by adroit ap-
peal to their patriotism"
That Phidian artificer-psychologi-
cal SUGGESTIONS building-horse-
high, bull-strong, and hog-tight-the
insidious hellishness that the soldiers
art is noble-heroic. Each and every
potential butcher and s1aughterer of
his fellows-enrolled under the mlsrep-
resenting hypocritical standard OF the
Bow ScOutS-WI1O 1ISI6llS-6
mouthed-to the mendacious plati-
tudes Of the Baden-Powell type of
heroes" envies, emulates, and wor-
ships the striped and gold-braided
DULLES whose trade is wholesale muir
der at the behest of territorial pirates,
and concession seekers.
AS a sop to the Cerberus of en-
arousins Public Opposition, the
Scouts are now forbi dden to carry
their little rifles. They are supplied
with sticks or wooden imitation guns
or instead. This will help amazingly
Now, may I suggest in turn to my
critic, that before he rushes head
long into print again he refrain from
his present unholy avocation of teach
ing-by implication and hero worship
ping suggestions-the fine art of muir
DER and devote this time to studying
the advance in civilized methods OF
dealing with questions of information
al difference; the philosophy, sociology
and economics of warfare; and the in
f1uence of suggestion upon the sub
linoial nind-with especial reference to
its exaggerated effects during ADDE'S
cence.
Then perhaps he'll believe as 1 do.
that the boy Scout government is a de-
moralizing insid Gus attempt to per
petuate militarism, and furnish re-
crlits-through cultivation Of the war
spirit-for the blood-red God of War.
DR. EDWIN F. BOWERS.