The Pleasantville press., 1912-07-31

ness, cheerfulness, cleanliness, thrift,
purity, honor.
The aim of the Boy Scouts is to
supplement the various existing edu-
cational agents, and to promote the
ability in boys to do things for them
selves and others.
1t is not military organization,
rather distinctly peace organiza-
ton, but so cultivating hardness,
readiness, and courage in-the boy as
to better fit him for war or peace, or,
indeed, any emergency of life
All Scout troops should consist Of
not less than eight boys, and all mem
bers should be twelve years of age
or over. These are directed by a
Scout-master; that is, the adult lead
er of the troop, who must be twenty
one years of age. The Scout-master
takes his directions and lessons, so
to speak, from a Manual, the Scout
masters Manual, especially prepared
for him by the members Of the Ex-
ecutive Board of the National Coun-
Gil of the Boy Scouts.
This Board and Counsel are COM
posed of men high in standing, ex-
perts in their own line, so that by
means of this organization the Boy
Scouts of the country are put in
touch with the country's ideas and the
wisdom of men who stand for the best
and most American things.
The Boy Scouts will learn, if they
follow the general program laid out
for them, and if they have an efficient
Scout-master, any and all of the fol-
lowing things:
Scoutcraft-The Manual reads: "To
be a Scout means to be prepared to
do the right thing at the right mo-
ment, no matter what the conse-
quences may be-"
WoOdcraft - Which enables the
Scout to find his way no matter where
he is; teaches him the various kinds
of wild-fruit roots, nuts, ETC.; teaches
him careful observation, etc.
Campcraft of all kindsLIncluding
tenting, cooking, boating, swimming,
tracking, signaling, etc. Also, health
and endurance, chivalry, first aid and
life-saving, games and athletics, pa
triotism and citizenship.
Meetings should be, if possible, once
week. The main difficulty is in get
ting a good Scout-master. 1t must
be someone reliable, responsible, and
whom the boys will respect.
! 1t is wisely recommended to ego
SLOW" Get things well started. Let
each boy have his own task. Send to
headquarters for booklet on Forma-
ton of Patrols and Troops. Each
boy should have a Manual. It is
thirty cents well spent. All informa-
ton and materials may be had from
National Headquarters, Boy Scouts of
America, Fifth Avenue Building, New
York City.
In general, l believe this organiza-
tion, as it stands to-day, to be a
splendid and unique boys opportuni-
lty. The especially good points are
the military discipline, with peace in
tent; the dignity of the organization
the supervision of the boys and their
interests by a Scout-master who is
himself accountable to superior offic-
ers; the intelligent appropriation and
intelligent use of boys surplus en-
ergy; the practical knowledge taught
and acquired, and the allied mental,
physical, and moral training. The
secret signs, passwords, ETC., are also
good. They supply certain need,
and take the place of the often dam
gerous secrecies maintained by small
gangs and companies of boys.
In word, here is an opportunity,
an employment, an education suited,
almost exactly suited, to boys needs
and to just those needs that home
and a boys mother cannot possibly
supply.
do not write this at the solicita-
ton of the organization. Not mem
Der of it knows I am writing it.
am writing it for other women and
from woman's standpoint-the
standpoint of the mother of the Boy.
| As l think the matter over, am
lied to believe that it is barely posi-
bic there may be a grain of egotism
in my eager endorsement of the Boy
Scout movement. I have often long
/ ed to tell the Rowdy's and the "Bul-
ly's" mother how she should train her
boys, and have desisted; have yearn-
ed to show the Braggart's mother
her fragrant mistakes in the Brag-
CARTS education, and / have felt that
| I had no right. But now-they have
been Boy Scouts six months, these
three-I can see the Boy Scouts or
ganization effecting the very changes
have longed to effect. / can see the
aBully" no longer deserving of the
name; the Braggart become silent
and useful member of society; and
the Rowdy ?-he is not two feet from
me as | write, his head bent dutiful-
Ily, along with the carroty head of the
Boy of my theories, over the Boy
Scouts Manual, studying absorbedly
certain signs and obediences which he
owes to his superior officer; as fine a
boy as you would care to see He
even gets up now in manly fashion
to offer me chair when / come in
the room. And neither his mother
nor !, nor anything in our woman's
sphere, is accountable for that, but
only and solely the Scout law and the
grimy and much-fingered Boy Scouts
Manual that has been compiled and
written by men who were once boys
themselves, and who understand, as
no woman ever does or can, q boys
world. If custom permitted, l would
take my hat off to them; as it does
not, / say, "Lord bless you, gentle