Evening journal., 1912-08-22

During the Boer War QS99-190D
when General Sir R. s. S. Baden
Powell held that memorable siege OF
Mafeking, Il was found that the new
recruits that came into camp were en-
tirely helpless. II put on their own
resources, they would starve in the
midst of plenty or be overcome by ex-
posture TO the weather. because they
wouldn't know how to provide smell
ter.
Their lives had been restricted TO
narrow routine. as the lives OF al
city dwellers are. Let them once get
out of the beaten track OF organized
existence and they are lost.
In the generals own picturesque
phrase, they could hardly go to sleep
at night because they didn't nave
somebody to tuck them In. The nrst
thing necessary to make soldiers or
these men was to teach them how TO
take care of themselves when they got
out Of sight of the mess tent.
So impressed was the general with
the deficiency Of the recruits in this
respect that he came TO a realization
of the truth that the whole youth OF
Nnt ildAlUn Attu1u JUDI SUN u
whether they we're 70 be soldiers or
civilians; that they needed the mental
stimulus that comes from being on
their own resources-of getting away
from the electric lights and the bowl
ing alleys and the moving picture
shows and the lunch counters, OF
smuggling up close TO nature and
learning things from her and, above
all, of reviving the mental versatility
Of the generations that took care oil
themselves without the aid of trained
specialists at every turn.
So when this great soldier laic
aside his sword, he looked about him
for a way to apply to the youth of the
nation the training he had found Sc
necessary to give to his recruits. The
result was the Boy Scouts. The OBJ.
| ject was to get the boys interested II
something out Of the range OF the
electric lights-to enduce them t'
make trips into the country and e
pitch camp in the woods, to learn t
do things for themselves, to exercise
their native ingenuity and to revive
their latent power OF initiative-facul
ties which modern conditions un
doubleday tend to suppress in thu
mass.
An eminent Philadelphia educato
has said that the rush to the citie
has brought about the most serious
educational problem that the natiol
has ever faced City life has left tn
average boy without a single inhuenc
for developing self-reliance or singh
outlet for his individual initiative
Everything is done for him. his lif
is a routine, and at the end of hi
school term he is turned into the worl
helpless at best and at worst, pos
sible menace to society"
The single fact that the movemen
is not military is responsible for II
being 100000 strong I'm America a
the present time
There is no intention to make on
boy into soldiers. II is the desire 0
those who are at the head of tn
movement in this country to deveio
honest. upright. peace loving an
healthy men. Men who can feel HOY
refreshing thing it is to be a humble
of this great. free peace loving Re
public. and who show by their ever
act and word that they are members
men who can feel at peace in tho NJ
termost parts Of the earth, but VIII
feel a thrill go through their vein
when they see the Stars and Stripe
flashing out valor. purity and justic
on the breeze and In the sunlight, me-
who can walk with kings nor los
the common touch"