New-York tribune., 1913-09-08
FRESH AIR SCOUTS SET
STYLES IN ABlJIIONS
No Disgrace in Having Clean
Face or Hands at St.
HeIen'S Home.
DRILLS BEFORE. BASEBALL
Young Soldiers Capture the
Hearts of All the Coun-
tryside from Lee
to Lenox.

The Fresh Air Scouts are something
new this year. In fact. they represent
the latest step In the effort TO solve the
nrobem Of how to give boys the best pos
sihle sort of time during a Tribune Fresh
Air outing.
The Scouts were organized st the be-
ginning Of the summer at ST. Helen's
Home Interlaken Mass. Credit for the
ioea ana its development is due to John
E Parsons. the host Of ST. Heen's.
As might be guessed from the name
the Fresh Air Scouts idea Was inspired
bv the success OF the Boy Scout move
ment. Had IL been possible. a regular
Boy Scout brigade would have been or
ranized al the home. This was pre-
Guided however. by the fact that the boys
IN each company at ST. Helen's remain
together only two weeks. whereas real
Boy Scout organizations are permanent
The problem of giving the New York
children a good time at lnterlaken has
never been a difficult one. the natural ad-
yantages OF the place make the solution a
simple one But il was believed that IL
might be possible to combine a little use
ful training with the good time without
detractng from II. The success OF the
Scouts has shown that the belief was well
founded.
As soon as the boys in each new party
arriving at 81. Helen's have acquainted
themselves with their new surroundings
each one is given a uniform-hat, coat,
trousers, CATERS and belt This provides
the impetus toward organization. and all
those in authority at the home need do
thereafter is TO advise. The boys form
companies. choose officers and drill with
out much assistance. Indeed. probably
the greatest benefit the youngsters derive
from the whole plan is the very valuable
training II affords them in self-control
and self-government.
II has been found during the present
summer that under such an organization
the boys in any party at the home could
have practically the whole question OF
order and discipline left 20 them. The
orHcers Of the companies took upon them
selves the responsibility of seeing to IT,
for example, that their subordinates
obeyed the rule as TO remaining within
bounds" The drill inspection, too, be-
came trying times for the fellows who
had dressed or washed in a hurry. OBJ
,cure indeed was the button that could
70 unbuttoned through inspection without
drawing down condemnation on It's owner.
The Scout organization is not. how
ever. merely a means for discipline and
training. II is a source OF fun Tor the
bows 20 an even greater extent There Is
no healthy boy that does not delight TO
wear a uniform and play soldier. Al
the beginning Of each crowds stay, while
the novelty Of the idea is still fresh
drilling outranks even the national game
az a source of amusement.
The fame Of the Fresh Air Scouts has
spread over all the Berkshire region.
They have been invited on several oc-
casions to display their skill before the
Inhabitants of LenoX, Lee and Stock
bridge. and they have in every case taken
the hearts. II not the citsdels, of the peo-
pie By storm.
The new idea has not however, been
allowed 70 overshadow the real character
of st. Helens This Fresh Air centre has
always prided itself on being not an in
stitutional home" hut home, sweet
home" sort OF a place. Drills and uni
forms have not been allowed 10 interfere
with this ideal Mother" Gordon, the
matron has seen to that. Besides, there
are the 81. Helen's girls, and girls can
be Scouts. The Scouts were intended TO
Be only a help 10 fun and profit, and THIS
the idea has been.
81. Helen's has continued, as II VIII
always continue. a vacation place where
boys and girls can forget the heat OF the
city and the hardships Of life for time
in the delights Of one Of the best "coun-
tries" this part Of the world affords.