The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-19

L
authors and journalists Another wom-
an of national reputation who has
| been asked to appear on the program
is Ella Wheeler Wilcox"
OFF FOR A HIKE.
He boarded the car on East Jackson
street, manly young figure in his
khaki, with all the munitions of war"
ready for a long like His canteen-
was filled with fresh, cool water, his
blanket was strapped at the back, two
small pans were deftly arranged on
the left side, where a heavy hatchet
was swung, for emergencies of tan
gled thicket early morning fires.
There is something about a boy,
| with his bright, brave outlook on life
that appeals at all times, and when
he is esSaying for the adventurous
quest who does not follow him with
longing eyes of the spirit?
The wide outdoors with its glad call.
the waters with their whimsical mes
sages to lure one through the sweet
Spring woods the CLINT of the sun
shine and the wizardry of bird song
all these are his for the taking, and
who would not envy him, off for
fhike, when the April world is calling?
= This boy is always a busy young
fellow. When he hasn't anything else
duties. he is studying upon woodcraft
or delving into the mysteries of wire
less telegraphy.
AS he sat by me on the car he told
me many interesting things. and the
ride was not half long enough to learn
all I wanted to know.
He wore a badge-an insignia of
some sort-on his hat, and I asked, GU
riously about it. He told me it was
- e 1 nf
the Boy Scouts. He has been a MEM
Der of the organization less than
year but he has passed rigid exam
nations which have entitled him to
this mark of distinction-the only
scout In the ranks, by the way, who
has been so distinguished.
What must one doA or know"
queried, ito win this mark?"
He told me few of these things.
How he must know how to build
camp according to regulations; how he
must know what to do, if one of his
comrades should have fatnting
spell; the woodcraft he must learn.
and the ways of the dumb creatures
he must know. How he must have d
small deposit to his credit, and many
other things which entitle him, at last,
to the badge worn so modestly by this
young dreamer and doer,
For this boy Is both. His name is
Herbert Matthews. "The thoughts OF
a boy are long, long thoughts great
thinker has said. The boy must
dream before he does, but If he is
a dreamer and not a doer, his dreams
lead him only through labyrinths of
other dreams, to little end but dream
Ing.
But here is a youth who dreams and
works. Once he dreamed and tried to
follow in the footsteps of the wizards
of the air. And all the time he read
and worked, and at last the way open
ed for him to learn, not only from
books but from men, which is the best
way to learn. A man who was a prac-
make his dreams come true, and today
this young boy has wireless station,
rugged up on the old Louisville and
Nashville grain elevator, and is taking
and receiving messages.
The secret of his success with this
is the same that has made him a lead
er of the Boy Scouts.
learned this from an answer he
gave me.
How" 1 asked, "did you learn all
these things that fitted you to pass
your examinations and entitled you to
the rank you hold in the Troop II"
woodcraft, for instance, under an ex-
pert of the forestry service, one must
be well qualified to pass.
"We1l, you see it is this way" sc
said. ST had Boy Scout book which
told many of these things-and then
when get interested in anything /
learn all about 1t can. And SO when |
1 would read anything that interested
me, would get all / could about it, |
and so I studied two or three other
books, until knew enough to pass
It sounds simple, doesn't 1t? But |
many a man will not take the trouble |
TO do as much.
This is the secret of an success. To
dream, and work, and study. To learn
what others have learned, through |
working and dreaming.
/ believe in the Boy Scouts. I be- |
lieve in anything that tends to make
better and stronger men. I believe IN |
work and in play.
That is another thing this Boy Scout |
told melt isn't all play he said. |
There is lots Of work too-But it's
FuUf0