The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-01-14

Lseturins In Sign Language.

Language
Chief Scout Ernest Thompson Seton
recently addressed the North Dakota
School For the Deaf AT Devils Lake
with view To interesting them ia
scouting He used Indian sign Ian
guage In his address and was assisted
by Professor Blattner who is az eX
pert In the sigu language of the deaf
He had no difficulty in speaking 10 the
deaf children. for he first selected
those activities that are purely visual.
His address was divided into i've
heads. he gave brief presentation
OF the scouting Idea He told OF scout.
ing among the stars. He dwelt OF
those stars that are tests OF eyesight-
namely. Alcor and Mlzar and the PIE.
iades. Next he took mp the Indian
signs and blazes as set forth In the
first manual He described the Indian
sign language aud compared il with
that OF the deaf. This especially in.
terested the audience. and their lead
ers have decided 10 adopt many Of the
Indian signs as more graphic and pie
turesque-in fact. as all around better
signs than their own. lie showed
them the old trick OF the rubbing stick
fire. This always makes hit and
seemed especially 10 please the deaf
Our Scouts and Englsnd's.
National Field Scout Commissioner
Moffat. after trip 10 England. com
pares the English and American scout
as follows:
The English boy is more Of the so
! Der minded type He needs 10 be-
drawn out of his shell and developed
! He Is reserved and not self reliant
He is quick 10 respond To the bidding
OF superior. but ii l. mechanical
service that he gives. Lacking In re-
sourcefuneSs. he only carries out the
order 10 the letter II conditions are
not as he expected the English boy
will 20 back ana report his inability |
to accomplish the task The American |
boy when given M order will lind /
ways aud meaiS OF executing it. even |
though conditions ARE not aS he eX- /
pected. There Is practically no need /
Of emphasizing the scout laws OF /
courtesy. obedience and loyalty In Eng /
land. AS before stated. this Is the /
English boys instructive attitude to-
ward others"
Scout Puts Signs on Desert
Under the inspiration Of the scout
movement Lon Wescott Beck. Il scout
master living in Pasadena. Cal. is do
ing wonderful work for the preser
walton OF lives 10y setting signs on the
great western desert called the Amer
lean Sahara. Mr. Beck has doue much
prospecting in that section. and after
narrowly escaping death on several oc-
casions because he lost his way in the
desert. he realizes the great danger to
other men who attempt TO cross il or
TO investigate IL.
He attempted In vain TO get the fed
eral government and the state govern
ment 10 do something in the way D.
putting up signposts. The first real as
sistance he obtained was through the
scout movement The boy scouts of
Pasadena are helping him by furnish
ing signs which he takes with him on
his trips to the desert The great value
of these signs is that they practically
blaze Il trail for other travellers
They are placed far ont In the desert
where the traveller would have nothing
else TO guide him to nearby springs
Scouts, Beware Of Thin Ice!
AS skating time is now here the
scouts should exercise care. BE care
full of skating close to the shore. where
creeks or springs empty into n lake or
river AS a rule. the Ice in such places
is treacherous. The water. however
is seldom deep enough 10 drown in. but
deep enough to get good and wet.
which is far from pleasant when the {
thermometer is lowering around zero |
In going on thin ice il is Il good plan {
to carry long. light pole Then If l
you happen to break through this pole |
will catch on the sides OF the hole and |
keep you from going under Besides. l
ii will be a good thing for your friends
TO pull you out with. Here is another {
point TO remember-the bigger the sur. {
face over which the weight Is distrib- t
uted the less likely the ice is 10 break. z
II, for instance, you feel the ice begin a
to give under you you can often save I
yourself by sprawling out on your I
thus distributing your weight O
over bigger area You can then /
slowly drag yourself back on to hrm 1