Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

@EA SCOUIS! Wnat WOnOeTIul VIE
ions are suggested by that express
- sion to the small boy Of vivid i'm
agination who dreams of the briny deep.
and where, oh, where. can be found a
small boy whose taste does not run to
stories of pirate ships and exciting ex-
plorations There is poor old Robins on
Crusoe, for example. The chief associa-
lions with that name are the servant
Friday and the tropical island where he
and Robinson lived
Who ever wonders how Robinson got
to that island? One does not think OF
the small boy who sat on the quays and
watched the ships coming and going.
storing away mental pictures of which
to build wild sea dreams at night. But
those dire predicaments which he solved
afterward were all the result of those
early imaginings. for the aggressive Rob
inson ran away to turn the dream into
realities.
1t is to boys like Robinson Crusoe that
a new movement to develop branch OF
the Boy Scout organization for practical
experience in seamanship Will appeal.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels Is IN
sympathy with the idea. He thinks it a
splendid thing for both the navy and the
small boy to have an organization Wnlcn
will spread interest in the one and enlist
the interest of the other
The idea exists as yet but In the mind
Of a national committee Of the Boy
Scouts Of America. The committee hopes
to develop the idea so that the United
States Navy may be persuaded to CO.
operate and give assistance. The new
branch will probably be called by some
such name as the Boy Sea Scouts or
the "Sailor Boy Scouts
It's chief aim will be to develop in boys
between the ages of ten and fifteen, to
whom the sea calls and appeals with even
greater charm than the woods, the same
virtues which are now inculcated in the
land scouts. 1t is felt that the occupa-
tons of seamanship and life on the wa
ter present quite as favorable Opportuni-
virtues as do the pursuits of woodcraft
and of the land scouts generally.
-
Mr.. Daniels feels that the navy ships
are not at present in a position to &C
commodate the many boys from all over
the country who would care to join.
1t may be arranged later. however, when
the idea for the Sea Scouts materialzes
and the boys are we'll drilled in marine
lore Mr.. Daniels recalled the time re-
Gently when there was talk of training
few college students in naval service
every year to enlarge the personnel re-
serve available for the navy in emer-
gency.
He said that the few who made appli-
cation grew to such numbers that the
idea had to be abandoned. He feels that
II there is to be no discrimination be-
tween the boys of the different parts Of
the country. this movement will have to
wait while before the navy ships can
promise assistance In providing room
aboard SO that the boys may make short
sea trips on them.
Otherwise. however, the department is
willing to render all service. 1t is thought
by officers and those In charge that a
knowledge of seamanship. navigation,
pilotage. boats and naval life acquired by
such a sea scout movement will benefit
both the boy and the navy by spreading
a wholesome understanding that will be
generally helpful.
In almost all other countries 1t is very
easy to interest boys in both the army
and the navy, for they know that a GER
tain period of their lives must be given
TO active service in either branch In
America, however, soldiers, sailors and
marines for the most part simply drift
into the service from one reason or an
wanted for the army and Join the
navy and see the world are significant,
because they show that not enough men
are interested.
The Sea Scout movement would give
boys practical notions and experiences
along naval lines and either cure or Whet
their ardor for sea life This would bring
men to the navy with an understanding
Of what they are undertaking and would