Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-15

The boy scouts Invariably have a
Wholesome and mirthful effect upon
their own immediate locality. Re.
ports have como into headquart ers
from men, scout officers and women
telling Of the change among the boys
in a neighborhood after they have
taken up scoutcTaft. 1t is the change
from boisterouS mischief to merry
wholcsoT play, with the appreciation
OF the rights and comforts Of others.
Here is an outward aspect of the
Scout movement which has not been
discussed" says James +. West, Chief
Scout Executive Of the Boy Scouts of
America. at is the phase Of the in
fluence of the movement that would
not attract ones attention were it not
for the fact that letters coming into
the national headquarters from differ
ent parts OF the country bearing on
this one thing"
Bearing on this point is an extract
from letter by the Rev. T. S. Leon
ard of Athens, New York, who says,
Athens is a very much safer place
for women and children than before
the Boy Scouts were organized. The
boys have been trained to be on the
lookout continually for any rough
bullys among the boys and in the
school they are particular to look out
for the little boys and girls. They
are told to stop bullying and if they
get into fight to see that they are
not licked
Likewise writes C. H. Gaffin of Fl.
Smith, Arkansas. Not long ago a
teacher in our public schools came to
me and said: You ought to see what
q great change has come over -----
since he has Joined the Boy Scouts.
Previous to his entering that organi.
Eation he. was wilful, stubborn, and
carried an air of don't care and ri
do as ! please; but since he has Joined
the Scouts he has become more gentle
manly, more refined, more tractable
and more honorable N the class room
and on the Fairgrounds"
Edwin HAMPSHIRE, scout commits
sioncr of the Boy Scouts of America,
in Jacksonville. Florida, gives this in.
teresting experience to show what the
Boy Scout movement does. SIN the
spring of 1911. a group of boys in
Springfield, Mass, caused a greal deal
of annoyance by their depredations.
A. p, Irving, principal OF the, Bueking-
ham grammar school in Springfield,
tried to get control of this gang by
various methods. His efforts failed.
At last he decided to try the Boy
Scout movement. ,. He formed that
wild gang into troop of Boy Scouts.
becoming their Scout Master. The.
boys became interested in scoutcraft
and gave up their lawless practices"
A. r. Hewitt, scout commissioner of
birmingham, Alabama, cites this incl
dent of the change in boys after be-
coming scouts. Il had a case in de-
yeloping some poor and homeless
boys into scouts. There were among
them newsboys, messengers and also
the riff-raff OF the city. They were
unclean in body, mind anG soul. They
were embryo criminals. interested
them in scout work by taking them
into the country / taught them the
scout laws By actua; application. /
secured them better quarters in which
to live; persuaded them to attend
services in the mission where we held
our meetings. They soon ceased to
use bad language, kept themselves
clean and tried to become better boys.
! found some good places of employ
ment, where there was chance for ad
vancencnt and | finally possessed
splendid little troop"