The Washington times., 1913-10-12
.ENGL|SHMAN WRITES
OF BOY SCOUT WORK
Believes Exercise and Discip-
line Tends to Make Better
and Braver Citizens.


tlon to the wonderful work that has
been done by the boys in the coun-
try, and especially to the development
that has been shown in the movement
during the past two years. In view
of this, it is declared, the following
description of what is being done by
boy scouts in England, and the ques-
ton raised as to the future OF the
boy scout movement In America, is in
teresting.
Charles e Head, national boys
work secretary for England, writing
for Association Boys. an English
magazine devoted to the boy scout
movement. tells of the work there q.
The modern scheme of boy scouts
promoted in England about two. ana
one-haf years ago by Gen. Sir r. s.
Baden-Powell. has been tried and found
successful he writes In the land
of its birth there are probably somt
100000 boys enrolled. and the movement
Is rapidly spreading into other eoun.
tries. The reasons for this remarkable
growth are twofold.
THE program and methods appeal ts
boys. and the same character building
mend themselves to an workers witt
or among lads
Object of Movement.
Broadly stated. the object OF tn,
scout movement is to build up charactes
and make good citizens; to prevent lad
from becoming either loafers upon ths
one hand or selfish money worshiper
upon the other. A lad may be enrolIee
as a scout upon taking the following
pledge:
On my honor. / promise. viii dc
my duty to God and the King. / vii
do my best to help others. whatever Il
costs to me. I know the scout law and
will obey it.
The nine points of the scout law re-
ferred to are: A scouts honor is to b,
trusted; scout is loyal to the King
and TO his officers; a scouts duty Is Il
be useful and to help others; a scout 10
q friend to all, and a brother to every
other scout, no matter to what socia
teous; scout Is friend to animals
a scout obeys orders of his patrol leade:
or scoutmaster without question;
scout smiles and whistles under all cir
cumstances; a scout is thrifty
Makes For Character.
1T will be seen that character basel
duce dignified men. and a nation tina
possesses such will be a strong one.
THE idea Of being a scout, one wht
Is going ahead Of the rest for the good
Of the rest, appeals to most boys. ant
they will train either physically. men
tally, yes. or morally, to this end To
the average boy, the physical appea
Is always a strong one.' and the scou
leader, or master" takes full advan
tage of this. and, while helping. tn,
scout to strengthen his own body D! ,
proper care and exercise. will also in
troduce the altruistic motive by teach
ing work, first aid to the injured, car,
Of the sick. swimming and life saving
signaling. fire drill. and the like Thes.
things, be 1t noted. are not taught a.
though part of a school curriculum. bu
as games; lessons are better iearnet
thus.
ITO the boy scout the educationa
grip is not less strong than the physica
one when it Is Introduced, say by th'
study of Indian woodcraft and simila
ore-this insuring keen interest in thG
IA bits of animals, birds. insects. trees
plants. and fowers-in the formation
he earth, in the mysteries OF the heav
ms and solar system.
Many Avenues Open. =
Another avenue of useful interes
which easily opens up Is Of civic LIE
and the boy scout with a very littls
cad will soon set himself to understant
he workings of the different branche:
If local and national government. Their
s practically no department of knowi
.dge that may not be made interesting
o a lad who has become imbued Will
he spirit of the scout -.
The moral and religious appeal. nevs
10 strong as in youth, l place last o
he triad though it is the most impor
ant. In this connection il is neeeSsaT.
O remember that the scout moyemen
IS a whole was intended to touch al
,ovs of all classes and all shades o
is for boys unlimited
md the scheme has been launched un
ettered to any denomination or Ism
whatsoever.
Whenever the scouting scheme hai
)een intelligently Interpreted to lads
he spirit has come Even the simph
,erusal by the lads themselves OF Gen
Sir r. S. Baden-Powelfs book. Scout
ng for Boys seems to produce It, ant
his magazine might be filed witt
stories of the unseltish, brave doinSs
ads who are Cniy of average type, bu
Who are playing the game of scouts.
The chief requirement for the sue
,ess of this movement Is not so mucl
money as men-men who viii lead, ant
I and when there is failure, will fine
hat the lads had gone as far as the!
.Ould alone and then got of the track