The Washington times., 1913-11-02
TENDERFOOT SCOUTS
TAKE EXAMINATIONS.
Interesting Tests Are Given to
FifN-five Boys on Top of
Big RossIyn Hill.

II the pungent smell of wood fires and
broiling steaks was waited to your nos
triIs by the sharp breezes yesterday,
bringing a momentary vision of au-
tumnai camps and hunting expeditions
rou have to thank the fifty-tive ten
derfoot Boy Scouts who took their Sec
ond class examinations atop of the big
hill in Rosslyn.
From the time two huglers from
Troop No. a sounded the assembly at
10 O'Clock in the morning until the
last fire had been doused in mid-after-
noon, the biggest class OF candidates
ever put through a test at one time in
Washington was kept busy showing
their proficiency at scoutcraft. A stift
wind that whistled over the hill led
many OF the scouts to tremble for
their records when ii came to lighting
a fire in the open with but two matches,
but their camp training stood them all
In good stead, and title difficulty was
experienced on this point.
Examines Bank Books.
The first examination came when the
boys were drawn up in lines four deep
and President Nathan B. Scott, former
Senator from West Virginia. examined
their bank books TO see that each boy
had at least 81 on deposit canned by
himself. as required by the scout law
for second class scouts.
A brief talk by Mr.. Scott preceded
fh< examinations, and he admitted he
was surprised at the showing made by
the boys. whose balances ran all the
way from 81 70 SIS. He commented par
ticularly on boys whose books showed
regular and frequent deposits. however
small the amount
Corporal Colprice and private Sterling,
of battery T. and Corporal Ceria and
Private Bible Of battery d. Third Field
Artillery. next took charge OF the
scouts and gave them their tests in
four troops and each toorp tested
sepasately First aid came next, the
bsudages being inspected by DR.. W. H.
Leonard, acting field commissioner.
Scoutmasters> MERIT Eearl- Of Troop
No. "a: L " Priest. of Troop No. 5,
tended 10 other features of the work.
Had Scout Appetite.
Commissioner Martin kept an eye on
what everybody was doing. but he did
not pass on the work of any of the
scouts until they had their fires going.
The sizxling of meat In the frying pans
or as It hung over the Goals was too
much for him and, he partook of a
dozen choice bits Ito see II they were
done enough"
Every piece l tasted was cooked. to
a turn and the potatoes were Just
right said the Commissioner. '.It
came In at Just the right time for a
busy morning out in the open had given
me a regular scout appetite
Many of the scouts, having read In
their manual that the meat and pota-
toes must be cooked without the aid
of kitchen utensils came prepared to
cook their food directly over the live
Goals. but Commissioner Martin ruled
that q frying pan might be. used, as
provided in the scoutmaster's manual |
This did not make any particular differ
ence however as no one failed on this
test, and many scouts hold that they
had rather have their meat cooked
without the use of the PAN
Where They Built Fires.
An old golf bunker right on the crest
Of the hill furnished shelter for a dozen
fires, while other scouts scattered
through the edge of the timber where
they were nearer a good fuel supply.
Fred c. Reed. Raymond Scaggs, and
,ther first class scouts Of =. wide ac-
quaintance were present during the
and gave some expert advice
TO TIE tenderfoot scouts. About the
time the tests were concluded Scout !
master Taylor, in charge Of Troop No. |
u; climbed the hill. They were hailed |
with shout and scouts from a dozen |
different troops Joined them in a hike |
10 Chain Bridge, which took up the rest |
of the afternoon.