The Washington herald., 1914-01-12
BY MARY d. MULLETT.
(CopJight, lsli.D

Although Mrs. Luther II. Gulick has
four daughters Of her own. her interest in
girls does not stop with this particular
quartet. Something like 7o.oD others,
scattered all over the country. are the
objects of her very special concern.
These are the Camp Fire Girls. Their
organization Is a national one which has
reached its present size at speed
amounting to a positive gallop. II was
started less than two years ago and has
grown so fast its founders have had hard
work keeping up with II.
Mrs Gulick was one of these founders.
Her husband. who is one Of the country S
foremost authorities on physical training.
has been placed at the head of the or
ganization. Prominent men and women
are serving on its boards And the Camp
Fire Girls promise to rival the Boy Scouts
not only in numbers. but also in impor-
tance as a factor in the development OF
young America.
Although Mrs. Gulick disclaims having
done more than some others in establish
ing this new activity for girls, she has
had a great influence in directing the
spirit which controls 1t. When it came
to the choice Of a name, for instance. she
fought so hard for Camp Fire Girls
that she won against pretty strong op-
position.
Meaning of the Name.
There is more in that name than you
might think Mothers and fathers Will
be glad to know that the reason Mrs.
Gulick was SO anxious to have it chosen
was because 1t is intended to symbolic
the idea of home. In primitive times
the fire was the center of the home. 1t
meant food. comfort. cheer. and a place
Of reunion.
1t is to stand for the same ideals with
the Camp Fire Girls. for above all other
things. they are being trained to realize
the supreme Importance of the home
spirit. This fact needs to be insisted
upon. lest the outsider think that the
name refers only to literal camping out
1t does cover that phase Of the work.
too, for the girls are taught the I'M
portance of outdoor life in the develop
ment of their bodies and Of their char
acter. Among the .'honors" which they
must get for their promotion in rank
are sleeping with open windows. sleep
ing out Of doors, cooking over a camp
fire, study Of bird life. knowledge Of
weather lore. building camp fires with
out matches or other modern aids, and
a score of other things which make life
in the open interesting and attractive to
them.
Several years ago Mrs. Gulick's own
daughters begged their mother TO go with
them to Maine for a whole outdoor sum-
mer. So she started camp of her own,
taking not only her four daughters, but
a few other girls as well. In this camp
she originated many Of the ideals and
much Of the ceremonial now adopted
by the Camp Fire Girls.
The name of, the camp is "Wohelo,"
which Is the motto OF the national or
ganization. 1t is formed OF the first
two letters Of each Of the three words
which embody the ideals of the girls:
Work. Health, Love. "wohelo" Is the
name Of the magazine now published by
the national headquarters and OF which
Mrs. Gulick Is the editor.
Like the Boy Scouts, the Camp Fire
Girls have their law" which they prom
Use to obey. 1t is, Seek beauty; give
service; pursue knowledge: be trust
worthy; hold on to health: glorify work;
De happy. Any wise mother will re-
toice to have her daughter adopt this
'1aw."
Practices What she breaches.
Mrs. Gulick not only breaches outdoor
HE: she practices 1t as we'll. She her
self can do the things she urges girls |
to accomplish. She swims, dives. ca
noes, camps out. She is intensely inter- |
ested In the symbolism which is so pic
turesaue feature of the Camp Fire |
Girls costumes and ceremonial.
She designed the ring which u the