The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-28
THE HAsKIN LIE TTER
The Boy Scout Mouen1ent
BY Frederick ]. Haskin.

| The fifth anniversary OF the organ.
ization Of the Boy Scout movement
in this country will be celebrated
early next February. Past meetings
of this kind have drawn representa-
tiyes from all parts of the country
and in some degree from foreign
countries. The event, doubtless, as
in the past, will receive recognition
from officers Of the national admins
from workers with boys in cities as
far scattered as Honolulu and Bos-
ton, Winnipeg and Mexico City. The
president of the United States is
honorary member Of the organiza-
ton; ey-presidents are honorary
vice presidents; its officials include
men prominent in business litera-
ture, the army, the navy, and in sd
cinl welfare work. Several thous-
and Boy Scouts troops and nearly
beginnings of the movement in this
1t is not without considerable sat-
isfaction, therefore, that supporters
of the movement point to the wide
spread results 1t, has achieved In the
short space of half a decade and the
peculiar hold it has taken upon the
boys Of every community into which
| 1t has been introduced. Curiously
enough, the Introduction OF Boy
Scout work into the United States
followed Its extension into nearly
every other nation. It is interesting,
therefore, to note that the results
obtained in this country already bid
fair to eclipse those shown in many
other sections and to equal those
achieved in England, even under the
direction of Sir Robert Baden-Pow-
ell. the originator of the movement.
Nearly fifteen years have elapsed
since the romantic events connected
with the work of "Bobs' and his
Boy Scouts at the siege of Mafeking
attracted attention to the possibility
! of employing the enthusiasm OF
youth in matters military for the de-
velopment Of character in times OF
peace, but 1t is less than seven years
idea, conceived during the trying
times in South Africa. blossoms.
into complete fruition under the
leadership of the great soldier.
! The movement may be said to be
young, therefore. That 1t has
achieved SO strong position with
boys all over the world is remark
able. The reason for its growth are
declared to be contained in the dec
laration Of "Bobs' himself, less than
three years ago. while on visit to
this country and during celebration
in his honor by troops of Boy Scouts
organized under the principles laid
down by him in England only a
short time before
It is Interesting to note that this
idea of Sir Robert Badeh-Powell had
already been worked out roughly in
this country before 1t was develop
! cd by him. Just how much he used
the results achieved here by others
in organizing the Boy Scout move
ment in England, can never be
known. 1t is certain, however, that
ne instilled life into the movement in
every place 1t has been undertaken
and his name has become so closely
associated with it that today he is
I regarded with. affection by hundreds
of thousands of Boy Scouts not only
lin Great Britain but in every one Of
! the score or more OF nations to
/ NhANA bbG movement lao SPtCaus
Ernest Thompson Seton and Dam
iel Carter Beard already had aciliav-
ed signal success in organizing boys
into troops and appealing to their
ilmaginations and aboriginal instincts
as means for improving character.
The former, with his Boys Of Wood
craft; Mr.. Beard. with his Boy Pho
neers, Descendants of Daniel Boone;
the Rev. Byron w. Furbush, with
his Knights of King Arthur; Sir Ar
thur Chew, with is Federation OF
Boys Clubs of America, all had been
anticipating in their work many fea-
lures OF the Boy Scout movement.
Sir Robert declared that he drew
largely from the experiences of
these organizations but adapted his
new movement to the conditions he
encountered in the locality where he
commenced his work with the boys.
"Bobs" began his work Of organ
izing Boy Scout troops long after
the events of Mafeking and the work
of Boy Scouts there had come to be
considered matters of history; first
beginnings of the movement in thin
country appeared in 1911 with ~,
organization in Washington, D.
of troop No. /. Boy Scouts of Amer
lea. The original scout commission
cr's flag. presented to this troop. is
still one of the treasured possessions
of the boys who continue its tradi-
ton. No other troop in the world.
probably, possesses such flag. This
troop contained less than twenty-four
boys.
What is the Boy Scout movement.
has been asked again and agains?
What constitutes the hold that it APP