Evening star., 1914-07-17
Schoolboys Formed
Reckless Fraternities

castles, in d. |
lapidated ruins or in the heart of the for
est Often bands Of them stole away
from home and went upon long wander
ings through the forests. there to forget
the smoke and turmoil Of the factories In
towns. They would remain away for days,
to the terror of their people, living the
simple life Of their ancestors who came
out Of the dank wilds to get their first
with the Romans.
Their proceedings were secret. Often
they were characterized by weird ORGIES
or freedom. the youngsters giving tumul-
toous went to their dissatisfaction with
idea. '"e''
At first. the strange sentiment which
inspired these romantic bands met onno-
sltion on every hand. Parents sternly
sought to suppress what they understood
as hysteric symptoms of nerves over
wrought by too much studious annlica-
ton. Teachers frowned upon the move
ment and made use Of every means in
their power to break up the associations
and TO discourage a war between their
youthful charges. and big, implacabIe
Indifferent civilization going its unsenti-
mental, resistiess way on a path of
smoky Crime. cent per cent and unfeeling
material efficiency.
The boys. however, refused to be dis
In Germany, their movement the more it
was combatted the stronger 1t grew. It
became point Of honor with those first
Wandervoegel to preserve their freedom
These early Wandervoegel WERE in a
sense, young anarchists. They were at
odds with the world. and their words
we're against every man. Their stubborn
resistance to opposition attracted wide-
spread attention for them. and finally
here and there a teacher became inter-
ested in their efforts, went bodily over
into their camp and began the tanning of
the movement to point consistent with
present-day social organization.
Those teachers who became converted to
their young charges viewpoint threw
themselves into the work of giving the
movement certain concrete. conscious
direction They changed its attitude OF
hostility to modern conditions into one Of
endeavor ,for the maintenance and de-
velopment Of the best in the old German
dealism side by side with the times COM
unercial and industrial needs. They inn
pressed upon their younger Wandervoe-
gel that the best which they might hope
for would be certain modification of
the present materialism. With this ac-
complishment. the German teachers gen.
orally capitulated. and the movement has
grown into great proportions during the
last five years.
The Wandervoegel have been organized
by schools They have adopted a dis
tinctive tract. have evolved creed to
which all subscribe. and have fixed
themselves definite goal which stands
out far ahead of childhood. This is an
other point of difference between the
Ssout and the Wandervoegel-once q
Wandervoegel always Wandervoegel.
Together with a teacher. or teachers.
hands of Wandervoegel wander during
their school
Wander During Vacations tons
All Over the Empire. Gsrms % &c
empire They plan tours for the vacation
time, and, when it comes. in congenial
groups they tramp over the country
roads. their knapsacks filled with simple
necessaries. strapped on their backs.
Generally. the boys carry with them
their own cooking utensils and prepare
their own food wherever the mealtime
halt may be made. They sleep on the
ground out of doors. or obtain the per-
mission of a farmer in the village where
night may find them to sleep on the straw
in his barn. Thus the boys are able to
spend weeks wandering and seeing large
stretches Of their country at a cost lesr
than it would be for their families t.
keep them at home.
Often they turn to and help the farm.
with his work in payment for their even
ing's l>Sging. One Of their avowed aims