Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-05-29
BOY SCOUTS HAVE
BEEN ORGANIZED
CCommunicated)

i ports that last Saturdays meeting
was encouraging in this regard. More
than enough boys for one patrol were
in attendance, and it is probable that
two or three can be formed. In ord
er that parents as we'll as children
may understand and be interested in
just what is intended, Mr.. Berryhill
wishes to make the following expla-
nation through the newspapers:
To the Public:
Several of you are already some
what familiar with the Boy Scout idea.
A number of boys were with the Rev
erend L. II. Price last year, and quail
fed as Tenderfoot and Second Class
Scouts. But for the reason that un-
der his direction the public misunder-
stood what was intended, and looked
upon the movement as belonging eX-
clusively to the Episcopal church, ii
did not have the liberal support of the
whole town, SO necessary TO success
in enterprises of this nature, where
success cannot be had by small fac
tions working separately, and last
summers activity ended without full
filling its leaders hopes. There were
obstacles then which, l believe, have
been removed now, and with proper
co-optration among all concerned, the
progress made in this new endcavor
should be satisfactory and permanent
AS an institution, the Boy Scouts
ought to be thoroughly democratic.
Those who come into it are young:
they are bound to be impressed by It's
conduct; and no institution should be
allowed to exist that does not leave
impressions that may be safely con-
tinued. 1t is. therefore, of vital in
terest to everyone that such thing
be built on the highest principles and
that it never falter in its adherence to
them.
A few persons oppose the Boy
Scouts on the ground that it is pri-
marily militaristic; but their stand is
taken on mistaken conception of
the name. The term scout" has been
purposely used as one that is sugges-
tive of the vision and inspiring forti-
tude of those men who have sought
better civilization for the world, a
higher plane of Humanity, and have
left us happier and more enlightened
by their devotion. 1t is not intended
in this case to designate an enemy
of industrialism, but to designate a
friend and guide of industrialsm.
The Importance of early training
cannot be over-estimated. 1t is a mat
ter of the utmost gravity, and yet it
is one commonly disregarded. l have
observed, and I trust that others have
Too. its effect upon children and grown
people alike. Thistles or fig trees
can be told by the fruit that they bear
Cardinal Newman was so certain of it
that he said. Let me have child I'M
til he Is seven years old, and ! don't
care who has him after that"
Children. because of their mental
delicacy, are peculiarly exposed to in.
fection by habit.germs, and especial
ly bad habit-germs. Although they
shall acquire habits all their lives. as
they grow older and gain experience
they learn to discriminate between
good habits and bad ones. Training
Is not always a voluntary effort on
the part Of some people in regard to
other people. Such training only en-
hances and corrects a perpetual kind
that consists of the influences of their
environment, and of whose insinuation
into their development they are for the
most part unconscious at the time. So
training is really constant, but some
times so subtle that II Is not recog.
nized.
"The purpose of the Boy Scouts is
to bring boys under its influence and
build them up in all that goes to make
character and good citizenship. II is
obligatory upon Scouts to cultivate
courage, loyalty to humanity, sane
patriotism, brotherliness, self-control,
kindness to animals, usefulness. cheer
fulness, cleanliness, thrift, purity and
honor. No one can doubt that with
such training added to his natural
gifts, the American boy will as man
be an efficient leader In the paths OF
civilization"
The things that they do in the great
, outdoors have an instructive and uni.
, versaI appeal to them. In all of their
, work they are required to do their
best, and urged TO surpass themselves
!, If nothing Is ever demanded of them
, which they cannot do, they will never
, do all that they can. Scouts are
taught to observe by reading signs
and trailing. They are taught care
a and perseverance, by stalking birds
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