The Washington times., 1915-02-11
Wdshingtonian Makes
Film Shoying Work
The Boy Scouts
Are Doing.

There are few things that have
gained such worldwide attention dur
ing the past few years as the mo-
tlon pictures and the organization
of the Boy scouts. No two things
have so impressed themselves on the
people of almost every country as
these two-one a movement Tor the
upbuilding of q manly spirit ana
healthy bodies in the youth of the
countries to which it has progressed
and the other to provide entertain
ment and education for people of all
ages. Through the agency of the
World Film Corporation these two
movements are to be combined in an
effort to help both. That is, there
has lust been released simultane-
ousl y throughout the country a most
comprehensive set OF MINIS tnat
show a great deal about the Boy
Scout movement that has not been
brought before the public heretofore
There Is particular interest Tor
Washington in this set or hlns Tor
two reasons. The first Is that the
Boy Scout movement in the District
viii profit financially by the SHOW
ing of the film in this city when
ever it is shown. The second rea-
son lies in the fact that the pictures
were prepared under the direction of
a former Washington resident, VIII
liam Dinwiddie, at one time con-
nected with the Smithsonian lnstltu-
ton, later correspondent Tor news
papers in the Spanish American war.
the Boer war, the Philippine lnsur-
rection; and stu H. later si,,hnines GGyer'or OF
While it is possible to tell the story
of the Boy Scouts in most inter-
esting way, as Ernest Thompson
Seton and Gen. Sir Robert Baden
Powell have done In the magazines
and newspapers, the pictures OF the
boys at work give totally new idea
of just what they do. Though one
may see the written statement OF the
various courses of training through
which the boys are put, 1t Is very
difficult for the average person to
grasp what this means unless they
have actually seen the organization
at work.
Those persons who visited the
Gettysburg battlefield on the occa-
sion of the tiftieth anniversary of
that great struggle have some idea
Of what the work of the scouts
fits a boy to do. They saw the
youngsters Of this city and Baltimore
take care of the aged veterans and
sort in the most cheerful manner,
and saw them perform a service that
was astonishing in it's simple ef-
ficiency, even to the army campaign
ers who were used to such gather
ihgs and to the responsibilities that
devolve on those who attempt 10
entertain such large crowds.
Those who have visited the summer
camps of the boys of the local troops
understand something OF the work
that was done there during the two
or three seasons the camp pas been
established and the growing popu-
laritv Of the institution Is proven by
the increa sed number of boys that go
to the camp every year.
But these things only give a par
tial view of the work-or rather
view of some of the work. Mr., Din
w'ddie, in the set of films that has
been prepared for the World Film
Corporation has endeavored to show
exactly what the scouts are expected
to do and to demonstrate the value
of the training thus given to every
boy of whatever country IN" Scout
movement may find footing. Mr..
Dinwiddie has been interested in the
scouts for several years. and, being
an expert PHOTOGRAPHER hims"lf-ono
of the most expert in the world-hc
was thoroughly competent to under
take the lob of directing the making
Of these Sims.
\ The fnG.Hcial benefit to the BOY
scout organizations that will come
from the showing oC the film results
from the arrangement that has been
made for a percentage of the receipts
Nom every exhibition to b" turned
into the scout treasury. IN scout
troops will he Supnlich with tickets
and literature REGARDING the pic,
lures. and efforts are to he made In
thoroughly canvass the city,