New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-11
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Their Training and Ideals and What
They Mean to the Community.
0 .he Editor o. The Tribune

TO The Editor of The Tribune
SIR: presume i is the policy Of The
Tribune 20 publish practically every letter
addressed 20 its editor upon public or SEM
public matters That can Re the only rcs
son for the appearance Of the letter Of sig.
mund Reichenthal in to-dsv's issue regard
ing Boy Scouts and education IL mus. have
been that Mr.. Residential just couldn't help
writing p letter about something or other
and though. it might as well be the Be-
Scouts.
The organization 70 which Nr Reichen,h'.
refers as trying 10 raise q sum Of 100000
is known as the Boy Scouts OF America. No
scout IS under twelve YEAR Of age. Scouts
usually remain in the organization until thsy
reach eighteen the minimum age FOR assist
ant scoutmaster. The Boy Scouts OF Amer
lea are not trained in military dill, no.
taught the manual Of arms The orgsnii''
ton is not military IL aimc 70 develop good
manly characters and citizens. who will be
ready 20 do their duty as such for the bene'
fit of their community and their country
What this country demands Of man is tha;
he shall do his duty in perce or In war s.
best he can. and that he prepare himself for
that duty in his youth and early manhood
.Ir Reicheuthal sagey remarks that the
Boy Scouts OF America I'm time Of war would
not count a scrap Of benefit" because Of their
youth. Perhaps Mr.. Reicheuthal has hesFd
tho approximate date Of the next war ID
which the United States is 70 be engaged.
haven't. Perhar~ Mr.. Reichenthal's ausrr'
with the Boy Scouts Of Amc,ic is that re-
arc rot taught 10 be soldier. The govern
ment al present seems 70 BE- Of The opinion
that II is time enough for a man 70 con.
mence his military training az the sge o.
eighteen. The poy Scouts in the WARNS
countries have been OF sona little help-h
Germany. as well as IN England, France ara
Italy They have been OF more help ,hsn
they would have been had they had no seou'
training.
As for education the scouts are taught
among all the other things that good eesn
boys love. first aid. signalling, map drs~ihe'
camping. hiking, horsemarship. marssma,
ship. seamanship. aviation, and, above Sb
obedience. These things co not eonsn'0"
military training but they are every DIV =
valuable TO soldier as reading. writing
arithmetic. Upon that point If Nr ReieheD
thai be a pacifst. let hin read Pre'os
David Starr Jordan's high praise Of me DOl
Scouts of America II Mr. Rcchenthal 90 ."
advocate Of military preparedness, le, n'n,
read General Leonard Wood's high praise :.
the Boy Scouts of America. Neither 81"
military nor pro-miitary, the organi'S"V.
stands for best citizenship in peace or N W.
To educate the boys Of the cry OF W
York who arc % become citizens tnree
nine wears hence after tho manner Oh
Boy Scouts Of America is worth ten utes
paltry 100000 For Mr.. Reichenthal T-'
~ quote the oa'h taken bv every BOY ''vs
Of America: con my honor ] VIII 10
best first 70 do my duty % God anu
country and 20 obey the scout la"' seIVD =,
70 help other people AZ all times t'"| ~.
keep myself physically s'-ong' men' ..s,
awake and morally straight And me ~,
law is that q scout be trustworthy ~.
helpful. friendly courteous, Kind, ooeo-..
cheerful. thrifty, brave clear and r,'n, ~.
do not answer M Ec'chanthals
ter officially from my very humble CONF,
tions with the Boy Scouts or The I'm ~.
States army. but simply In the 'pir' %
second par, Of tho scout oath-to os .,r
to him. r. MEREDITH LANGSlN''
New York Ian f. 1916.