The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-04-19

II IS not TOO much to say that if the figures were
available to make such a comparison possible, it
would be shown that there have been published
in the last two years more copies of the Hand
book for Boys" than all the standard stories for
boys published during the same period.
Such fact becomes more significant when it is
understood that the Handbook for Boys is real
~ book Of facts. Scoutcraft; woodcraft, wild
life and conservation; campcraft; health and en-
durance; chivalry, first aid and Ife-saving patrio-
tism and citizenship are the subjects treated.
All are presented in picturesque way that COM
mands the attention of the most red-blooded Of
boys. That he takes it all seriously is evidenced
by the fact that increasingly there is appearing
among new kind of boy, Injured to hardship
and the doing of the difficult enthusiastic in his
purpose to keep himself physically strong,
mentally awake and morally straight - nObly
chivalrOus in his regard for others; eagerly will
ing to do his duty citizen in his community
often he has opportunity.
In word, the Handbook for Boys" is book
boys live by. In establishing such book as our
cOuntry's most popular Juvenile the Boy Scouts
s. of America have developed power for upbuild-
ing boyhood as influential for good in the past
the iniquitous thriller has been influential for
evil
Worthwhile Reading.
1t is the purpose of the Boy Scout movement to
give educational value and moral worth to the
boys instructive equipment chief of which is the
play instinct Broadly speaking, the boy spends
his leisure time either in outdoor diversions, or
indoors reading In one instance, it is the boy in
action, expressing himself through his manifold
play activities; in the other, boys body is at
rest but his mind still goes on under the DONNA
ton of the play instinct, so that after all, the
boys recreational reading interests are only an
other manifestation of the play instinct and
should be reckOned with from the same point. of
view.
In a word, if it is important to give direction to
the play instinct in the instance, it is equally
important to give direction to it as regards
the other; and it is in proportion as this is done
that good is accomplished by directing the boy
in his play activities. This is why the movement,
in its effort to understand and guide the boy in
his hours Of leisure has incorporated in its plans
reading program. And it is. the belief of many
that in doing this the movement has made as
valuable a contribution that which already
makes it's leadership the most vitality helpful effort
organized for guiding the instincts and ener-
gies of boys in their early teens. i
A book is, for the average boy good book in
proportion there is something doing" This
demand the part of the boy for thrill and
element and pep" the boy would say, is
quite legitimate. What must be insisted upon is
that writer's of boys books be guided in their use
of ''pep," l. e., that they cut out the red pep
The Scout program has developed many heroes.
Every month the national court of honor awards
letters Of commentator and honor medals to
Scouts who, in grave emergencies have saved
others at considerable risk to themselves. These
reported in Boys Life, the Boy Scouts
magazine, and serve to inspire many youngsters
just awakening to the meaning Of altruism.
National headquarters registers every Scout and
protects him in the exclusive of the badges |
and uniforms which he works hard to earn. |
It scrutinizes every application for scout |
masters commission and every applicant must |
prove himself worthy to be leader of boys.
Locally, the close supervision of the work is |
delegated to local council, provided there are |
three more troops, this council being composed |
of ten more men who represent every civic |
religious and educational element in the COM
munity.
The Scout program is adaptable to all sorts of |
conditions, and it fills those hours which are |
often wasted, and worse than wasted by boys |
who lack nothing but proper leadership. It teach |
es them to serve their community. Many un-
slightly dump has been turned into garden spot, |
many q mosquito incubator drained and destroyed, |
many public occasion been made brighter and
better by the Boy Scouts. .... - ..
Economically, exceptionally, morally, the or
ganization of the boys Of a town into troops Of
hior