The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-10
AMERICAN GRIT

This was real occurrence. But II
Is only typical of thousands of others.
small Boy Scout entered the office
or business man of Mobile Ala. and
laying an application blank for a vnc.
tory bond before him. stated Mister
l have como to sell you a bond" The
man hesitated, scratched his head
shuffled his feet and said son.
have not decided how many bonds
want. but, 'er. well. II il will give YOU
any encouragement | will take one
from you. The boy drew back and
looked the man squsrely in the eve
and said: Mister. do not want any
announcement but your government,
needs the money. There is the appli-
cation. Sign up
And before large group of business
men his man later spoke proudly of the
boys craftsmanship and the fact that he
had signed up.
That's the sprit of the Boy Scout
program puts into a boy.
It is the spirit that caused General
John j. Pershing to write from the
office of the chief in
France; The Boy Scout movemen,
has my unqualified APPROVAL"
1t is the spirit that caused Theodore
Roosevelt to declare: The Boy Scout
movement is distinctly an asset to our
country Tor the development of eff
cheney. virilty and good citizenship"
IL was that spirit that set nearly
4on,0 1900 boys in motion as an organ
lied body when the government called
upon the BOY Scouts of America to
help win the war. with the following
results.
Sold over 5000, 100000 worth Of lib.
erty bonds.
Sold over s5o. ooo0 coo worth of war
savings stamps. and still at It,
Located 5000 carloads of standing
walnut-2o,75Ss $3.50 board feet.
Gathered, dried and shipped over 100
carloads OF fruit pits.
Worked thousands Of war gardens
and helped on thousands OF war farms
Distributed millions OF pieces OF gov
eminent literature on food and fuel
conservation and other war topics
Jumped in at every chance to help
the Red Cross. the United War Work
committee. the Library association
and other national organizations serv-
ing the government
Presented n united front Of patri-
otto zcnl in every community, and
when the armistic~ WAS signed ndopt-
ed the slogan. "The war In over. hut
our wori. IL not"
1t was such service, in addition to
the proved value of the Boy Scout pro-
gram in training boys day in and day
out for good citizenship, that caused
the president of the United States to
issue proclamation appointing the
week of June S-14 AS Boy Scout week.
with the recommendation that all who
can viii enlist for personal service,
enroll as associate members and give
all possible financial assistance to this
worthy organization for American
boyhood. Anything that ia done to
increase the effectiveness Of the Boy
Scouts Of America will be genuine
contribution to the welfare Of the ma :
ton" is President Wilson's declaration
in his proclamation
The object in inviting 1000, 900
American men and women to Join as
associate members of the National
Council by paying 81 or more mem
hership fee is to enable the organiza-
tion to extend its Invaluable work
to just as many boys as these mem
bership fees make It possible.
We have Boy Scouts right here in
our own city. They did their part in
winning the war. They should be en-
ccuraged In every way.
And we should have more Of them.