Arizona republican., 1920-11-13
Knights of Health
By Frederio J. Haskin

WASHINGTON Nov. 4-Knighthood IS again in full flower, with all its fascinating .sccoutrements of banners, knights, dragons, tournaments, and a Dig crusade. The new knighthood is a cleaner institution, literally, than the old. for it is on organization of school children and their crusade is in search of health.
 When the knights of the Middle Ages nourished. dirt and disease were an accepted part of existence. The famous Order of the Bath originated when a youth presented himself before the king for knignthood in so odoriferously and disgustingly dirty a state that the king suggested that the meeting be ad- tourNed while tho young cavalier took M intensive scrub. The results of the U @sual bath were so pleasing that cleanliness became more popular, though 1t was never a hobby with the old crusaders
 Now. all the delightfully."- rnouthfilling words of chivalry and the best features of the crusades have been revived as an irresistible means of interesting children in the gloomy business of ear wasing. going to bed early. and ab- staining from tea and coffee.
 The idea has worked. Eight million school children in different parts of the United States have gone enthusiastic ally fin quest of health. Some of them have been crusading for two years, and the interest of the young squires and knights is still at high pitch.
 And this IS really remarkable, when you stop to consider how long your re- marks on health would be remembered it you were to get up before school and advise tho children in plain language to ~clean your teeth, because if you don't they will decay and hurt you" This is what mothers and teachers have been saying all along with varying success But when cleaning teeth becomes part of the work necessary for a page tc advance to the rank of squire, and when the boy across the aisle is pilins up points toward knighthood by talk ing a bath every day, cleanliness be- comes a desirable estate.
 How It Started
 \ The story of the crusade was told us thc other night by the man who started it, Charles DeForest, the crusader exec utive. who is connected with the Ma uonal Tuberculosis association.
 Several years ago. Mir. DeForest fel that his little son was leading too care free an existence. and that he should have some kind of work to do--some thing on the order of the chores of hi own boyhood. As no appropriate adC jobs could be found. MT. DeForest mad out a chart and wrote on it II healtl chores, such as T played out doors O. with the windows open more than s minutes today and 'T washed m, hands before each meal today" At tn end of the week the points were added and if the boy had satisfactory mum Der. be was rewarded by a small in crease over his regular allowance.
 When a plan was wanted for teach ing health to school children, Mir. De Forest elaborated his little game an, decked it out with trappings of chival ". After two weeks probation. a chil who got 57 points out of a possible q by doing the health chores. became crusader. In three weeks more he wa raised from the low rank of page that of squire. Then, in five nor weeks of healthiness-all recorded O his own chart and vouched for by hi parents-the squire became a knigh and eventually knight banneret
 Each year, MT. DeForest has had { add new features to meet the children demand for something new. Tn knights pin, which is plated with very thin coat of gold, is different eac year New ranks. too. are devise, such as knight advanced order an then knight banneret advanced orde which entities the holder to wear a b of scarlet or purple ribbon with tn badge.
 The Round Table
 This year the newest feature is round table. suggested by King Al thurs famous beard. To win a seat the round table. a knight has to colle' required number of points by athle ics. correct posture and weight stud of hygiene, and first aid. It is all vel real and important to the children. TT story of the old knights is taught most schools. DO that they know enoul of the dashing heroes of the Midd Ages to be eager to initiate them.
 Here in the District of Columbia. al in several states, the crusade has be, made part of the public school curr culum. with each teacher in charge her grades progress.
 One clever teacher wrote a play which a long spotted dragon, Diseai tormented flock of dirty siclr-looki people. until the King Good Heal with his knights of the Toothbrus Bath. order and other symbols of clea lincss, came riding in to siay t dragon and march off bearing his fer rfous head in triumph on a stick
 Schools that make good progress the health crusade enter their reco each year in a national tournament The Field of the Cloth of Gold a the winning staoa is awarded the silN
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