The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-08-29
Boy Scout News

Some interesting figures are pro
duced in the summary of grades com
pleted by Scouts for the year ending
September !, 1920.
Z When the present Executive took
the office last year the records show
ed first class scouts, 20 second class
scouts and 20 of the tenderfoot grade.
The records at present show 90 first
class 23 second class and SO tender
foot. with 45 who have enrolled but
have not yet completed the tender
foot examinations. Not all who were
second class a year ago have com
pleted the first class, some OF the
present first class scouts having join
ed the movement In January and
worked rapidly to the higher grades.
Ordinarily from six to nine months
are required to complete all Of the
examinations included in the three
grades of scouts; the best record for
the year just closing are: Paul Phil
lips. ll6 days from time of completing
tenderfoot test: Roland McCullar and
Abe Lewis, who each took l72 days
from time of completion of the tend
erfoot. Apparently the best record
in the history OF Scouting in Ard.
more il that held by Harold Wisdom,
who. according to the records com
pleted his tenderfoot tests In May,
1918, and became first class scout
August 3, 1918. The older scouts. how
ever. cannot be criticised for the length
4. 1.t ha
grades because hey We're engaged
in the work incident to war activities
and neither they nor their leaders
felt il wise to take time from war
work TO pass atests National Head
quarters put limit on the time for
taking the tests and no boy can
qualify as first class until two
months after he has become a sec.
ond class and he must be tender
foot one month before he can become
second class.
In order 10 accomplish the re(l Its
obtained the past year. the records
show that 767 different examinations
have been given by either Scoutmast-
ers, Scouts qualified to give tests, or
the Executive.
Since the first OF September, 1919,
A boys have learned to cook in
camp. to clean up the grounds after
preparing the meal and leave every
thing neat and orderly Al have learn
ed 10 build a fire in the open in
any kind of weather with only two
matches and what is far more i'm
portant. have learned to put the fire
out before leaving and thus prevent
danger of forest fires. F'ifty.six have
shown the result OF training in thrift
by earning and saving money during
the school vacation, II have qualified
in advanced first aid to snch an ex-
tent that they are able to take care
of almost any kind of injury or sud.
den Illness which may occur in town
or in camp. % have completed signal.
ling tests in the second class, learning
the alphabet OF the General Service
Code or the positions Of the SemaphCre
fifteen have qualified as sgaalers
ana are able TO send AMI receive mes
'es transmitted by flag light or
whistle.
hirty eight who al rot already
know the precautions necessary in the
use Of knife or hatchet have gain
ed this knowledge total of l2s boys
who go camping or who visit the
woods often having learned that trees
ard fence posts are not to be hack.
Cd chopped or marrAd with sharp
Il ,t ments, and th.i these instsh.
in'pts may be used witdol' cutting
fingers or toes.
Since last September 90 have learn
ed to follow barely distlnguishable
trail through woods or across pran.e:
trail which to the layman would
mean nothing enables the scout read.
ing it to know what manner cf crea-
ture travelled there. whethar ii was
walking or running, following its ma
tural inclinations seeking food. or
whether it was frightened and trying
IL escape an enemy.
Seventytwo who ha little prey.
ious knowledge of s'9e or knots
have learned much oe iope and its
uses-have learned that running
moose is unsuitable for leading stock.
that sheep-shank knot has no rela-
ton to the wool industry, and that
the process of whipping rope is
neither painful nor cruel. The same
seventy.two have learned the sign!f.
cance Of the Scout badge that a part
OF il Is thousands of years old thai
Marcus Polo brought it from Cathcv
In one Of his early voyages and that
It has stood for honesty, uprightness
ana square dealing for centuries.
one hundred and twenty-five who
have enrolled as Scouts the past year
have learned of the Scout Law, which
declares that in order to be a Scout
boy must be trustworthy, loyal. nelp-
ful. friendly, courteous, kind, obedi.
ent, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean,
reverent. They have gained a new
idea of the forms Of respect due the
national flag. when it should be flown
and when it should be taken down,
when it should go 10 half mast and
the mlhod to be followed in placing
It there Many of them have held
the position Of attention in line at
reveille when the flag was unfurlcd,
and have ,'stood retreat" when the
flag was furled at sunset.
Perhaps the biggest achievement in
connection with their training. how.
ever, has been that they have each
learned of the daily good turn--a fine
group or American boys who do a
good turn daily as naturally as they
eat their morning meal, who like to
be of service to others for the mere
pleasure of rendering service with
out thought Of reward.
Conference of Scout Executives.
The week Of September IL to %,
scout executives trom all over the
United States will gather in New
YORK for a conference and training
school Last fall district conferences