Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-27
BY GEORGE NOx MCCAIN

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BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
THE Boy Scouts of America is the great
l. est juvenile organization in the world.
Fortunate Is the boy who Is a member.
Farseeing Is the father who encourages his
son to join its ranks.
1t has effective and enthusiastic organi-
cations In every civilized country on the
globe.
0bjectively, It aims to keep boys in the
path of rectitude; teaches them the beauty
of courtesy. kindness, honor and helpfulness.
In great cities, whenever juvenile aides
or auxiliaries are needed for public func-
tions. Boy Scouts are selected. 1t is
recognition of their manliness, personal re-
sponsibility and duty.
Great are the Boy Scouts!
CAMP DELMONT, the remarkable Scout
~ camp in upper Montgomery County,
closes its ninth annual encampment today.
Director Ernest Schultz will superintend
the departure Of about seventy Boy Scouts.
the remnant Of the summer regiment.
The camp will be left in a condition as
spick and span, as fresh and attractive as
though it had never known the presence OF
a boy.
Yet more than 600 red blooded, athletic.
clean minded Scouts lived there the last
two months.
More than 2ooo persons. home folks and
friends of the boys, visited them during that
period.
1t cost $4,000 to feed and care for them.
This sum did not include permanent i'm
provements and certain incidentals OF camp
life.
In July and August the boys came in
troops from all parts OF Delaware and
Montgomery Counties.
Every two weeks the personnel Of the
place changed. A fortnight is the recog
nized camping period of each troop.
DELMONT is one Of the largest Boy
- Scout camps in the United States.
IL Is the most romantic and beautiful Of
There are 100 acres Of woodland, creek,
meadow. rock and tangled hillside.
The Federated Boy Scout Council OF
Montgomery and Delaware Counties owns
the property.
Ideals of outdoor life for boys from twelve
to seventeen years here attain their highest
realization.
The valley was once the hunting ground
Of the Unami Indians. They were a sub
division of the great Delaware tribe or
nation.
In the museum are foxes, weasels. birds
and butterflies trapped or taken by the boys.
Indian relics, rare mineral specimens and
polished samples of all the native woods are
there preserved.
Ten college men. specialists, comprise the
general staff of instructors and attendants
every year.
There are no martinets The Scouts are
instructed how to do things. They are not
ordered. Self-control, courtesy and per-
sonal pride prevail.
nUR1NG the season just closed there was
- no sickness at belmont, though a camp
doctor and well equipped hospital are
always at hand.
There is naturalist versed in wood
craft. a director and two assistants Of
Scout activities a scout master at large,
swimming masters and lifeguards on the
staff.
The Scouts live like pioneers Of the early
West. Every house is a log cabin.
Eighteen Of them, set around the campus,
are open on all four sides. They are the
bunk cabins, with eight hunks to each.
The great council house, 80 by 60 feet,
Is constructed of huge logs.
Within are two council fires. They are
squares of stone set in the floor. When the
council fires are lighted the smoke PASSES
out through holes IN the roof.
The chapel Is the most remarkable ap-
propriate and picturesque spot in the region.
1t is a natural amphitheatre. semicircle
Of rocks, some as big as two story house,
others the size of wheelbarrow.
The pulpit is n curiosity. 1t is boulder
shaped like a pulpit desk. with natural
slopng top.
During services on Sunday the Scouts and
their visitors perch on the rocks or seat
themselves on the ground.
Cergymcn of national fame, Bishops of
great diocoses. have been proud to preach
in this amphitheatre with its odd pulpit
and rustic wooden pulpit chair.
THE Scouts at belmont are instructed In
i the mysteries of woodcraft and the lore
of the great outdoors.
American history is taught at its source.
From the trails and fishing grounds of
the Cnami Indians it Is but a step to the
fulling mills of Colonial days: to the pre-
Revolutionary powder mills of the Unami
Valley.
On the camp ground still stands a mill
that made gunpowder for Washingtons
muzze leaders. There are the ruins of
dozen others within few miles.
The Scouts swim in the waters above a
dam that was built before the Declaration
of Independence was proclaimed.
1t fed mill races that ground the grist.
made the ammunition and fulled tho cloth
for the armies of the colonies.
The lad in khaki not only hears the story
Of those wonderful pioneer days, but is con-
scious of the visible presence of scenes linked
| with his Country's history.
THE Daddy Shack is unique feature.
1t is what its name implies a log cabin
| equipped with cots and other comforts for
| fathers who come out to spend the week
| end with their boys.
| The log boathouse where the boats are
stored during the winter is the only one of
its kind in this country. The Scouts built
| most Of these structures.
| There Is a trading post. Scout necessities
| are for sale. Candy can be purchased. but
in quantity no larger than permitted by
| the doctor.
| Health. robust and vibrant is the sine
| qua non Of Camp belmont. All other things
| follow.
TIME record of the kitchen, where two
l. cooks are employed is an interesting
| presentation.
| The cOmmissary, with a competent stew
ard in charge, Is ample. varied and salts
| flying.
1t requires 5000 pounds of ice per week
to supply the place.
| 4 barrel Of potatoes and seventy FIVE
| pounds Of meat are consumed at meal.
4 crate of eggs for each meal and 100
quarts of milk per day are other requisites.
Then there are 100 big loaves of bread