The Topeka state journal., 1921-10-31
BOY SCOUT WORK
Total of 100000 Boy Scouts in
World Today.
Program Now Used in So Conn
tries, Reports Show.
AMERICA LEADS IN WORK
Movement Was Started by Sir
Robert Baden-POwen.
Interesting Story Told About
Early History of Order.

London, Oct. 31.-According to fig
ures compiled by the international
Scout headquarters, there are over
100000 Boy Scouts in the world
today.
Fifty-seven countries are now using
the Boy Scout program, America
leads all other scout organizations,
with membership of over 5000
The membership of a number of the
larger European countries follows:
Austria, 1874; Belgium, 1915; Bra
zil, 161; British Empire, S24,760;
Czecho-Slovakia, 5000; Denmark,
Holland, 1852; Hungary 3,S0O; Italy,
$4,000; Latvia. 161; Liberia, 359;
Luxembourg, 946; Norway 5,1S5;
Poland, 10000; Portugal. 12O; Serbia,
1000; Spain, $4,000; Sweden, 5000;
Switzerland, 1900.
Founded by Sir Baden-P0well
Sir Robert S. Baden-Powell. is the
founder of the Boy Scout movement.
He is at present chief executive of the
English organization, and is interna-
tiOnally proclaimed chief of the move
ment, thruout the world. Sir Robert
distinguished himself during the South
African war. 1S99-19OO. He became a
hero of the British army at that time
because of his valor and the splendid
management and preparation of his
troops. In 1898, Sir Robert was COM
mander of a British regiment, and at
that time he found by making a study
of his men, that the ordinary military
training was not sufficiently practical
lie therefore gave his men an ad1i-
tional training in scout craft and
camping.
\ very interesting story is told con-
corning how this was brought to his
mind so forcibly. At the beginning
OF the Boer war. Sir Robert was as
signed to a regiment known as the
Fifth Dragon Guards. These men
were the pick of London both in
physique and in training. It was
found. however that after they were
placed in the field in the South Afri-
can junEles, that they were entirely
lost, and absolutely Incapable of car
ing for themselves under such condi-
tions. A detachment of men was sent
out on 4 scouting expedition, and upon
losing their bearings were unable to
find their way back.
Searching parties were sent out, and
afSer many days, the scouting party
was found, sick and almost starved to
death. One of the men in the party
had Il bag of corn in his mand, and
was feeding this to n goat. This little
instance demonstrated very clearly
their unresourcefulness Had they
o1Iy exerted their ingenuity they could
have ground the corn with stones,
made a fire by friction, and killed the
gOat. thereby enjoying an appetiZing
meal. Sir Robert realizing the inef-
f ciencies of the men, gave them a very
definite training along this line, and
wrote a small book, entitled aids to
Scouting" He went so far as to assign
one of his aids to the task of organ
izing a troop of South African boys
into q general utility corps. Expert
ence taught that after his training was
made to appeal to them. boys would
learn much more rapidly, and also
that they were capable of taking re-
sponsibilities far greater than was or
dinarily believed possible if they were
only trusted. This brings out a state
ment made by John Wanamaker,
Serve a man, you serve one person;
serve boy. and you serve a whole
multiplication table,"
Training Was Developed.
Sir Robert developed this training
along more extensive lines, and used
practically the program as we are now
presenting it to the boys thruout the
country A moral code was estab-
lished, and every man was trusted on
his word to a very large degree, in
carrying out his duties.
On his return to England in 1908,
Sir Robert found that the little book
he had written, aids to Scouting"
was being used in training boys, and
giving them instruction in observa-
ton, practical education, as well as
steps in character training. In 1907,
he organized his first trial camp. This
experiment exceeded his expectations,
and prompted him to go on with the
idea. By 1910 the movement had grown
to such dimensions, numbering
almost 100000 that he felt it nee
essary to retire from the army and
devote his entire time in promoting
the Boy Scout program. In 1911, the
movement was organized in America.
Many boy workers all over the coun-
try were carrying on independent or
ganizatiOns. using Sir Roberts text
book prior to this organization.
How Organization Was Formed.
The story of how the movement was
conveyed to this county. is a very IN
teresL.ag one. "A very prominent and
influential man went on a business
trip to Europe. On the morning that
he entered London, he experienced
the quite common London fog. Being
unfamiliar with the city and seriously
handicapped by the fog, he did not
know what steps to take. young
English lad stepped up to him, dressed
IN Scout uniform, and offered to carry