The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-01
Many Acts ofKindness als
Performed by the Boy
Scouts in Topeka Trol1ps
Take Care of Widows ChiCkens-Books for Old Ladies'
Home-Release Robin from Trap-Bicycle
Gas for Motorist.

Just as a bit of recognition for his
kindliness, he refused it, saying: THE
Boy Scout rules do not allow US to
accept pay for things kethis."
That's the kind of young men 1
like to see,'' commented a bystapder.
This story was told as having been
witnessed on a railroad train. There
was an old lady in the car and she
wanted a drink of water. A little boy
across the aisle from her overheard
her ask the porter to get her drink.
May 1 get her the drink p" the
youngster asked his mother.
IF you can carry it down the aisle
steadily" she replied.
The old lady was much surprised
as the lad handed her a glass of water
and asked: How did you happen to
"oh," replied the boy. Pm practic-
ing to be Boy Scout"
These stories are all simple, but
they-have in them the big streng force
of kindness. Back East somewhere
a relative kept close tab upon the
good turns done by one Boy Scout in a
single year. and the actual record of
those observed totaled 1854 distinct
efforts. This boy got ia buckets of
coal and 1873 buckets of water, carried
out ashes 124 times and the dish water
125 times. He brought in corncobs
for the fire, went after the washing,
fixed up the mail, cleaned up the
waste paper, picked up a limb from
the sidewalk, "cut some tail for kids
kite" went to town for his mother
many times, picked W glass from the
sidewalk, replaced brick in the pave
ment stopped dog fight, loaned his
knife wound the clock and set the
alarm innumerable times. fixed the
fire and made his bed, telephoned
MESA ges, changed a five dollar bill,
fed the dog and cleaned up some ink,
baked the pancakes for breakfast,
washed the potatoes and fixed the fire,
fed the chickens, also watered the
flowers, taught younger boy his les
sons in school, picked up needles and
pins from the floor. lit the lamps and
darned his own sweater, mopped up
some water and swept off the back
porch, mailed letters and put up cur
tains, fixed a pair of scissors, got the
fruit cans for his mother, opened cans
of salmon, tomatoes and beans, dug
out a rat and set a mouse trap, turned
the washing machine many times and
hung pictures.
Just that record is being made in
Topeka and in thousands of other
cities in the United States. Every
added Boy Scout just means one or
more added good turns every day.
nat his law lot II TedQSs "A 60y
Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful
friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful. brave, clean, reverent. A
cardinal tenet of his oath says: 'On
my honor I will do my best to help
other people at all times"
Scout" (Dan Beard is speakingJ,
Scout, the poet Hamlin Garland put
| it truthfulfy and said the rigl4t4tlx Ind
of thing to tell you boys when he
wrote this message for me for scouts:
DO you fear the force of the wind
The slash of the rain?
Go face them and fight them,
Be savage again.
Go hungry and cold like the wolf
Go wade like the crane
The palms of your hands will thicken,
The skin of your forehead tan,
You'll be ragged and swarthy and weary,
But you'll walk like man.