davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-09-29

your community desires to be heard
with reference to this matter, it is
requested that you communicate
with this Commission at the earliest
possible moment so that this Com
mission may take the matter up in
the proper way with the Interstate
Commerce Commission at Washing
ton.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
Very Much Interested
 In Work of Troop 2

This letter is from 12-year-old boy who Is very much interested in the fortunes of Troop 2. This trpp has it's headquarters in the annex of the First Baptist church$ but at the present has no regular scoutmasrer. However, the superintendent of the Sunday school has come to the troops rescue and is making an excellent leader He is J. l.. Henry.
 Last Friday the, boys didn't have any meeting, since there weren't lot of scouts present. So those who were there adjourned to the home of sick friend, where they cheered him up
 This letter gives an idea of how much scouting means to a youngster:
 sBirmingham. Dear Miss Hall:
 Thought I would write you a few lines to let you know what we are doing at scout meeting. We sure have good time.
 Charles Forde came by one Friday might and told me to come on and go to scout meeting. So I joined. and now I wouldn't take anything for being a scout. I will pass my second class test soon. I think Troop 2 is 8 good troop.
 We play games and have jokes and stories. I think the best game Is tracking. We take chalk and make arrows the way we go. When our chalk gives out we hide within 50 yards of 1t. Then when they see us we run till they catch us. The ones that catch us then hide. We nave a good troop now, but we are going to work it up. We haven't any. scout master, but we are getting along all right. Guess we will have one soon. Your friend BLAND BATTLE.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
DON'T BESSEMER SCOUT CABINS LOOK MIGHTY COSY AND INVITING
 FOR WEEKEND TROOP CAMPS?

Take look at these two cabins and don't you wish you were right there?
 They are at Camp Chippewa, the top one being the mess hall of the Bessemer Scouts. and the lower one Scout headquarters
 Bessemer Scouts, who borrowed Camp Andrews from Birmingham boys to hold their camps in before Bessemer Rotarians and Kiwanians gave them their so acres, feel proud to show them off to Birminghamites
 All kinds of bright and shiny pans and kettles clutter up the big mess tall kitchen. which Is surrounded by built-in tables, where a glorious lot of dish-washing can be had for the asking.
 The boys have done all the work of camp building themselves. and are mighty busy thinking up how to make them as pretty. or even pret- tier than those they used to enjoy at Camp Andrews"
 How many Birmingham Scouts have been down to take look at these Bessemer cabins? Visit about" is fair play. don't you think, and the Scout Editor knows. that the Besse- mer lads would be tickled to death 10 show off their camp to Scouts of Birmingham. Why not ask them and see?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
THE SCOUT

From an Exchange. Iris good to tend meetings, have fun
 with the boys; 'Tis all right to holler and make a
 big noise; Iris great to run races and win med
 als, too; Iris dandy and jolly to do what the
 Scouts do; To hold down an office. be ranked
 as a man, And play the important in organized
 plan; But Scouts are the fellows that give
 of their best In work time, in play time, not just
 when they're drest. If you think and embody your
 thoughts in deeds; If you talk and by talking SOW liv-
 ing seeds, If you spend and are spent for the
 things worth while, If you live and by living make others
 smile, Then your life will be music, sun
 shine and love; Your words will be welcome as If
 from above; And folks will be glad when they
 see you about. Just thinking and talking and acting
 the Scout
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
THE BOY SCOUT

By J. II. Taylor. He's a clever little fellow with
 smile and with q will, And he looks just like soldier, but
 he isn't trained to kill. A boy in size--but watch him-in his
 doings he's man; He's on the job and pledged to help,
 where, when, and as he can. Beside the schoolwork training, h.
 has just the right amount Of common sensish learning to pro-
 duce the things that count; His eye is peeled for action, and his
 hand for work Is barred. And he's marching to the music of
 the motto,
 Be Preparedw He's not a gallery artist, he's in line
 for something higher; Scouty Knows the way to help 'em in
 wreck or at a fire, And many are the wounded ones that owe the lad debt. For he it was who knew the spot to
 twist the tourniQuet. And the boy from out the river that
 seemed drowned beyond a
 doubt2 Why, Scouty did hiS Iirst-aio stune
 and soon put fears to rout- It's look around and help for his-the
 utmost nevers spared, For he's marching to the music of
 the motto,
 Be Prepared!" Hold still---you men--saiute him
 seems like you clean forgot Take off your hat to Scouty--he'H H the biggest thing you've got. A dozen years, and he will show the
 measures of his worth, He'll make better homeland Of this
 precious bit of earth. There's three hundred thousand like
 him, fit and snappy every one' You can hear them-listen!-tram
 ing louder, louder. coming ons He's the sample of a legion that to
 righteousness Is squared, And he's marching to the music oi
 the motto,
 "Be Preparedn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
Bessemer Boy Writes
 of Bessemer Troop 4

Hello. scouts You probably haven't heard anything of Troop 4, but we are going good now. We have one of the best troops in Besse- mer and the best cabin at Camp Chip pewa. We didn't get started on our cabin until late. but have made the best of what time we had Next summer we are going to put a floor in our cabin and fix a fireplace.
 We held regular meeting last Fri day night. there being seven boys and our scoutmaster. MT. Herbert, present. Joe Brewer took his com pass test on his second class exam tnation.
 One of our best scouts, David Ken nedy,, died last Friday, which shocked every member of our troop. David was liked by every member of our troop. He was quiet and attended all scout meetings. There were II scouts who attended the funeral in uniform.
 The pallbearers were as follows: William Herbert, Joseph Strauss, Carlton Keeton. Ben Haynie, David and James DeJarnette. The bereaved
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
Hush Yo' Mouth. Honey! An Old Timey FirepIace!

You've read about the oldfash- toned big firep laces with seats in each corner of the chimney?
 In the old days black mammies used to entertain the children with goblin stories as they sat and rocked them in their laps in such cosy spots.
 In those days most of the big houses" had, such fireplace, espe- cially in their kitchens, the kitchens being big enough for all the family to gather in, and for little folks to play forever in their warmth and cheeriness. weetpotatoes baR>d in the oven, and cooks had time to make little dough men for the boys and girls.
 well-that's the kind of chimney, almost, that the Boy Scouts of Besse- mer are soon to build to their mess hall Only difference is that the seats will be built slightly In front of it, on both the right and left sides. . A big hole has been left in the floor for the chimney
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
4 MmmhM
PILE LN EVER RYBODY---HERE WE GO FOR A FLYING VISIT TO THE BOYS
 WHO ARE SCOUTS LN BESSEBlER
By MignOn Hall

rolling down hill, playing with the fallen leaves.
 Look out that grasshopper doesn't jump on your scout iidl Four or five bounced on tho scout ed- itor and one bright-eyed calico grasshopper set himself on the post like a guard in front of the mess hall He seemed so glad that some-a body had come.
 A pretty touch of nature Is grapevine or a tree in front of tho mess cabin. IL is the idea of scout officials to leave everything as "woodsy'' as possible, and the grape vine has been undlsturbed, even though SO many scouts and vis- itors have been there this season.
 Down the old swimming hole trail and from the top of the ridge where the cabins are built, one gets tho most beautiful view of the flowing creek below. Sunshine strikes down upon the water. and trees that grow along the banks preen themselves as they view their images in tho flowing water. A line of rocks has been put across the creek by the boys who built the trail down the bluff with their own hands.
 Eight Feet Deep
 Tho deepest spot where the boys swim is about eight feet, and one enthusiastic swimmer must have broken the diving plan In order to do a particular loop -the-loop, for there 1t stands broken, just crying out Co be mended in anticipation of an other summers fun.
 Last summer the wonderful camp was the setting of the first Hi '" state conference, which means Y. M. c, A. members who belong to high school.
 Bessemer was selected as the meet ing place for members who assem- bled all over the state. Studies of Christian citizenship and ideal stand ards for boys was the programme.
 MT. Coohs, who serves the boys as their scout supervisor, holds his conn mission from national scout head quarters.
 The camp, which now has six cabins, has been occupied all the summer.
 Wanta take a peep into the mess hall? Long clean tables make not only a place where the boys enjoy their camp feasts, but ideal writ ing tables and places where they may read. Reading won't hold n boy long, however, when group of young scouts get their heads to- gether and begin telling stories right over the spot where Q big chimney Is soon to be erected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14

hills, where 8 Boy Scout can sing or shout, or go swimming In Shades creek. or practice drills, or delight himself with couple of big springs which lie 100 yards or so down the bluff from the mess hall.
 Gee, but there was great rejoicing when tho Boy Scouts heard what had happenedl Every time they saw a Rotarian or Kiwanian on the streets they made up their minds that when they grew to be big fellows they were going to do something for other boys, too just as fine.
 The Boy Scouts are not stlngy with their camp, for they have lent it time and again to rany outing parties.
 We've just been building our camp year." volunteered one of the Bes- semer scouts. And, gee. the Rotar- ians and Kiwanans and everybody else says that's just fine. Course they're not finished, but they've got roofs on, and we've got our big stove, and that means that we can cook and eat and sleep, and what more would everybody wantT
 "'Course we're going to build 1t better and prettier all the time"
 Service of Scouts
 The scouts of Bessemer have uTuIu anu phbAS NHt Pc "tAN AAN NNAA~A eA of an overseas soldier has been com plete without this band of brown clad boys.
 In another part of the page you will see these boys leading the lines of those who lately went to lay a pal In the cold gray earth, and every little beating heart was proud and glad to render this last service to one of Bessemer's and Uncle Sam's boys"
 There were i've general camps the past season. On such camps much fun and much work Is performed. Most of the time tho boys do their own cooking, and in order to get out to camp they usually hike.
 One boy stayed in camp the past summer for 16 weeks-Scout Sam Houston; and another chap liked It SO well that he gave up trip to North Carolina to enjoy it's pleasures a little longer. He had aireaoy bought his ticket north, but made up his mind overnight that he wouldn't leave the Chippewa bunch"
 Such Good Times
 Oh, such fun there Is In scamper- ing down hill to the two springs One is of freestone water and the other of iron. They are just few feet apart, and if you'll be right still and sit by the spring little while you're likely to see squirrel playing about and pine burrs come
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
Tracking Game Is What
 This Scout Likes Most

want to read letter from little 12-year-old Boy Scout who has just finished writing it?
 He speaks not only of Scout activ- tiles but is proud of the school which he is attending and his teacher, Miss Strickland.
 Dear Miss Hall:
 II think Powell school is the best in Birmingham. I have been in lots of cities. but have never had prin- cipal as nice as Miss Rosa Strickland.
 T belong to Troop and think 1t is a fine bunch of boys. Last sum mer We went on a hike and played
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
Age-Herald Editor GiJes
 Scouts InUitation 10 Win
 Prize Money for Writing

As editor of The Herald want to encourage every Boy Scout in Alabama to be competent to become news paper day The Boy Scouts can do almost any thing and feel sure therefore, that they wrte.s In order to them to write, am offering live prizes to the boys who write the best story on: "Why Am Proud to Be Boy Scout The boys make these articles length they desire not to exceed 300 words
 The prize for the best story will be $25. For the second beest $10. For the next three best $5 each
 The AgeHerad will ask Dr. c. B. Glenn superintendent of Birmingham public schools and Dr. Charles A. Brown associate superintendent to aid in deciding the contest The five best articles will be printed this page Friday November 4.
 Every Boy Scout should try his hand does matter how brief he tells his story The best article will win the first prize and so on for the other four prizes.
 k. W. BARRETT
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
Bessemer Scout Camp Can
 Boast Six Fine Log Cabins

Come along, and let's see what troops have cabins at the Bessemer Boy Scout camp.
 They are built on top of a high bluff-and lots of trees are between them. For 1t is the ambition of the Boy Scouts that they never want their camp to look like city. and thatNit Is much easier to let the trees stand where they are than to attempt to grow more. which takes a hun dred years.
 The biggest cabin at Camp Chip pewa--which they call their camp is the mess hall.
 The scout master who thrust in a key to open the mess halls big door pointed out large holes between the logs.
 Then he called attention to the windows. which were screened with fine netting.
 Guess you think it's funny that we screen the windows when all of these holes are in the wall. But we actually put the screens across so that people and cats and dogs can not get in, rather than mosquitoes
 Then. too, it will not be long before we'll have all these cracks chinked up so tight that even an X-Ray couldn't see through them.
 Troop has a camp home which has not been finished yet. This Is true of most of the Chippewa cabins. The scouts expect to do great deal of work these winter week-ends ana all next summer, and to help out they are trying to get all the boys in Bessemer to join them. In short while intensive work in scoutcraft will be started, so that boys can begin to pass their tests and win their spurs in the game.
 Gwylam Herbert is scoutmaster for Bessemer Troop 4. and for Troop <. which has 32 members, the boys have Gordop Hamrick as leader.
 The cabin of Troop 8. which is made of matched logs, was built for the sum of SIP. Some feat, wasn't It?
 Headquarters cabin is the man
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14

Down Pocahontas road--and out to Camp Chippewa"
 If you want to Uake a Bessemer Boy Scout happy, Just say these words, pointing to truck; or tell him that he had better hustle hts little legs home quick and grab his camping outfit if he wants to go out, for the fellows are starting In 15 minutes.
 It's been tried-oh, maybe 100 times, and on each occasion great whoops of enthusiasm have greeted the sum mons.
 When you go to talking about Bessemer, you just naturally have to talk about boys. for that busy, hus- ting little city has Just naturally deeded itself over to its boys, and thinks that there isn't anything finer in the world than to give them good start in life, and a big bunch of love besides.
 Read thIs, and be sure of 1t:
 Long, long ago-oh, three whole years--a man by the name of R. L. Coons was sent for from the north. Bessemer's substantial citizens want ed him to take up their Young Mems Christian association work Such WOrk 10 NIT. COOnS meant Doy WOA n as we'll as work for men, and after he had organized various clubs for boys and the citizens saw what splen- did fellows they were, they made up their minds that a Young Mems Christian association building must be put up for their headquarters.
 Other Clubs Organized
 Bessemer has done it--at cost of more than $150,000. Now, out or the enthusiasm of the campaign was organized two groups of men the Boy Scouts adore.
 Don't call out the name before the scout editor gets to 1t!
 Those groups are the members or the Rotary and Kiwanir ciubs.
 Here" said they, whats all this about our Boy Scouts having no sum mer camp of their own--no swimming hole to play around in-no huckle- berries to pick in their own camps no nuts they can gather which are their own and which they can crack around a blazing fire in Bessemer scout mess hall2"
 No one could answer so stern 0 question. Pretty soon one member was on his feet-and then another and quicker than anything 1t was de- cided that this would be corrected-- and corrected at once.
 Camp Assured
 The unanimous answer was. camp Chippewa" which has 80 wonderful acres. and which is surrounded by thousands of slopes and valleys ane
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
OUR WORK AT THE FAIR
 ny WARRICK SAUNDERS Assistant ScOutmaster Troop 52

Well, the fair has gone, and we are now awaiting something else to turn up so we can render our help. Sunday before last about Is Woodlawn scouts went out to the Alabama State Fair grounds and put up a tent so we could look after lost children and make our tent a headquarters for those who were tired and wanted to come In our tent. and rest.
 We secured Commissioner Browns consent and when the fair opened Monday, October 8, we had everything ready-cots, quilts, blankets--and We really did some good, too. A few ot the Is special picked scouts went on duty in the grandstand and on the race track to help the policemen ham, dle the crowds.
 Two or three boys were out look ing for lost children at the request of some mothers who had come to us for help.
 remember case about little girl lady brought to our tent just about dark.
 lady with her said she got lost from her brother. After a little talking with the little heart-broken girl we found out the telephone number of n.aighbor next door to where the lit tve girl lived. so We finally got the father on the phone and told him we had his little girl at our tent and she was lost.
 The father thanked us and said he would send his son after the child
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
Get Busy, Now, and
 Hurry Your Letter h: Prizes Await Your Effort

The letter of The Age-Herald's publisher, MT. F. W. Barrett. Is re- printed today.
 Read 1t carefully. You may be ths prize winner.
 All you arc asked to do is to set down why you are proud to be a Boy Scout.
 You are glad that you are one, aren't you7 You know why you are a scout. why you stick to the orsani- aation and what its principles nave meant in your life, don't you?
 Write 1t.
 It ought not to be very difficult for you to enumerate your reasons. some other boy will find inspiration in what you say.
 You want others to get your view point, so write your article simply so that even the smallest scout will be able to understand what you mean Maybe your letter will make some boy better citizen when he grows up to be a man. Maybe he will build into his character the very things you write about.
 Mothers and fathers who have sons who belong to the scout orgaatza- ton are asked to encourage the browne clad youngsters to enter. this contest, and scoutmasters, we feel sure, will be proud to give their boys a chance to show what they can do In the field of writing as well as what they have gained from scout work.
 Read every word of this editorial. then drag the ink bottle over to your side of the table. levy on the :am- ily's supply of white paper--and lot us have your story Why I am Proud to Be a Scout" as soon as possible.
 Already The Herald has ono letter from scout. and several others have announced their intention of getting Into the contest.
 The more scouts who enter. the merrier. All letters will be prin.ed. So no matter If you do not win the prize you will have the satisfaction of having written good story and of having made your mind pick cut the valuable thing in your daily scout work.
 Whc'll send in the Aext letters
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14
This Scout BraveIy
 Refused to Lie

Boy Scouts are taught that lying is mighty poor foundation on which to build character. beauti- full example of how Boy Scouts will admit their faults Is furnished in the case of small Bessemer chap. {
 Down by the spring there Is a large flat rock on which the boys nave carved their names and have clipped out squares to inclose them. It IS quite 8 lengthy and tedious task.
 All the boys go to the spring, and so last year when one of the names had been beaten off, no one was able to tell who had done this unkind thing.
 Everybody knew that it was one of the scouts. of course. But which one? Scout Leader R. l.. Coons felt that no Bessemer scout would deny
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14

Children screamed with joy and played their games In front of the tents of the fat man and the tall lady, and where the glass blower made the cutest pipes and parlor lamps and old fashioned kettles and pots. Visi- tors from back home sought to find their exhibits, and wild animal fans hesitated before going In to make sure the animals were all fastened up well. Hot dog vendors called out to customers; people laughed. friends met friends; dogs nan hurriedly hither and thitther trying to find out which way little Johnny went.
 Night came and the glorious fire works, where closely packed specta- tors cried out their pleasure at some unusual figure of fire that flung it. self across the sky; or shivered a little at sudden and unexpected bursts of blaze that were white. or blue. or red. or yellow. or all of the rainbow colors combined.
 The fair was meant for a good-time show, and everybody did have good time. But there were those upon the grounds who went there to serve and who never for one moment forgot that they were on duty, and who helped others in a thousand ways.
 Among these were the Boy Scouts of Birmingham. Fifteen of them went out, put up a tent. and were ready for all emergencies These chaps were under the Jurisdiction of As- sistant Scoutmaster Warrick Saun- ders of Troop 52. of Woodlawn. The Scout editor asked him to write a story of the Souts' work and to tell you one bit of 1t would be to soil It's prettiness. Let the author tell it him self This Is such splendid letter that it appears under this same head to the right, and you must read every word of 1t if you don't want to miss something good.
 Alter reading it we know you will want to be Boy Scout and just long for another fair to open up next
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-14

In the meantime, we fed the little girl a big supper, put her on one of the cots, put plenty of cover over her and pretty soon she was far away Tn dreamland. When her brother came for her she was sound asleep, but in just few minutes we had a happy couple in our tent.
 That Is the kind of work the Boy Scouts are doing the world over. We felt. after we had taken down our tent Saturday night, tha< we had really done some good. after all, while the fair was in Birmingham.
 If you want a thing done and done well, just call on Boy Scout.