The Coconino sun., 1925-02-13
THE WHIRLPOOL OF A BOYS
LEISURE TIME
Executive Mccormick Flagstaff
Rotary Club February 10

| Mexican boys who are not members
show we have II other boys between
these ages who are not scouts. The
| boys over 16 in our schools number
about 20, SO you can see that scouting
is reaching a large majority of our
boys. Many boys have applied for
membership and it will be but a short
time before 90 per cent of the boys
of scout age will be enrolled.
The boys will come in now that we
are ready to offer them good troops
with real men as leaders. Scouting is
based on contacts-men with boys.
We have scoutmasters for all troops
but we need more assistant scout
masters, live troop committeeman
and expert examiners for merit
badges. We have a place for every
man. Can you not remember when
you were a boy how you wanted the
companionship of man and wanted
to be called man / can wei re-
member when | was about is years
old how / thought / was grown up.
Looking over my picture album the
other night ! found that | had num-
erous freckles and was small for my
/ age at Is. Working for my father in
the grocery business, delivering was
part of. my various duties One day
while delivering / ran into an old
southern lady's home and seeing no
one, called, "Groceryman," and de-
posted her purchases on the table.
The elderly lady came out, saw me,
and called to her husband, Henry,
Henry! Look what calls himself a
man"
Scouting is a wonderful program
for boy 1t appeals to his highest
ideals, his imagination, and brings
out the best in him. 1t is supple
mentary program for home and school,
using the boys leisure time. Have you
noticed the display Of scout crafts in
the store windows? The bird houses,
knot boards, towers, etc., have requir-
ed much time of our scouts. They are
learning the meaning Of conservation
of time. Our merit badge work ap-
peals to the boy. Some 70 subjects
are given. Not a technical knowledge,
but a general knowledge of the sub
ject for which he is trying is required
The examiners for merit badges often
have lot of fun and gain some new
knowledge heretofore unknown to
them. One boy informed me that
mutton was goat meat. Maybe so,
but he couldn't tell me which market
he traded with. Another scout was
also being examined on first aid to
animals. We had been discussing
breeds of chickens. He named sew
eral of the common breeds, so | asked
him which breed was best for pro-
duction of eggs. He answered quickly,
Hens"
Scouting does take many hours of
our boys leisure time. Much of our
work is never seen by the public. Ask
the scoutmasters. They are putting
over our work, spending hour after
hour with the scouts helping, direct
ing, advising, and helping to build
character and good citizenship.
We often hear that scouting does
not reach the under privileged boy"
Who is the under privileged boy?
Stewart w. French, chairman of re-
gional committee, gave a very good
definition. Is it the poor boy? Partly,
but in Flagstaff we are taking care
of more Of them each week. Is it the
rich boy? He is classed next. Still the
real under privileged boy is the boy
8j1O Ielil pay anu w do OIIiCI DOyo.
We can be thankful that we haven't
many under privileged boys in Flag
staff.
1t is the busy man who accom-
plishes things, so it is with the boy
Our busy boys in Flagstaff are usual
ly scouts. They find time to take
charge Of the community flag and do
their good turns and only wish had
time to tell of the hundreds of good
turns being done here in town.
So we, as men of our community,
should all be interested in our boys.
They are Arizona's greatest assets.
Let those who are fathers spend more
time with their sons, give them the
companionship which they crave, so
that if they are asked what thing they
like best about their fathers, they will
answer, "He is my companion and he
understands me-" Other boys have no
fathers, so let the rest of us see if
we can't make a chum Of these other
boys who are under privileged to
have real home.
Oh, Rotarians, we have large task
let's get in contact with these won
derful boys and help them attain the
heights Of glory which every father
wants his boy to attain.