Evening star., 1925-11-22
BOY SCOUTS

thanksgiving day is close at hand.
In conformity with custom almost
as we'll established as the President s
annual proclamation, thousands of
Scout troops and hundreds of thou
sands of Boy Scouts will. all this week,
be looking for special good turn op-
portunities. Every year numbers or
Washington troops get the keenest
kind of enjoyment out of aiding some
needy family. Troop 20, of the Eek
ington Presbyterian Church, has al
ready reported a brimminG basket
ready for a home it has found; Troop
20. of the Fourth Presbyterian Church,
has its usual three baskets all planned.
They will be delivered by Scouts on
Thanksgiving morning. Numbers of
other troops are all set and ready for
a similar manifestation of the Thanks
giving spirit.
Two letters of appreciation have
been recently received at Scout head
quarters, both expressing thanks for
the efficient way in which Boy Scouts
responded to a good turn request. One
Is from William O. Tufts and eX-
presses hearty thanks and appreCia-
ton for the services rendered by
Scouts in connection with the recent
meeting of the National Council of
congregational Churches. The Fourth
DIVISION furnished Scouts for each
day OF that convention. October 20 TO
2S. The following troops participated:
Nos. 20, Al. 40, 81 and %
The second letter Is as follows:
we are all perfectly delighted over
the marvellous response your Boy
scouts made to your request from us
in the distribution of our posters
There were at least 5000 posters dis
trlbuted in the surrounding business
district, besides about 1000 in the
outlying sections. Altogether II Is a
fine accomplishment and we appreci-
ate your hearty cooperation and wish
that You would express our thanks 10
the boys who so kindly participated
Some of the boys who called here
We're personally decorated by Gen.
John A. Johnson, director of the roll
call 1t would have been pleasure TO
him to decorate all the Scouts who
helped us.
Very truly yours,
II. L. MILLER,
Executive Secretary Ninth Annual
Roll Call, d. c. Chapter, Red Cross -
The executive board dinner to the
scoutmasters and their wives was held
Saturday evening, November IA, in
the La Fayette Hotel and was pro-
nounced d huge success. 1t seemed
the unanimous opinion of the large
number present that the affair was
the most delightful occasion ever held
in scouting in Washington. All were
so enthusiastic over its success that
there is no doubt 1t viii be made at
least an annual affair The address
OF President l.. 4. Snead was mas
terpiece; Commissioner Barry Mohun,
Luke !, Wilson, Chairman of the pub.
lclty committee. and Honorary Pres.
ident Huston Thompson, all quiCkened
the pulse beats of their listeners by
their enthusiastic words. "Wampus
Cat Stew" as usual. brought down the
house with his Uncle Josh Wetherby
stories.
Plans are being made for two addi-
tional contests to be held early next
year. Full particulars will be given
later.
The troop drilI' contest, which
was announced last October, will be
held in the early Spring. Its object
is to stimulate interest in foot move
ment" and simple marching in ranks
so that scouts can made Creditab bic
showing on public occasions. such as
the services at the tomb of the Tn.
known Soldier, the annual pilgrimage
to Mount Vernon, etc. The winning
troop will probably receive what will
be known hereafter as the Presi
dent = cup.
The second contest is an interdivi-
sional swimming meet. This will be
held early in the new year with en-
tries confined TO teams that have won
in preliminary contests III each divi-
sion, The final prize will proba bly, be
an award to be known as the Com
misSioners' cup" together with other
awards to individual winners.
Capt. J. J. Staley, formerly scout
master of Quantico, Va, has accepted
appointment as deputy commissioner
of the second division and will take
up his duties at once.
Carl Hartung, scoutmaster of Troop
II. Sherwood, has been appointed field
executive of the third division and is
now on the Job assisting Deputy Com
missioner Charles NJ. Marsh.
The new assistant executive, Harri-
son A Matsinger, is having his eve
nings full trying to get around to the
different troop meetings to get ac-
quainted. Since starting in on his
new duties he has visited Troops AZ,
43 and A. of the fourth division,
Troops "a and 81 of the second divi-
sion. and looked in on Troops 20 and
s of the first and third divisions, re-
spectively. He hopes in time TO visit
all the troops, but as most of them
meet on Friday night, this will take
some time.
In more than hundred cities scout
councils are putting forth special ef.
forts to encourage good reading among