Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-23
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

are given scientific facts. and not exag-
geration Of hearts like big spongeS,
saturated with nicotine" Boy Scouts
don't smoke.
Here is another typical extract from
the Sermon Stories" 1t tells about
Absalom. "AbSalom was one Of those
soft. musty sort of boys, and was very
proud of his good looks. One of the
most serious problems of his daily life
was how to have his curls combed SO
as to produce the most stunning effect.
Indeed, every year he made an an
niversary for his curls and had them
weighed. Once, at least. they weighed
as much as 200 shekels. Every foolish
fop and dandy. and every silly fiirt and
gossip knew exactly how much Absaloms
curls weighed. He was one of those
sleek and scented young fellows, who
spend more OH combs and perfumes
than they do on books. They have a
rich, glossy growth on the outside Of
their skulls. but are as bald as window
pane OH the inside. Such people are
never of any value to the world and
are sure to come to some bad end"
Now who will convict a Boy Scout
of curls. like Absalom's9 Even Girl
Scouts don't wear 'em, but incline to
the "boyish bob
* X x
The training of Boy ScoutS-and
Girl Scouts. too--iS practical and in
line with common sense, truth and no.
bility of ideals. II develops self-reli-
ance based on actual knowledge So
the Scout knows what to do in an
emergency. He knows how 10 swim.
to rescue q drowning person, to revive
an unconscious victim. TO care for
broken limb until a doctor can arrive.
He is able to build fire in the woods
without matches, to live up 10 the
Scout oath.
On my honor I viii do my best 70
do my duty
To God and my country,
And to obey the Scout law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself
Physically strong. mentally awake
and morally straight"
x
There have been critics who objected
to the Boy Scouts on the ground that
they are ''militariStic Whatever that
means But nowhere Ill the ritual is
found anything SaVoring of militariSm,
unless patriotism is synonymous with
soldier duty in case Of danger to the
country. The honor oath Is interpreted
officially To mean:
DUTY To my country requires that /
love it, be loyal to IL. its laws and in
stitutionS; that / know the substance
and spirit Of these laws and institutions
RS we'll as I possibly can: tnat / never
acquie5ce i'll or knowingly ar willIully
be n party. either openly, Coyertly or
silently. To any violation Of the letter
or spirit of these laws and institutions
as l understand them, and that / VIII
cherish and defend my country, It's
laws and institutions to the limit OF my
ability. Also that I do my best 10
this standard Of citizenship
among my friends. my acquaintance
and all others whom I can influence.
Also that I never be neutral III questions
Of civic right and wrong
II that be "mlntayiSn," lst the critics
make the most of IT.
There Is one big Crouch that comes
into the heart of the writer upun read
Ing that Interpretation Of Scout ideals;
II is the great regret, or shame. that SO
very few adults are brave enough 10 live
40 10 Scout ideals. themselves. Maybe
some of us would So 10 the South Pole
ttA Inv stlNNtktAAN At}tl tkAt4Ala III ICt}CN
nur youth like the eagles, but how
many dare live the Scout oath at homeH
There is that third lime Of the cath
To help others at all times" The Of
fetal Interpretation reads as follows
Helping other people at all times needs
little comment, It Includes the good
urn. done faithfully and regularly. as
/ service Of love II also means un-
,elfiShness and seH-saerifice, however
Whenever and wherever Warranted.
conscience being the Judge"
What Is the matter with Boy Scout
sma IT IL that people limit IL 90
kids" instead Of taking In old codgsrS
yho need the ideals they have forgot
en- In the struggles to make living
rhen The South Pole will be only
,Ymhoi of the coldness and pertiS of
laiiv life at home. and all OF us Scouts
n the light Of pure ideals may achieve
he honor degree and exclaim with
Milton:
"Meihinks I see tn my mind noble
ind nuiSSant nation rouStng herself like
! strong man after sleep. and shaking
Ter lntlneihle locks Mcthinks | see her
is au eagle nlewing her mighty youth,
md kindImg her unaa2zled eyes at the
uli midday beam
Cheers for hoy Scoutsl Cheers with
| tiger~or eaggel
gfsanvrtghk 1aa2 hx mauf N sxassxma A 81