The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-03-19
Scouting Marches On
Comments by FRANCIS LEIGH


Scouts of America, written by
William D. Murray, a Charter
Member Of the National Execu-
tive Board and Chairman of its
Editorial Board, was compiled
with the aid of many Specialists
in the Scout Movement in gath!
ering and checking dala for the
book; happily. original documents
were available for reference as to
facts. To review the manuscript
of the book the National Council
appointed an able committee
with power TO auInorize its pub
LEGATION. This committee consist
ed of Frank Presbrey, Theodore
Roosevelt. Jr., Lewis Cavity. and
John H. Finley, whose name.
are familiar to all interested in
Boy Movements. Copyrighted last
year, 1887, the book is published
by The Boy Scouts of America,
and since it runs to nearly 600
pages inevitably costs more than
many boys can afford-$3.00. Yet.
that price places the book within
the reach of every Patrol, and
very certainly every Scouter and
Boy Scout, -aHd every person in
terested il, Be dominant duty of
the adults Of this nation - the
right training Of The young =
should read with care this quite
astonishing story written and
published to mark the Silver
Jubilee of Scouting in this coun-
try; that Silver Jubilee was of
course 1935-since this History
deals with the movement until
the close of 1885 the manuscript
was not completed. data carefully
checked, and the whole duly re-
viewed prior to publication by
the Committee mentioned above,
and copyrighting and issue posi-
bic until late last year.
The length of time-some two
years-indicates the close care
given the manuscript in every de-
tail. It is THE official History of
The Boy Scouts of America. and
its statements cannot be disputed.
Perusal of the book, and an ap-
probation of the steady growth of
Scouting-and it must be remem-
bered that what is said of Boy
Scouts applies equally to the Girl
Scouts of America-gives one an
astonishing picture. Since the
summer of 1914 the world has
been a very chaos: from July
1914 until November 1913 war
ravaged the world in such ssvag-
cry that over 80 millions were
killed or died; how many were
wounded OF hurt, or utterly ruin
ed. is beyond computation. Not
part of the entire world but suf-
fered. The Armistice brought so
intense a relief to all the nations
involved that tire world went
nearly mad with JOY: the more
serious gave earnest and humble
thanks 10 God. the vast mass went
into a very orgy of rejoicing and
celebrating: more. all nations
thought and expected that there
would ensue a lasting understand
ing Peace, that the world would
be made safe and free from fur
Their wars and similar evils. and
that all peoples might progress
free of such things.
Then followed disillusionmenL
and-the Treaty of Versailles and
all that was then done-inevit-
ably led TO the jealousies. the
deadly bitterness and hatred. and
the world debacle which ensued.
and which today threatens newer
and more awful War. and holds
all nations in fear. Possibly the
most appalling aftermath Of the
World War and what occurred so
quickly afterwards-was the gen
eral LET down. and sheer loss of
faith by many. Into that War.
from the summer of 1914. had
been swept the cream of young
manhood az its commencement
either by voluntary enlistment as
in the British Empire OF BY nor
NAL eonscription method in the
Continental nations: year after
year. as growing boys reached
the necessary age. they were
swept into the War and became
"gun fodder" Happily for the
United States. the nation did not
enter the War until 1917. and our
FIRST purely American Offensive
did not happen until September
18th. l9ls-only two months be-
fore the Armistice. AS a conse-
quenee our casualties for the en-
tire war were relativsl " ssnsl As
a nation We did not expefthce
the stark horror which came 20
the European Nations-for the
AFrnistice found their young man
hood of an age TO bear arms eth
er killed. wounded and perhaps
left disabled for life-or-ln
many cases. utterly disguised with
life in general and very untitled
20 return to a normal everyday
way Of living. The happenings Of
the next year or two. with the
Versailles Treaty creating discord