Evening star., 1940-12-21
PokingFuna at
Boy Scouts
BadHabit
Deriding the Daily
Good Deed Really
Thoughtless
By ANGELO PATRI.


Again I protest against the sneer
some writer's direct at the Boy
Scouts by implication when they
belittle some mans action, or scorn
some hypocritical gesture of a poll
tician, like a Boy Scout doing his
daily good deed" I resent that
implication as an affront to decent
boyhood and especially to the Boy
Scout who in all earnestness and
honesty does his good deed.
The writer's who use the Scouts
so lightly, tossing them into the
scrap basket with the demolished
politician, are thinking with the
thin top layer of their minds. If
they we're to 60 little deeper they
would let the Boy Scouts alone and
put the full power of their minds
on the offending personality.
This practice of poking fun at
the Scouts, patronizing them. using
them as tokens of scorn in an ar
gument, is without merit or sense.
We are all for building character in
boys and girls. The writer's in
newspapers and magazines would
be indignant If they were accused
of belittling the efforts of children
to be good decent citizens. ac-
cuse some of them of doing just
that, although I know they do it
thoughtlessly and without intent to
do harm to fine group of chill
dren and to their movement.
Can any one point out a better
way to train boy or girl to habits
of good character, fine citizenship
and service to good causes than
the way of the Scouts? Why isn't
it fine for boy or girl to make
q point of doing at least one de-
cent act each day in the service
of another human being? What's
funny about it?
Is there any other way that is
better than our way of teaching
boys that they are brothers in in
terest if not in blood, because they
were born boys, or girls, in the
United States of America? Doesn't
their uniform give them a feeling
of brotherhood and unity and good
will? Suppose it is wrinkled and
none too good a fit, suppose the
little figure is quaint in its setting
of baggy britches and blouse, red
handkerchief and overwhelming
hat! Isn't it heart-warming little
figure? 1t is to those who have
hearts 1t is to those who see be-
hind the ill-fitting uniform the
growing body and soul of a little
boy. One may smile if the smile
springs from an overcharged heart,
and if it shines through misted
eye. Not otherwise.
Boys and girls of the Scout move
ment and the Campflres are the
first-growth citizens who will take
over tomorrow when our day ends.
1t is they who must take over our
mistakes as well as achievements
1t is they who must assume the
burdens of the life We lay down
with all its sorrow and care, all
Its hopes and dreams. They will
need stout hearts and strong souls,
and this Is the time to strengthen
and help these children against the
day of their trial. That is what
We who love the Scouts and the Girl
Guides and the Campfires try to do.
Is it too much to ask that you who
write where all may read to help
us to help the children and there
by help us all?
Please don't call anybody Boy
Scout" in derision. Please don't
poke fun at children who are try
ing hard to be right. Please salute
the Scout with the respect due
good soldier and fine citizen. Please
come over to our side.