Scouting, Volume 1, Number 9, August 15, 1913 Page: 4
8 p. : ill. ; 31 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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SCOUTING.
SCOUTING
PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY NATIONAL HEAD-
QUARTERS, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, FOR
SCOUT OFFICIALS AND OTHERS INTERESTED
IN THE BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT
OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL AND
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Honorary President: Woodrow Wilson.
Honorary Vice-President: William H. Taft.
Honorary Vice-President: Theodore Roosevelt.
President: Colin H. Livingstone, Washington.
Chief Scout: Ernest Thompson Seton.
Nat'l Scout Commissioner: Daniel C. Beard.
Treasurer. George D. Pratt, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Chief Scout Executive: James E. West, N.Y.C.
Office of Publication: 200 Fifth Avenue,
New York City
Entered as second-class matter at the Post
Office, New York, N. Y., under the
act of August 24, 1912.
VOL. I.
AUGUST 15, 1913.
No. 9
WHAT BOYS WILL READ.
4 4j~\OYS will be boys" is an expres-
I) sion often heard—and usually
as an excuse for wrongdoing.
The principle on which the Boy Scout
Movement is conducted is—
"Boys will be .men."
It is on this same principle that
Boys' Life, the Boy Scouts' magazine,
is conducted.
The National organization of the Boy
Scouts of America is publishing this
magazine because it offers the best pos-
sible opportunity for the solution of a
problem.
It is generally admitted that boys
don't read what they ought to read—
that there is an apparently uncontrol-
lable impulse in every boy to devour
a kind of "literature" which is decid-
edly detrimental in its influence. It
must be admitted that the boy does not
seek "trashy" stories because of any
deliberate and definite purpose in his
young mind to be or to become "bad"
—'that he does it because most of the
"trashy" reading that is made so easily
accessible to him is written so that it
appeals strongly to those elements in
the make-up of every normal boy which
call for, which indeed demand, exciting
adventures, personal jeopardy, banging
of guns, smashing of fists and some
bloodshed. It is a psychological phe-
nomenon that is not half so mystifying
now as it used to be, and not half so
dangerous as has been supposed.
There have been good books galore
for boys. Those who have bewailed
the boys' tendency to spurn them have
not seemed to understand that two fea-
tures have been overlooked in their
effort to explain it. One is that most
of these "good" stories have been "too
good"—that they have become sober
preachments such as boys can never be
compelled to swallow. The other is
that most of the best stories for boys
have been put up in bindings so expen-
sive that they are beyond the reach of
the average boy.
Now the national officers of the Boy
Scouts of America have had an illu-
minating experience in their work with
boys by Scout methods. They have
seen boys by the thousand do work and
"learn lessons" which formerly were
thought "impossible" for boys. It was
the method that won them. The work
was made as play.
The same principle is being applied
in Boys' Life. What is printed in the
magazine is designed, as the Scout
movement is, to "first catch the boy,"
to get him interested. Then all that is
given him to read in it carries interest-
ing and beneficial information and in-
struction. The information and instruc-
tion may be disguised, but it is hoped
that Scout Masters and parents of
Scouts will understand the reasons,
look beyond the disguise and see how
really good in their influence are the
things presented in this publication.
They should look especially at the
September number. Some typograph-
ical and pictorial changes have been
made to increase the attractiveness of
the magazine to boys. That the renewed
efforts to obtain material which will be
beneficial as well as interesting are
succeeding is indicated by even a casual
scanning of the September issue. The
names of the contributors—among them
President Wilson, Walter Prichard
Eaton, Edwin Markham, John Fleming
Wilson — distinguish this publication.
What these men say to boys through
Boys' Life distinguishes the publication
even more. The national officers of the
Boy Scouts of America feel that their
rapidly succeeding effort to produce a
publication which all teachers and par-
ents will be glad to have in the hands
of their boys deserves, and will receive
the attention and the active coopera-
tion of all who are interested in the
welfare of the boys of this country.
The National Council, which has
sought information on this subject from
all sources, has under consideration a
plan to enable Scouts everywhere to
assist in this general work, and expects
to be prepared to announce by Septem-
ber 1 a program which will be satis-
factory to everyone whose heart is in
this Scouting work.
\
LADIES IN CAMP.
IN different scout centers the question
has arisen as to the advisability of
having the wives of Scout officials,
their families, and their lady friends,
take part in the regular annual encamp-
ment of Scouts.
In some places the question has been
solved by making provision for the la-
dies at nearby villages. In all cases
where the question has been seriously
considered, it has been concluded to be
most inadvisable to have a group of
boys suffer from the restraint which
must necessarily follow when ladies are
present.
In practically all of the well conducted
camps for boys ladies are welcome for
certain hours on certain visitors' days,
and at no other time. It has proved a
wise rule.
support for headquarters.
In a letter to the Chief Scout Execu-
tive, Troop Two, Rushville, Ind., an-
nounces that it has voted to pay one
cent per week per member for the sup-
port of the National work.
WANT TO HELP OTHERS.
AN item is published in this issue
of Scouting telling about the
volunteer action of one Scout
troop in pledging itself to pay a very
small amount regularly to the support
of the Boy Scout Movement through-
out the United States.
The letter containing the information
about this troop's action is but one of
a large number which have come to
Headquarters indicating a widespread
desire on the part of Scouts and Scout
Masters to participate in the expense
of maintaining the organization and in-
struction work throughout the country.
All seem to regard it much as good
Christians regard missionary work,
feeling that they cannot obtain the
greatest pleasure or the most benefit
for themselves unless they assist in car-
rying similar pleasures and benefits to
others.
pennsylvania scouts to
pay two cents a month.
In regard to the financial problem a
letter has been received from Scout Mas-
ter Clifford E. Hays, Schuylkill Haven,
Pa., which says that it was decided by
a unanimous vote by Troop No. 1 of
Schuylkill Haven that each Scout should
pay 2 cents a month to the National
Headquarters, the Scout Master being
included. "This amount was decided on
because an equal amount from eacli
Scout of the 300,000 would net $75,000 a
year," writes Scout Master Hays.
headquarters notice.
The Supply Department at National
Headquarters desires that Scout Mas-
ters see to it that no Scouts should go
to the unnecessary trouble of applying
at National Headquarters for Scout
equipment unless they have an order
blank signed by the Scout Masters them-
selves and the signature of the secretary
of the local council when that is nec-
essary. Well intentioned mothers often
try to get some part of the Scout equip-
ment for their sons and must be turned
away because of the rule, which, as can
be readily understood, must be followed.
A New Publicity Plan.
The Pittsburgh council has issued a
little pamphlet called "Boy Scout
News," which consists of reprints from
the Pittsburgh papers of all important
Boy Scout news. This pamphlet has
been used as publicity material in the
city and offers a fine suggestion for
other councils and troops who may wish
to solicit public support.
i
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 1, Number 9, August 15, 1913, periodical, August 15, 1913; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth282639/m1/4/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.