Scouting, Volume 2, Number 13, November 1, 1914 Page: 5
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SCOUTING.
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J
universally commended. Its usefulness is '
limited only by its circulation. This every
friend of the Scout Movement can extend.
With such good help the time must come
when increased revenues will not only en-
able us to produce a publication which
entirely meets the movement's conception
of what constitutes the ideal magazine for
the boy, but will also provide funds for
the further extension of scout principles
and activities.
'How Scout Officials Can Help.
The officials of the Boy Scout Movement,
in conjunction with Grosset & Dunlap,
publishers of Every Boy's Library, have
worked out a generous plan which ought
to put these books and this magazine into
the home of every boy. As one interested
in the welfare of boys, we know you will
be glad to cooperate to this end.
You can do this by calling on the local
bookseller and offering to assist. It has
been suggested that each dealer make win-
dow and counter displays. • Your troop
may be able to lend Scout equipment, flags,
etc., for this purpose. At your request we
will send free to any dealer wishing to
make a display a reasonable number of
copies of Boys' Life. Possibly some of
your Scouts can aid in the distribution of
the circulars.
From the Scout Field
What the Men are Doing:, and How
They Do It
SCOUTING TO BE BOUND
Orders for Volumes May be Sent to
. Headquarters.
Several requests have been received at
National Headquarters recently for bound
volumes of Scouting. Irving R. Temple-
ton, Scoutmaster Troop 15, Buffalo, N. Y.,
writes: "I believe that National Head-
quarters might assist a good work through-
out the country if at the end of the year
they would have Scouting bound."
Pirie MacDonald, Scout Commissioner
of Norwalk, Conn., writes: "I think
Scouting, as far as it has already gone, is
so sufficiently valuable that it should be
available at the end of the year in the form
of a bound volume. Its value as a refer-
ence book to earnest men in the field is
beyond question. The number that is worn
out or lent is the one that is most valuable,
or it would not be worn out or lent, so see
what you can do toward saving enough
copies for bound volumes for advance sub-
scribers."
National Headquarters will be very glad
to have orders for bound volumes filled
for any Scoutmasters who send them in.
All such orders should be received very
promptly, as many of the numbers of
Scouting have been nearly exhausted and
it will be difficult to obtain enough for
binding purposes. A sufficient number of
orders have already been received to justify
the sale of volumes at $2.00 each. If you
would like a copy send in your order
NOW.
Another Patrol Contest System.
I have introduced a card system in my
troop, something after the same style as a
scheme another Scoutmaster recently de-
scribed in Scouting. Two points are given
for early attendance, one if late, one point
for smart appearance and one point for
paying the weekly dues. Five points are
deducted for misconduct. Special points
are awarded in games and for good turns,
etc. The trophy is awarded monthly to
the troop which has the best record.
When we could not secure a trophy
shield, we set to work and framed the
official pennant, and so made a nice look-
ing trophy for the boys to work for. The
competition thus created between the pa-
trols is keen, and at the end of the year
the members of the patrol which has held
the pennant the greatest number of times
will receive gold medals. Hence the
Scouts have an individual incentive to
work hard.—James Williamson, Scoutmas-
ter, Everett, Mass.
Be one with the boys. Take them into
your home. Talk to them individually.
Never tell a boy he is bad. When I took
hold of my troop I was informed that
some of them were unfit, light fingered
and generally bad. Allow me to state that
those boys are my best officers and most
trusty servants. My best meetings are
held at my home. I have a patrol at a
time. We go through the Scout Law in
detail and 1 find it of much benefit, for I
cannot get the attention at the stated
meetings and impress the points most es-
sential.—A. R. Barns, Scoutmaster, Engle-
wood, N. J.
One feature of our work is a "Good
Turn Station," where a couple of Scouts
are on duty every evening to serve peo-
ple who call for such help as they can
give. We also have a troop bank, in which
nearly all the boys have an account. One
dollar is the maximum amount a boy is
allowed to have to his credit. He is re-
quired to deposit in a public bank if his
account runs above this amount.—I. S.
Abrahams, Scoutmaster, Albany, N. Y.
More About the Scout Scribe.
In the last number of Scouting I read
under the caption " Recognition for the
Scribe," by Scoutmaster H. F. Lee of
Syracuse, N. Y., a plan for bringing that
important office into " its own." I have
often heard that " great minds often run
in the same channels," but never before
have I witnessed quite so positive an il-
lustration of the saying. The scheme out-
lined is exactly what I have done with
my own Scout Scribe.
The question I would like to ask is,
where did Scoutmaster Lee get his crossed
quills? I happen to be the State Regent
for the Knights of King Arthur and had
in my office an emblem of this type and
have used that. The same emblem in felt
would be much better.
I am at present engaged in a scheme
to create a larger and more intelligent
interest among the people of the city, and
more especially among the parents of the
boys. My plan is this: I am circulating
a petition among the people which is in
the form of an application for Honorary
Membership in the Boy Scouts of Amer-
ica. The individual signing is pledged to
learn the Scout Oath and agrees to salute,
Scout fashion, the boys of the organiza-
tion. The merchants joining in this way
are entitled, to the patronage of the boys'
parents, and as all the merchants are sign-
ing, there can be no ill feeling. In appre-
ciation of the support of these people, I
am having printed an honorary member-
ship card for the remainder of 1914, and
will have a new one for 1915. These cards
will be placed in the store windows, and
we hope that this silent reminder of the
work of the Boy Scout organization will
induce many to take greater interest in
this practical education.—W. B. Morgan,
Scoutmaster, Motion, Indiana.
My experience has been limited to less
than six months, and I personally would
appreciate suggestions from others. This
is a good idea .—Albert F. Moginot, Scout-
master, St. Louis, Mo.
Scouts Fight Forest Fires.
The Boy Scouts in various sections of
Massachusetts rendered valuable service
during the second week in October in help-
ing to extinguish the forest fires which
devastated hundreds of acres of forest
and brush land. The fires were the result
of the long period of dry weather which
made the timber as dry as powder. They
were especially hard to fight because of
the fact that a great many of the streams
and ponds were dry. The danger was
also intensified by the fact that the ground
was covered with fallen leaves. The fires
near Waltham, Mass., were especially se-
vere.
Reports have also come from points in
Connecticut of Scout work in similar
I am Scoutmaster of two troops of Boy
Scouts and am heartily enjoying my work
with the boys and am gaining much myself
from the work, mentally, physically and
morally. I am at present advocating agri-
cultural experiments in my rural troop
and civics in my city troop.
One great feature which I am booming
with the town troop is our weather sig-
naling station, which is supplied regularly
with reports from the County Weather
Bureau. We are also connected by wire-
less with other towns in which Scouts re-
side, and some of my boys have become
proficient in the Morse code through wire-
less practise.—Clarence J. Brainerd, Scout-
master, Chesaning, Mich.
I find it helpful each meeting night to
have as a part of the program a series of
about ten questions on a variety of sub-
jects which will make the Scouts think.
For instance, what causes the tides? What
is the principle of the operation of the tele-
phone and telegraph? Explain how springs
and flowitjg wells are caused? What causes
rain? How is wood petrified? Why does
salt water support a person better than
fresh? How does a fly walk on the ceil-
ing? The boys enjoy these wonderfully.—
Scoutmaster Rexford M. Pruitt, Indian-
apolis, Ind.
We have established a public drinking
place, known as " Scouts' Well," with ap-
propriate signboard notice to the public.
During the summer an average of 3,000
people quenched their thirst at this well
every month.—Thomas R. Spurgeon, Scout-
master, Maumee, O.
The plan I have used to keep my boys
interested may not work with others as it
has with me. I have tried to make the
boys feel that they governed themselves.
I have had them decide all questions either
by vote or by court marshal. We intend to
have some debates on some topics given in
the Handbook this coming winter. This
being a country community, the boys are
hard to keep on one program. It is also
hard to get some new candidates, as so
many think it will entice their boys to leave
home to go in the army.—Scoutmaster Fred
A. Miller, Lake View, N. Y.
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 2, Number 13, November 1, 1914, periodical, November 1, 1914; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth282702/m1/5/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.