Scouting, Volume 2, Number 11, October 1, 1914 Page: 6
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SCOUTING.
PRACTICAL SCOUT HELPS
IN OCTOBER "BOYS' LIFE."
Many Features Especially Prepared to
Stimulate and Aid Boys in
Scout Work.
" The Scout Merit Badge of Cycling " is
the title of an article in the October num-
ber of Boys' Life, the Boy Scouts' maga-
zine, being another of the helpful articles
on how to pass the Merit Badge tests
which have been appearing in the maga-
zine for several months. The author is
Mr. Samuel A. Moffatt, National Field
Scout Commissioner. It will (be found
very practical.
In his Campfire Department the Chief
Scout tells interesting facts about patrol
signs and gives pictures of them. In addi-
tion,' Mr. Seton announces the twenty-six
winners of the Animal Contest recently
conducted by Boys' Life.
A very practical article which every boy
and adult camper will enjoy is one en-
titled " How to Use an Axe," by Mr.
Beard.
A new method of presenting helpful in-
formation to Scouts about the actual work
of Scouting has been adopted by the ex-
perienced Scout leader, who calls himself
" The Cave Scout." Escorting the boys
into his picturesque " cave," the writer, in
a tone of levity, begins a meeting which
before its close at the end of the third
column enables him to " talk straight"
with the boys aibout matters which it is
worth while to have discussed with Scouts.
Scoutmaster Walter Spence, of Peru,
111., contributes to the October magazine
the story of an unusual adventure of a
troop which raises a question every keen
Scout will enjoy trying to answer. Scout-
masters probably will enjoy the problem
just as much.
After reading the second instalment of
"The Story Without a Title" in the Oc-
tober number—an unusual football story
in which the psychological element is para-
mount and will interest the adult as well
as the boy—the boy readers of the maga-
zine will send in their suggestions for a
title. These will be examined by the Chief
Scout Librarian, the author of this story
and the Editor of Boys' Life} and thirteen
prizes will be awarded.
This issue contains also authentic re-
ports from English officials which show
how useful the English Scouts have been,
in a non-military way, to their country in
time of a great national crisis.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the
October magazine which does not relate
directly to scouting is an article entitled
"What Sports Do for You," by Mr. Gus-
tavus T. Kirby. Mr. Kirby is Chairman
of the Advisory Committee, Intercollegiate
Association of Amateur Athletes of Amer-
ica; President of the Recreation Alliance
of the City of New York; Director of the
Playground and Recreation Association of
America; former President of the Ama-.
teur Athletic Union, and has held other
offices in organizations devoted to the
physical betterment of youth.
As usual, there are two full pages of
Scout pictures and several pages of news
of the activities of Scout Troops.
DOES "SCOUTING" SERVE ITS PURPOSE?
An Effort Is Made To Obtain An Answer to This Question—Here Are
The Results.
Scouts Rent Apple Orchard.
The Boy Scouts of Cortland, N. Y., have
rented an apple orchard containing 165
trees. They are planning to market the
good fruit and to can all the windfall
apples. The boys have erected a temporary
building as headquarters where they will
grade, pack and crate the fruit.
EIGHTEEN months have passed since
Scouting was established as a semi-
monthly bulletin to disseminate
among Scout leaders throughout America
information which would assist them in
their work with boys.
Every effort has been made to utilize to
the fullest possible extent the staff and
resources available to make this publica-
tion helpful to Scout officials—to make
their work most effective and satisfying,
with the least possible amount of effort.
Occasionally men in the field wrote to
Headquarters saying they were grateful
for valuable suggestions and encourage-
ment received from Scouting, but not un-
til the past week have the Headquarters
officials realized what an important part
this periodical has in the service and de-
votion of Scout officials in all parts of the
country.
In order to ascertain whether or not
Scouting is serving the purpose which
was in mind when it was established, or
whether it should be discontinued, letters
were sent to a list of Scout officials picked
at random from various States, East,
West and South, in which three questions
were asked as follows:
"Do you read Scouting, our semi-monthly publi-
cation for Scout officials?
"Do you find that the information it contains
about Scout work throughout the country and the
occasional discussion of Scout programs by men
personally engaged in work with boys, carry any
helpful suggestions to you and make your work
easier or more satisfactory?
"What particular thing which Scouting does not
contain would you like most to see in it?"
Responses were received within a few
days from Scoutmasters and Commission-
ers in Bridgewater, Mass.; Kansas City,
Mo.; Honesdale, Pa.; Morristown, N. J.;
Richmond, Va.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Bath,
Me.; Portsmouth, O.; Brooklyn, N. Y.;
Washington, D. C.; Muskegon, Mich.;
Cleveland, O.; Garnerville, N. Y.
Every letter contained an affirmative
answer to the first two questions, and many
interesting and valuable suggestions were
made which will be worked out at the
earliest practicable moment.
Some of the expressions about the pub-
lication are given here:
Mr. Merritt Lamb, Scout Commissioner,
Muskegon, Mich.—
My first duty after the receipt of
Scouting is to read it. I do my duty. It
is a necessary publication, and has sug-
gested many useful ideas to me in my
work. It is particularly delightful to
know that through its channels I have con-
tributed and can still contribute my best
ideas to my brother workers.
Mr. De Lo E. Mook, Scout Commissioner,
Cleveland, O.—
I do read Scouting, and with great in-
terest. The suggestions in Scouting cer-
tainly are of use and benefit in my work.
I think the suggestions contained in it this
week are especially important. I have in
mind particularly that part of it which re-
lates to Boy Scouts as a public service or-
ganization. I believe that the best way to
inform the public that we are not a mili-
tary organization is to show exactly what
we are—the largest organized body in the
world looking toward the ideal state of
brotherhood, and the largest organization
devoted to the service of our respective
communities and public in general.
Mr. W. W. Brundage, Scout Executive,
Buffalo, N. Y.—
I do not feel that the magazine should
be discontinued. There is no doubt in my
mind that there is a field for it. Locally
we always are glad to profit by what
others have undertaken and accomplished.
Of course, this part of it would be more
successful as far as you are concerned if
the field would send in more articles. . . .
Again, Scouting gives the National Head-
quarters an opportunity to keep the field
posted of its own efforts. This should be
appreciated by the men in the field, as
Boys' Life cannot cover this phase, going,
as it does, to the Scouts direct, as well as
to boys who are not Scouts.
Mr. A. D. Benson, Scout Commissioner,
Bridgewater, Mass.—
I certainly do read Scouting, and enjoy
it very much, and upon its receipt do noth-
ing else until I read it through. I have
gotten a great many helpful suggestions
from the items of Scout work throughout
the country and various ideas expressed by
other Scoutmasters. In some cases I have
read to the boys at the meetings different
ideas contained in the publication, and they
helped them to do things by showing that
other Scouts through the country are
doing the things which they want to do.
I should certainly be very much
disappointed if the magazine should be
discontinued, and would rather pay an ex-
tra dollar a year than to have it cease pub-
lication.
Mr. Charles B. Horton, Scout Executive,
Pittsburgh, Pa.—
I consider Scouting essential. It both
educates and stimulates.
Mr. _M. H. F. Kinsey, Scout Commis-
sioner, Portsmouth, O.—-
I would like to state that it would be
very hard to make any improvement in
this very helpful little magazine. I read it
every month with a great degree of inter-
est, and it contains just the items which
are most needed.
Mr. J.^ van Beuren Mitchell, Scout Com-
missioner, Morristown, N. J.—
^ To judge by the number of times
Scouting is quoted at the Scoutmasters'
meetings, I should think that it is well
read by our men, and that it would be a
pity to discontinue its publication.
Mr. E. G. Jenkins, Scoutmaster, Hones-
dale, Pa.—
Your letter seems to indicate there is a
possibility of discontinuing Scouting. This
would be a distinct setback to men who,
like myself, have found in the Scout work
the best means of reaching the iboys of
our communities. I am sure that thou-
sands of Scoutmasters would be very
greatly benefited by the suggestions and
the advice so splendidly put before us in
Scouting. Don't, I beg of you, discon-
tinue it.
Mr. W. J. B. Housman, Scout Executive,
Richmond, Va.—
I emphatically state that I certainly do
read Scouting, and its message is one of
great benefit to me.
Mr. E. S. Martin, Scout Commissioner,
Washington, D. C.—
I read Scouting every time it comes
into the office, and think it would be very
unfortunate for the Scout officials if you
were to discontinue the publication of this
paper.
Mr. Joseph Adams, Scoutmaster, Garner-
ville, N. Y.—
I am happy to say that I read Scouting
and find it very interesting. It is a great
help to me in my work here.
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 2, Number 11, October 1, 1914, periodical, October 1, 1914; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth282698/m1/6/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.