THE GIRLS' PEACE SCOUTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15185, 3 July 1911, Page 7

THE GIRLS' PEACE SCOUTS

—. '«o In The Sketch, of May 17, Ella Hepworth Dixon writes respecting Miss BadenPowell's Girl Guides in terms that seem equally applicable to tho Girls' Peace Scout organisation in Now Zealand :— The Boy Scouts' movement has already run triumphantly, like a happy epidemic, all over tho globe, and I see no reason why, if ladies will tako up tho similar scheme conceived by Miss * Baden-Powcl! for girls, a like result may not be achieved. The " guiding "to bo sure, is to be symbolic, for they are to learn all the useful artscooking, cursing, ambulanco work, and swimming—as well as to pitch a camp and to signal. " Flag-wagging," indeed, has become a vastly popular acomplishmcnt with small girls, and we must remember that a knowledge of tho Morse cede enables anyono to work the telegraph in an emergency. In a world-wido Empire like ours such knowledge is Bome(;ime3 invaluable, and one has often read how, in India, great calamities havo been prevented by somo outsider being ablo to handle the telegraph apparatus. Tho military organisation of the Scouts and Guides undoubtedly appeals to children; their uniforms, flags, and badges givo them an uplifted, martial feeling which nothing else could bestow. Indeed, just when tho military spirit is being hotly condomned by Socialists and those who aro in favour of peaco when there is no peace, we aro forced, if wo wish to carry any movement through—even a religious and philanthropic one,—to borrow all tho insignia/ as well as tho methods, of a thoroughly equipped army. For discipline, courage, cheerfulness, patriotism, unselfishness, and cleanliness aro military virtues, and thoy have all lie included in theso two big schemes for making our boys and girls haopy and efficient creatures,