SCOUT NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22100, 2 November 1933, Page 16

SCOUT NOTES

By Scouteb. Far some time a certain printer in a Canadian town has been doing printing for a local troop and declining to send Jn bills; instead, he occasionally telephones to ask if the troop is running short of stationary. Recently the Scoutmaster called on him for some work, but first explained that unless the troop could pay for it, they would not feel free to come to him again. The printer replied, ‘‘l saw one of your boys do a good turn to an invajid lady three years ago, at great inconvenience to himself, for over three weeks. It made some of us neighbours look pretty cheap not to have-done it ourselves. I am not rich, but as long as I am in the business your boys are going to have all the printing they want, and if you ever talk about paying for it you .will hurt my feelings.” One dark, foggy night some years ago, an American was lost on the way home from an evening entertainment in London. He was a stranger to the locality ( and blundered on until he came to the bank of the Thames. Here he was wondering what he would do when a little boy came along, whistling cheerfully despite the dismal surroundings. The visitor asked the boy if he could tell him where he was, and how he could get to the place where he was staying. The boy did more than just tell him —he guided him through the streets to his lodgings. On their arrival there, the visitor wished to pay the boy for his services, but the youth refused to take anything, saying that as he was a Scout it was hia duty to help others and to take no reward for so doing. Without giving his name, and with a cheery good night, the boy went off. The latter good turn has had far-reaching results, for the stranger, keen -to find out more about the Movement to which the boy belonged, went, to headquarters in London and returned to the United States to found the Movement 'there. The name of the boy has never been found out; but brother Scouts in America have subscribed to erect a memorial to. this unknown Scout whose daily deed had such great results. We may not be in the position to do deeds that have so wide an effect; but that should not prevent us from conforming with this unwritten rule. A little chap came into my room one evening with a very troubled look on nis face, and although his head was held erect and his upper lip quite stiff. . I think that he had been in some quiet corner having a good cry —but please do not consider him a “ kid. ” because of that, for I have seen strong, brave men cry. Taking me into elder-brotherly confidence he poured out his tale of woe. “ Sir,” he said, “my patrol leader called me a useless little fool.' and he says he is ashamed of me because I’ve only one badge up. Sir, I’ve tried so hard, but I cannot pass the tests. I think I had better leave the Scout Movement, but I do not want to.” I had a long chat with the little fellow and sent him away encouraged and smiling, and then called on the tactless patrol leader and gave him some advice. The one-badger did not leave the troop. There are two distinct types of Scouts, and both are good fellows. The first type is exceedingly quick and intelligent and can learn and absorb information very quickly and without much effort. To them it is not very difficult to pass any test, and with easy self-confidence to satisfy the badge examiners. The boys of the second type are slow and methodical and find it difficult to obtain one proficiency badge. I have watched these literally perspiring over what the quick boy considers too easy for words. Often when the information hag been memorised they are so sensitive and nervous that they have failed to express the answers in such a way as to satisfy the examiners. Our sympathy should go out to the lads who try so hard and fail, and we should be careful not to offend and discourage our sensitive, less fortunate companions; but we should be prepared to give them a pat on the back and help them. The annual Scout ambulance competitions were held last week at Ocean Beach, five troops competing. The results to hand are as follows;—Ocean Beach, 79J; Christian Bros No. 1, 74; Roslyn, 68; Christian Brothers No. 2, 62; Anderson’s Bay, 57. The Cub second star examination is to be held on December 2, and entries will close on November 28.