The Chief Scout Talk

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

The Chief Scout Talk

PLAYING FOR YOUR SIPE.

'than if they were trying to win giory for themselves.

THE-LONE HAND.

'('By,

Lt. Gen. Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell.)

Football is probably the most attractive game in the world; it must be because of. the enormous crowds that go to look on at it. But looking on is no fun compared with playing in the game yourself. I hate to look at someone else doing what-I feel I ought to be doing myself. I hope that is how football will strike every Scout, namely, that it is meant to be. played, not to be looked at. •. ; •?

(Personally I think polo is my favourite game, because, although it is like football or hockey, yet, you have the extra excitement and fun of riding a

horse and making him play the game with you. At the same time, football is a ripping, good game, and you have many more of your pals playing with you. In polo there are only four to a side; in football you can have eleven or fifteen.

As a boy I tried most games,.cricket and racquets, boating and fives, swimming and paper chases, Lyt football was the one that I liked best of all. I think I liked it because, although you get some pretty hard knocks, and you played yourself out, you did it for (the honour and glory of your side ratjicr than for the honour and’ glory of yourself.

I once had a very gallant scoiit in my force in the South African War. He was a brave man and an active scout, but he was not good at obeying orders. In the end this cost him his life and did harm to our plans. We had hews of a force of the enemy, which did not know of our presence in that part of the country. So we hid ourselves, meaning to surprise and capture the men when they came along. The orders were that not a sound' was to be made and not a man was to show himself; and , these orders were faithfully carried out—except by this one fleout. He ; thought.he knew better than others, and he slipped away unseen to go and look out for the enemy’s approach. Presently he espied a hostile scout and fired at him. The enemy scout re-turned-his fire, and after a short duel both of them fa'll mortally wounded. The noise of their shooting, gave alarm to the enemy’s force, more came upon the spot, and finding one of our scouts there, they naturally guessed that there must be more in the neighbourhood. So they took all precautions, sent out scouts in all directions and'-then, coming on our tracks at last, discovered our hiding place and gave warning to their own side, who were then able to make their escape. If uny scout had only learned, when a boy, to obey orders, it might have made a great difference that day to him, ’to us, and to the other side. Whatever the game may be, whether it is football or commerce, peace or war, science or sport, remember that we are each one of us trying to do our little bit towards winning the game for our side, and not merely for ourselves. THE BRICK IN THE WALL. You may think that where many thousands of men are’working for their country a shirker or two doesn’t matter. But we are like so many bricks in a wall. Many thousands of bricks are used in making a big building and each little brick has his place in keeping it -up; he may have a-humble place where he is not. much seen or he may be in a showy position; 'but wherever he is he has got to do his duty and be a good strong brick, firm and trustworthy.

That is just where I think that Scouts find their joy in scouting. They are making a name for their patrol (that is, for their side) rather than for themselves, and when they carry on a game or work in that spirit they are not only bound to be successful but they are ■bound to enjoy it ever so ipuch more

TOMMY’S HORSE. ‘ (Sent by “Jingle Belle.”) You would not make a racehorse, Because you are so slow; I think I’ll whip you harder,. For that will make you go. “But Billy’s rather heavy,” Said little sister Nell. ■ “Oh, well, then,” answered Tommy; “My horse I’ll have to sell.” CASTLES OF SAND. (Sent by Walter Clarke.) Very tall and very grand Are my castles made of sand. Here’s a river, here are trees, Here’s an inland, if you please. Here’s a house for you and me, With, a garden too, you see; This is water, that is land, All of them just yellow sand. (Sent by Sylvia Price.) Mrs. Bruin: What a long time you have been filling the pepper pot, Bobby. Bobby: The holes are so tiny I could hardly get the pepper through, mum.

If he is a rotter and cracks or crumbles away, he throws extra strain and work on the others, and some of them may begin to crack too, and then the walls get unsteady, and the whole building may fall down. That is another thing that- you learn in football—to play in your place, wherever it may be. Always play the game, not for your own comfort or safety or honour or glory, but in order that your side may win.

AUTUMN TIME. (Sent by “Ljly of Lorraipe.”) Autumn time is apple time, Time for pears and plums; Corn is golden in the fields, How the reaper hume; Lilies shine in garden plots, Berries in the bush, Brown pods burst along the hedge Where the ripe seeds bust. Come with me to orchard land; Grass will do for chairs, Leaves fall off, and tumble fast, And so do juicy pears.

TO RAISE A LAUGH.

(Sent by Alice Croall.)

“Jimmy and Jane were quarrelling over who should have the biggest half of ■ the cake,” said Johnnie. “But I goon settled it.”

‘‘That’s a good boy,” said mother. “Whose part did you take?” “I took both their parts!”

Dicky: I can hear a pin drop twenty yards away, dadDaddy. Duck: Nonsense, my boy, you couldn’t do . that.

Bert: I say, Eddy, have you heard the story of the oak chest ? • Eddy: No. Bert: Oh, there wae nothing in it.

Dicky: I can when it’s a roll jpg pin.

Bert Bearr Why do you call your lamb Inky, Farmer Bruip? Fanner: Because it’s always running from the pen, my lad.

When they reached home, Richard lost no time in constructing a truck to carry the chest. . .. “It is a good job we’ve got these small wheels,” he said, “otherwise it would be difficult. We should never be able to lift it on to anything with. big. wheels.” “You’ve certainly made a good job of it, anyway,” Polly chuckled, “and I’ve an idea for some fun with it after we’ve used it for carrying the chest,” “What is it?” asked Gwen. “Never mind now! Just wait and see,” answered Polly.

a Gwen and Richard hauled the truck through the woods to collect'.the chest They found it was not at all an easy task to pull it over the rough ground, evea without anything on it. m -t.- * a* “My!” said Richard, “it’s heavy work pulling the empty truck! What it will be like when we get the chest on it, I don’t know.” * : “Never mind!” said Polly. “If the chest is full of gold and silver, it-will be ■ worth it." '

THE LITTLE TREE. (Sent by Margery Welham.) I saw a strange and piteous thing, The murder of a tree in spring— A little tree, all green and bright, Its new leaves dancing in the light, As if amid their April mirth, The young year’s joy 'had sprung to birth,, ' .. . And set each dancing leaf to sing * A gay green song to gay green spring. Its brown stem was a column strong Set in. brown earth, that bore its song To w-liere the swifts',went whirling by And wove a pattern in the sky. Throughout the blue and golden days The young tree sang its song of praise: ' ' Then sunset came, and the bright blade Of axe about its stem was laid. The white chips flew, and with a sig'h The little tree lay down to die, Its springtide promise unfulfilled, Its springtide song untimely stilled, Its April beauty crushed and killed. And yet not killed, but set apart To live forever in my heart-

A THOUGHT BY'THE WAY.

(Sent by Phyllis , Reid.)

Does the road seem steep, and thB pathway dreary? . Thy burden heavy, thy ' feet grown weary?. - ' •’ Take heart then, friend, e’en the steepest climb, . Z Remember ’tis only one; step at a time. .r ■ ; Do the years stretch before thee mononotonous, endless? / .- \i. Press patiently onward with -courage sublime; ’ . i Remember ’tis only one day at a time.-

GOSLING. GREEN.

(Sent by Joan .Kirk'.)

I met . three geese on Gosling Greeß; 'Such fine fat geese were-never seen. One quacked “Good day 1 .-What nice wet weather,” ' > - And one gave me a snow-white'feath-er, And one said, “Three’ with one between. “Make four big geese on Gosling Green.”