THE BOY SCOUTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14320, 24 September 1910, Page 4

THE BOY SCOUTS.

b 7. Scoutmaster 5

Address of Commissioner for Taranaki. —Capt. W. Wright, Hawera. Addresses of Local Scoutmasters. —J. R. Sullivan, Central School; N. R. M'lsaac, Post Office; AV. P. Niooll, Corner of King and Brougham Streets,

Progress.—During the last fortnight four new scouts have been admitted to the Central Battalion. Their names are: Scouts Norman Leech, Percy Powlcy, Ernest Hardwick, and Harold Elliot.

A “Round Table” Conference. —The club meeting last , AVednesday w'as different from any'other yet hold. It was of the nature of a confidential chat with the scoutmasters. Questions relating to scouting and scout laws were freely discussed. Many of the scouts displayed by the keen interest they take in the welfare of their brotherhood, an earnestness to obtain full knowledge of many difficult and puzzling points. Scouts are earnestly requested to make it their business to prepare for next mooting. If they have any difficulties they.must bring them along and they can depend on having them solved. It is intended to continue these meetings, for they give a real meaning to scouting; they show that it is a great brotherhood of boys. A Scout Song.—A lady interested in scouting has forwarded a copy of a scouts’ song set to music. Next Wednesday this song will ho learnt by the scouts.

A Successful Parade.—Despite the threatening weather the scouts mustered iu .good numbers to do honour to Mr. Dempsey. Their marching was excellent. On arrival at the theatre it was found that reserved seats were kept for the boys. Many of the scouts were very restless during the function. This inclination it is a duty of a scout to overcome.

Show Respect.—A veteran remarked to a scoutmaster the other day that ho was greatly pleased With the way in which the scouts saluted him whether they were in uniform or not. Scouts, remember that you are not soldiers; remember your salute is not a soldier’s salute. So, when you meet any veteran salute him in your usual manly way. Do this, because you should have the greatest respect for those true patriots who have fought at the risk of their lives for your country. “A scout is loyal to his country;”- be this by being loyal first of all to those who won your country for you. ‘‘Lessons First, Scouting After.”— Don’t think from this that your lessons are more valuable than your scouting. Just think what scifiHing teaches you. Docs it not teach you to do your duty? It is your duty to learn your lessens, and; the real scout will learn them, and learn them well. Those who say “lessons first, scouting after,” do wrong to the movement. Scouting Is not like football or cricket, to bo played after work is done. Tbs game of scouting is played by the scout : throughout the livelong day. He plays the game during all work; for in-this the principles of scouting are most : needed. “A scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others.” Is he to carry cut this law' only when work is done? The idea is absurd. He obeys this in everything he does. Scouts, play well the good, noble, and manly game of scouting, and it is certain that you’ll get. through life with success and honour.

Badges.—Get as many of these as you can. But what good are they to you? You have to learn a great deal before you can obtain one, haven’t you? And does not this study teach you what a fascinating .thing it is to know a good deal about a particular subject ? If you don’t know, how can you help others? .Work, and work bard, for your badges. Just make up your mind to obtain certain ones, and obtain them. “I can do it, and I null do it.” Say this to yourselves and it will help you much more than you think., “There’s Much hi a Name.”—Yes, there's everything in a good name. How do you got a good name? By your conduct. Has scouting a good name? Yes. Why .has it a good one ? Because , scouts know how to behave themselves. Will it always have a good name? , Yes, if scouts obey their laws; no, if scouts are half-hearted and don’t care what they say or do. Yet, despite the teaching scouts got, some of them havo sinned greatly at times. A big fellow said, when a scout was playing cricket the-other day: “And a boy sedut too!” He said this in contempt of scouting, just to make the little scout angry. And he succeeded admirably, for the scout commenced to speak rather straight—too straight—-to the big chap. He would have shown his wisdom by completely ignoring what the big fellow said. So, scouts, don’t be “cheeky.” If you are, scouting will soon get a bad name. “Silence is golden.” “Say little; do much.” Put big fellows like this to shame.

“Um-hlala-pounzi.”— This is a scout text. It is a big mouthful to learn. If you can’t got round it, “Be prepared” will do just as well. The long word above is a Zulu word, which moans “the man who lies down to shoot.” This means, then, “The man who makes his plans.and preparations carefully before carrying out a work." Act up to this; make all plans beforehand and then go ahead. If you want to make this year a happy one, think out what you arc going to do, which will help you on in your career, and what you are going to do for others.

“The Oak was Once an Acorn.”—lf over you feel hopeless about being successful from a small beginning, remember that even that groat strong tree, the oak, began at first as a little acorn lying on the ground. After it had got its roots into, the ground, and started to grow it must have seemed hopeless that it would over rise to be a great tree. But it kept growing through winter and summer, through gales as well as in fine weather, aud gradually grew into the fine tree, giving out shade to people and shelter to animals, and thus a friend to all the world. “Softly', Softly, Catchee Monkey.”— This is another text. What docs it mean? When you aro getting impatient over a job and feel inclined to rush it, just remember, “Softly, softly, catchee monkey.” Patience wins the day, and stick to your job. A real scout doesn’t worry if ho doesn’t succeed at once. Ho waits and works quietly and patiently till he “gets there” in the end, in small things as in big things. Even in undoing a parcel he will not ' pull, and tear and

cut tho strings; he will quietly set to work to untie tho knots. NOW! “Rise! for tho day is passing, And you lie dreaming on ; Tho others have buckled their armour • And forth to the fight have gone; A place in tho ranks awaits you. Each man has some parts to play; The Past.and the Future are nothing In the face of tho stern,to-day.” “A scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others.” To do this BE PREPARED!