THE BOY SCOUTS

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143574, 12 August 1911, Page 4

THE BOY SCOUTS

.By

District Commissioner: Captain W. Wright, Hiuvera. Inspectors, Major F. it, Santlford, Tainui, Vogeltown, and Mr. G. M’Giiliey, Brougham Street. Scoutmasters:' J. R. Sullivan, Central School.; N. R. M’lsaac, Post Office; H. Y. M’Gahey, Brougham Street.

Funds For New Uniforms. —A moving picture entertainment will be held in AVhiteley Hall on the loth inst., for the purpose of raising a land for new uniforms. Tickets may be obtained from the- 1 .Scoutmasters. Scouts who wish to sell tickets—and every true Scout should undertake to sell some—should obtain as many as they wish to sell at once. If a good response is made on the part'd the public, the severe handicap from which the Central Scouts at present suffer by not having suitable uniforms, will be removed. Many of the uniforms are worn out; while many more are now too small for the Scouts. The Scouts themselves can easily make the entertainment a success. By being earnest and enthusiastic in selling the tickets they must succeed.. It is hoped, there-fore,.-that, every Scout*will do his best —his simple duty. ,; Valuable Assistance.—Those Scouts who read intelligently the article published last Saturday and the previous Saturday must appreciate its value. Major Sandford rightly points out that the world is what wo make it. If we wish we can make it a happy, joyous place; but if wo are lazy, and forget our good turns, wo are miserable, and make others miserable too. The account of his trip through the back blocks is very interesting. It is also very instructive, for the hints given are simple and useful, and may bo of great value to many of the Scouts in the future. Such assistance as that given by Major Sandford is greatly appreciated. It will encourage the Scouts to be worthy of the consideration and care given them by those who are supporting their brotherhood. We welcome such aid; and earnestly hope that Major Sandford will again give us-a similar treat. “A Handy Sinn.”—Corporal Ernest Way has obtained the first Handyman’s Badge in New Plymouth. He has now six merit badge*, and is nearly , completed his tests tor life First-class Badge. Next Wednesday 7 * Programme.— . 6.30 to 7 : Lesson on the ©effects of alcohol on the body. . 7 to 7.20: Lesson on the construction 1 of the human ear. 7.20 to-,7.30: Questions by Scouts. 7.30 to 7.45: Address on “The True Scout.” 7.45 to 8: Readings and contributions by Scouts. 8 to 8.20: Story read to Scouts. 8.20 to 8.30: Meeting of Court of Honour. Scouts are requested to prepare some 1 interesting readings. They must be short. It would also be of nclvantag.ee if tilc? older Scouts‘ prepared a lew questions on Scout laws and scouting. Benjamin Franklin.-—This famous American statesman was a great worker. His father believed in the “Gospel of work,” and made every one of his children be as busy as a bee as soon as he or she was * able to toil. Benjamin was reared a worker, and was a lover of industry all life life. Here are some .of his counsels: “Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used Jay is always bright.” “But dost tuoii love life? Then do not squander time, tor that is the stuff life is made- of*” - “Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry ail easy; and he tha* rfeeth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly Uiat poverty soon overtakes him.’’ “One to-day is worth two to-mor-rows.” “God helps them that help themselves.” “Drive thy business! Let not thy business drive thee.” “Don't give too- much for the whistle.”—when Benjamin Franklin was a lad his father and mother gave him some pocket money. He was allowed to spend it as he wished. His brothers advised him what to buy—candies, cakes, sugar-plums; and "the like. But Ben did not heed them. He trotted gaily off to a toy shop and bought a whistle. When lie got homo merrily blowing his noisy' whistle his mother asked him what he gave for it. “All the money I had,” said Ben. Then he was hoaxed and laughed at by his brothers for he had given five times the value of his whistle. “Did you aak the price of it?” asked Ids' mother. “No; 1 told the man I would give him all the money I had for one, and lie took it.” Upon saying this, poor Ben was teased more and more. He broke down. “Never mind, Ben ;we Jiyc and learn,” said his mother. And lien lived and learned. Never again did he pay too much for a whistle. When a man lie wrote as follows:--“When I was tempted 'to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, ‘Don’t give top much for the whistle, and I. saved my money.” “A Scout is thrifty.” “When a boy deceives, or tries to conceal some aCt of disobedience from his parents or teachers, and thereby lays tho foundation of habitual uhtruthfulhess, ho pays too dear for the whistle. And he will learn the truth of it when he becomes olderi and cannot command the confidence of his friends and neighbours, but is branded by them as an unreliable, dishonest man.” “A Scout’s honour is to be trusted.” “A - Scout obeys orders of his parents without question.” “The boy who thinks it is manly to smoko and drink beer will find that lie has a very expensive whistle when ho becomes a halo follow wfll met among a miserable class of young men, and is discarded by the virtuous and good.” A Scout does not smoko; a Scout keeps good companions. So Benjamin made good use of the foolish mistake of his boyhood. Scouts, in all you do and say, he like Benjamin Franklin, and “don’t pay too .much for tho whistle.” Next week we shall continue our notes on Benjamin Franklin. Hero is some good advice Benjamin received from hfe Uncle Benjamin:— ‘

“Be to thy parents an obedient son; Each day let duty constantly be done; Never give way to sloth 4 or lust, or pride, If free you’d be from thousand ills beside.

Above all ilia be sure avoid the shelf. Man's danger lies in Satan, sin and self. In virtue, learning, wisdom, progress make. Ne’er shrink at suffering for thy sake.” “A'Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others.” “BE PREPARED.”