SMARTNESS IN LITTLE THINGS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19953, 10 November 1934, Page 10

SMARTNESS IN LITTLE THINGS

In the “Wolf Cub’s Handbook” the Chief (Lord Baden-Powell) has said “Insist on smartness of little things” A detail \vhich many Packs do not give the attention it deserves is the manner in which the Cubs fall-in and fall-out. Let me explain further and make a few suggestions. The circle is the Club formation not a rank, so let us look at the circle first. It would be a tremendous help if the Cubs always fell-in in their sixes in the circle. In the first place It means that the circle is more quickly formed because each Cub knows his place and goes to it immediately. Secondly it keeps discipline and in such cases as Akela giving out notices he (or she) knows where each six is without having to look round for them. SERVICE STARS A query often now arises if a boy has served partly in one rank and partly in another should he be entitled to wear all his Service Stars. For instance, he may have served as a Cub for two years and five months, the remaining seven months of his third year being spent as a Scout. In cases like these, where a boy transfers either from the Cubs to the Scouts, or from the Scouts to the Rovers, he is entitled to the service star of the type for which he has served more than six months. That is to say, if he has done “over” six month’s service as a Cub or as a Scout when he transfers to the higher branch, he wears the service star of his original rank. There is another important point which I must mention. When a Cub transfers into the Scouts, he continues to wear the service stars which he earned as a Cub with the appropriate cloth background. Similarly when a boy reaches the Rovers he will continue to wear the stars to which he was entitled as a Cub and as a Scout. SCOUTS’ SALUTE AND SECRET SIGN When a Scout meets another for the first time in the day, whether he is a comrade or a stranger, he salutes with the secret sign. He should always salute a Patrol Leader or a Scoutmaster and when the Union Jack is hoisted or “God Save the King” is played (writes the Chief Scout in “Scouting for Boys”). The hand salute is only used when a scout is not carrying his staff. Saluting when carrying a staff is done by bringing the left arm smartly across the body in a horizontal position, the fingers showing the scout sign, just touching the staff. In the old days the freemen of England were all allowed to carry weapons, and when one met another, each would hold up his right hand to show that he had no weapon in it, and that they met as friends. If a stranger makes the Scout’s sign to you, you should acknowledge it at once by making the sign back to him, and then shake hands with the LEFT' HAND. If he then shows his scout's badge, or proves that he i» a scout, you must treat him as a brother scout and help him in any way you can remembering the fourth scout law:— A Scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other scout, no matter "hat social class the other belong*.