THE CHIEF SCOUT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20105, 11 May 1935, Page 11

THE CHIEF SCOUT

FOUNDER OF A MOVEMENT WHICH GIRDLES THE EARTH THE HERO OF MAFEKING Leader of men in war, leader of youth in peace, the hero of Mafeking, and one of the finest soldiers Britain has produced, Lord Baden-Fowell throughout his life has practised those ideals and laws of Scoutcraft which he has imparted into the vast army which acknowledges him as Its hero, its leader, and example (says a writer in the Melbourne “Star.”) His army of 2,250,000 Scouts and 1,250,000 Girl Guides is scattered throughout the earth. They belong to all nations, and speak many tongues, but by each member of the organisation, whether British of Malay, American or Japanese, the creed laid down by “8.-P.” is reverenced and upheld. Originally a man of war, but now essentially a man of peace, Lord Baden-Powell has established a movement which is the greatest potential influence for peace throughout the world, and the true blessings which he has conferred on mankind with his great international brotherhood of youth may be perceived by some future generation only. England’s Idol However, even before he lit, a quarter of a century ago, the blaze was destined to travel around the earth firing the imaginations of youths everywhere, Lord Baden-Powell was assured of a conspicuous place in British history. At the beginning of this century all England resounded with the name of the hero of Mafeking, who, with a handful of men, defended the town against the determined attacks of an army of 9000 Boers who besieged it for eight months.

As week succeeded week and month followed month all England wondered how much longer the indomitable "B-F.” could keep the British flag flying over the little town of Mafeking.

At last the siege was raised and Mafeking was relieved. Then all England went mad with sheer joy. The name of Baden-Powell was shouted from everyone’s lips, his photograph was displayed everywhere, and he was the popular hero of the hour. But long before “B-P.” began his “new life,” as he called it, as leader of the army of peace, and even before Mafeking, he had lived a life of thrilling adventure as an army scout and big-game hunter in India and South Africa. Many times he faced death while scouting alone at night through forest and hills, creeping silent as a shadow in enemy country, but with each new adventure and peril he was storing up knowledge and experience for the great work which was to crown his career. He became known and feared by the Matabele native of South Africa as “Impessa,” meaning “the wolf that never sleeps.” “Kantankye” or “He of the Big Hat,” he was called by the Ashanti native, who had equal reason to fear and respect him. In India he won fame among the natives, who called him “M’hala Panji,” or “the man who lies down to take aim,” or, interpreted freely, “the man who plans carefully before acting.” But to his schoolmates at Charterhouse and to his fellow officers in England, India, and South Africa he was ever the irrepressible humorist, the comedian, and actor, and the born leader. Son of Professor He was born nearly 78 years ago in London on February 22, 1857, the sixth son of the Rev. Baden-Powell, a learned Oxford professor, a fellow of the Royal Society, the author of many deep theological and philosophical works, and a clergyman renowned for his love of Nature and kindly generous disposition. His mother was the daughter of Admiral W. H. Smyth and a sister of Professor Praggi Smyth, astronomer Royal for Scotland. She was one of the pioneers of the girls’ public high school in Great Britain, and could claim descent from Captain John Smith, the founder of Virginia, from whom “8.-P.” obtained one of his favourite sayings—“We are not born for ourselves, but to do good unto others.” (To be continued). the success of anv troon. The chief