Scout News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 178, 30 July 1932, Page 16 (Supplement)

Scout News

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"Lord Wolfr.")

Conducted weekly in the interest of Scouting in the district, and to acquaint the public with the work which Scouting embraces. All contributions should bo in the hands of "Lone Wolf,” care 237 Afenuc. at the latest Saturday morning of each week.

Visiting Scout. During the week we have had in our midst a visitor from Wales in the person of A.C.M. J. 0. Taylor. He was entertained and shown scouting in Wanganui by tho members of tho First Wanganui City Rover Group and writes to Rover Leader Minncll as follows: — M.V. Armidalc. “Dear Mr. Minncll,—

“I cannot put into words how grateful I am to you for the scouty way in which you have treated me while I have been here in Wanganui. I thank you with my humble thanks. 1 have enjoyed every evening as a scout would and I can. honestly say I have never come across such a Cino lot of scouts as you have in Wanganui. With the best of wishes to the Hovers and Scouts and the greatest success in scouting, a strong handshake. Your Brother Scout from Wales, J. G. Taylor.” Knox Pack. On a recent Wednesday the Knox Cubs celebrated their third birthday. Rev. and Mrs. Ker, Mr. and Mrs. Head, Mr B. Head, Mr. W. Brown, the District Scoutmaster, and thirty-six Cubs sat down to an appetising tea. The birthday cake, which was made by Mrs. C. Gilbert, was cut. by the District Scoutmaster after the candles had been lit by Mr. Brown. Mr. Head, Scoutmaster of the Y.M.C.A. Troop and late Scoutmaster of the Knox Troop, thanked the Cubs for inviting him to be present and wished them many happy returns, expressing the wish that the pack would not diminish .in strength, but would carry on for years to come. The pack then gave three cheers for Mr. Head.

The District Scoutmaster said when he hud been invited to come he had thought that he would not bo able to accept owing to his having been ordered to go to Feilding to a jamboree reunion. However, both Mr. Christie and Mr. Woollams had gone to Feilding and so he had been able to come to the tea. Mr. Christie usually went to all the teas and cut the birthday cakes. He was very pleased to see such a fine lot of Cubs present. He wondered if the Cubs knew why they were called Cubs. It was because they were to follow with the pack until they became Scouts. And if cubs, why “wolf Cubs”'? This was because the Indians always used to call their good scouts, wolves. There was “Good Wolf,” “Grey Wolf,” “Great Wolf,’ ’and many others. As Cubs they were learning to be Scouts. They wore like pups, very playful and mischievous. When the pup goes to far the old mother dog just gives the pup a. nasty smack with one paw and probably knock the pup over. The Cubmasters were like this to. a degree. They had to maintain law and order in the pack. They wore the Cubs’ big brothers. Some of the Cubs were inclined to go beyond the bounds and take advantage of their leaders being good and chummy. To take an advantage like this was the meanest thing in the world. He hoped all the boys would learn the law of tho jungle that by sticking together as a pack they had a lot more strength than as more individuals. It was like a bundle of sticks. Quite a simple matter to break one stick, but to break the entire bundle as a whole was a different aspect—unity is strength. Some day they would wear the same uniform as Air. Head and the other Scouters. They were proud of their uniform and also very jealous of it. They should learn all they could as Cubs’so that when they became Scouts they would be efficient and of use. He wished to thank them for the tea and the honour of cutting their cake and to wish them many happy returns of the day, and expressed the wish that, they would go on to the troop and bo good Scouts. The Cubs then gave three cheers for the D.S.M. Rev. Ker, M.A., said he wanted to first of all wish them many happy returns of the day. He wished to thank them for inviting him and on behalf of the Cubs wished to convey their thanks to the older people who had prepared the jellies, cream, cakes and especially their fine birthday cake. His message was-that the Cubs should try to make their lives birthday presents to the world. Some men and women had lived in the world who had given their life’s efforts, their wisdom and work to mankind. Thomas Edison had made birthday presents of the gramophone and electric light to tho world. Quite a good birthday present was being made to the world by Rovers, Scouters, etc. Wo should all make our lives as good as we can and live them in such a way 1 that they became a birthday present to the world.

The Cubs then gave cheers for the following: Rev. Ker, Airs. Gilbert, committee, visitors, Miss Spurdie and Al ax Bovd, A.C.M.

Play. Below is reproduced the copy of the very line play performed by the Westmere Pack at the recent Cub evening held in St. Paul’s Hall. Permission to use this should first be obtained from Miss J. Norrie, Lady Cubmastor of the Westmere Pack. How the Monkeys Stole Mowgli. (By “Cubmaster, Westmere Pack.”) Characters: Page, Mowgli, Baloo, Kaa, Monkeys. Enter Page. Page: Ladies and gentlemen, we are now going to act an incident taken from Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book.” A boy named Mowgli has been stolen and brought up by flic wolves of the jungle. The monkeys see him at play and decide to kidnap him and make him teach them the secrets of the Wolf Pack. Those who come into Iho story are: First of all Mowgli, the boy cub (enter and exit), Baloo. the fat old bear who teaches the Wolf Cubs the laws of the jungle (enter and exit), Kaa. the snake, who steals the young monkeys in the night (enter and exit), and the monkeys, without law or langu age, despised by all other animals (enter and exit). Scene I. Mowgli has left his teacher, Baloo. the bear. and. lulled by the twittering

of the birds and the soft chattering of a nearby stream, falsi inio a drowsy slumber. While he sleeps the monkeys steal upon him: Enter Mowgli and falls asleep. Enter monkeys, who steal up and grab him. Monkey: Be quiet, boy-cub. All squeal.

Monkey: Conic Xvith us. We are going to take you to live with us and show us how to build houses. (All squeal). Monkey: Come on. Uff you come. (Lead Mowgli away. All squeal). Mowgli: 00-00-00. Don’t pull so hard—oh! (exit).

Page: Two of the strongest monkeys catch Mowgli under the arms and swing off with him through tree-tops, twenty feet, at a bound. They rush him up a tree till he feels the topmost branches crackle and bend under them, and then with a cough and a whoop fling themselves into the air, outward and d(*vnwsid, and bring up banging by their hands and feet to the lower limbs of the next tree. Sometimes he can see for miles across the still, green jungle, and then the branches and leaves lash him across the face and he and his two guards are almost to earth again. So, bounding and crashing and whooping and yelling, the whole tribe of monkeys sweep along the tree-roads with Mowgli their prisoner. Enter monkeys with Mowgli—pretend to be jumping from tree to tree. Alowgli: Oh! Oh—oo, look how high up we arc—oo —this branch is breaking. Oh, gracious, stop—quick, please stop. Oo —do please take me back. Gracious, oh what a jump! Oh! Save me. Oh! Pack! Pack! Pack! (Silence). Monkeys squeal again and exit. Page: See how the moikeys became silent when they hoard Mowgli call

“Pack” for that is tho jungle call—the cry which if heard would bring to his aid the whole Seonnee Pack. Has he been heard? But nothing troubles the monkeys for long and on they go with Mowgli. Meanwhile, high up in the sky, the kite Chil has heard Mowgli's call and watches -where the monkeys are taking him. Then ho swoops down and breathlessly tells Baloo, the bear. Baloo, frantic with rage and grief, seeks for Kaa, the snake, the one the monkeys fear most

Scene 11. (Somewhere in the Forest.) Enter Kan. Falls asleep. Enter Baloo, shakes Kaa. Baloo: Quick, Kaa. wake up. The monkeys have stolen the little boy-cub. Please come and pet him back. Kaa: 'Ssss. What do you want? Oh, it’s you, you fat old bear. Well, run away. Baloo: But, Kaa, the monkeys have stolen Mowgli, the boy-cub. Kaa: I don’t care, run away. Baloo: The monkeys said you were a footless, yellow worm! Kaa: What! 1 ‘yellow-fish. ” I’ll

“yellow-fish” them, "i’ll eat them up. I’ll squash them to bits. I’ll bit© their tails off.

Baloo: It was worse than that. It was worm—worm —worm! Footless yellow worm!

Kaa: Worm! I’ll tear out their eyes for that! Just wait till I get them. Quick, come on, you old humbug. Show me where they went.

Baloo: This way. The kite Chil said they went, to the ruined town. (Exit).

Page: The monkeys are bringing the boy to an old deserted city, lost and buried in the jungle. The monkeys call the place their city, and yet they never know what the buildings are for, nor how to use them. They sit in circles in the hall of the king’s council and scratch for fleas and pretend to be men; or they run in and out of the roofless houses, collecting and hiding pieces of plaster and old bricks in a corner, and forgetting where they have hidden them, and fight and cry in scuffling crowds, and then break off to the king’s garden, where they shake the rose and orange trees in sport, to see the fruit and flowers fall Ths Final Scene. (The .Ruined City.) Enter monkeys and dance round Mowgli. Monkey: Ho! Hi! Ha! Listen, monkeys, this is our leader. He will show us how to weave sticks together so the rain can’t get at us. (Monkeys squeal). Mowgli: I wish to eat. I am a stranger in this part of the' jungle. Bring me food or give me leave to hunt here. (Monkets squeal). Oh, what a noise vou all make. You’re a senseless lot. Monkey: We are great. We are free. We arc wonderful. We are the most wonderful people in all the jungle. We all say so and so it must be so. (Squeals'). Mowgli: 1 think you are very foolish. Monkey: Liar! Mowgli: Silly fools !. Monkey: He* s calling us fools. Monkey: Tear him to bits. Monkey: Kill him. All attack Mowgli. Enter Baloo. Baloo: Mowgli!

Mowgli: Help, Baloo. Pack! Pack! Pack! (Baloo joins in fight. Enter Kaa),

Kaa: Sssss. Sssss-sss. (Silence). Watch, you monkeys. You called mo a worm! Yellow worm, mind you. Well, watch my eyes. The eyes which can hold spellbound all but a man. Watch, I tel] you. Sssss. Now I am going to eat you up—one by one. Hsss. (Mowgli pulls Baloo back. Kaa swallows the monkeys and sleeps.) Page: After his big meal Kaa lay down to sleep it off. Look! Now he is going to shed his skin (Sheds skin). Now, Chil the kite, bring home the night That Mang the Bat sets free— The herds are shut in lyre and hut For loosed till dawn are we. This is the hour of pride and power, Talon and tusk and claw. Oh. hoar the call!—Good hunting al! That keep the jungle law! Kaa gets up and 'hisses off. Exit Baloo and Muwgli.

Further Songs. Just a song at twilight, when the lights are low, And the flickering shadows softly come and go, Tho’ the heart bo weary, sad the day and long, Still to us at twilight comes love’s sweet song, Come ’a love *s sweet song. Hi! Tack up your troubles in your old kit bag And smile, smile, smile; While you’ve a lucifcr to light your fag. Smile, boys, that’s the style; What’s the use of worrying? it never was worth while, So pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile! Qood-bye-ee. Good-byc-ee. Wipe the tear, baby, dear, from your eye e. Tho’ it’s hard to part, I know, I’ll be tickled to death to go. Dou’t cry-eo, don’t sigh ee, there’s a silver lining in tho skyee, Bon soir, old thing. Cheerio, chinchin. Kah-poo, Toodle-00. Good-bve-ee.