Chapter 16

BOOKS TO READ.

"Courage." By Charles Wagner. (Published by T. Fisher Unwin, London.)

"Golden Deeds." (Macmillan.)

"Parents and Children." Miss Charlotte Mason.

"Duty." By Samuel Smiles, 2s. (Murray.) (Published by Kegan Paul.)

Practice unselfishness by a picnic to which all contribute what they are able to, according to their means. No remarks to be allowed on the amounts given.

Call for volunteers for some dangerous enterprise, such as "Dispatch Running," or some other game made dangerous by the condition that if the scout selected to do the dangerous job fails he will lose his life; that is, will forfeit his scout's badge permanently. If he succeeds he may get up to 15 marks towards a badge of merit.

Any games such as football, basketball, etc., where rules are strictly enforced, are good for teaching discipline and unselfishness.

Ju-jitsu has many excellent points, too, in that direction.

"Bowmanship."—Crossbow shooting. Scouts should, if possible, make their own crossbows.

"Longbowmanship" as by the archers of the Middle Ages. Scouts to make their own bows and arrows if possible. Read Aylward's doings in "The White Company."

"Quarter Staff Play" with scouts' staves, as played by the yeomen and apprentices in old days.

CAMP FIRE YARN.—No. 22.SELF-IMPROVEMENT.

Religion—Thrift—How to get on.

This camp fire yarn opens to instructors a wide field for the most important work of all in this scheme of Boy Scouts, and gives you an opportunity for doing really valuable work for the nation.

The prevailing want of religion should be remedied by a practical working religion rather than a too spiritual one at first.

Self-Employment.—A great amount of poverty and unemployedness results from boys being allowed to run riot outside the school walls as loafers, or from being used early in life as small wage-earners, such as errand boys, etc., and then finding themselves at the commencement of manhood without any knowledge of a trade to go on with, and unable to turn their hand to any work out of their one immediate line. They are helpless and unemployable. It is here that as instructor you can do invaluable work for the boy, by getting each in turn to talk privately over his future, and to map out a line for himself, and to start preparing himself for it. Encourage him to take up "hobbies" or handicrafts.

The suggestions offered here are, owing to the want of space, very limited in number, but your own experience or imagination will probably provide many more.

DUTY TO GOD.

An old British chieftain, some thirteen hundred years ago, said:

Our life has always seemed to me like the flight of a sparrow through the great hall, when one is sitting at meals with the log-fire blazing on the hearth, and all is storm and darkness outside. He comes in, no one knows from where, and hovers for a short time in the warmth and light, and then flies forth again into the darkness. And so it is with the life of a man; he comes no one knows from where; he is here in the world for a short time till he flies forth again, no one knows whither. But now you show us that if we do our duty during our life we shall not fly out into darkness again when life is ended, since Christ has opened a door for us to enter a brighter room, a Heaven where we can go and dwell in peace for ever.

This old chief was speaking for all the chiefs of northern England when King Edwin had introduced to them a knowledge of the Christian religion; and they adopted it then and there as one more comforting to them than their old Pagan worship of heathen gods; and ever since those days the Christian religion has been the one to rule our country.

Religion is a very simple thing:

1st. To believe in God.2nd. To do good to other people.

1st. To believe in God.

2nd. To do good to other people.

The old knights, who were the scouts of the nation, were very religious. They were always careful to attend church or chapel, especially before going into battle or undertaking any serious difficulty. They considered it was the right thing always to Be Prepared for death. In the great church of Malta you can see to-day where the old knights used to pray, and they all stood up and drew their swords during the reading of the Creed, as a sign that they were prepared to defend the gospel with their swords and lives. Besides worshipping God in church, the knights always recognised His work in the things which He made, such as animals, plants, and scenery. And so it is with peace scouts to-day that wherever they go they love the woodlands, the mountains, and the prairies, and they like to watch and know about the animals that inhabit them and the wonders of the flowersand plants. No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws. So every scout should have a religion.

There are many kinds of religion such as Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Mohammedans, and so on, but the main point about them is that they all worship God, although in different ways. They are like an army which serves one king, though it is divided into different branches, such as cavalry, artillery, and infantry, and these wear different uniforms. So, when you meet a boy of a different religion from your own, you should not be hostile to him, but recognise that he is like a soldier in your own army, though in a different uniform, and still serving the same king as you.

In doing your duty to God, always be grateful to Him. Whenever you enjoy a pleasure or a good game, or succeed in doing a good thing, thank Him for it, if only with a word or two, just as you say grace after a meal. And it is a good thing to bless other people. For instance, if you see a train starting off, just pray for God's blessing on all that are in the train and so on.

In doing your duty towards man, be helpful and generous and also always be grateful for any kindness done to you, and be careful to show that you are grateful.

Remember that a present given to you is not yours until you have thanked for it. While you are the sparrow flying through the Hall, that is to say, while you are living your life on this earth, try and do something good which may remain after you. One writer says:

I often think that when the sun goes down the world is hidden by a big blanket from the light of Heaven, but the stars are little holes pierced in that blanket by those who have done good deeds in this world. The stars are not all the same size; some are big, some little, and some men have done great deeds and others have done small deeds, but they have made their hole in the blanket by doing good before they went to Heaven.

Try and make your hole in the blanket by good work while you are on the earth.

It is something tobegood, but it is far better todogood.

THRIFT.

It is a funny thing that out of you boys who now read these words, some of you are certain to become rich men, and some of you may die in poverty and misery. And it just depends on your own selves which you are going to do.

And you can very soon tell which your future is going to be.

The fellow who begins making money as a boy will go on making it as a man. You may find it difficult to do at first, but it will come easier later on; but if you begin and if you go on, remember, you are pretty certain to succeed in the end—especially if you get your money by hard work.

If you only try to make it by easy means—that is by betting, say, on a football match or a horse-race—you are bound to lose after a time. Nobody who makes bets ever wins in the end; it is the book-maker, the man who receives the bets, that scores over it. Yet there are thousands of fools who go on putting their money on because they won a bit once or hope to win some day.

Any number of poor boys have become rich men—but in nearly every case it was because they meant to do so from the first; they worked for it, and put every penny they could make into the bank to begin with.

So each one of you has the chance if you like to take it. The great owner of millions of pounds, J. Astor, began his career as a poor boy-pedlar with seven German flutes as his stock-in-trade. He sold them for more than he gave and went on increasing his business.

The knights of old were ordered by their rules to be thrifty, that is to save money as much as possible, not to expend large sums on their own enjoyment, but to save it in order that they might keep themselves and not be a burden to others, and also in order that they might have more to give away in charity; and if they had no money of their own, they were not allowed to beg for it, they must work and make it in one way or another. Thus money-making goes with manliness, hard work, and sobriety.

Boys are not too young to work for money.

Mr Thomas Holmes, the police-court missionary, tells us how hundreds of poor boys in London are working pluckily and well at making their living, even while doing their school work. They get up early, at half-past four in the morning, and go round with milk or bakers' barrows till about eight, and after that off to school; back in the afternoon to the shop to clean the pails and cans. They save up their money every day; those who have mothers, hand it over to them; those who have not, store it up or bank it. They are regular men before they are twelve years of age, and good examples to other boys wherever they may be.

There are many ways by which a scout, or a patrol working together, can make money, such as:

Carpentering.—Making arm-chairs, recovering old furniture, etc., is a very paying trade. Fretwork and carving, picture-frames, birdcages, cabinets, carved pipe-bowls, can be sold through a shop.

Get permission to cut certain sticks in hedges or woods and trim them into walking-sticks, after hanging them with weights attached to straighten and dry them. Breeding canaries, chickens, rabbits, or dogs pays well. Beekeeping brings in from £1 to £2 a year per hive, after you have paid for hive and queen bee or swarm.

You can make novel sets of buttons out of bootlaces. Collect old packing cases and boxes and chop them into bundles of firewood. Make nets, besoms, etc., for gardeners. Keeping goats and selling their milk will pay in some places. Basket making, pottery, book-binding, etc., all bring money. Or a patrol working together can form themselves into a corps of messenger-boys in a country town, or they can get an allotment garden and work it for selling vegetables and flowers, or they can make themselves into a minstrel troupe, or perform scouting displays or pageants, etc., like those shown in this book, and take money at the doors.

HOW TO MAKE BUTTONS OUT OF BOOTLACES. 1.HOW TO MAKE BUTTONS OUT OF BOOTLACES. 1.

HOW TO MAKE BUTTONS OUT OF BOOTLACES. 1.

2.2.

3.3.

4.4. Continue till you have the whole knot doubled or trebled.

4. Continue till you have the whole knot doubled or trebled.

5.5. The loop for attaching the button is moved from its original position to hang from the centre of the knot.

5. The loop for attaching the button is moved from its original position to hang from the centre of the knot.

6.6. Pull all tight, cut off loose end, and the button is complete.

6. Pull all tight, cut off loose end, and the button is complete.

These are only a few suggestions; there are loadsof other ways of making money which you can think out for yourselves, according to the place you are in.

But in order to get money you must expect to work. The actor, Ted Payne, used to say in one of his plays, "I don't know what is wrong with me, I eat well, I drink well, and I sleep well, but somehow whenever anybody mentions the word 'Work' to me I get a cold shudder all over me." That is what happens to a great many men in England, I am afraid. There are a good many other chicken-hearted fellows, who, when any work faces them "get a cold shudder all over them"; or when trouble comes, they go and take to drink, instead of facing it and working it off.

Start a money-box, put any money you can make into that, and when you have got a fair amount in it, hand it over to a bank, and start an account for yourself. As a scout, you have to have a certain amount in the savings bank before you can become entitled to wear a badge. Save your pence and you'll get pounds.

(Scouts' Money Boxes can be obtained from Manager Boy Scouts, Henrietta Street, London, W.C.)

A few years ago the American Government was at war with rebels in the island of Cuba. (Point out on map.)

America, as you know, is ruled by a President and not by a King. The late President, McKinley, wanted to send a letter to Garcia, the chief of the rebels in Cuba, but did not know how to get it taken to him, as the rebels were a savage lot inhabiting a wild and difficult country.

When he was talking it over with his advisers, someone said: "There's a young fellow called Rowan who seems to be able to get anything done that you ask him. Why not try him?"

So Rowan was sent for, and when he came in the President explained why he had sent for him, and, putting the letter in his hand, said: "Now, I want that letter sent to Garcia."

The lad simply smiled and said, "I see," and walked out of the room without saying another word.

Some weeks passed and Rowan appeared again at the President's door and said, "I gave your letter to Garcia, sir," and walked out again. Of course, Mr. McKinley had him back and made him explain how he had done it.

It turned out that he had got a boat and sailed away in her for some days; had landed on the coast of Cuba, and disappeared into the jungle; in three weeks' time he reappeared on the other side of the island having gone through the enemy and found Garcia, and given him the letter.

He was a true scout, and that is the way a scout should carry out an order when he gets it. No matter how difficult it may seem he should tackle it, with a smile; the more difficult it is the more interesting it will be to carry out.

Most fellows would have asked a lot of questions—first as to how they were to set about it, how they could get to the place, where were they to get food from, and so on; but not so Rowan: he merely learnt what duty was wanted of him, andhedid the rest without a word; any fellow who acts like that is certain to get on.

We have a lot of good scouts already in England among the District Messenger Boys in London. These lads, from having difficult jobs frequently given them and beingexpectedto carry them out successfully, take them on with the greatest confidence in themselves; and, without asking a lot of silly questions, they start off in a businesslike way, and do them.

That is the way to deal with any difficulty in life. If you get a job or a trouble that seems to you to be too big for you, don't shirk it: smile, think out a way by which you might get successfully through with it, and then go at it.

Remember that "a difficulty is no longer a difficulty when once you laugh at it—and tackle it."

Don't be afraid of making a mistake. Napoleon said "Nobody ever made anything who never made a mistake."

Memory.—Then practise remembering things. A fellow who has a good memory will get on because so many other people have bad memories from not practising them.

At the Olympic Theatre, Liverpool, the forgetfulness on the part of the people in the audience gradually made it necessary for the manager to keep a special room and ledgers for all lost articles left behind in the theatre after each performance. But the happy idea struck him of putting a notice on the curtain by means of a bioscope lantern a few minutes before the end of the performance saying, "Please look under your seat before leaving."

This has made a great difference in the number of things left behind.

People used to leave every kind of thing, even medicine bottles, and false teeth; and once a cheque for £50 was left.

Luck.—A great coral island is build up of tiny sea insects blocking themselves together; so also great knowledge in a man is built up by his noticing all sorts of little details and blocking them together in his mind byrememberingthem.

If you want to catch a tramcar when it is not at a stopping station you don't sit down and let it run past you and then say, "How unlucky I am"; you run and jump on. It is just the same with what some people call "luck"; they complain that luck never comes to them. Well, luck is really the chance of getting something good or of doing something great; the thing is to look out for every chance and seize it—run at it and jump on—don't sit down and wait for it to pass you. Opportunity is a tramcar which has very few stopping places.

Choose a Career.—"Be Prepared" for what is going to happen to you in the future. If you are in a situation where you are earning money as a boy what are you going to do when you finish that job? You ought to be learning some proper trade to take up; and save your pay in the meantime, to keep you going till you get employment in your new trade.

And try to learn something of a second trade in case the first one fails you at any time, as so very often happens.

If you want to serve your King and Country there is the Royal Navy open to you, a fine service with its grand traditions, its splendid ships, guns, and seamen. It takes you across the seas to our great Colonies and to foreign lands, from the frozen Arctic to the tropical coasts of Africa.

Or there is the Army, with cavalry, infantry, artillery, engineers, and other branches, in which you can wear the uniform of your country and do good work in every climate under the sun.

In either service a good and honourable career is open to you—for you have everything found for you, food, housing, clothing, and hospital, with good pay and the certainty of promotion and pension for the rest of your life if you make up your mind to serve loyally, steadily, and well. In such a career you have plenty of adventure and you are among good comrades and friends. And if you start early to save your pay, and not to throw it away as too many do, you can easily put by £25 a year in the bank.

[The instructor should similarly give advice on other trades and professions, especially those in the neighbourhood.]

Market Gardening.—The patrol or troop can work an allotment or other garden and sell the produce for their fund.

For a Troop or a Number of Troops.—Offer a good prize for the best article made by a scout with materials which have not cost more than 2s. Entrance fee to competition 3d.

Have an exhibition of these, coupled with displays and scenes, etc., by the scouts, and take money at the doors.

At the end sell the articles by auction: the articles which fetch the highest prices win the prizes.

Instruction Classesin Esperanto, Bookkeeping, Mechanics, Electricity, and, especially, Shorthand.

Army Class.—At the Home Office School, Stoke Farm, boys are put through the same examination as in the Army Schools for promotion certificates. They thus know their classification should they then go into the Army.

Memorizing.—Read something to the boys, a line or two at a time, to see who can repeat it best. To concentrate the mind and develop memory.

Mr. G. L. Boundy of Exeter has had great success in developing intelligence amongst his lads by taking parties of them round to see the different factories in Exeter. They all take notes and rough drawings as they go along and reproduced them the following meeting, and report on what they have seen.

Conditions of service in the Royal Navy, Army, Post, Telegraph, or Police can be obtained at the nearest Post Office or Police Station.

Conditions of service in the Mercantile Marine or Training for it can be obtained from the Navy League: Lancashire Sea Training Home for boys from 13-1/2 to 15-1/2., 28 Chapel Street, Liverpool.

Post Office Savings Bank, Penny Banks and Benefit Societies exist in all leading towns and will give full information. As an example:

National Deposit Friendly Society, 37 Queen Square, Southampton Row, London. Payments for children from 6d. a month, adults 2s. 3d. and entitles them to sick pay, pension, funeral expenses, in addition to their own cash capital.

So soon as it becomes possible organise an employment agency for getting your boys in touch with employers, etc.

"Thrift," by Samuel Smiles. 2s. (John Murray.)

"One Hundred and One Ways of Making Money." 1s. (Sell & Odling, London.)

"Do It Now," by Peter Keary. 1s. (C. A. Pearson Ltd.)

"Rabbits for Profit," by J. Brod. 1s.

"The Secrets of Success," by Peter Keary. 1s. (C. A. Pearson Ltd.)

"Bees for Pleasure and Profit," by Swanson. 1s.

"Esperanto for the Million." 1d. (Stead, 39 Whitefriars Street, London, E.C.)

"Cassell's Handbooks." 1s. 6d. each. Joinery, Pottery, Painters' Work, etc.

"Work Handbooks" series. 1s. each. On Harness-making, Tinplate, Pumps, Bookbinding, Signwriting, Beehives, etc.

"How to Make Baskets," by Miss White. 1s.

"Rafia Work," by M. Swannell. 2s. (Geo. Philip & Son, Fleet Street.) ["Rafia" or "Bast" is the inner bark of a tree and is used for making baskets, mats, hats, etc.]

"Self Help," by S. Smiles. 2s. (John Murray.)

See also "Papers on Trades for Boys" in Boys Brigade Gazette.

CONTENTS OF PARTS V. and VI.PART V.Saving Life and First-Aid.Patriotism and Loyalty.PART VI.Scouting Games, Competitions, and Plays.Words to Instructors.

CONTENTS OF PARTS V. and VI.

PART V.

Saving Life and First-Aid.

Patriotism and Loyalty.

PART VI.

Scouting Games, Competitions, and Plays.

Words to Instructors.

So great has been the success of this Handbook, "Scouting for Boys," that Lt.-Gen. Baden-Powell has decided to complete it with Part 6, and make arrangements instead for a weekly penny paper for young men, to be entitled:

THE SCOUT,

in order to get into quicker touch with the numerous scouting patrols being formed.

Full particulars will be given later. Meanwhile all communications should be addressed to Messrs. C. Arthur Pearson Ltd., 17-18 Henrietta Street, Strand, London, W.C., who will be the publishers.

WHAT PARTS I., II., and III. CONTAIN.

Part I.—SCOUTCRAFT.

Special Foreword for Instructors.—TheBoy Scoutsscheme and its easy applicationto all existing organisations.

Scoutcraft.—Its wide uses and wide interest.

Summary of Scout's Course of Instruction, showing the scope of Scout's work.

Organisation.—Dress, secret signs, scouts' songs, and tests for badges of honour.

Scouts' Law and Scouts' Honourunder the guiding motto "Be Prepared."

Scouting Games and Practicesfor indoors and out of doors, in town and in country.

Part II.—TRACKING and WOODCRAFT.

OBSERVATIONand its value; how to use your eyes, nose, and ears, and how to follow a night trail.

Spooring.—Tracks of men and animals and games in tracking.

Reading "Sign"and making deductions from it.

Woodcraft.—How to stalk and how to hide properly.

Animals.—How to stalk and know them—a better game than stamp collecting.

Birds, Fishes, and Insectsall scouts should know.

Plants and Trees.

Games and Competitionsin Tracking, Stalking, and Woodcraft.

Part III.—LIFE IN THE OPEN.

CAMPS AND CAMPAIGNING.

Pioneer Dodges.—How to make huts, knots, and bridges.

Camp Comfort Hints.—Right ways to make fires and to keep the camp straight and clean.

Cooking.—How to use your cooking-tin; ideas for camp games.

Open Air Life.—Water games; weather reading; exploration at home; night work.

PATHFINDING.—How to find your way; methods of signalling by code, whistle, smoke, flame, and flag; some good games.

Part V.FORTNIGHTLY.Price 4d. net.Scouting for BoysBYB-PPublished by Horace Cox, Windsor House,Bream's Buildings, London, e.c.

Part V.FORTNIGHTLY.Price 4d. net.

Scouting for Boys

B-P

Published by Horace Cox, Windsor House,

Bream's Buildings, London, e.c.

Scouting for Boys.A HANDBOOK FOR INSTRUCTIONINGOOD CITIZENSHIP.BYLieut.-General R. S. S. BADEN-POWELL,C.B., F.R.G.S.All communications should be addressed to—Lieut.-General BADEN-POWELL,Boy Scouts' Office,Goschen Buildings,Henrietta Street,LONDON, W.C.by whom Scouts will be enrolled, and from whereall further information can be obtained.Copyrighted by Lieut.-GeneralR. S. S. Baden-Powell, C.B., F.R.G.S.1908.All rights reserved.

Scouting for Boys.

A HANDBOOK FOR INSTRUCTION

GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

Lieut.-General R. S. S. BADEN-POWELL,C.B., F.R.G.S.

All communications should be addressed to—

Lieut.-General BADEN-POWELL,

Boy Scouts' Office,

Goschen Buildings,

Henrietta Street,

LONDON, W.C.

by whom Scouts will be enrolled, and from where

all further information can be obtained.

Copyrighted by Lieut.-GeneralR. S. S. Baden-Powell, C.B., F.R.G.S.

1908.

Continuation of PART IV.—Sobriety: Practise Observation; Fortitude; Notes to Instructors.

PART V.

CONTENTS: CHAPTER VIII.

(Commences on page279.)

SAVING LIFE;

or, How to Deal with Accidents.

HINTS TO INSTRUCTORS.

CAMP FIRE YARNS.

23.—Be Prepared for Accidents: The Knights Hospitallers of St. John; Boy Heroes; Girl Heroines; Life-Saving Medals.

24.—Accidents and How to Deal with Them: Panic; Fire; Drowning; Horses; Mad Dog; Miscellaneous.

25.—Aid to the Injured: First Aid; Prevention of Suicide.

PRACTICES, GAMES, and DISPLAYS IN LIFE-SAVING.

BOOKS TO READ.

CONTENTS: CHAPTER IX.

(Commences on page309).

PATRIOTISM;

or, Our Duties as Citizens.

HINTS TO INSTRUCTORS.

CAMP FIRE YARNS.

26.—Our Empire: How it Grew; How it must be Maintained.

27.—Citizenship: Duties of Scouts as Citizens; Duties as Citizen Soldiers; Marksmanship; Helping the Police.

28.—United We Stand, Divided We Fall: Our Flag; Our Navy and Army; Our Government; Our King.

BOOKS TO READ.

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