Transcriber's note: Page numbers in this book are indicated by numbers enclosed in curly braces, e. G. {99}. They have been located where page breaks occurred in the original book. Descriptions of illustrations are indented to distinguish them from the running text. The "next" page immediately preceding or following a group of illustrations may jump to account for the pages occupied by the illustrations. Italic are enclosed in underscores: _this is italicized_. Some suggestions that have serious consequences are noted (e. G. , Use lead acetate to waterproof a tent). Numerous untitled or otherwise ambiguous illustrations are described and annotated with (tr)--transcriber. End Transcriber's note. BOY SCOUTS HANDBOOK_The First Edition, 1911_ [Illustration: Boy Scouts at camp. (tr)] BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Boy Scouts of AmericaOfficial National OutSIGMUND EISNER New York Salesrooms103 Fifth AvenueRed Bank. N. J. [Illustration: Two Boy Scouts in full uniform. (tr)]Each part of the uniform is stamped with the official seal of the BoyScouts of America. If there is no agency for the official uniform in your city write forsamples. SIGMUND EISNER Manufacturer of U. S. Army and National Guard Uniform The Best Food for The Boy Scouts is [Illustration: Cereal bowl. (tr)] Shredded Wheat because it has all the muscle-building, bone-making material in thewhole wheat grain prepared in a digestible form, supplying all thestrength needed for work or play. It is ready-cooked and ready-to-eat. It has the greatest amount of body-building nutriment in smallestbulk. Its crispness compels thorough mastication, and the more youchew it the better you like it. Shredded Wheat is the favorite food ofathletes. It is on the training table of nearly every college anduniversity in this country. The records show that the winners of manybrilliant rowing and track events have been trained on Shredded Wheat. _The BISCUIT is in little loaf form. It is baked a crisp, golden brown. It is eaten with milk or cream, or fruit, or is delicious when eatenas a toast with butter. TRISCUIT is the Shredded Wheat wafer---theideal food for the camp or the long tramp_. _Building buster boys is bully business--that's the reason we want tohelp the Boy Scout movement_. The Shredded Wheat CompanyNiagara Falls, N. Y. [Illustration: Getting the final word before hiking. ] BOY SCOUTS of AMERICATHE OFFICIAL HANDBOOKFOR BOYS [Illustration: First Class Scout Emblem. (tr)] _Published for_THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA200 FIFTH AVENUENEW YORKGARDEN CITY, NEW YORKDOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY1911 COPYRIGHT 1911BY BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BOY SCOUT CERTIFICATE This is to certify that _________of ___________ State of _________Street and City or Town address Age_____ Height_____ Weigh_____ is a member of ________ Patrol, of Troop No. _____ ________________Scout Master SCOUT HISTORY Qualified as Tenderfoot ________ 191_ Second Class Scout _________ 191_ First Class Scout _______ 191_ QUALIFIED FOR MERIT BADGESSUBJECT DATE1________________ ________________2________________ ________________3________________ ________________4________________ ________________5________________ ________________ Qualified as Life Scout ________________ Qualified as Star Scout ________________ Qualified as Eagle Scout ________________ Awarded Honor Medal ________________ {v} PREFACE The Boy Scout Movement has become almost universal, and whereverorganized its leaders are glad, as we are, to acknowledge the debt weall owe to Lieut. -Gen. Sir Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, who has done somuch to make the movement of interest to boys of all nations. The BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA is a corporation formed by a group of menwho are anxious that the boys of America should come under theinfluence of this movement and be built up in all that goes to makecharacter and good citizenship. The affairs of the organization aremanaged by a National Council, composed of some of the most prominentmen of our country, who gladly and freely give their time and moneythat this purpose may be accomplished. In the various cities, towns, and villages, the welfare of the boyscouts is cared for by local councils, and these councils, like theNational Council are composed of men who are seeking for the boys ofthe community the very best things. In order that the work of the boy scouts throughout America may beuniform and intelligent, the National Council has prepared its"Official Handbook, " the purpose of which is to furnish to the patrolsof the boy scouts advice in practical methods, as well as inspiringinformation. The work of preparing this handbook has enlisted the services of meneminently fitted for such work, for each is an expert in his owndepartment, and the Editorial Board feels that the organization is tobe congratulated in that such men have been found willing to givetheir time and ripe experience to this movement. It would beimpossible adequately to thank all who by advice and friendlycriticism have helped in the preparation of the book, or even tomention their names, but to the authors whose names are attached tothe various chapters, we acknowledge an especial obligation. Withouttheir friendly help this book could not be. We wish especially toexpress our appreciation of the helpful suggestions made by DanielCarter Beard. We have carefully examined and approved all the material which goes tomake up {vi} the manual, and have tried to make it as complete aspossible; nevertheless, no one can be more conscious than we are ofthe difficulty of providing a book which will meet all the demands ofsuch widely scattered patrols with such varied interests. We haveconstantly kept in mind the evils that confront the boys of ourcountry and have struck at them by fostering better things. Our hopeis that the information needed for successful work with boy scoutswill be found within the pages of this book. In these pages and throughout our organization we have made itobligatory upon our scouts that they cultivate courage, loyalty, patriotism, brotherliness, self-control, courtesy, kindness toanimals, usefulness, cheerfulness, cleanliness, thrift, purity andhonor. No one can doubt that with such training added to his nativegifts, the American boy will in the near future, as a man, be anefficient leader in the paths of civilization and peace. It has been deemed wise to publish all material especially for the aidof scout masters in a separate volume to be known as "The ScoutMasters' Manual. " We send out our "Official Handbook, " therefore, with the earnest wishthat many boys may find in it new methods for the proper use of theirleisure time and fresh inspiration in their efforts to make theirhours of recreation contribute to strong, noble manhood in the days tocome. THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICAEditorial Board. WILLIAM D. MURRAYGEORGE D. PRATT, A. A. JAMESON, {vii} OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCILBOY SCOUTS OF AMERICATHE FIFTH AVENUE BUILDING, 200 FIFTH AVENUENEW YORK CITY Honorary President THE HON. WILLIAM H. TAFTHonorary Vice-President Colonel THEODORE ROOSEVELTPresident COLIN H. LIVINGSTONE, Washington, D. C. 1st Vice-President B. L. DULANEY, Bristol, Tenn. 2d Vice-President MILTON A. McRAE, Detroit, Mich. 3d Vice-President DAVID STARR JORDAN, Stanford, Ca. Chief Scout ERNEST THOMPSON SETON, Cos Cob, Conn. National Scout Commissioner DANIEL CARTER BEARD, Flushing, L. I. , N. Y. National Scout Commissioner Adj. -Gen. WILLIAM VERBECK, Albany, N. Y. National Scout Commissioner Colonel PETER S. BOMUS, New York CityTreasurer GEORGE D. PRATT, Brooklyn, N. Y. MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD COLIN H. LIVINGSTONE, ChairmanDaniel Carter BeardMilton A. McRaeMortimer L. SchiffCol. Peter S. BomusWilliam D. MurrayErnest Thompson SetonB. L. DulaneyGeorge D. PrattSeth Sprague TerryLee F. HanmerFrank PresbreyAdj. -Gen. William VerbeckGeorge W. HinckleyEdgar M. RobinsonJAMES E. WEST, Executive Secretary MEMBERS OF NATIONAL COUNCIL Charles Conrad AbbottArthur AdamsDr. Felix AdlerHarry A. AllisonHenry Morrell AtkinsonB. N. BakerRay Stannard BakerEvelyn Briggs BaldwinClifford W. BarnesDaniel Carter BeardHenry M. BeardsleyMartin BehrmanAugust BelmontErnest P. Bicknell {viii} Edward BokColonel Peter S. BomusHon. Charles J. BonaparteWilliam D. BoyceH. S. BraucherRoeliff BrinkerhoffDr. Elmer E. BrownLuther BurbankDr. Richard C. CabotRev. S. Parkes CadmanArthur A. CareyE. C. CarterRichard B. CarterW. D. ChamplinThomas ChewWinston ChurchillG. A. ClarkP. P. ClaxtonRandall J. CondonC. M. ConnollyErnest K. CoulterDr. C. Ward CramptonGeorge H. DalrympleDr. George S. DavisE. B. DeGrootJudge William H. De LacyWilliam C. DemorestDr. Edward T. DevineAdmiral George DeweyGov. John A. DizMyron E. DouglasBenjamin L. DulaneyHon. T. C. Du PontDr. George W. EhlerGriffith Ogden EllisRobert Erskine ElyHenry P. EmersonHon. John J. EschJ. W. EvermanEberhard FaberDr. George J. FisherHorace FletcherHomer FolksDr. William Byron ForbushDr. Lee K. FrankelRobert Ives GammellHon. James R. GarfieldHamlin GarlandRobert GarrettWilliam H. GayBishop David H. GreerJesse A. GreggGeorge B. GrinnellS. R. GuggenheimLuther Halsey Gulick, M. D. Dr. G. Stanley HallDr. Winfield Scott HallLee F. HanmerDr. Hastings H. HartHon. W. M. HaysProf. C. R. HendersonClark W. HetheringtonGeorge W. HinckleyAllen HobenHon. R. P. HobsonRev. R. W. HogueJohn Sherman HoytC. R. H. JacksonProf. Jeremiah W. JenksG. E. JohnsonDr. David Starr JordanMayor William S. JordanOtto Herman KahnDr. William J. KerbyCharles H. KipDr. J. H. KirklandJudge Henry E. KlamrothRev. Walter LaidlowCharles R. LambJoseph LeeSamuel McC. LindsayJudge Ben B. LindseyColin H. LivingstoneCol. Frank L. LockeHon. Nicholas LongworthHon. Frank O. LowdenHon. Lee McClungWilliam McCormick {ix} Hon. Henry B. F. MacfarlandJ. Horace McFarlandC. W. McKeeHon. William B. McKinleyJ. S. McLainFrancis H. McLeanMilton A. McRaeCharles G. MaphisGeorge W. MantonEdgar S. MartinFrank S. MasonFrank Lincoln MasseckDr. William H. MaxwellLieut. -Gen. Nelson A. MilesJohn F. MooreArthur C. MosesWilliam D. MurrayDr. Cyrus NorthropFrank W. OberHon. C. S. PageDr. C. H. ParkhurstHon. Herbert ParsonsHon. Gifford PinchotDavid R. PorterGeorge D. PorterPerry Edwards PowellFrederic B. PrattGeorge D. PrattFrank PresbreyG. Barrett Rich, Jr. Jacob A. RiisClarence C. RobinsonEdgar M. RobinsonColonel Theodore RooseveltLincoln E. RowleyOliver J. SandsDr. D. A. SargentHenry B. SawyerMortimer L. SchiffCharles ScribnerGeorge L. SehonRear Admiral Thomas Oliver SelfridgeJefferson SeligmanJesse SeligmanErnest Thompson SetonSamuel ShumanRear Admiral Charles Dwight SigsbeeWilliam F. SlocumFred. B. SmithHon. George Otis SmithLorillard SpencerLorillard Spencer, Jr. Judge William H. StaakeHon. Adlai StevensonAndrew StevensonA. E. StilwellC. H. StoddardRev. John Timothy Stone, D. D. Isidor StrausHon. Oscar S. StrausJosiah StrongHon. William H. TaftEdward K. TaylorGraham Romeyn TaylorJudge Harry L. TaylorWilliam L. TerhuneSeth Sprague TerryJohn E. ThayerRev. James I. VanceDr. Henry Van DykeAdj. Gen. William VerbeckJohn WanamakerHenry L. WardLucien T. WarnerRichard Benedict WatrousRear Admiral J. C. WatsonW. D. WeatherfordDr. Benjamin Ide WheelerEli WhitneyMornay WilliamsGen. George W. WingateA. E. WinshipHenry Rogers WinthropMajor-Gen. Leonard WoodSurgeon-Gen. Walter WymanMajor Andrew C. Zabriskie {x} A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF SCOUT TO THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA: There was once a boy who lived in a region of rough farms. He was wildwith the love of the green outdoors--the trees, the tree-top singers, the wood-herbs and the live things that left their nightly tracks inthe mud by his spring well. He wished so much to know them and learnabout them, he would have given almost any price in his gift to knowthe name of this or that wonderful bird, or brilliant flower; he usedto tremble with excitement and intensity of interest when some newbird was seen, or when some strange song came from the trees to thrillhim with its power or vex him with its mystery, and he had a sad senseof lost opportunity when it flew away leaving him dark as ever. But hewas alone and helpless, he had neither book nor friend to guide him, and he grew up with a kind of knowledge hunger in his heart thatgnawed without ceasing. But this also it did: It inspired him with thehope that some day he might be the means of saving others from thissort of torment--he would aim to furnish to them what had been deniedto himself. There were other things in the green and living world that had abinding charm for him. He wanted to learn to camp out, to live againthe life of his hunter grandfather who knew all the tricks of winningcomfort from the relentless wilderness the foster-mother so rude tothose who fear her, so kind to the stout of heart. And he had yet another hankering--he loved the touch of romance. Whenhe first found Fenimore Cooper's books, he drank them in as oneparched might drink at a spring. He reveled in the tales of courageand heroic deeds, he gloated over records of their trailing andscouting by red man and white; he gloried in their woodcraft, andlived it all in imagination, secretly blaming the writer, a little, for praising without describing it so it could be followed. "Someday, " he said, "I shall put it all down for other boys to learn. " As years went by he found that there were books about most of thethings he wished to know, the stars, the birds, the {xi} quadrupeds, the fish, the insects, the plants, telling their names; their hiddenpower or curious ways, about the camper's life the language of signsand even some of the secrets of the trail. But they were veryexpensive and a whole library would be needed to cover the ground. What he wanted--what every boy wants--is a handbook giving the broadfacts as one sees them in the week-end hike, the open-air life. He didnot want to know the trees as a botanist, but as a forester; nor thestars as an astronomer, but as a traveler. His interest in the animalswas less that of anatomist than of a hunter and camper, and hiscraving for light on the insects was one to be met by a popular bookon bugs, rather than by a learned treatise on entomology. So knowing the want he made many attempts to gather the simple factstogether exactly to meet the need of other boys of like ideas, andfinding it a mighty task he gladly enlisted the help of men who hadlived and felt as he did. Young Scouts of America that boy is writing to you now. He thoughthimself peculiar in those days. He knows now he was simply a normalboy with the interests and desires of all normal boys, some of them alittle deeper rooted and more lasting perhaps--and all the thingsthat he loved and wished to learn have now part in the big broad workwe call Scouting. "Scout" used to mean the one on watch for the rest. We have widenedthe word a little. We have made it fit the town as well as thewilderness and suited it to peace time instead of war. We have madethe scout an expert in Life-craft as well as Wood-craft, for he istrained in the things of the heart as well as head and hand. Scoutingwe have made to cover riding, swimming, tramping, trailing, photography, first aid, camping, handicraft, loyalty, obedience, courtesy, thrift, courage, and kindness. Do these things appeal to you? Do you love the woods? Do you wish to learn the trees as the forester knows them? And thestars not as an astronomer, but as a traveler? Do you wish to have all-round, well-developed muscles, not those of agreat athlete, but those of a sound body that will not fail you? Wouldyou like to be an expert camper who can always make himselfcomfortable out of doors, and a swimmer that fears no waters? Do youdesire the knowledge to help the wounded quickly, and to make yourselfcool and self-reliant in an emergency? Do you believe in loyalty, courage, and kindness? Would {xii} you liketo form habits that will surely make your success in life? Then, whether you be farm boy or shoe clerk, newsboy or millionaire'sson, your place is in our ranks, for these are the thoughts inscouting; it will help you to do better work with your pigs, yourshoes, your papers, or your dollars; it will give you new pleasures inlife; it will teach you so much of the outdoor world that you wish toknow; and this Handbook, the work of many men, each a leader in hisfield, is their best effort to show you the way. This is, indeed, thebook that I so longed for, in those far-off days when I wandered, heart hungry in the woods. ERNEST THOMPSON SETON, Chief Scout. Headquarters Boy Scouts of America, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York City. June 1, 1911. {xiii} CONTENTS PAGEBoy Scout Certificate iiiPreface vOfficers and Members of the National Council vii CHAPTER I. Scoutcraft 3 AIM OF SCOUT MOVEMENT John L. Alexander WHAT SCOUTING MEANS John L. Alexander SCOUT VIRTUES John L. Alexander THE BOY SCOUT ORGANIZATION Special Committee SCOUT OATH Special Committee SCOUT LAW Special Committee TENDERFOOT, SECOND CLASS, AND FIRST CLASS SCOUT REQUIREMENTS Special Committee BADGES, AWARDS AND EQUIPMENT Special Committee KNOTS EVERY SCOUT SHOULD KNOW. Samuel A. Moffat CHAPTER II. Woodcraft 57 WOODLORE Ernest Thompson Seton BIRDCRAFT National Association Audubon Societies SHELLS AND SHELLFISH Dr. Wm. Healey Dall REPTILES Dr. Leonhard Stejneger INSECTS AND BUTTERFLIES United States Bureau of Entomology FISHES AND ANGLING Dr. Hugh M. Smith AQUARIUM Dr. Wm. Leland Stowell ROCKS AND PEBBLES United States Geological Survey FLOWERS, FERNS AND GRASSES Dr. L. C. Corbett MUSHROOMS, FUNGI OR TOADSTOOLS Ernest Thompson Seton COMMON NORTH AMERICAN TREES Ernest Thompson Seton NATIVE WILD ANIMALS Ernest Thompson Seton CHAPTER III. Campcraft 145 HIKING AND OVER-NIGHT CAMPS H. W. Gibson TENT MAKING MADE EASY H. J. Holden AN OPEN OUTING TENT Warren H. Miller CANOEING, ROWING, AND SAILING Special Committee {xiv} CHAPTER IV. Tracks, Trailing, and Signaling Ernest Thompson Seton 187 CHAPTER V. Health and Endurance George J. Fisher, M. D. 219 CHAPTER VI. Chivalry John L. Alexander 237 CHAPTER VII. First Aid and Life Saving Major Charles Lynch 255 WATER ACCIDENTS Wilbert E. Longfellow CHAPTER VIII. Games and Athletic Standards 291 INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GAMES Ernest Thompson Seton ATHLETIC STANDARDS Special Committee CHAPTER IX. Patriotism and Citizenship Waldo H. Sherman 323 PRACTICAL CITIZENSHIP Col. Theodore Roosevelt APPENDIX. EQUIPMENT 359 BOOKS FOR REFERENCE 369 INDEX 393 ADVERTISEMENTS HANDBOOK FOR BOYS {3} CHAPTER I SCOUTCRAFT _This chapter is the result of the work of the Committee on Scout Oath, Scout Law, Tenderfoot, Second-class and First-class Requirements; theCommittee on Badges, Awards, and Equipment; the Committee on PermanentOrganization and Field Supervision, and John L. Alexander and SamuelA. Moffat_. Aim of the Scout Movement_By John L. Alexander, Boy Scouts of America_ The aim of the Boy Scouts is to supplement the various existingeducational agencies, and to promote the ability in boys to do thingsfor themselves and others. It is not the aim to set up a neworganization to parallel in its purposes others already established. The opportunity is afforded these organizations, however, to introduceinto their programs unique features appealing to interests which areuniversal among boys. The method is summed up in the term Scoutcraft, and is a combination of observation, deduction, and handiness, or theability to do things. Scoutcraft includes instruction in First Aid, Life Saving, Tracking, Signaling, Cycling, Nature Study, Seamanship, Campcraft, Woodcraft, Chivalry, Patriotism, and other subjects. Thisis accomplished in games and team play, and is pleasure, not work, forthe boy. All that is needed is the out-of-doors, a group of boys, anda competent leader. What Scouting Means In all ages there have been scouts, the place of the scout being onthe danger line of the army or at the outposts, protecting those ofhis company who confide in his care. The army scout was the soldier who was chosen out of all the army togo out on the skirmish line. The pioneer, who was out on the edge of the wilderness, {4} guardingthe men, women, and children in the stockade, was also a scout. Shouldhe fall asleep, or lose control of his faculties, or fail on hiswatch, then the lives of the men, women, and children paid theforfeit, and the scout lost his honor. But there have been other kinds of scouts besides war scouts andfrontier scouts. They have been the men of all ages, who have gone outon new and strange adventures, and through their work have benefitedthe people of the earth. Thus, Columbus discovered America, thePilgrim Fathers founded New England, the early English settlerscolonized Jamestown, and the Dutch built up New York. In the same waythe hardy Scotch-Irish pushed west and made a new home for theAmerican people beyond the Alleghanies and the Rockies. These peace scouts had to be as well prepared as any war scouts. Theyhad to know scoutcraft. They had to know how to live in the woods, andbe able to find their way anywhere, without other chart or compassthan the sun and stars, besides being able to interpret the meaning ofthe slightest signs of the forest and the foot tracks of animals andmen. They had to know how to live so as to keep healthy and strong, to faceany danger that came their way, and to help one another. These scoutsof old were accustomed to take chances with death and they did nothesitate to give up their lives in helping their comrades or country. In fact, they left everything behind them, comfort and peace, in orderto push forward into the wilderness beyond. And much of this they didbecause they felt it to be their duty. These little-known scouts could be multiplied indefinitely by goingback into the past ages and reading the histories and stories of theknights of King Arthur, of the Crusaders, and of the great explorersand navigators of the world. Wherever there have been heroes, there have been scouts, and to be ascout means to be prepared to do the right thing at the right moment, no matter what the consequences may be. The way for achievement in big things is the preparing of one's selffor doing the big things--by going into training and doing the littlethings well. It was this characteristic of Livingstone, the greatexplorer, that made him what he was, and that has marked the career ofall good scouts. To be a good scout one should know something about the woods and theanimals that inhabit them, and how to care for one's self whencamping. {5} The habits of animals can be studied by stalking them and watchingthem in their native haunts. The scout should never kill an animal or other living creatureneedlessly. There is more sport in stalking animals to photographthem, and in coming to know their habits than in hunting to kill. But woodcraft means more than this. It means not only the following oftracks and other signs, but it means to be able to read them. To tellhow fast the animal which made the tracks was going; to tell whetherhe was frightened, suspicious, or otherwise. Woodcraft also enables the scout to find his way, no matter where heis. It teaches him the various kinds of wild fruit, roots, nuts, etc. , which are good for food, or are the favorite food of animals. [Illustration: Scout Stalking. ] By woodcraft a scout may learn a great number of things. He may beable to tell whether the tracks were made by an animal or by man, bicycle, automobile or other vehicle. By having his power of observation trained he can tell by very slightsigns, such as the sudden flying of birds, that someone is moving verynear him though he may not be able to see the person. {6} Through woodcraft then, a boy may train his eye, and be able toobserve things that otherwise would pass unnoticed. In this way he maybe able to save animals from pain, as a horse from an ill-fittingharness. He may also be able to see little things which may give himthe clew to great things and so be able to prevent harm and crime. [Illustration: Horse with head pulled back. (tr)]Torture (Note the check or bearing-rein) [Illustration: Horse with head relaxed. (tr)]Comfort Besides woodcraft one must know something of camp life. One of thechief characteristics of the scout is to be able to live in the open, know how to put up tents, build huts, throw up a lean-to for shelter, or make a dugout in the ground, how to build a fire, how to procureand cook food, how to bind logs together so as to construct bridgesand rafts, and how to find his way by night as well as by day in astrange country. Living in the open in this way, and making friends of the trees, thestreams, the mountains, and the stars, gives a scout a great deal ofconfidence and makes him love the natural life around him. [Illustration: Camp loom, for making mats and mattresses. ] To be able to tell the difference between the trees by their bark andleaves is a source of pleasure; to be able to make a {7} bed out ofrough timber, or weave a mattress or mat out of grass to sleep on is ajoy. And all of these things a good scout should know. Then too, a good scout must be chivalrous. That is, he should be asmanly as the knights or pioneers of old. He should be unselfish. Heshould show courage. He must do his duty. He should show benevolenceand thrift. He should be loyal to his country. He should be obedientto his parents, and show respect to those who are his superiors. Heshould be very courteous to women. One of his obligations is to do agood turn every day to some one. He should be cheerful and seekself-improvement, and should make a career for himself. All these things were characteristics of the old-time American scoutsand of the King Arthur knights. Their honor was sacred. They werecourteous and polite to women and children, especially to the aged, protected the weak, and helped others to live better. They taughtthemselves to be strong, so as to be able to protect their countryagainst enemies. They kept themselves strong and healthy, so that theymight be prepared to do all of these things at a moment's notice, anddo them well. So the boy scout of to-day must be chivalrous, manly, and gentlemanly. When he gets up in the morning he may tie a knot in his necktie, andleave the necktie outside his vest until he has done a good turn. Another way to remind himself is to wear his scout badge reverseduntil he has done his good turn. The good turn may not be a very bigthing--help an old lady across the street; remove a banana skin fromthe pavement so that people may not fall; remove from streets or roadsbroken glass, dangerous to automobile or bicycle tires; give water toa thirsty horse; or deeds similar to these. The scout also ought to know how to save life. He ought to be able tomake a stretcher; to throw a rope to a drowning person; to drag anunconscious person from a burning building, and to resuscitate aperson overcome by gas fumes. He ought also to know the method ofstopping runaway horses, and he should have the presence of mind andthe skill to calm a panic and deal with street and other accidents. This means also that a boy scout must always be in the pink ofcondition. A boy cannot do things like these unless he is healthy andstrong. Therefore, he must be systematically taking exercise, playinggames, running, and walking. It means that he must sleep enough hoursto give him the necessary strength, and if possible to sleep very muchin the open, or at least {8} with the windows of his bedroom open bothsummer and winter. It means also that he should take a cold bath often, rubbing dry witha rough towel. He should breathe through the nose and not through themouth. He should at all times train himself to endure hardships. In addition to these the scout should be a lover of his country. Heshould know his country. How many states there are in it, what are itsnatural resources, scope, and boundaries. He ought to know somethingof its history, its early settlers, and of the great deeds that wonhis land. How they settled along the banks of the James River. HowPhiladelphia, New York, and other great cities were founded. How thePilgrim Fathers established New England and laid the foundation forour national life. How the scouts of the Middle West saved all thatgreat section of the country for the Republic. He ought to know howTexas became part of the United States, and how our national heroesstretched out their hands, north and south, east and west, to make onegreat united country. He ought to know the history of the important wars. He ought to knowabout our army and navy flags and the insignia of rank of ourofficers. He ought to know the kind of government he lives under, andwhat it means to live in a republic. He ought to know what is expectedof him as a citizen of his state and nation, and what to do to helpthe people among whom he lives. In short, to be a good scout is to be a well-developed, well-informedboy. Scout Virtues There are other things which a scout ought to know and which should becharacteristic of him, if he is going to be the kind of scout forwhich the Boy Scouts of America stand. One of these is obedience. Tobe a good scout a boy must learn to obey the orders of his patrolleader, scout master, and scout commissioner. He must learn to obey, before he is able to command. He should so learn to discipline andcontrol himself that he will have no thought but to obey the orders ofhis officers. He should keep such a strong grip on his own life thathe will not allow himself to do anything which is ignoble, or whichwill harm his life or weaken his powers of endurance. Another virtue of a scout is that of courtesy. A boy scout {9} oughtto have a command of polite language. He ought to show that he is atrue gentleman by doing little things for others. Loyalty is also a scout virtue. A scout ought to be loyal to all towhom he has obligations. He ought to stand up courageously for thetruth, for his parents and friends. Another scout virtue is self-respect. He ought to refuse to acceptgratuities from anyone, unless absolutely necessary. He ought to workfor the money he gets. For this same reason he should never look down upon anyone who may bepoorer than himself, or envy anyone richer than himself. A scout'sself-respect will cause him to value his own standing and make himsympathetic toward others who may be, on the one hand, worse off, or, on the other hand, better off as far as wealth is concerned. Scoutsknow neither a lower nor a higher class, for a scout is one who is acomrade to all and who is ready to share that which he has withothers. The most important scout virtue is that of honor. Indeed, this is thebasis of all scout virtues and is closely allied to that ofself-respect. When a scout promises to do a thing on his honor, he isbound to do it. The honor of a scout will not permit of anything butthe highest and the best and the manliest. The honor of a scout is asacred thing, and cannot be lightly set aside or trampled on. Faithfulness to duty is another one of the scout virtues. When it is ascout's duty to do something, he dare not shirk. A scout is faithfulto his own interest and the interests of others. He is true to hiscountry and his God. Another scout virtue is cheerfulness. As the scout law intimates, hemust never go about with a sulky air. He must always be bright andsmiling, and as the humorist says, "Must always see the doughnut andnot the hole. " A bright face and a cheery word spread like sunshinefrom one to another. It is the scout's duty to be a sunshine-maker inthe world. Another scout virtue is that of thoughtfulness, especially to animals;not merely the thoughtfulness that eases a horse from the pain of abadly fitting harness or gives food and drink to an animal that is inneed, but also that which keeps a boy from throwing a stone at a cator tying a tin can on a dog's tail. If a boy scout does not prove histhoughtfulness and friendship for animals, it is quite certain that henever will be really helpful to his comrades or to the men, women, andchildren who may need his care. {10} And then the final and chief test of the scout is the doing of a goodturn to somebody every day, quietly and without boasting. This is theproof of the scout. It is practical religion, and a boy honors Godbest when he helps others most. A boy may wear all the scout uniformsmade, all the scout badges ever manufactured, know all the woodcraft, campcraft, scoutcraft and other activities of boy scouts, and yetnever be a real boy scout. To be a real boy scout means the doing of agood turn every day with the proper motive and if this be done, theboy has a right to be classed with the great scouts that have been ofsuch service to their country. To accomplish this a scout shouldobserve the scout law. Every boy ought to commit to memory the following abbreviated form ofthe Scout law. The Twelve Points of the Scout Law1. A scout is trustworthy. 2. A scout is loyal. 3. A scout is helpful. 4. A scout is friendly. 5. A scout is courteous. 6. A scout is kind. 7. A scout is obedient. 8. A scout is cheerful. 9. A scout is thrifty. 10. A scout is brave. 11. A scout is clean. 12. A scout is reverent. The Boy Scout Organization(Result of work of Committee on Permanent Organization and FieldSupervision:--H. S. Braucher, Chairman. Lorillard Spencer. Jr. , ColinH. Livingstone. Richard C. Morse. Mortimer Schiff, Dr. George W. Ehler, C. M. Connolly, E. B. DeGroot, Lee F. Hamner. ) To do good scouting a boy must understand the organization of which heis a part. The Boy Scouts of America is promoted and governed by agroup of men called the National Council. This National Council ismade up of leading men of the country and it is their desire thatevery American boy shall have the opportunity of becoming a goodscout. The National Council holds one meeting annually at which it elects theofficers and the members of the Executive Board. It copyrights badgesand other scout designs, arranges for their manufacture anddistribution, selects designs for uniforms and scout equipment, issuesscout commissioners' and scout masters' certificates, and grantscharters for local councils. {11} A local council through its officers--president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and scout commissioner, its executive committee, court of honor, and other committees--deals with all local mattersthat relate to scouting. The scout commissioner is the ranking scout master of the localcouncil and presides at all scout masters' meetings as well as at allscout field meets. It is also the duty of the scout commissioner toreport to and advise with the Chief Scout through the ExecutiveSecretary concerning the scouts in his district. The scoutcommissioner's certificate is issued from National Headquarters uponthe recommendation of a local council after this council has beengranted a charter. The scout master is the adult leader of a troop, and must be at leasttwenty-one years of age. He should have a deep interest in boys, begenuine in his own life, have the ability to lead, and command theboys' respect and obedience. He need not be an expert at scoutcraft; agood scout master will discover experts for the various activities. His certificate is granted upon the recommendation of the localcouncil. An assistant scout master should be eighteen years of age or over. Hiscertificate is granted by the National Council upon the recommendationof the scout master of his troop and the local council. Chief Scout and Staff The Chief Scout is elected annually by the National Council and has astaff of deputies each of whom is chairman of a committee ofscoutcraft. These deputies are as follows:Chief Scout Surgeon. Chief Scout Director of Health. Chief Scout Woodsman. Chief Scout Athletic Director. Chief Scout Stalker. Chief Scout Citizen. Chief Scout Master. Chief Scout Director of Chivalry. Chief Scout Camp Master. Scouts are graded as follows:Chief Scout and Staff. Scout Commissioner. Scout Master. Assistant Scout Master. Patrol Leader. Assistant Patrol Leader. Eagle Scout. Star Scout. Life Scout. First-class Scout. Second-class Scout. Tenderfoot. How to Become a Boy Scout The easiest way to become a boy scout is to join a patrol that hasalready been started. This patrol may be in {12} a Sunday School, Boys' Brigade, Boys' Club, Young Men's Christian Association, YoungMen's Hebrew Association, Young Men's Catholic Association, or anyother organization to which you may belong. If there is no patrol nearyou, get some man interested enough to start one by giving him all theinformation. A patrol consists of eight boys, one of whom becomes the patrol leaderand another the assistant patrol leader. A troop consists of three or more patrols, and the leader of the troopis called a scout master. There can be no patrols or troops of boyscouts without this scout master. The Scout Motto The motto of the boy scouts is Be Prepared, and the badge of the boyscouts is a copyrighted design with this motto, "Be Prepared, " on ascroll at its base. The motto, "Be Prepared, " means that the scout is always in a state ofreadiness in mind and body to do his duty. To be prepared in mind, byhaving disciplined himself to be obedient, and also by having thoughtout beforehand any accident or situation that may occur, so that hemay know the right thing to do at the right moment, and be willing todo it. To be prepared in body, by making himself strong and active andable to do the right thing at the right moment, and then to do it. The Scout Badge The scout badge is not intended to represent the fleur-de-lis, or anarrowhead. It is a modified form of the sign of the north on themariner's compass, which is as old as the history of navigation. TheChinese claim its use among them as early as 2634 B. C. , and we havedefinite information that it was used at sea by them as early as 300A. D. Marco Polo brought the compass to Europe on his return fromCathay. The sign of the north on the compass gradually came torepresent the north, and pioneers, trappers, woodsmen, and scouts, because of this, adopted it as their emblem. Through centuries of useit has undergone modification until it has now assumed the shape ofour badge. This trefoil badge of the scouts is now used, with slight localvariations, in almost every civilized country as the mark ofbrotherhood, for good citizenship, and friendliness. Its scroll is turned up at the ends like a scout's mouth, because hedoes his duty with a smile and willingly. The knot is to remind the scout to do a good turn to someone daily. {13} The arrowhead part is worn by the tenderfoot. The scroll part only isworn by the second-class scout. The badge worn by the first-classscout is the whole badge. The official badges of the Boy Scouts of America are issued by theNational Council and may be secured only from the NationalHeadquarters. These badges are protected by the U. S. Patent Laws(letters of patent numbers 41412 and 41532) and anyone infringingthese patents is liable to prosecution at law. In order to protect the Boy Scout Movement and those who havequalified to receive badges designating the various degrees inscoutcraft, it is desired that all interested cooperate with theNational Headquarters in safeguarding the sale and distribution ofthese badges. This may be done by observing the following rules: 1. Badges should not be ordered until after boys have actuallycomplied with the requirements prescribed by the National Council andare entitled to receive them. 2. All orders for badges should be sent in by the scout master with acertificate from the local council that these requirements have beencomplied with. Blanks for this purpose may be secured on applicationto the National Headquarters. Where no local council has been formed, application for badges shouldbe sent direct to Headquarters, signed by the registered scout masterof the troop, giving his official number. Scout commissioners', scout masters', and assistant scout masters'badges can be issued only to those who are registered as such atNational Headquarters. _Tenderfoot Badge_--Gilt metal. _Patrol Leader's Tenderfoot Badge_--Oxidized silver finish. These badges are seven eighths of an inch wide and are made either forthe button-hole or with safety-pin clasp. Price 5 cents. _Second-Class Scout Badge_--Gilt metal. _Patrol Leader's Second-Class Scout Badge_--Oxidized silver. These badges--safety-pin style--to be worn upon the sleeve. Price 10cents. _First-Class Scout Badge_--Gilt metal. _Patrol Leader's First-Class Scout Badge_--Oxidized silver. Both badges safety-pin style--to be worn upon the sleeve. Price 15cents. _Scout Commissioner's, Scout Master's, and Assistant Scout Master's ArmBadges_. These badges are woven in blue, green, and red silk, and are to beworn on the sleeve of coat or shirt. Price 25 cents. {14} _Buttons_--The official buttons worn on the scout uniforms sell for 10cents per set for shirt and 15 cents per set for coat. _Merit Badges_--Price 25 cents each. _Boy Scout Certificates_--A handsome certificate in two colors, 6 x 8inches, has been prepared for boy scouts who wish to have a record oftheir enrolment. The certificate has the Scout Oath and Law and theofficial Seal upon it, with place for the signature of the scoutmaster. The price is 5 cents. Directions For Ordering Important! When ordering supplies send exact remittance with order, Ifcheck is used add New York exchange. Make checks and money orderspayable to Boy Scouts of America. All orders received without theproper remittance will be shipped C. O. D. , or held until remittancearrives. The Scout Oath Before he becomes a scout a boy must promise: On my honor I will do my best:1. To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the scout law;2. To help other people at all times;3. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. [Illustration: Hand position. (tr)]When taking this oath the scout will stand, holding up his right hand, palm to the front, thumb resting on the nail of the little finger andthe other three fingers upright and together. The Scout Sign This is the scout sign. The three fingers held up remind him of histhree promises in the scout oath. The Scout Salute When the three fingers thus held are raised to the forehead, it is thescout salute. The scout always salutes an officer. The Scout Law (Result of work of Committee on Scout Oath, Scout Law, Tenderfoot, Second-class and First-class Scout Requirements:--Prof. Jeremiah W. Jenks, Chairman. Dr. Lee K. Frankel, George D. Porter, E. M. Robinson, G. W. Hinckley, B. E. Johnson, Clark W. Hetherington, Arthur A. Carey. ) There have always been certain written and unwritten laws regulatingthe conduct and directing the activities of men. {15} We have suchunwritten laws coming down from past ages. In Japan, the Japanese havetheir Bushido or laws of the old Samurai warriors. During the MiddleAges, the chivalry and rules of the Knights of King Arthur, theKnights Templar and the Crusaders were in force. In aboriginalAmerica, the Red Indians had their laws of honor: likewise the Zulus, Hindus, and the later European nations have their ancient codes. The following laws which relate to the Boy Scouts of America, are thelatest and most up to date. These laws a boy promises to obey when hetakes his scout oath. 1. A scout is trustworthy. A scout's honor is to be trusted. If he were to violate his honor by telling a lie, or by cheating, or by not doing exactly a given task, when trusted on his honor, he may be directed to hand over his scout badge. 2. A scout is loyal. He is loyal to all to whom loyalty is due: his scout leader, his home, and parents and country. 3. A scout is helpful. He must be prepared at any time to save life, help injured persons, and share the home duties. He must do at least one good turn to somebody every day. 4. A scout is friendly. He is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout. 5. A scout is courteous. He is polite to all, especially to women, children, old people, and the weak and helpless. He must not take pay for being helpful or courteous. 6. A scout is kind. He is a friend to animals. He will not kill nor hurt any living creature needlessly, but will strive to save and protect all harmless life. 7. A scout is obedient. He obeys his parents, scout master, patrol leader, and all other duly constituted authorities. 8. A scout is cheerful. He smiles whenever he can. His obedience to orders is prompt and cheery. He never shirks nor grumbles at hardships. 9. A scout is thrifty. He does not wantonly destroy property. He works faithfully, wastes nothing, and makes the best use of his {16} opportunities. He saves his money so that he may pay his own way, be generous to those in need, and helpful to worthy objects. _He may work for pay but must not receive tips for courtesies or good turns_. 10. A scout is brave. He has the courage to face danger in spite of fear and has to stand up for the right against the coaxings of friends or the jeers or threats of enemies, and defeat does not down him. 11. A scout is clean. He keeps clean in body and thought, stands for clean speech, clean sport, clean habits, and travels with a clean crowd. 12. A scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion. The Three Classes of Scouts There are three classes of scouts among the Boy Scouts of America, thetenderfoot, second-class scout, and first-class scout. Before a boycan become a tenderfoot he must qualify for same. A tenderfoot, therefore, is superior to the ordinary boy because of his training. Tobe a tenderfoot means to occupy the lowest grade in scouting. Atenderfoot on meeting certain requirements may become a second-classscout, and a second-class scout upon meeting another set ofrequirements may become a first-class scout. The first-class scout maythen qualify for the various merit badges which are offered in anotherpart of this chapter for proficiency in scouting. The requirements ofthe tenderfoot, second-class scout, and first-class scout, are asfollows: _Tenderfoot_ To become a scout a boy must be at least twelve years of age and mustpass a test in the following: 1. Know the scout law, sign, salute, and significance of the badge. 2. Know the composition and history of the national flag and thecustomary forms of respect due to it. 3. Tie four out of the following knots: square or reef, sheet-bend, bowline, fisherman's, sheepshank, halter, clove hitch, timber hitch, or two half hitches. [Illustration: Tenderfoot badge. (tr)]Tenderfoot {17} He then takes the scout oath, is enrolled as a tenderfoot, and isentitled to wear the tenderfoot badge. [Illustration: Second-class Scout badge. (tr)]Second-class Scout _Second-class Scout_ To become a second-class scout, a tenderfoot must pass, to thesatisfaction of the recognized local scout authorities, the followingtests: 1. At least one month's service as a tenderfoot. 2. Elementary first aid and bandaging; know the general directions forfirst aid for injuries; know treatment for fainting, shock, fractures, bruises, sprains, injuries in which the skin is broken, burns, andscalds; demonstrate how to carry injured, and the use of thetriangular and roller bandages and tourniquet. 3. Elementary signaling: Know the semaphore, or American Morse, orMyer alphabet. 4. Track half a mile in twenty-five minutes; or, if in town, describesatisfactorily the contents of one store window out of four observedfor one minute each. 5. Go a mile in twelve minutes at scout's pace--about fifty stepsrunning and fifty walking, alternately. 6. Use properly knife or hatchet. 7. Prove ability to build a fire in the open, using not more than twomatches. 8. Cook a quarter of a pound of meat and two potatoes in the openwithout the ordinary kitchen cooking utensils. 9. Earn and deposit at least one dollar in a public bank. 10. Know the sixteen principal points of the compass. _First-class Scout_ To become a first-class scout, the second-class scout must pass thefollowing tests: 1. Swim fifty yards. 2. Earn and deposit at least two dollars in a public bank. 3. Send and receive a message by semaphore, or American Morse, or Myeralphabet, sixteen letters per minute. 4. Make a round trip alone (or with another scout) to a point {18} atleast seven miles away, going on foot or rowing boat, and write asatisfactory account of the trip and things observed. 5. Advanced first aid: Know the methods for panic prevention; what todo in case of fire and ice, electric and gas accidents; how to help incase of runaway horse, mad dog, or snake bite; treatment fordislocations, unconsciousness, poisoning, fainting, apoplexy, sunstroke, heat exhaustion, and freezing; know treatment for sunburn, ivy poisoning, bites and stings, nosebleed, earache, toothache, inflammation or grit in eye, cramp or stomach ache and chills;demonstrate artificial respiration. 6. Prepare and cook satisfactorily, in the open, without regularkitchen utensils, two of the following articles as may be directed. Eggs, bacon, hunter's stew, fish, fowl, game, pancakes, hoe-cake, biscuit, hardtack or a "twist, " baked on a stick; explain to anotherboy the methods followed. 7. Read a map correctly, and draw, from field notes made on the spot, an intelligible rough sketch map, indicating by their proper marksimportant buildings, roads, trolley lines, main landmarks, principalelevations, etc. Point out a compass direction without the help of thecompass. 8. Use properly an axe for felling or trimming light timber; orproduce an article of carpentry or cabinet-making or metal work madeby himself. Explain the method followed. 9. Judge distance, size, number, height and weight within 25 per cent. 10. Describe fully from observation ten species of trees or plants, including poison ivy, by their bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, or scent;or six species of wild birds by their plumage, notes, tracks, orhabits; or six species of native wild animals by their form, color, call, tracks, or habits; find the North Star, and name and describe atleast three constellations of stars. 11. Furnish satisfactory evidence that he has put into practice in hisdaily life the principles of the scout oath and law. 12. Enlist a boy trained by himself in the requirements of atenderfoot. _NOTE. --No deviation from above requirements will be permitted unlessin extraordinary cases, such as physical inability, and the writtenconsent of the National Headquarters has been obtained by therecognized local scout authority_. [Illustration: First-class Scout badge. (tr)]First-class Scout {19} Patrol Signs Each troop of boy scouts is named after the place to which it belongs. For example, it is Troop No. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. , of New York or Chicago. Each patrol of the troop is named after an animal or bird, but may begiven another kind of name if there is a valid reason. In this way, the Twenty-seventh New York Troop, for instance, may have severalpatrols, which may be respectively the Ox, Wolf, Jackal, Raven, Buffalo, Fox, Panther, and Rattlesnake. [Illustration: Boy Scout in uniform. (tr)] Positions of Various Badges Each scout in a patrol has a number, the patrol leader being No. 1, the assistant patrol leader No. 2, and the other scouts the remainingconsecutive numbers. Scouts in this way should {22} work in pairs, Nos. 3 and 4 together; 5 and 6 together; 7 and. 8 together. {20} [Illustration: Outline of animals. (tr)] MONGOOSE Squeak--"Cheep" BROWN AND ORANGE HAWK Cry (same as Eagle)--"Kreeee" PINK WOLF Howl-"How-oooo" YELLOW AND BLACK PEEWIT Whistle-"Tewitt" GREEN AND WHITE HOUND Bark "Bawow-wow" ORANGE CAT Cry--"Meeaow" GRAY AND BROWN JACKAL Laughing Cry-"Wahwah-wah-wah-wah. " GRAY AND BLACK RAVEN Cry-"Kar-kaw" BLACK BUFFALO Lowing (same as Bull) "Um-maouw" RED AND WHITE PEACOCK Cry-"Bee-oik" GREEN AND BLUE BULL Lowing-"Um-maouw" RED SEAL Call-"Hark" RED AND BLACK OWL Whistle "Koot-koot-koo" BLUE TIGER Purr-"Grrrao" VIOLET LION Roar-"Eu-Ugh" YELLOW AND RED KANGAROO Call-"Coo-ee" RED AND GRAY HORSE Whinney-"Hee-e-e-e" BLACK AND WHITE {21} FOX Bark-"Ha-ha" YELLOW AND GREEN BEAR Growl-"Boorrr" BROWN AND RED STAG Call-"Baow" VIOLET AND BLACK STORK Cry-"Korrr" BLUE AND WHITE PANTHER Tongue in side of mouth--"Keeook" YELLOW CURLEW Whistle--"Curley" GREEN HYENA Laughing Cry-"Ooowah-oowah-wah" YELLOW AND BROWN RAM Bleat--"Ba-a-a" BROWN WOOD PIGEON Call--"Book-hooroo" BLUE AND GRAY EAGLE Very shrill cry--"Kreeee" GREEN AND BLACK HIPPO Hiss-"Brrussssh" PINK AND BLACK RATTLESNAKE Rattle a pebble in a small potted meat tin. WILD BOAR Grunt--"Broof-broof" GRAY AND PINK COBRA Hiss--"Pssst" ORANGE AND BLACK CUCKOO Call--"Cook-koo" GRAY OTTER Cry--"Hoi-oi-oick" BROWN AND WHITE BEAVER Slap made by clapping bands BLUE AND YELLOW {22 continued} Each scout in a patrol should be able to imitate the call of hispatrol animal. That is, the scouts of the Wolf patrol should be ableto imitate a wolf. In this way scouts of the same patrol cancommunicate with each other when in hiding, or in the dark of night. It is not honorable for a scout to use the call of any other patrolexcept his own. The patrol leader calls up his patrol at will by sounding his whistleand by giving the call of the patrol. When the scout makes signs anywhere for others to read he also drawsthe head of his animal. That is to say, if he were out scouting andwanted to show that a certain road should not be followed by others, he would draw the sign, "not to be followed, " across it and add thename of his patrol animal, in order to show which patrol discoveredthat the road was bad, and by adding his own number at the left of thehead to show which scout had discovered it. [Illustration: Outline of animals. (tr)] BLUE BUFFALO on white ground FLYING EAGLES "Yeh-yeh-yeh" Black and white on red BLUE HERONS "Hrrrr" Blue and green HORNED KINGBIRDS SINAWA Black on red BLACKBEARS Black on red AHMEEKS SILVER FOXES RED TRAILERS MOON BAND Yellow on blue OWNEOKES BLAZING ARROW Each patrol leader carries a small flag on the end of his staff {23} orstave with the head of his patrol animal shown on both sides. Thus theTigers of the Twenty-seventh New York Troop should have the flag shownbelow. [Illustration: Banner with tiger and "27 N. Y. " (tr)] The Merit Badges(Result of work of Committee on Badges, Awards and Equipment: Dr. George J. Fisher, Chairman, Gen. George W. Wingate, Dr. C. WardCrampton, Daniel Carter Beard. C. M. Connolly, A. A. Jameson. ErnestThompson Seton. ) When a boy has become a first-class scout he may qualify for the meritbadges. _The examination for these badges should be given by the Court of Honorof the local council. This examination must not be given any boy whois not qualified as a first-class scout. After the boy has passed theexamination, the local council may secure the merit badge for him bypresenting the facts to the National Council. These badges areintended to stimulate the boy's interest in the life about him and aregiven for general knowledge. The wearing of these badges does notsignify that a scout is qualified to make his living by the knowledgegained in securing the award_. Scouts winning any of the following badges are entitled to place aftertheir names the insignia of the badges won. For instance, if he hassuccessfully passed the signaling and seamanship tests, he signs hisname in this manner-- [Illustration: Signature of "James E. Ward" with insignia. (tr)] {24} Agriculture [Illustration: Plow insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Agriculture a scout must 1. State different tests with grains. 2. Grow at least an acre of corn which produces 25 per cent. Betterthan the general average. 3. Be able to identify and describe common weeds of the community andtell how best to eliminate them. 4. Be able to identify the common insects and tell how best to handlethem. 5. Have a practical knowledge of plowing, cultivating, drilling, hedging, and draining. 6. Have a working knowledge of farm machinery, haymaking, reaping, loading, and stacking. 7. Have a general acquaintance of the routine seasonal work on thefarm, including the care of cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs. 8. Have a knowledge of Campbell's Soil Culture principle, and aknowledge of dry farming and of irrigation farming. Angling [Illustration: Fish insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Angling a scout must 1. Catch and name ten different species of fish: salmon or trout to betaken with flies; bass, pickerel, or pike to be caught with rod orreel, muskallonge to be caught by trolling. 2. Make a bait rod of three joints, straight and sound, 14 oz. Or lessin weight, 10 feet or less in length, to stand a strain of 1-1/2 lbs. At the tip, 13 lbs. At the grip. 3. Make a jointed fly-rod 8-10 feet long, 4-8 ozs. In weight, capableof casting a fly sixty feet. 4. Name and describe twenty-five different species of fish found inNorth American waters and give a complete list of the fishesascertained by himself to inhabit a given body of water. 5. Give the history of the young of any species of wild fish from thetime of hatching until the adult stage is reached. Archery [Illustration: Bow and Arrow insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Archery a scout must 1. Make a bow and arrow which will shoot a distance of one hundredfeet with fair precision. 2. Make a total score of 350 with 60 shots in one or {25} two meets, using standard four-foot target at forty yards or three-foot target atthirty yards. 3. Make a total score of 300 with 72 arrows, using standard target ata distance of fifty yards. 4. Shoot so far and fast as to have six arrows in the air at once. Architecture [Illustration: Column and Lintel insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Architecture a scout must 1. Present a satisfactory free-hand drawing. 2. Write an essay on the history of Architecture and describe the fiveorders. 3. Submit an original design for a two-story house and tell whatmaterial is necessary for its construction, giving detailedspecifications. Art [Illustration: Brushes and Pallet insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Art a scout must 1. Draw in outline two simple objects, one composed of straight lines, and one of curved lines, the two subjects to be grouped together alittle below the eye. 2. Draw in outline two books a little below the eye, one book to beopen; also a table or chair. 3. Make in outline an Egyptian ornament. 4. Make in outline a Greek or Renaissance ornament from a cast orcopy. 5. Make an original arrangement or design using some detail ofornament. 6. Make a drawing from a group of two objects placed a little belowthe eye and show light and shade. 7. Draw a cylindrical object and a rectangular object, groupedtogether a little below the eye, and show light and shade. 8. Present a camp scene in color. Astronomy [Illustration: Star insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Astronomy a scout must 1. Have a general knowledge of the nature and movements of stars. {26} 2. Point out and name six principal constellations; find the North bymeans of other stars than the Pole-star in case of that star beingobscured by clouds, and tell the hour of the night by the stars andmoon. 3. Have a general knowledge of the positions and movements of theearth, sun and moon, and of tides, eclipses, meteors, comets, sun-spots, and planets. Athletics [Illustration: Winged foot insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Athletics a scout must 1. Write an acceptable article of not less than five hundred words onhow to train for an athletic event. 2. Give the rules for one track and one field event. 3. Make the required athletic standard according to his weight, classifications and conditions as stated in chapter eight. Automobiling [Illustration: Wheel insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Automobiling a scout must 1. Demonstrate how to start a motor, explaining what precautionsshould be taken. 2. Take off and put on pneumatic tires. 3. Know the functions of the clutch, carburetor, valves, magneto, spark plug, differential cam shaft, and different speed gears, and beable to explain difference between a two and four-cycle motor. 4. Know how to put out burning gasoline or oil. 5. Have satisfactorily passed the requirements to receive a license tooperate an automobile in the community in which he lives. Aviation [Illustration: Biplane insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Aviation a scout must 1. Have a knowledge of the theory of aeroplanes, balloons, anddirigibles. 2. Have made a working model of an {27} aeroplane or dirigible thatwill fly at least twenty-five yards; and have built a box kite thatwill fly. 3. Have a knowledge of the engines used for aeroplanes and dirigibles, and be able to describe the various types of aeroplanes and theirrecords. Bee Farming [Illustration: Bee insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Bee Farming a scout must 1. Have a practical knowledge of swarming, hiving, hives and generalapiculture, including a knowledge of the use of artificial combs. 2. Describe different kinds of honey and tell from what sourcesgathered. Blacksmithing [Illustration: Anvil insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Blacksmithing a scout must 1. Upset and weld a one-inch iron rod. 2. Make a horseshoe. 3. Know how to tire a wheel, use a sledge-hammer and forge, shoe ahorse correctly and roughshoe a horse. 4. Be able to temper iron and steel. Bugling [Illustration: Bugle insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Bugling a scout must 1. Be able to sound properly on the Bugle the customary United StatesArmy calls. Business [Illustration: Quill Pen insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Business a scout must 1. Write a satisfactory business, and a personal letter. 2. State fundamental principles of buying and selling. 3. Know simple bookkeeping. 4. Keep a complete and actual account of personal receipts andexpenditures for six months. {28} 5. State how much money would need to be invested at 5 per cent. Toearn his weekly allowance of spending money for a year. Camping [Illustration: Tent insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Camping a scout must 1. Have slept in the open or under canvas at different times fiftynights. 2. Have put up a tent alone and ditched it. 3. Have made a bed of wild material and a fire without matches. 4. State how to choose a camp site and how to prepare for rain; how tobuild a latrine (toilet) and how to dispose of the camp garbage andrefuse. 5. Know how to construct a raft. Carpentry [Illustration: Wood plane insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Carpentry a scout must 1. Know the proper way to drive, set and clinch a nail. 2. Know the different kinds of chisels, planes and saws, and how tosharpen and use them. 3. Know the use of the rule, square, level, plumb-line and mitre. 4. Know how to use compasses for scribing both regular and irregularlines. 5. Make an article of furniture with three different standard jointsor splices, with at least one surface of highly polished hard ordecorative wood. All work to be done without assistance. Chemistry [Illustration: Chemical retort insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Chemistry a scout must be able to pass thefollowing test: 1. Define physical and chemical change. Which occurs when salt isdissolved in water, milk sours, iron rusts, water boils, iron ismagnetized and mercuric oxide is heated above the boiling point ofmercury? 2. Give correct tests for oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, chlorine, andcarbon dioxide gases. 3. Could you use the above gases to extinguish fire? How? 4. Why can baking soda be used to put out a small fire? {29} 5. Give tests for a chloride, sulphide, sulphate, nitrate, andcarbonate. 6. Give the names of three commercial forms of carbon. Tell how eachis made and the purpose for which it is used. 7. What compound is formed when carbon is burned in air? 8. Tell process of making lime and mortar from limestone. 9. Why will fresh plaster harden quicker by burning charcoal in anopen vessel near it? Civics [Illustration: Ax insignia (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Civics a scout must 1. State the principal citizenship requirements of an elector in hisstate. 2. Know the principal features of the naturalization laws of theUnited States. 3. Know how President, Vice-President, senators, and congressmen ofthe United States are elected and their terms of office. 4. Know the number of judges of the Supreme Court of the UnitedStates, how appointed, and their term of office. 5. Know the various administrative departments of government, asrepresented in the President's Cabinet. 6. Know how the governor, lieutenant-governor, senators, representatives, or assemblymen of his state are elected, and theirterms of office. 7. Know whether the judges of the principal courts in his state areappointed or elected, and the length of their terms. 8. Know how the principal officers in his town or city are elected andfor what terms. 9. Know the duties of the various city departments, such as fire, police, board of health, etc. 10. Draw a map of the town or city in which he lives, giving locationof the principal public buildings and points of special interest. 11. Give satisfactory evidence that he is familiar with the {30}provisions and history of the Declaration of Independence, and theConstitution of the United States. Conservation [Illustration: Sunset over forest insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Conservation a scout must 1. Be able to recognize in the forest all important commercial treesin his neighborhood; distinguish the lumber from each and tell forwhat purpose each is best suited; tell the age of old blazes on treeswhich mark a boundary or trail; recognize the difference in the forestbetween good and bad logging, giving reasons why one is good andanother bad; tell whether a tree is dying from injury by fire, byinsects, by disease or by a combination of these causes; know whattools to use, and how to fight fires in hilly or in flat country. Collect the seeds of two commercial trees, clean and store them, andknow how and when to plant them. 2. Know the effect upon stream-flow of the destruction of forests athead waters; know what are the four great uses of water in streams;what causes the pollution of streams, and how it can best be stopped;and how, in general, water power is developed. 3. Be able to tell, for a given piece of farm land, whether it is bestsuited for use as farm or forest, and why; point out examples oferosion, and tell how to stop it; give the reasons why a growing croppointed out to him is successful or why not; and tell what cropsshould be grown in his neighborhood and why. 4. Know where the great coal fields are situated and whether the useof coal is increasing, and if so at what rate. Tell what are the greatsources of waste of coal, in the mines, and in its use, and how theycan be reduced. 5. Know the principal game birds and animals in his neighborhood, theseasons during which they are protected, the methods of protection, and the results. Recognize the track of any two of the following:rabbit, fox, deer, squirrel, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and quail. Cooking [Illustration: Cooking pot insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Cooking a scout must 1. Prove his ability to build a fireplace out of stone or sod {31} orlogs, light a fire, and cook in the open the following dishes inaddition to those required for a first-class scout: Camp stew, twovegetables, omelet, rice pudding; know how to mix dough, and bakebread in an oven; be able to make tea, coffee, and cocoa, carveproperly and serve correctly to people at the table. Craftsmanship [Illustration: Drafting compass insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Craftsmanship a scout must 1. Build and finish unassisted one of the following articles: a round, square or octagonal tabouret; round or square den or library table;hall or piano bench; rustic arm chair or swing to be hung with chains;or rustic table. 2. He must also make plans or intelligent rough sketch drawing of thepiece selected. Cycling [Illustration: Wheel insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Cycling a scout must 1. Be able to ride a bicycle fifty miles in ten hours. 2. Repair a puncture. 3. Take apart and clean bicycle and put together again properly. 4. Know how to make reports if sent out scouting on a road. 5. Be able to read a map and report correctly verbal messages. Dairying [Illustration: Butter churn insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Dairying a scout must 1. Understand the management of dairy cattle. 2. Be able to milk. 3. Understand the sterilization of milk, and care of dairy utensilsand appliances. {32} 4. Test at least five cows for ten days each, with the Babcock test, and make proper reports. Electricity [Illustration: Fist holding lightening insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Electricity a scout must 1. Illustrate the experiment by which the laws of electricalattraction and repulsion are shown. 2. Name three uses of the direct current, and tell how it differs fromthe alternating current. 3. Make a simple electro-magnet. 4. Have an elementary knowledge of the action of simple battery cellsand of the working of electric bells and telephones. 5. Be able to remedy fused wire, and to repair broken electricconnections. 6. Construct a machine to make static electricity or a wirelessapparatus. 7. Have a knowledge of the method of resuscitation and rescue of aperson insensible from shock. Firemanship [Illustration: Fire hose nozzle insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Firemanship, a scout must 1. Know how to turn in an alarm for fire. 2. Know how to enter burning buildings. 3. Know how to prevent panics and the spread of fire. 4. Understand the use of hose; unrolling, joining up, connecting twohydrants, use of nozzle, etc. 5. Understand the use of escapes, ladders, and chutes, and know thelocation of exits in buildings which he frequents. 6. Know how to improvise ropes and nets. 7. Know what to do in case of panic, understand the fireman's lift anddrag, and how to work in fumes. 8. Understand the use of fire extinguishers; how to rescue animals;how to save property; how to organize a bucket brigade, and how to aidthe police in keeping back crowds. First Aid [Illustration: Large "X" insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for First Aid a scout must 1. Be able to demonstrate the Sylvester and Schaefer methods ofresuscitation. {33} 2. Carry a person down a ladder. 3. Bandage head and ankle. 4. Demonstrate treatment of wound of the neck with severe arterialhemorrhage. 5. Treat mangling injury of the leg without severe hemorrhage. 6. Demonstrate treatment for rupture of varicose veins of the leg withsevere hemorrhage. 7. Show treatment for bite of finger by mad dog. 8. Demonstrate rescue of person in contact with electric wire. 9. Apply tourniquet to a principal artery. 10. State chief differences between carbolic poisoning andintoxication. 11. Explain what to do for snake bite. 12. Pass first aid test of American Red Cross Society. First Aid to Animals [Illustration: Bandaged dog insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for First Aid to Animals a scout must 1. Have a general knowledge of domestic and farm animals. 2. Be able to treat a horse for colic. 3. Describe symptoms and give treatment for the following: wounds, fractures and sprains, exhaustion, choking, lameness. 4. Understand horseshoeing. Forestry [Illustration: Pine cone insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Forestry a scout must 1. Be able to identify twenty-five kinds of trees when in leaf, orfifteen kinds of deciduous (broad leaf) trees in winter, and tell someof the uses of each. 2. Identify twelve kinds of shrubs. 3. Collect and identify samples of ten kinds of wood and be able totell some of their uses. 4. Determine the height, and estimate the amount of timber, approximately, in five trees of different sizes. {34} 5. State laws for transplanting, grafting, spraying, and protectingtrees. Gardening [Illustration: Corn cob insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Gardening, a scout must 1. Dig and care for during the season a piece of ground containing notless than 144 square feet. 2. Know the names of a dozen plants pointed out in an ordinary garden. 3. Understand what is meant by pruning, grafting, and manuring. 4. Plant and grow successfully six kinds of vegetables or flowers fromseeds or cuttings. 5. Cut grass with scythe under supervision. Handicraft [Illustration: Hammer and Screwdriver insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Handicraft a scout must 1. Be able to paint a door. 2. Whitewash a ceiling. 3. Repair gas fittings, sash lines, window and door fastenings. 4. Replace gas mantles, washers, and electric light bulbs. 5. Solder. 6. Hang pictures and curtains. 7. Repair blinds. 8. Fix curtains, portiere rods, blind fixtures. 9. Lay carpets and mend clothing and upholstery. 10. Repair furniture and china. 11. Sharpen knives. 12. Repair gates. 13. Fix screens on windows and doors. Horsemanship [Illustration: Horseshoe insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Horsemanship a scout must 1. Demonstrate riding at a walk, trot, and gallop. 2. Know how to saddle and bridle a horse correctly. 3. Know how to water and feed and to what amount, and how to groom ahorse properly. {35} 4. Know how to harness a horse correctly in single or double harnessand to drive. 5. Have a knowledge of the power of endurance of horses at work andknow the local regulations concerning driving. 6. Know the management and care of horses. 7. Be able to identify unsoundness and blemishes. 8. Know the evils of bearing or check reins and of ill-fitting harnessor saddlery. 9. Know two common causes of, and proper remedies for, lameness, andknow to whom he should refer cases of cruelty and abuse. 10. Be able to judge as to the weight, height, and age of horses; knowthree breeds and their general characteristics. Interpreting [Illustration: Handshake insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Interpreting, a scout must 1. Be able to carry on a simple conversation. 2. Write a simple letter on subject given by examiners. 3. Read and translate a passage from a book or newspaper, in French, German, English, Italian, or any language that is not of his owncountry. Invention [Illustration: Gear insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Invention a scout must 1. Invent and patent some useful article; 2. Show a working drawing or model of the same. Leather Working [Illustration: Awl insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Leather Working a scout must 1. Have a knowledge of tanning and curing. {36} 2. Be able to sole and heel a pair of boots, sewed or nailed, andgenerally repair boots and shoes. 3. Be able to dress a saddle, repair traces, stirrup leathers, etc. , and know the various parts of harness. Life Saving [Illustration: Lifesaving buoy insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Life Saving a scout must 1. Be able to dive into from seven to ten feet of water and bring frombottom to surface a loose bag of sand weighing five pounds. 2. Be able to swim two hundred yards, one hundred yards on backwithout using the hands, and one hundred yards any other stroke. 3. Swim fifty yards with clothes on (shirt, long trousers, and shoesas minimum). 4. Demonstrate (a) on land--five methods of release; (b) in thewater--two methods of release; (c) the Schaefer method ofresuscitation (prone pressure). Machinery [Illustration: Pipewrench insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Machinery a scout must 1. State the principles underlying the use and construction of thelathe, steam boiler and engine, drill press and planer. 2. Make a small wood or metal model illustrating the principles ofeither levers, gears, belted pulleys, or block and fall. Marksmanship [Illustration: Target insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Marksmanship a scout must 1. Qualify as a marksman in accordance with the regulations of theNational Rifle Association. Masonry [Illustration: Trowel insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Masonry a scout must 1. Lay a straight wall with a corner. {37} 2. Make mortar and describe process. 3. Use intelligently a plumb-line, level, and trowel. 4. Build a stone oven. 5. Demonstrate a knowledge of various uses for cement. 6. Build a dry wall. Mining [Illustration: Shovel insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Mining a scout must 1. Know and name fifty minerals. 2. Know, name and describe the fourteen great divisions of the earth'scrust (according to Geikie). 3. Define watershed, delta, drift, fault, glacier, terrace, stratum, dip; and identify ten different kinds of rock. 4. Describe methods for mine ventilation and safety devices. Music [Illustration: Lyre insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Music a. Scout must 1. Be able to play a standard musical instrument satisfactorily. 2. Read simple music. 3. Write a satisfactory essay of not less than five hundred words onthe history of American music. Ornithology [Illustration: Bird insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Ornithology a scout must 1. Have a list of one hundred different kinds of birds personallyobserved on exploration in the field. 2. Have identified beyond question, by appearance or by note, forty-five different kinds of birds in one day. 3. Have made a good clear photograph of some wild bird, the bird imageto be over one half inch in length on the negative. 4. Have secured at least two tenants in bird boxes erected by himself. {38} 5. Have daily notes on the nesting of a pair of wild birds from thetime the first egg is laid until the young have left the nest. 6. Have attracted at least three kinds of birds, exclusive of theEnglish sparrow, to a "lunch counter" which he has supplied. Painting [Illustration: Paintbrush insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Painting a scout must 1. Have knowledge of how to combine pigments in order to producepaints in shades and tints of color. 2. Know how to add positive colors to a base of white lead or of whitezinc. 3. Understand the mixing of oils; turpentine, etc. , to the properconsistency. 4. Paint a porch floor or other surface evenly and without laps. 5. Know how and when to putty up nail holes and uneven surfaces. 6. Present for inspection a panel covered with three coats of paint, which panel must contain a border of molding, the body of the panel tobe painted in one color and the molding in another. Pathfinding [Illustration: Indianhead insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Pathfinding a scout must 1. Know every lane, by-path, and short cut for a distance of at leasttwo miles in every direction around the local scouts' headquarters inthe country. 2. Have a general knowledge of the district within a five mile radiusof his local headquarters, so as to be able to guide people at anytime, by day or night. 3. Know the general direction and population of the five principalneighboring towns and be able to give strangers correct directions howto reach them. 4. Know in the country in the two mile radius, approximately, thenumber of horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs owned on the fiveneighboring farms: or in a town must know in a half-mile radius whatlivery stables, garages and blacksmiths there are. 5. Know the location of the nearest meat markets, bakeries, groceries, and drug stores. {39} 6. Know where the nearest police station, hospital, doctor, firealarm, fire hydrant, telegraph and telephone offices, and railroadstations are. 7. Know something of the history of the place, its principal publicbuildings, such as town or city hall, post-office, schools, andchurches. 8. As much as possible of the above information should be entered on alarge scale map. Personal Health [Illustration: Heart insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Personal Health a scout must 1. Write a statement on the care of the teeth. 2. State a principle to govern in eating, and state in the order oftheir importance, five rules to govern the care of his health. 3. Be able to tell the difference in effect of a cold and hot bath. 4. Describe the effect of alcohol and tobacco on the growing boy. 5. Tell how to care for the feet on a march. 6. Describe a good healthful game and state its merit. 7. Describe the effects of walking as an exercise. 8. Tell how athletics may be overdone. Photography [Illustration: Camera and tripod insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Photography a scout must 1. Have a knowledge of the theory and use of lenses, of theconstruction of cameras, and the action of developers. 2. Take, develop, and print twelve separate subjects: three interiors, three portraits, three landscapes, and three instantaneous "actionphotos. " 3. Make a recognizable photograph of any wild bird larger than arobin, while on its nest; or a wild animal in its native haunts; or afish in the water. Pioneering [Illustration: Pickaxe and hatchet insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Pioneering a scout must 1. Fell a nine-inch tree or pole in a prescribed direction neatly andquickly. {40} 2. Tie six knots of knots quickly. 3. Lash spars properly together for scaffolding. 4. Build a modern bridge or derrick. 5. Make a camp kitchen. 6. Build a shack of one kind or another suitable for three occupants. Plumbing [Illustration: Faucet insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Plumbing a scout must 1. Be able to make wiped and brazed joints. 2. Repair a burst pipe. 3. Mend a ball or faucet tap. 4. Understand the ordinary hot and cold water system of a house. Poultry Farming [Illustration: Chicken insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Poultry Farming a scout must 1. Have a knowledge of incubators, foster-mothers, sanitary fowlhouses, and coops and runs. 2. Understand rearing, feeding, killing, and dressing birds formarket. 3. Be able to pack birds and eggs for market. 4. Raise a brood of not less than ten chickens. 5. Report his observation and study of the hen, turkey, duck, andgoose. Printing [Illustration: Ink roller insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Printing a scout must 1. Know the names of ten different kinds of type and ten sizes ofpaper. 2. Be able to compose by hand or machines. 3. Understand the use of hand or power printing machines. 4. Print a handbill set up by himself. 5. Be able to read and mark proof correctly. Public Health [Illustration: Torch insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Public Health a scout must 1. State what the chief causes of each of the following disease are:tuberculosis, typhoid, malaria. {41} 2. Draw a diagram showing how the house-fly carries disease. 3. Tell what should be done to a house which has been occupied by aperson who has had a contagious disease. 4. Tell how a scout may cooperate with the board of health inpreventing disease. 5. Describe the method used in his community in disposing of garbage. 6. Tell how a city should protect its foods; milk, meat, and exposedfoods. 7. Tell how to plan the sanitary care of a camp. 8. State the reason why school children should undergo a medicalexamination. Scholarship NOTE: The requirements for the merit badge for Scholarship had notbeen decided upon when this book was published. Information about samemay be secured upon application to National Headquarters. Sculpture [Illustration: Bust insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Sculpture a scout must 1. Make a clay model from an antique design. 2. Make a drawing and a model from nature, these models to be faithfulto the original and of artistic design. Seamanship [Illustration: Anchor insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Seamanship 1. Be able to tie rapidly six different knots. 2. Splice ropes. 3. Use a palm and needle. 4. Fling a rope coil. 5. Be able to row, pole, scull, and steer a boat; also bring a boatproperly alongside and make fast. 6. Know how to box the compass, read a chart, and show use of parallelrules and dividers. 7. Be able to state direction by the stars and sun. 8. Swim fifty yards with shoes and clothes on. {42} 9. Understand the general working of steam and hydraulic winches, andhave a knowledge of weather wisdom and of tides. Signaling [Illustration: Signal flags insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Signaling a scout must 1. Send and receive a message in two of the following systems ofsignaling: Semaphore, Morse, or Myer, not fewer than twenty-fourletters per minute. 2. Be able to give and read signals by sound. 3. Make correct smoke and fire signals. Stalking [Illustration: Leaf insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Stalking a scout must 1. Take a series of twenty photographs of wild animals or birds fromlife, and develop and print them. 2. Make a group of sixty species of wild flowers, ferns, or grasses, dried and mounted in a book and correctly named. 3. Make colored drawings of twenty flowers, ferns, or grasses, ortwelve sketches from life of animals or birds, original sketches aswell as the finished pictures to be submitted. Surveying [Illustration: Theodolite insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Surveying a scout must 1. Map correctly from the country itself the main features of half amile of road, with 440 yards each side to a scale of two feet to themile, and afterward draw same map from memory. 2. Be able to measure the height of a tree, telegraph pole, and churchsteeple, describing method adopted. 3. Measure width of a river. 4. Estimate distance apart of two objects a known distance away andunapproachable. 5. Be able to measure a gradient. Swimming [Illustration: Swimmer insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Swimming a scout must 1. Be able to swim one hundred yards. {43} 2. Dive properly from the surface of the water. 3. Demonstrate breast, crawl, and side stroke. 4. Swim on the back fifty feet. Taxidermy [Illustration: Talon insignia. (tr)] To obtain a merit badge for Taxidermy a scout must 1. Have a knowledge of the game laws of the state in which he lives. 2. Preserve and mount the skin of a game bird, or animal, killed inseason. 3. Mount for a rug the pelt of some fur animal. Life Scout [Illustration: Life Scout insignia. (tr)] The life scout badge will be given to all first-class scouts who havequalified for the following five-merit badges: first aid, athletics, life-saving, personal health, and public health. Star Scout [Illustration: Star Scout insignia. (tr)] The star scout badge will be given to the first-class scout who has qualified for ten merit badges. The ten include the list of badges under life scout. Eagle Scout [Illustration: Eagle Scout insignia. (tr)] Any first-class scout qualifying for twenty-one merit badges will be entitled to wear the highest scout merit badge. This is an eagle's head in silver, and represents the all-round perfect scout. {44} Honor Medals [Illustration: Honor medal insignia. (tr)] A scout who is awarded any one of the following medals is entitled towear the same on the left breast: Bronze medal. Cross in bronze with first-class scout badgesuperimposed upon it and suspended from a bar by a red ribbon. This isawarded to a scout who has saved life. Silver Medal. Silver Cross with first-class scout badge superimposedupon it and suspended from bar by blue ribbon. This medal is awardedto a scout who saves life with considerable risk to himself. Gold Medal. Gold Cross with first-class scout badge superimposed uponit and suspended from bar by white ribbon. This medal is the highestpossible award for service and heroism. It may be granted to a scoutwho has saved life at the greatest possible risk to his own life, andalso to anyone who has rendered service of peculiar merit to the BoyScouts of America. The Honor Medal is a national honor and is awarded only by theNational Council. To make application for one of these badges thefacts must first be investigated by the Court of Honor of the LocalCouncil and presented by that body to the Court of Honor of theNational Council. _The Local Court of Honor may at any time invite experts to share intheir examinations and recommendations_. When the National Court of Honor has passed upon the application, theproper medal will be awarded. Badges of Rank The following devices are used to distinguish the various ranks ofscouts: Patrol Leader [Illustration: Patrol leader insignia. (tr)] Patrol Leader: The patrol leader's arm badge consists of two bars, 1-1/2-inches long and 3/8-inch wide, of white braid worn on the sleevebelow the left shoulder. In addition he may {45} wear all oxidized silvertenderfoot, second-class or first-class scout badge according to hisrank. The assistant patrol leader wears one bar. [Illustration: Service Stripe insignia. (tr)] Service Stripes: For each year of service as a boy scout, he will beentitled to wear a stripe of white braid around the sleeve above thewrist, three stripes being changed for one red one. Five years ofscouting would be indicated by one red stripe and two white stripes. The star indicates the position for wearing merit badges. [Illustration: Scoutmaster insignia. (tr)] Scout Master: The badge of the scout commissioner, scout master, andassistant scout master is the first-class scout's badge reproduced inblue, green, and red, respectively, and are worn on the sleeve belowthe left shoulder. [Illustration: Star insignia. (tr)] Chief Scout: The badge of the Chief Scout is the first-class scoutbadge with a five-pointed star above it embroidered in silver. [Illustration: Caduceus (snakes on pole) insignia. (tr)] Chief Scout Surgeon: The badge of the Chief Scout Surgeon is thefirst-class scout badge with a caduceus above it embroidered ingreen. (The Chief Scout's staff wear the badge of rank in the samemanner as the Chief Scout. ) [Illustration: Crossed hatchets insignia. (tr)] Chief Scout Woodsman: The badge of the Chief Scout Woodsman is thefirst-class scout badge with two crossed axes above it embroidered ingreen. [Illustration: Leaf insignia. (tr)] Chief Scout Stalker: The badge of the Chief Scout Stalker is thefirst-class scout badge with an oak leaf above it embroidered inblue. [Illustration: Tongues of fire insignia. (tr)] Chief Scout Director of Health: The badge of the Chief Scout Directorof Health is the first-class scout badge with {46} tongues of fireabove it embroidered in red. [Illustration: Moccasin insignia. (tr)] Chief Scout Camp Master: The badge of the Chief Scout Camp Master isthe first-class scout badge with a moccasin above it embroidered ingreen: [Illustration: Winged foot insignia. (tr)] Chief Scout of Athletics: The badge of the Chief Scout Director ofAthletics is the first-class scout badge with a winged Mercury footabove it embroidered in green. Chief Scout Director of Chivalry: The badge of the Chief ScoutDirector of Chivalry is the first-class scout badge with the scoutsign above it embroidered in gold. [Illustration: American Flag insignia. (tr)] Chief Scout Citizen: The badge of the Chief Scout Citizen is thefirst-class scout badge with the United States flag above it insilver. Appropriate badges for national and local councilmen may be securedfrom the National Headquarters. Equipment _It should be clearly understood by all interested in the ScoutMovement that it is not necessary for a boy to have a uniform or anyother special equipment to carry out the scout program. There are agreat many troops in the country which have made successful progresswithout any equipment whatever_. However, for the convenience of boys who wish to secure a uniform orother equipment, the National Council has made arrangements withcertain manufacturers to furnish such parts of the equipment as may bedesired by the boys. Such arrangements have been made with thesemanufacturers only after a great number of representative firms havebeen given an opportunity to submit samples and prices; the pricesquoted to be uniform throughout the country. These manufacturers {47}are given the privilege of using for a limited period an imprint ofthe official badge as an indication that the Committee on Equipment iswilling to recommend the use of that particular article. The officialbadge is fully protected by the U. S. Patent Laws and anyone using itwithout expressed authority from National Headquarters is subject toprosecution at law. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in the selection of thematerial used in making coats, breeches, and shirts. The material usedin the boy scout coat, breeches, and shirt has been submitted to athirty-day sun test, the acid and strength test and is guaranteed tobe a fast color and durable. To show the result of the selection made, the manufacturer of these articles has been given the privilege ofusing the imprint of the official seal and the right to use theofficial buttons. We recommend the purchase of the articles havingthis imprint through any local dealer or through NationalHeadquarters. However, where a local council exists, buttons will besupplied on order of the Executive Committee for use on such uniformsas the Committee may desire to have made locally. In communities whereno local council has been formed, they may be supplied on order of aregistered scout master. Prices of the buttons per set for coat is 15cents and per set for shirt 10 cents. Every effort is made to have all parts of the uniform and equipmentavailable to scouts through local dealers. If such arrangements havenot been made in a community, the National Headquarters will be gladto help in making such an arrangement. Many scout masters prefer toorder uniforms and other supplies direct from National Headquarters. In order to cover the expense involved in handling these supplies, themanufacturers have agreed to allow National Headquarters the sametrade discount allowed to local dealers. Trade through NationalHeadquarters if sufficiently large will help to meet a part of thecurrent expenses of the National Organization. Any combination desiredmay be made from this list. A fairly complete equipment may be securedat the very nominal sum of $2. 15. For instance, the Summer equipmentwhich consists of: Hat, 50 cents; Shirt, 75 cents; Shorts, 50 cents;Belt, 40 cents. Where it is desired to equip the members of the troop with a standarduniform the following equipment is suggested: Hat, Shirt, Coat, Breeches or Knickerbockers, Belt, Leggings or Stockings, shoes, Haversack. {48} Other combinations may be made according to the resources of the boysforming the troop. However, it is recommended that each troop decide upon a definitecombination to be worn by its members so that all of the scouts in thetroop may dress alike. Each boy should pay for his own supplies andequipment. Soliciting donations for this purpose should be prohibited. A complete list of all supplies and equipment with full informationabout places where same can be secured is given in the appendix ofthis book. KNOTS EVERY SCOUT SHOULD KNOW _By Samuel A. Moffat, Boy Scouts of America_ Every scout knows what rope is. From the earliest moment of his playlife he has used it in connection with most of his games. In camp lifeand on hikes he will be called upon to use it again and again. It istherefore not essential to describe here the formation of rope; itsvarious sizes and strength. The important thing to know is how to useit to the best advantage. To do this an intelligent understanding ofthe different knots and how to tie them is essential. Every daysailors, explorers, mechanics, and mountain-climbers risk their liveson the knots that they tie. Thousands of lives have been sacrificed toill-made knots. The scout therefore should be prepared in anemergency, or when necessity demands, to tie the right knot in theright way. There are three qualities to a good knot: 1. Rapidity with which itcan be tied. 2. Its ability to hold fast when pulled tight, and 3. Thereadiness with which it can be undone. The following knots, recommended to scouts, are the most serviceablebecause they meet the above requirements and will be of great help inscoutcraft. If the tenderfoot will follow closely the various stepsindicated in the diagrams, he will have little difficulty inreproducing them at pleasure. In practising knot-tying a short piece of hemp rope may be used. Toprotect the ends from fraying a scout should know how to "whip" them. The commonest method of "whipping" is as follows: [Illustration: Whipping. ] Lay the end of a piece of twine along the end of the rope. {49} Holdit to the rope with the thumb of your left hand while you wind thestanding part around it and the rope until the end of the twine hasbeen covered. Then with the other end of the twine lay a loop back onthe end of the rope and continue winding the twine upon this secondend until all is taken up. The end is then pulled back tight and cutoff close to the rope. For the sake of clearness a scout must constantly keep in mind thesethree principal parts of the rope: [Illustration: Rope loop. (tr)] 1. _The Standing Part_--The long unused portion of the rope on whichhe works; 2. _The Bight_--The loop formed whenever the rope is turned backupon itself; and, 3. _The End_--The part he uses in leading. Before proceeding with thetenderfoot requirements, a scout should first learn the two primaryknots: the overhand and figure-of-eight knots. [Illustration: Overhand knot. ] _The Overhand Knot_. Start with the position shown in the preceding diagram. Back the endaround the standing part and up through the bight and draw tight. [Illustration: Figure eight knot. ] _The Figure of Eight Knot_. Make a bight as before. Then lead the endaround back of the standing part and down through the bight. After these preliminary steps, the prospective tenderfoot may proceedto learn the required knots. {50} [Illustration: Reef knot. ] _Square or Reef Knot_. The commonest knot for tying two ropes together. Frequently used in first-aid bandaging. Never slips or jams; easy tountie. [Illustration: False reef knot. ] _False Reef or Granny_. If the ends are not crossed correctly whenmaking the reef knot, the false reef or granny is the result. Thisknot is always bad. [Illustration: Sheet bend knot. ] _Sheet Bend or Weaver's Knot_. This knot is used in bending the sheet tothe clew of a sail and in tying two rope-ends together. Make a bight with one rope A, B, then pass end C, of other rope upthrough and around the entire bight and bend it under its own standingpart. [Illustration: Bowline knot. ] _The Bowline_. A noose that neither jams nor slips. Used in lowering aperson from a burning building, etc. Form a small loop on the standing part leaving the end long enough forthe size of the noose required. Pass the end up through the bightaround the standing part and down through the bight again. To tighten, hold noose in position and pull standing part. [Illustration: Halter knot. ] _Halter, Slip, or Running Knot_. A bight is first formed and an overhandknot made with the end around the standing part. [Illustration: Sheepshank knot. ] _Sheepshank_. Used for shortening ropes. Gather up the amount to beshortened, then make a half hitch round each of the bends as shown inthe diagram. {51} [Illustration: Clove hitch knot. ] _Clove Hitch_. Used to fasten one pole to another in fitting upscaffolding; this knot holds snugly; is not liable to slip laterally. Hold the standing part in left hand, then pass the rope around thepole; cross the standing part, making a second turn around the pole, and pass the end under the last turn. [Illustration: Fisherman's bend knot. ] _The Fisherman's Bend_. Used aboard yachts for bending on the gafftopsail halliards. It consists of two turns around a spar or ring, then a half hitch around the standing part and through the turns onthe spar, and another half hitch above it around the standing part. [Illustration: Timber hitch knot. ] _Timber Hitch_. Used in hauling timber. Pass the end of the rope aroundthe timber. Then lead it around its standing part and bring it back tomake two or more turns on its own part. The strain will hold itsecurely. [Illustration: Two half hitches knot. ] _Two Half Hitches_. Useful because they are easily made and will notslip under any strain. Their formation is sufficiently indicated bythe diagram. [Illustration: Blackwall hitch knot. ] _Blackwall Hitch_. Used to secure a rope to a hook. The standing partwhen hauled tight holds the end firmly. [Illustration: Becket hitch knot. ] _Becket Hitch_. For joining a cord to a rope. May be easily made fromdiagram. {52} [Illustration: Fisherman's knot. ] _The Fisherman's Knot_. Used for tying silk-worm gut for fishingpurposes. It never slips; is easily unloosed by pulling the two shortends. The two ropes are laid alongside one another, then with each end anoverhand knot is made around the standing part of the other. Pull thestanding parts to tighten. [Illustration: Carrick bend knot. ] _Carrick Bend_. Used in uniting hawsers for towing. Is easily untied bypushing the loops inwards. Turn the end of one rope A over its standing part B to form a loop. Pass the end of the other rope across the bight thus formed, back ofthe standing part B over the end A, then under the bight at C, passingit over its own standing part and under the bight again at D. [Illustration: Mariner's compass. ] The Mariner's Compass Boxing the Compass consists in enumerating the points, beginning withnorth and working around the circle as follows:NorthNorth by EastNorth, North-eastNorth-east by NorthNorth-eastNorth-east by EastEast, North-eastEast by NorthEastEast by SouthEast, South-eastSouth-east by EastSouth-eastSouth-east by South {53} South, South-eastSouth by EastSouthSouth by WestSouth, South-westSouth-west by SouthSouth-westSouth-west by WestWest, South-westWest by SouthWestWest by NorthWest, North-westNorth-west by WestNorth-westNorth-west by NorthNorth, North-westNorth by WestNorth NOTES {54} Notes {55} Notes {56} Notes {57} CHAPTER II WOODCRAFT Woodlore _By Ernest Thompson Seton, Chief Scout_ The Watch for a Compass(From "Boy Scouts of America, " by Ernest Thompson Seton. Copyright, 1910, by Doubleday, Page & Company ) The watch is often used to give the compass point exactly. Thus: Pointthe hour-hand to the sun; then, in the morning, half-way between thehour-hand and noon is due south. If afternoon, one must reckonhalf-way backward. Thus: at 8 A. M. , point the hour-hand to the sun and reckon forwardhalf-way to noon; the south is at 10. If at 4 P. M. , point thehour-hand at the sun and reckon back half-way. The south is at twoo'clock. The "half-way" is because the sun makes a course of twenty-four hoursand the clock of but twelve. If we had a rational timepiece oftwenty-four hours, it would fit in much better with all nature, andwith the hour-hand pointed to the sun would make 12 o'clock, noon, always south. If you cannot see the sun, get into a clear, open space, hold yourknife point upright on your watch dial, and it will cast a faintshadow, showing where the sun really is, unless the clouds are veryheavy. Finding Your Latitude by the Stars The use of the stars to the scout is chiefly to guide him by showingthe north, but the white man has carried the use a step farther: hemakes the Pole-star tell him not only where the north is, but where hehimself is. From the Pole-star, he can learn his latitude. It is reckoned an exploit to take one's latitude from the North Starwith a cart-wheel, or with two sticks and a bucket of water. {58} The first attempt I made was with two sticks and a bucket of water. Iarranged the bucket in the daytime, so that it could be filled fromrim to rim; that is, it was level, and that gave me the horizon line;next, I fastened my two sticks together at an adjustable angle. Then, laying one stick across the bucket as a base, I raised the other tillthe two sight notches on its upper edge were in straight line for thePole-star. The sticks were now fastened at this angle and put awaytill the morning. On a smooth board--the board is allowable because itcan be found either far on the plains when you have your wagon, or onthe ship at sea--I mapped out, first a right angle, by the old plan ofmeasuring off a triangle, whose sides were six, eight, and ten inches, and applied the star angle to this. By a process of equal subdivisionI got 45 degrees, 22-1/2 degrees, finally 40 degrees, which seemed tobe the latitude of my camp; subsequent looking-up showed it to be 41degrees 10 minutes. [Illustration: Bucket and sticks. (tr)] Of course, it is hard to imagine that the boys will ever be so placedthat it is important for them to take their latitude with home-madeimplements; but it is also hard to imagine circumstances under whichit would be necessary to know that the sun is 92, 000, 000 miles away. It is very sure, however, that a boy who has once done this has alarger idea of the world and its geography, and it is likely to helphim in realizing that there is some meaning to the lines and figureson the border of his school maps, and that they are not put theremerely to add to his perplexities. [Illustration: Sundial, or hunter's clock. ] {59} To make a scout's sundial, prepare a smooth board about fifteen inchesacross, with a circle divided into twenty-four equal parts, and atemporarily hinged pointer, whose upper edge is in the middle of thedial. Place on some dead level, solid post or stump in the open. Atnight fix the dial so that the twelve o'clock line points exactly tonorth, as determined by the Polestar. Then, using two temporarysighting sticks of exactly the same height (so as to permit sightingclear above the edge of the board) set the pointer exactly pointing tothe Pole-star; that is, the same angle as the latitude of the place, and fix it there immovably. Then remove the two sighting sticks. As atimepiece, this dial will be found roughly correct for that latitude. The angle of the pointer, or style, must be changed for each latitude. Building a Log Cabin(From Country Life in America. May, 1905 ) There are as many different kinds of log cabins as of any otherarchitecture. It is best to begin with the simplest. The tools neededare a sharp ax, a crosscut saw, an inch auger, and a spade. It ispossible to get along with nothing but an ax (many settlers had noother tool), but the spade, saw, and auger save much work. For the site select a high, dry place, in or near the woods, and closeto the drinking-water. It should be a sunny place, and with a view, preferably one facing south or east. Clear off and level the ground. Then bring your logs. These are more picturesque with the bark lefton, but last longer peeled. Eight feet by twelve feet outside makes agood cabin for three or four boys. Cut and carry about twelve logs, each ten feet long; and twelve more, each fourteen feet long. The logs should be at least six inchesthrough. Soft wood is preferable, as it is easier to handle; the fourground logs or sills, at least, should be of cedar, chestnut, or otherwood that does not rot. Lay two of the fourteen-foot logs on theground, at the places for the long sides, and seven feet apart. Thenacross them, at the end, lay two short ones, eleven feet apart. Thisleaves about a foot projecting from each log. Roll the last two intotheir resting places, and flatten them till they sit firmly. It is ofprime importance that each log rest immovably on the one below. Nowcut the upper part of each end log, to an edge over each corner. (Fig. 1. ) {60} [Illustration: Log cabin, figures 1 to 10. ] Next put on two long logs, roll them onto the middle, taking care tochange off, so the big end at a given comer may be followed next timeby the small end and insure the corner rising evenly. Roll one ofthese large logs close to where it is to be placed, then cut on itsupper surface at each end a notch corresponding with the ridge on thelog it is to ride on. When ready, half a roll drops it into place. Thelog should be one to three inches above the one under it, and shouldnot touch except at {61} the ends. Repeat the process now with the othersides, then the two ends, etc. , always keeping the line of the cornerplumb. As the walls rise, it will be found necessary to skid thelarger logs; that is, roll them up on two long logs, or skids, leaningagainst the wall. (Fig. 2. ) When the logs are in place to the height of four and a half feet fromthe ground, it is time to decide where the door and window are to be;and at that place, while the next long log is lying on top, bottom up, cut out a piece four feet long and four inches deep. Roll this loginto place. (Fig. 3. ) One more log above this, or certainly two, willmake your shanty high enough for boys. Put on final end logs, then twoothers across the shanty. (Fig. 4. ) Roll up the biggest, strongest logof all for the ridge (sometimes two are used side by side); it shouldlie along the middle of the four cross pieces shown in Fig. 4. The two cross logs, B and C, and the ridge log should be very strong, as the roof is heavy. Now we are ready to cut the doorway and window. First, drive in blocks of wood between each of the logs, all the waydown from A to the ground, and from B down to D, and C to E. (Fig. 5. )Saw down now from A half-way through the ground log F. Then from Bdown to half-way through the log D; now continue from G, cutting downto half through the ground log. Use the ax to split out the upper halfof the ground log, between the saw-cuts and also the upper half of thelog D. Hew a flat piece of soft wood, five or six inches wide, about twoinches thick, and as long as the height of this doorway. Set it upagainst the ends of the logs A to F. Bore an auger hole through itinto the end of each log (these holes must not be in line lest theysplit the jamb), including the top and bottom ones, and drive intoeach a pin of oak. This holds all safely. Do the same on the otherside, H to E, and put a small one down B, D, which is the side of thewindow. Now we are ready to finish the roof. Use the ax to bevel off thecorners of the four cross-logs, A and B. (Fig. 6. ) Then get a lot ofstrong poles, about five feet long, and lay them close together alongthe two sides of the roof till it is covered with poles; putting avery heavy one, or small log, on the outer edge of each, and fasteningit down with a pin into the ridge log. Cut two long poles and lay oneon each of the lower ends of the roof poles, as at A, B, and C (Fig. 7), pinning them to the side logs. Cover this roof with a foot of hay or straw or grass, and cover {62}that again evenly with about four inches of stiff clay. Pack thisdown. It will soon squeeze all that foot of straw down to little morethan one inch, and will make a warm and water-tight roof. As the clayis very heavy, it is wise, before going inside, to test the roof byjumping on it. If it gives too much, it will be well to add a centreprop. Now for the door: Hew out planks; two should be enough. Fasten thesetogether with two cross-pieces and one angle-piece, using oak pegsinstead of nails, if you wish to be truly primitive. For these theholes should be bored part way with a gimlet, and a peg used largerthan the hole. The lower end of the back plank is left projecting in apoint. (Fig. 8. ) This point fits into a hole pecked with a point orbored with an auger into the door-sill. Bore another hole near the top of the door (A), and a correspondingone through the door-jamb between two logs. Set the door in place. Astrip of rawhide leather, a limber willow branch, or a strip ofhickory put through the auger hole of the door and wedged into thehole in the jamb, makes a truly wild-wood hinge. A peg in the frontjamb prevents the door going too far out, and a string and peg insideanswer for a latch. The window opening may be closed with a glass sash, with a piece ofmuslin, or with the rawhide of an animal, scraped clear of hair andstretched on a frame. It now remains to chink and plaster the place. Chinking is best done from the inside. Long triangular strips andblocks of wood are driven in between the logs and fastened there withoak pins driven into the lower log till nothing but small cranniesremain. Some cabins are finished with moss plugged into all thecrannies, but mud worked into plaster does better. It should be put on the outside first, and afterward finished form theinside. It is best done really with two plasterers working together, one inside and one out. This completes the shanty, but a bunk and fireplace are usually added. The fireplace may be in one corner, or in the middle of the end. It iseasiest to make in the former. Across the corner, peg three angle braces, each about three feet long. These are to prevent the chimney falling forward. Now begin to build with stone, using mud as mortar, a fireplace thisshape. (Fig. 9. ) Make the opening about eighteen inches across; carryit up two feet high, drawing it in a little, then lay a long stoneacross the front, after which build up {63} the flue behind the cornerbraces right up to the roof. The top corner-piece carries the rafterthat may be cut off to let the flue out. Build the chimney up outsideas high as the highest part of the ridge. But the ideal fireplace is made with the chimney on the outside of thecabin, at the middle of the end farthest from the door. For this youmust cut a hole in the end log, like a big, low window, pegging a jambon the ends as before. With stones and mud you now build a fireplace inside the shanty, withthe big chimney carried up outside, always taking care that there areseveral inches of mud or stone between the fire and any of the logs. In country where stone cannot be found, the fireplace is often builtof mud, sustained by an outside cribbing of logs. If the flue is fair size, that is, say one quarter the size of thefireplace opening, it will be sure to draw. The bunk should be made before the chinks are plastered, as thehammering is apt to loosen the mud. Cut eight or ten poles a foot longer than you need the bunk; cut theend of each into a flat board and drive these between the long logs atthe right height and place for the bunk, supporting the other end on acrosspiece from a post to the wall. Put a very big pole on the outerside, and all is ready for the bed; most woodsmen make this of smallfir boughs. There are two other well-known ways of cornering the logs--one issimply flattening the logs where they touch. This, as well as thefirst one, is known in the backwoods of Canada as hog-pen finish. Thereally skilful woodsmen of the North always dovetail the comers andsaw them flush: (Fig. 10) Sometimes it is desirable to make a higher gable than that which oneridge log can make. Then it is made thus: (Fig. 11. ) This is as muchslope as a clay roof should have; with any more, the clay would washoff. This is the simplest way to build a log-cabin, but it illustrates allthe main principles of log building. Shingle roofs and gables, broadpiazzas outside, and modern fitting inside, are often added nowadays insummer camps, but it must be clear that the more towny you make thecabin, the less woodsy it is, and less likely to be the complete restand change that is desired. For fuller instructions, see "Log-Cabins and Cottages. " By. Wm. S. Wicks, 1900. (Pub. Forest and Stream, N. Y. ) {64} Also, "The Jack ofAll Trades. " By Dan C. Beard, Scribner's; and "Field and Forest HandyBook. " Measuring Distances(See "Two Little Savages, " 1903. ) The height of a tree is easily measured when on a level, open place, by measuring the length of its shadow, then comparing that with yourown shadow, or that of a ten-foot pole. Thus, the ten-foot pole is casting a fifteen-foot shadow, and thetree's shadow is one hundred and fifty feet long, apply the simplerule of three. 15 : 150 :: 10 : x = 100 But it is seldom so easy, and the good old rule of the triangle can besafely counted on: Get a hundred or more feet from your tree, on openground, as nearly as possible on the level of its base. Set up aten-foot pole (A B, page 65). Then mark the spot where the exact linefrom the top of the tree over the top of the pole touches the ground(C). Now measure the distance from that spot (C) to the foot of theten-foot pole (B); suppose it is twenty feet. Measure also thedistance from that spot (C) to the base of the tree (D); suppose it isone hundred and twenty feet, then your problem is: 20 : 10 :: 120 : x = 60 i. E. , if at that angle twenty feet from the eye gives ten feetelevation, one hundred and twenty feet must give sixty. _To make a right angle_, make a triangle whose sides are exactly six, eight, and ten feet or inches each (or multiples of these). The angleopposite the ten must be a true right angle. [Illustration: To make a right angle. ] There are many ways of measuring distance across rivers, etc. , withoutcrossing. The simplest, perhaps, is by the equilateral triangle. Cutthree poles of exactly equal length; peg them together into atriangle. Lay {65} this on the bank of the river so one side points tosome point on the opposite bank. Drive in three pegs to mark the exactpoints of this triangle (A, B, C). Then move it along the bank until youfind a place (F, E, G) where its base is on line with the two pegs, where the base used to be, and one side in line with the point acrossthe river (D). The width of the river is seven eighths of the base ofthis great triangle. [Illustration: Measuring the width of a river by sighting witha triangle. (tr)] Another method is by the isosceles triangle. Make a right-angledtriangle as above, with sides six, eight, and ten feet (A, B, C); then, after firmly fixing the right angle, cut down the eight-foot side tosix feet and saw off the ten-foot side to fit. Place this with theside D B on the river bank in line with the sight object (X) across. Put three pegs to mark the three {66} corner places. Then take thetriangle along the bank in the direction of C until C' D' are in linewith the sight object, while B' C' is in line with the pegs B C. Thenthe length of the long base B C' will equal the distance from B to X. [Illustration: Measuring height of tree. ] [Illustration: Measuring the distance between two distant objects. ] To measure the space between two distant objects, D and E. Line A B onone, then move this right-angled triangle until F G is lined on theother, with B G in line with G H. B G equals the space between D and Ethen. If the distance is considerable, it may be measured sometimes bysound. Thus, when a gun is fired, a man is chopping, or a dog barking, count the seconds between the sight and the hearing of the sound, andmultiply by eleven hundred feet, which is the distance sound travelsin a second. [Illustration: To climb a tree that is too thick--Place small treeagainst it. ] {67} Occasionally, the distance of an upright bank, cliff, or building canbe measured by the echo. Half the seconds between shout and echo, multiplied by eleven hundred gives the distance in feet. The usual way to estimate long distances is by the time they take tocover. Thus, a good canoe on dead water goes four to five miles anhour. A man afoot walks three and a half miles an hour on good roads. A packtrain goes two and a half miles an hour, or perhaps one and ahalf on the mountain trails. A man's thumb is an inch wide. Span of thumb and longest finger, nine inches. Brisk walking pace isone yard for men. What To Do When Lost in the Woods(Ladies' Home Journal, October, 1902. ) "Did you ever get lost in the woods?" I once asked a company of twentycampers. Some answered, "Yes; once or twice. " Others said, "Many atime. " Only two said, "No, never. " Then I said, turning to the two, "Iknow that all the others here have had plenty of experience, and thatyou two are the tenderfeet, and never lived in the woods. " It is quite certain to come sooner or later; if you go camping, youwill get lost in the woods. Hunters, Indians, yes, birds and beasts, get lost at times. You can avoid it for long by always taking yourbearings and noting the landscape before leaving the camp, and thisyou should always do; but still you will get lost some time, and it iswell to be ready for it by carrying matches, knife, and compass. When you do miss your way, the first thing to remember is, like theIndian, "You are not lost; it is the teepee that is lost. " It isn'tserious. It cannot be so unless you do something foolish. The first and most natural thing to do is to get on a hill, up a tree, or other high lookout, and seek for some landmark near camp. You maybe sure of this much: You are not nearly so far from camp as you think you are. Your friendswill soon find you. You can help them best by signaling. The worst thing you can do is to get frightened. The truly dangerousenemy is not the cold or the hunger so much as the fear. It is fearthat robs the wanderer of his judgment and of his limb power; it isfear that turns the passing experience into a final tragedy. Only keepcool and all will be well. {68} If there is snow on the ground, you can follow your back track. If you see no landmark, look for the smoke of the fire. Shout fromtime to time, and wait; for though you have been away for hours it isquite possible you are within earshot of your friends. If you happento have a gun, fire it off twice in quick succession on your highlookout; then wait and listen. Do this several times and wait plentylong enough--perhaps an hour. If this brings no help, send up adistress signal--that is, make two smoke fires by smothering twobright fires with green leaves and rotten wood, and keep them at leastfifty feet apart, or the wind will confuse them. Two shots or twosmokes are usually understood to mean "I am in trouble. " Those in campon seeing this should send up one smoke, which means, "Camp is here. " If you have a dog or a horse with you, you may depend upon it he canbring you out all right; but usually you will have to rely onyourself. The simplest plan, when there is fresh snow and no wind, isto follow your own track back. No matter how far around or how crookedit may be, it will certainly bring you out safely. If you are sure of the general direction to the camp and determined tokeep moving, leave a note pinned on a tree if you have paper; if not, write with charcoal on a piece of wood, and also make a good smoke, sothat you can come back to this spot if you choose. But make certainthat the fire cannot run, by clearing the ground around it and bybanking it around with sods. And mark your course by breaking orcutting a twig every fifty feet. You can keep straight by the sun, themoon, or the stars, but when they are unseen you must be guided by thecompass. I do not believe much in guidance by what are called nature'scompass signs. It is usual to say, for example, that the north side ofthe tree has the most moss or the south side the most limbs, etc. While these are true in general, there are so many exceptions thatwhen alarmed and in doubt as to which is north, one is not in a frameof mind to decide with certainty on such fine points. If a strong west wind, for example, was blowing when you left camp, and has blown ever since, you can be pretty sure it is still a westwind; but the only safe and certain natural compass guides are thesun, moon, and stars. The Pole or North Star, and the Great Bear (also called the Dipper andthe Pointers), should be known to every boy as they are to everyIndian. The Pointers always point out the {69} Pole-star. Of course, they go around it once in twenty-four hours, so this makes a kind ofclock. The stars, then, will enable you to keep straight if you travel. Butthick woods, fog, or clouds are apt to come up, and without somethingto guide you are sure to go around in a circle. Old woodsmen commonly follow down the streams. These are certain tobring you out somewhere; but the very worst traveling is along theedges of the streams, and they take you a long way around. All thingsconsidered, it is usually best to stay right where you are, especiallyif in a wild country where there is no chance of finding a farm house. Make yourself comfortable for the night by gathering plenty of goodwood while it is daylight, and building a wind screen on three sides, with the fire in front, and something to keep you off the ground. Donot worry but keep up a good fire; and when day comes renew your twosmokes and wait. A good fire is the best friend of a lost man. I have been lost a number of times, but always got out without serioustrouble, because I kept cool. The worst losing I ever got was after Ihad been so long in the West that I qualified to act as a professionalguide, and was engaged by a lot of Eastern farmers looking for landlocations. This was in the October of 1883 on the Upper Assiniboin. The main bodyof the farmers had remained behind. I had gone ahead with two of them. I took them over hundreds of miles of wild country. As we wentnorthward the country improved. We were traveling with oxen, and itwas our custom to let them graze for two hours at noon. One warm day, while the oxen were feeding, we went in our shirt sleeves to a distantbutte that promised a lookout. We forgot about the lateness till thesun got low. Even then I could have got back to camp, but clouds cameup and darkness fell quickly. Knowing the general direction I kept on, and after half an hour's tramp we came to a canyon I had never seenbefore. I got out my compass and a match and found that I had beencircling, as one is sure to do in the dark. I corrected the course andled off again. After another brief turn I struck another match andlearned from the compass that I was again circling. This wasdiscouraging, but with corrected course we again tramped. I wasleading, and suddenly the dark ground ten feet ahead of me turnedgray. I could not make it out, so went cautiously nearer. I lay down, reached forth, and then slowly made sure that we were on the edge of asteep precipice. I backed off, {70} and frankly told the men I did notknow where we were. I got out my match box and compass and found I hadbut one match left. "Any of you got any matches?" I asked. "No; left 'em all in ourcoats, " was their answer. "Well, " said I, "I have one. Shall I use it to get a new course fromthe compass, or shall we make a fire and stay here till morning?" All voted to camp for the night. There was now a cold rain. We groped into a hollow where we got some dead wood, and by using ourknives got some dry chips from the inside of a log. When all was readywe gathered close around, and I got out the one match. I was about tostrike it when the younger of the men said: "Say, Seton, you are not a smoker; Jack is. Hadn't you better give himthat match?" There was sense in this. I have never in my life smoked. Jack was anold stager and an adept with matches. I handed it to him. "Rrrp-fizz"--and in a minute we had a fire. With the help of the firelight we now found plenty of dead wood; wemade three blazing fires side by side, and after an hour we removedthe centre one, then raked away all the hot ashes, and all lay downtogether on the warm ground. When the morning came the rain ceased. Westretched our stiffened limbs and made for camp. Yes, there it was inplain view two miles away across a fearful canyon. Three steps more onthat gloomy night and we should have been over the edge of that canyonand dashed to the bottom. How to Make Fire by Rubbing Sticks "How do the Indians make a fire without matches?" asked a boy wholoved to "play Indian. " Most of us have heard the answer to this. "TheIndians use a flint and steel, as our own fathers and mothers did onehundred years ago, and before they had flint and steel they usedrubbing-sticks. " We have all read about bringing fire out of twosticks by rubbing them together. I tried it once for an hour, and Iknow now I never would have got it in a thousand years as I was doingit. Others have had the same experience; consequently, most personslook upon this as a sort of fairy tale, or, if they believe it to betrue, they think it so difficult as to be worth no second thought. Allscouts, I find, are surprised and greatly interested to learn that notonly is it possible, it is easy, to make a friction {71} fire, if youknow how; and hopeless, if you don't. I have taught many boys and men(including some Indians) to do it, and some have grown so expert thatthey make it nearly as quickly as with an old-fashioned sulphur match. When I first learned from Walter Hough, who learned from the Indians, it took me from five to ten minutes to get a blazing fire--not half anhour, as some books have it. But later I got it down to a minute, thento thirty-one seconds from the time of taking up the rubbing-sticks tohaving a fine blaze, the time in getting the first spark being aboutsix seconds. My early efforts were inspired by book accounts of Indian methods, but, unfortunately, I have never yet seen a book account that wasaccurate enough to guide anyone successfully in the art offire-making. All omit one or other of the absolute essentials, ordwell on some triviality. The impression they leave on those who knowis that the writers did not. The surest and easiest method of making a friction fire is by use ofthe bow-drill. Two sticks, two tools, and some tinder are needed. The two sticks are the drill and the fire-board, or fire-block. Thebooks generally tell us that these must be of different kinds of wood. This is a mistake. I have uniformly gotten the best results with twopieces of the same kind--all the better, indeed, if they are parts ofthe same stick. What Kind of Wood This is a very important question, as woods that are too hard, toosoft, too wet, too oily, too gummy, or too resinous will not producefire. The wood should be soft enough to wear away, else it produces nopunk, and hard enough to wear slowly, or the heat is not enough tolight the punk, and, of course, it should be highly inflammable. Thosethat I have had the best luck with are balsam fir, cottonwood roots, tamarack, European larch, red cedar, white cedar, Oregon cedar, basswood, cypress, and sometimes second-growth white pine. It shouldalways be a dry, sound stick, brash, but not in the least punky. In each part of the country there seems to be a kind of wood wellsuited for fire-making. The Eastern Indians used cedar; the NorthernIndians, cedar or balsam fir; the plains Indians used cottonwood orsage-brush roots. Perhaps the most reliable of all is dry and seasoned balsam fir;either the species in the North woods or in the Rockies will do. Itgives a fine big spark or coal in about seven seconds. {72} When in the grinding the dust that runs out of the notch is coarse andbrown, it means that the wood is too soft; when it is very fine andscanty it means that the wood is too hard. [Illustration: The rubbing-sticks for fire-making. ] 1. The simplest kind of bow; a bent stick with a stout leather thongfastened at each end. It is about 27 inches long and 5/8 inch thick. 2. A more elaborate bow with a hole at each end for the thong. At thehandle end it goes through a disc of wood. This is to tighten thethong by pressure of the hand against the disc while using. 3. Simplest kind of drill-socket; a pine or hemlock knot with ashallow hole or pit in it. 3a is under view of same. It is about 4-1/2inches long. 4. A more elaborate drill-socket; a pebble cemented with gum in awooden holder. 4a is under view of same. 5. A very elaborate drill-socket; it is made of tulip wood, carved torepresent the Thunderbird. It has eyes of green felspar cemented inwith resin. On the under side (5a) is seen, in the middle, a soapstonesocket let into the wood and fastened with pine gum, and on the head ahole kept filled with grease, to grease the top of the drill beforeuse. 6. The drill; 12 to 18 inches long and about 3/4 inch thick; it isroughly eight-sided so the thong will not slip, and pointed at eachend. The best wood for the drill is old, dry brash, but not punky, balsam fir or cottonwood roots; but basswood, white cedar, red cedar, tamarack, and sometimes even white pine, will do. 7. Fire-board or block; about 3/4 inch thick and any length handy; ais notch with pit just begun, b shows the pit after once using and ingood trim for second time, c shows the pit bored through and nowuseless; the notch is 1/2 inch wide and 3/4 inch deep. 8. Shows the way of using the sticks. The block (a) is held down withone foot, the end of the drill (b) is put in the pit, the drill-socket(c) is held on top in left hand, one end of the bow (d) is held in theright hand, while the bow is drawn back and forth. 9. Is a little wooden fire-pan, not essential but convenient; its thinedge is put under the notch to catch the powder that falls. {73} I have made many experiments to determine whether there is anything inthe idea that it is better to have the block and the drill ofdifferent woods. But no hybrid combination was so successful as "two of a kind. " The drill and the bow and socket are fully described in theillustration. The preparing of the fire-board is one of the most important things. At the edge cut a notch half an inch wide and about three fourths ofan inch deep; at the top of this notch make a pit or shallow hole, andthe board is ready. The importance of this notch is such that it isuseless to try fire-making without it. While these are the essentials, it is well to get ready, also, sometinder. I have tried a great many different kinds of lint and punk, including a number that were artificially prepared, soaked withsaltpetre or other combustibles. But these are not really fair play. The true woodcrafter limits himself to the things that he can get inthe woods, and in all my recent fire-making I have contented myselfwith the tinder used for ages by the red men: that is, cedar woodfinely shredded between two stones. Some use the fringes that grow onbirch, improving it by rubbing in powdered charcoal. Now that he has the tools and material ready, it will be an easymatter for the matchless castaway to produce a fire. Pass the leather thong once around the drill--and this should make thethong taut; put the lower point of the drill in the pit at the top ofthe notch in the fire-board, and hold the socket with the left hand ontop of the drill. The notch of the fire-board should be resting on achip or thin wooden tray. Hold the bow by the handle end in the righthand, steady the board under the left foot, and the left arm againstthe left knee. Now draw the bow back and forth with steady, evenstrokes, its full length. This causes the drill to turn in the pit andbore into the wood; ground-up wood runs out of the side of the notch, falling on the chip or tray. At first it is brown; in two or threeseconds it turns black, and then smokes; in five or six seconds it isgiving off a cloud of smoke. A few more vigorous strokes of the bow, and now it will be found that smoke still comes from the pile of blackwood-dust on the chip. Fan this gently with the hand; the smokeincreases, and in a few seconds you see a glowing coal in the middleof the dust. (There are never any visible flying sparks. ) Now take a liberal pinch of the cedar tinder--about a teaspoonful;wrap this in some bark fibre or shredded rope to {74} keep it fromblowing away. Hold it down on the coal, and, lifting tray and all, blow or fan it until in a few seconds it blazes. Carefully pile overit the shreds of birch bark or splinters of fat pine preparedbeforehand, and the fire is made. If you have the right wood and still cannot get the fire, it is likelybecause you do not hold the drill steady, or have not cut the sidenotch quite into the middle point of the little fire pit. The advantages of learning this method are threefold: First: Fire-making by friction is an interesting experiment inwoodcraft. Second: A boy is better equipped having learned it. He can neverafterward freeze to death for lack of matches if he has wood and anold shoe lace. Third: For the very reason that it is difficult, compared withmatches, it tends to prevent the boys making unnecessary fires, andthus reduces the danger of their setting the woods ablaze or ofsmoking the forbidden cigarette. There is such a fascination in making the rubbing-stick fire that oneof my Western cooks, becoming an expert, gave up the use of matchesfor a time and lit his morning fire with the fire-drill, and, indeed, he did not find it much slower than the usual way. Walter Hough told me a story of an Apache Indian who scoffed at thematches of white men, and claimed that he could light a fire withrubbing-sticks faster than Hough could with matches. So each madeready. They were waiting for the word "go" when the Indian said: "Wait. I see if him right. " He gave a few strokes with the drill, andcalled--"Stop--stop him no good. " He rearranged the sticks, and trieda few more strokes. Just as Mr. Hough was going to strike the match, he said: "Stop--stop him no good. " He did this three times before hecalled "Ready. " Then the word "Go" was given. The white man struck theslow, sizzling match. The Indian gave half a dozen twirls to thedrill--the smoke burst forth. He covered it with the tinder, fanned afew seconds, then a bright flame arose, just before the white man gothis twigs ablaze. So the Indian won, but it was by an Indian trick;for the three times when he pretended to be trying it, he was reallywarming up the wood--that is, doing a large part of the work. I amafraid that, deft as he was, he would have lost in a fair race. Yetthis incident shows at least that, in point of speed, the oldrubbing-sticks are not very far behind the matches, as one might havesupposed. {75} It is, indeed, a wonder that the soldiers at West Point are not taughtthis simple trick, when it is so easily learned, and might some day bethe one thing to save the lives of many of them. Archery No woodcraft education is complete without a knowledge of archery. Itis a pity that this noble sport has fallen into disuse. We shall findit essential to some of our best games. The modern hunting gun is an irresistible weapon of wholesale murder, and is just as deadly no matter who pulls the trigger. It spreadsterror as well as death by its loud discharge, and it leaves littleclew as to who is responsible for the shot. Its deadly range is sofearfully great as to put all game at the mercy of the clumsiest tyro. Woodcraft, the oldest of all sciences and one of the best, hassteadily declined since the coming of the gun, and it is entirely dueto this same unbridled power that America has lost so many of her finegame animals. The bow is a far less destructive weapon, and to succeed at all in thechase the bowman must be a double-read forester. The bow is silent andit sends the arrow with exactly the same power that the bowman's armputs into it--no more, no less--so it is really his own power thatspeeds the arrow. There is no question as to which hunter has theright to the game or is responsible for the shot when the arrow isthere to tell. The gun stands for little skill, irresistible forcesupplied from an outside source, overwhelming unfair odds, and suredeath to the victim. The bow, on the other hand, stands for all thatis clever and fine in woodcraft; so, no guns or fire-arms of any kindare allowed in our boy scout camp. The Indian's bow was short, because, though less efficient, it waseasier to carry than a long one. Yet it did not lack power. It is saidthat the arrow head sometimes appeared on the far side of the buffaloit was fired into, and there is a tradition that Wah-na-tah, a Siouxchief, once shot his arrow through a cow buffalo and killed her calfthat was running at the other side. But the long bow is more effective than the short one. The old Englishbowmen, the best the world has ever seen, always shot with the longbow. The finest bows and arrows are those made by the professional makers, but there is no reason why each boy should not make his own. According to several authorities the best bow woods are mulberry, osage-orange, sassafras, Southern cedar, black locust, {76} apple, black walnut, slippery elm, ironwood, mountain ash, hickory, California yew, and hemlock. Take a perfectly sound, straight, well-seasoned stick five or six feetlong (your bow should be about as long as yourself); mark off afive-inch space in the middle for the handle; leave this round and afull inch thick; shave down the rest, flat on one side for the frontand round on the other for the back, until it is about one inch wideand three fourths of an inch thick next the handle, tapering to aboutone half that at the ends, which are then "nocked, " nicked, or notchedas shown in Cut I. These notches are for the string, which is to beput on early. Draw the bow now, flat side out, not more than theproper distance, and note carefully which end bends the most; thenshave down the other side until it bends evenly. The middle scarcelybends at all. The perfect shape, when bent, is shown in Cut II. Trimthe bow down to your strength and finish smoothly with sandpaper andglass. It should be straight when unstrung, and unstrung when not inuse. Fancy curved bows are weak affairs. The bow for our boy shouldrequire a power of fifteen or twenty pounds (shown on a springbalance) to draw the string twenty-three inches from the bow; notmore. The best string is of hemp or linen; it should be about fiveinches from the middle of the bow when strung (Cut II). The notchesfor the string should be two-thirds the depth of the string. If youhave not a bought string make one of strong, unbleached linen threadtwisted together. At one end the string, which is heaviest at theends, should be fast knotted to the bow notch (Cut V); at the other itshould have a loop as shown in Cut IV. In the middle it should belashed with fine silk and wax for five inches, and the exact placemarked where the arrow fits it. The arrow is more important than the bow. Anyone can make a bow; fewcan make an arrow, for, as a Seminole Indian expressed it to MauriceThompson, "Any stick do for bow; good arrow much heap work, ugh. "Hiawatha went all the way to Dakota to see the famous arrow maker. InEngland when the bow was the gun of the country, the bow maker wascalled a "bowyer, " and the arrow maker a "fletcher" (from the Normanfleche, an arrow). So when men began to use surnames those whoexcelled in arrow making were proud to be called the "Fletchers "; butto make a good bow was not a notable achievement, hence few took"Bowyer" as their name. The first thing about an arrow is that it must be perfectly straight. "Straight as an arrow" refers to the arrow itself, not to its flight;that is always curved. {77} [Illustration: THE ARCHERY OUTFIT (Not all on scale. )] I. The five-foot bow as finished, with sections at the point shown. II. The bow "braced" or strung. III. The bow unstrung, showing the loop slipped down. IV. The loop that is used on the upper end of the bow. V. The timber hitch always used on the lower end or notch of the bow. VI. A turkey feather with split midrib, all ready to lash on. VII. End view of arrow, showing notch and arrangement of three feathers. VIII. Part of arrow, showing feathering and lashing. IX. Sanger hunting arrow with wooden point; 25 inches long. X. Sanger war arrow with nail point and extra long feathers; it also is 25 inches long. XI. Quiver with Indian design; 20 inches long. XII. The "bracer" or arm guard of heavy leather for left arm with two laces to tie it on. It is six inches long. {78} The Indians made arrows of reeds and of straight shoots of viburnum orarrow-wood, and of elder, but we make better arrows out of the solidheartwood of hard pine for target use, and of hickory or ash forhunting. The arrow should be twenty-five inches long, round, and threeeighths of an inch thick, and have three feathers set as shown in CutVI, about an inch from the notch. The feather B, that stands out atright angles to notch A, should always be away from the bow inshooting. This is called the cock-feather, and it is usually marked orcolored in some way to be quickly distinguished. [Illustration: CORRECT FORM IN SHOOTING. The diagram at bottom is toshow the centres of heels in line with target. ] Turkey and goose wing feathers are the best that grow in our countryfor arrow feathers. The Indians mostly use turkey. With a sharp knifecut a strip of the midrib on which is the vane of the feather; makethree pieces, each two to three inches long. White men glue these onto the arrow. The Indians leave the midrib projecting at each end andby these lash the {79} feathers without gluing. The lashed feathersstand the weather better than those glued, but do not fly so well. TheIndians use sharp flint arrow heads for war and for big game, but forbirds and small game they make arrow heads with a knob of hard wood orthe knuckle bone of some small animal. The best arrow heads for ourpurpose are like the ferrule of an umbrella top; they receive the endof the shaft into them and keep it from splitting. One of the best arrows I ever shot with was twenty-eight inches long, five sixteenths of an inch thick, had a ferrule head and very smallfeathers. The finishing touch of an arrow is "painting" it. This is done forseveral purposes: First, to preserve it from damp which would twistthe arrow and soften the glue that holds the feathers; second, eachhunter paints all his arrows with his mark so as to know them; third, they are thus made bright-colored to help in finding them when lost. There are four other things required by our archer: A smooth, hardarm-guard, or bracer, usually of hard leather. The Indians who use onemake it of wood, grass, or rawhide. In photographs of famous Indiansyou may often see this on the left wrist, and will remember that itwas there as a protection from the blow of the bow cord. Some archerscan shoot with the wrist bent so as to need no guard. The three middlefingers of the right hand also need protection. An old leather glove, with thumb and little finger cut away, will do very well for this, though the ready-made tips at the archery stores are more convenient. Some archers who practise all their lives can shoot without protectingthe fingers. The bow case and quiver are important. Any kind of a cover that willkeep them from the rain, and hang on your back, will do, but there aremany little things that help to make them handy. When the cover is offthe arrows should project three or four inches so that they may bemore easily drawn out. The Indians often carried very beautifulquivers of buckskin ornamented with quills and beads. One day out West I saw an Omaha brave with a bow case and quivercovered with very odd material--a piece of common red and white cottonprint. When allowed to examine it, I felt some other materialunderneath the print. After a little dickering he sold me bow, arrows, quiver, and all for a couple of dollars. I then ripped open the printand found my first suspicions confirmed; for, underneath, the quiverwas of buckskin, beautifully embroidered with red feathers andporcupine {80} quills of deep red and turquoise blue. The Indian was asmuch puzzled by my preference for the quill work as I was by his forthe cotton print. The standard target for men is four feet across with a nine-inchbull's-eye, and around that four rings, each four and three quarterinches wide. The bull's-eye counts nine, the other rings seven, five, three, one. The bought targets are made of straw, but a good targetmay be made of a box filled with sods, or a bank covered with sackingon which are painted the usual rings. Now comes the most important point of all--how to shoot. There areseveral ways of holding an arrow, but only one good one. Most boysknow the ordinary finger and thumb pinch, or grip. This is all verywell for a toy bow, but a hunter's bow cannot be drawn that way. Noone has strength enough in his fingers for it. The true archer's gripof the arrow is shown in the cut. The thumb and little finger havenothing to do with it. [Illustration: The archer's grip. ] As in golf and all such things, there is a right "form. " You attend toyour end of the arrow's flight and the other will take care of itself: Stand perfectly straight. Plant your feet with the centres of the twoheels in line with the target. (Cut page 78. ) Grasp the bow in themiddle with the left hand and place the arrow on the string at theleft side of the bow. Hold the bow plumb, and draw as above till thenotch of the arrow is right under your eye, and the head of the arrowback to the bow. The right elbow must be in the same line with thearrow. Let go the arrow by straightening the fingers a little, turningthe hand outward at the bottom and drawing it back one inch. Always dothis in exactly the same way and your shooting will be even. Your lefthand should not move a hair's breadth until the arrow strikes thetarget. To begin shooting put the target very near, within fifteen or twentyyards; but the proper shooting distance when the archer is in goodpractice is forty yards for a four-foot target and thirty yards for athree-foot target. A good shot, shooting twelve arrows at this, shouldscore fifty. {81} The Indians generally used their bows at short range, so that it waseasy to hit the mark. Rapid firing was important. In their archerycompetitions, therefore, the prize was given to the one who could havethe most arrows in the air at once. Their record, according to Catlin, was eight. The Stars As Seen With the Naked Eye The chief works referred to in this are C. Flammarion's "PopularAstronomy" (Gore's translation), and Garrett P. Serviss's "Astronomywith an Opera Glass. " (Those who wish to go farther a-sky are referredto these books. ) Whether he expects to use them as guides or not, every boy shouldlearn the principal constellations and the important stars. Anon-scientific friend said to me once: "I am always glad that Ilearned the principal star groups when I was young. I have neverforgotten them, and, no matter in what strange country I find myself, I can always look up at night, and see the old familiar stars thatshone on me in my home in my own country. " All American boys know the Dipper or Great Bear. This is, perhaps, themost important star group in our sky, because of its size, peculiarform, and the fact that it never sets in our latitude, and last, thatit always points out the Pole-star, and, for this reason, it issometimes known as the Pointers. It is called the Dipper because it isshaped like a dipper with a long, bent handle. Why it is called theGreat Bear is not so easy to explain. The classical legend has it thatthe nymph Calisto, having violated her vow, was changed by Diana intoa bear, which, after death, was immortalized in the sky by Zeus. Another suggestion is that the earliest astronomers, the Chaldeans, called these stars "the shining ones, " and their word happened to bevery like the Greek arktos (a bear). Another explanation (I do notknow who is authority for either) is that vessels in olden days werenamed for animals, etc. They bore at the prow the carved effigy of thenamesake, and if the Great Bear, for example, made several very happyvoyages by setting out when a certain constellation was in theascendant, that constellation might become known as the Great Bear'sconstellation. Certainly, there is nothing in its shape to justify thename. Very few of the constellations, indeed, are like the thing theyare {82} called after. Their names were usually given for some fancifulassociation with the namesake, rather than for resemblance to it. The Pole-star is really the most important of the stars in our sky; itmarks the north at all times; it alone is fixed in the heavens: allthe other stars seem to swing around it once in twenty-four hours. Itis in the end of the Little Bear's tail. But the Pole-star, orPolaris, is not a very bright one, and it would be hard to identifybut for the help of the Dipper, or Pointers. The outside (Alpha and Beta) of the Dipper points nearly to Polaris, at a distance equal to three and one half times the space thatseparates these two stars of the Dipper's outer side. Various Indians call the Pole-star the "Home Star, " and "The Star thatNever Moves, " and the Dipper they call the "Broken Back. " The last star but one in the Dipper, away from the pole--that is, thestar at the bend of the handle, --is known to astronomers as Mizar, oneof the Horses; Just above it, and tucked close in, is a smaller starknown to astronomers as Alcor, or the Rider. The Indians call thesetwo the "Old Squaw and the Pappoose on Her Back. " In the old world, from very ancient times, these have been used as tests of eyesight. Tobe able to see Alcor with the naked eye means that one has excellenteyesight. So also on the plains, the old folks would ask the childrenat night, "Can you see the pappoose on the old squaw's back?" And whenthe youngster saw it, and proved that he did by a right description, they rejoiced that he had the eyesight which is the first requisite ofa good hunter. The Great Bear is also to be remembered as the Pointers for anotherreason. It is the hour-hand of the woodman's clock. It goes oncearound the North Star in about twenty-four hours, the same way as thesun, and for the same reason--that it is the earth that is going andleaving them behind. The time in going around is not exactly twenty-four hours, so that theposition of the Pointers varies with the seasons, but, as a rule, thisfor woodcraft purposes is near enough. The bowl of the Dipper swingsone and one half times the width of the opening (i. E. , fifteendegrees) in one hour. If it went a quarter of the circle, that wouldmean you had slept a quarter of a day, or six hours. {83} Each fifteen days the stars seem to be an hour earlier; in threemonths they gain one fourth of the circle, and in a year gain thewhole circle. According to Flammarion, there are about seven thousand stars visibleto the naked eye, and of those but nineteen are stars of the firstmagnitude. Thirteen of them are visible in the latitude of New York, the other six belong to the South Polar Region of the sky. Here isFlammarion's arrangement of them in order of seeming brightness. Thosethat can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere only, are in brackets: 1. Sirius, the Dog-star. 2. [Canopus, of Argo. ]3. [Alpha, of the Centaur. ]4. Arcturus, of Bootes. 5. Vega, of the Lyre. 6. Rigel, of Orion's foot. 7. Capella, of Auriga. 8. Procyon, or the Little Dog-star. 9. Betelguese, of Orion's right shoulder. 10. [Beta, of the Centaur. ]11. [Achernar, of Eridanus. ]12. Aldebaran, of Taurus, the Bull's right eye. 13. Antares, of Scorpio. 14. [Alpha, of the Southern Cross. ]15. Altair, of the Eagle. 16. Spica, of Virgo. 17. Fomalhaut, of the Southern Fish. 18. [Beta, of the Southern Cross. ]19. Regulus, of the Lion. Orion Orion (O-ri-on), with its striking array of brilliant stars, Betelguese, Rigel, the Three Kings, etc. , is generally admitted to bethe finest constellation in the heavens. Orion was the hunter giant who went to Heaven when he died, and nowmarches around the great dome, but is seen only in the winter, because, during the summer, he passes over during daytime. Thus he isstill the hunter's constellation. The three stars of his belt arecalled the "Three Kings. " Sirius, the Great Dog-star, is in the head of Orion's hound, andfollowing farther back is the Little Dog-star, Procyon. In old chartsof the stars, Orion is shown with his hound, hunting the bull, Taurus. {84} [Illustration: Taurus. Orion, Sirius and Procyon. (tr)] Pleiades Pleiades (Ply-a-des) can be seen in winter as a cluster of small starsbetween Aldebaran and Algol, or, a line drawn from the back bottom, through the front rim of the Dipper, about two Dipper lengths, touchesthis little group. They are not far from Aldebaran, being on theshoulder of the Bull, of which Aldebaran is the right eye. They may beconsidered the seven arrow wounds made by Orion. They are nearer thePole-star than Aldebaran is, and on the side away from the Dipper;also, they are nearly on a line between Beta of the Dipper (frontbottom) and Capella. Serviss tells us that the Pleiades have a supposed connection with theGreat Pyramid, because "about 2170 B. C. , when the beginning of springcoincided with the culmination of the Pleiades at midnight; thatwonderful group of stars was visible {85} just at midnight, through themysterious southward-pointing passage of the Pyramid. " The Moon The moon is one fifth the diameter of the earth, about one fiftieth ofthe bulk, and is about a quarter million miles away. Its course, whilevery irregular, is nearly the same as the apparent course of the sun. But "in winter the full moon is at an altitude in the sky near thelimit attained by the sun in summer, . . . And even, at certain times, five degrees higher. It is the contrary in summer, a season when themoon remains very low" (F. ). The moon goes around the earth in 27-1/4 days. It loses nearly threefourths of an hour each night; that is, it rises that much later. BIRDCRAFT _By the National Association of Audubon Societies_ Any boy who cares enough for out-doors to be a scout is sure to want agood acquaintance with the birds. Even dull people cannot help takingnotice of our "little brothers of the air, " on account of theirbeauty, their songs, and their wondrous flight. But most folks nevertake the trouble to try and learn the names of any except a few commonbirds. Scouts whose eyes are sharp and ears are keen will find thestudy of birds a fascinating sport, which may prove to be the best funthat the woods provide. Knowing the Birds It is no easy matter, this trying to get to know the birds; but scoutsare not looking for the easiest jobs, and it is great sport for themto follow some shy songster through the briery thicket until a reallygood look can be had, to sit stock still for half an hour to watchsome unknown bird come home to her nest, or to wriggle on all foursthrough the grass to have a glimpse over the top of the knoll at theducks in the pool beyond. The only equipment necessary for bird study is an opera or fieldglass, a note-book and a good bird reference book. As soon as you geta good look at a strange bird, notice its colors and markings, andthen, if it moves, follow it up until you have seen practically all ofits most prominent features. It will be impossible to carry thesefacts in your head, and unless some definite memorandum is made at thetime you will probably {86} be hopelessly perplexed when you go to consultthe bird book later. As it is hard to jot down satisfactory notes inthe field, while catching fleeting glances of some timid bird, a handylittle booklet has been prepared in which observations can be recordedvery rapidly. These can be procured for fifteen cents apiece from theNational Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New YorkCity. Location _______________________ _______________________Date _______________________Hour _______________________Weather ___________________Wind _______________________ [Illustration: A bird. (tr)] SIZE:Smaller than wrenBetween wren and sparrowBetween sparrow and robinBetween robin and crowLarger than crowSEENNear ground or high upIn heavy woodsBushy placesOrchardGardenSwampOpen countryNear water Name ______________________Order ______________________ Family _______________________Genus_______________________ Species ______________________ {87} Each booklet contains outline figures of the five leading types ofbirds: (1) small perching birds, (2) hawks, (3) snipes, (4) herons, (5) ducks. On the page opposite is a list of numbers corresponding tocolors. You can quickly mark on the outline the proper numbers, andnote with your pencil any marks on the bird. Then check the other dataon the page, add any additional memoranda, and you have your "bird inthe hand, " ready to take back and look up at your leisure. Careful Observation Notice particularly the "range" of the birds in your reference book, and eliminate all those not stated as occurring in your territory. Notice too, dates of the birds' coming and going, and do not expect tofind species at any other time of year than within the datesmentioned. By thus narrowing down the possibilities the task is muchsimplified. As a final resort, the National Association of AudubonSocieties stands ready to help all scouts who are positively"stumped, " and if the descriptive slips are mailed with returnenvelopes to the secretary of the association, 1974 Broadway, New YorkCity, an identification will be made, if the information furnishedrenders it in any way possible. The next time you see a bird that you have once identified, you willprobably remember its name, and in this way you will be surprised tofind how rapidly your bird acquaintance will grow. After a time eventhe flight of a bird or its song will be enough to reveal an oldacquaintance, just as you can often recognize a boy friend by his walkor the sound of his voice, without seeing his face. And what a new joyin life there is for anybody that really knows the birds about him. Hecan pick from the medley of bird songs the notes of the individualsingers; he knows when to look for old friends of the year before; nocountryside is ever lonely for him, for he finds birds everywhere andknows that any moment he may make some rare discovery or see a birdbefore unknown to him. Bird Lists A scout should make a list of all the birds he has positivelyidentified. This is his "life list" and is added to year by year. Inaddition he will keep daily lists of the birds seen on special tripsin the field. Two or more patrols can enjoy a friendly rivalry bycovering different regions and seeing which can observe the largestvariety of birds. Hundreds of well-known {88} ornithologists oftenhave the fun of this kind of competition, sending in their lists to acentral bureau. As many as one hundred and twenty different kinds ofbirds have been counted in a single day by one energetic band ofbird-lovers. Such a list is, however, attainable only underexceptionally favorable circumstances and by skilled observers whoknow their country thoroughly. For most scouts, thirty to fortyspecies on a summer day, and fifty to sixty during the springmigration, would be regarded as a good list. 88 Boy Scouts [Illustration: Bob-white at feeding station. ] Nesting Season Undoubtedly the most interesting season to study birds is during thenesting period which is at its height in June. It takes a pair ofsharp eyes to find most birds' nests in the first place, and oncefound, there are dozens of interesting little incidents which it is adelight to watch. Only a foolish scout would rob himself of his chanceto observe the secrets of nest life by stealing the contents, or wouldtake any delight in piling up a collection of egg shells whose valueat its best is almost nothing, and whose acquisition is necessarilyaccompanied by {89} genuine heart pangs on the part of the rightfulowners. It is more exciting to try to hide yourself near the nest soskilfully that the birds will carry on their domestic duties as thoughyou were not near. A blind made of green cloth and set up near thenest like a little tent will often give opportunity for very closeobservation. It is surprising how near many birds will allow one tocome in this way. Even though the blind looks very strange and out ofplace, the birds soon seem to get used to it, so long as it ismotionless and the inmate cannot be seen. A simple type of blind canbe constructed by sewing the edges of long pieces of green clothtogether, drawing in the top with a cord, and then draping it over anopen umbrella. [Illustration: Bird blind. ] How to Photograph From such a hiding place, photographs can often be secured of timidbirds at their nests. In attempting to take photographs it must beremembered that cameras of the pocket variety or fixed box type arealmost useless. Most of them cannot be worked without specialattachments at closer range than six feet, and, even if the focus iscorrectly guessed, the image is apt to be very small. In this work itis far better to invest in a cheap camera (second-hand if need be)with which one can obtain a definite image on the ground glass wherethe plate or film is to be. Focus the camera on some spot where it isexpected the bird will come; usually this is on the nest or young, sometimes it is the food, a favorite perch, or some form of decoy. Thenext requisite is patience. If the coveted opportunity arrives, setoff the shutter by hand in the {90} blind, or, where this is notpossible, by means of a long thread, after carefully hiding the camerawith boughs, leaves, sods, etc. How to Know An idea of the details of a bird's life which a scout may come toknow, may be had from the following table: 1. Description. (Size, form, color, and markings. ) 2. Haunts. (Upland, lowland, lakes, rivers, woods, fields. Etc. ) 3. Movements. (Slow or active, hops, walks, creeps, swims, tailwagged, etc. ) 4. Appearance. (Alert, listless, crest erect, tail drooped, etc. ) 5. Disposition. (Solitary, flocking, wary, unsuspicious, etc. ) 6. Flight. (Slow, rapid, direct, undulating, soaring, sailing, flapping, etc. ) 7. Song. (Pleasing, unattractive, long, short, loud, faint, sung fromthe ground, from a perch, in the air, etc. Season of song. ) 8. Call notes. (Of surprise, alarm, protest, warning, signaling, etc. ) 9. Season. (Spring, fall, summer, winter, with times of arrival anddeparture and variations in numbers. ) 10. Food. (Berries, insects, seeds, etc. ; how secured. ) 11. Mating. (Habits during courtship. ) 12. Nesting. (Choice of site, material, construction, eggs, incubation, etc. ) 13. The young. (Food and care of, time in the nest, notes, actions, flight, etc. ) So varied is a bird's life that there is still plenty to be learnedabout even our common birds. It is quite possible for a scout todiscover some facts that have never yet been published in books. [Illustration: Red-breasted nuthatch. ] What One Boy Did A boy once originated the idea of varying the usual "bird's nesting"craze into a systematic study of the breeding of our common birds. Inone spring he found within the limits of a single village one hundredand seventy robins' nests. "One hundred were in suitable situations onprivate places, forty-one were in woods, swamps and orchards, eightwere placed under bridges (two being under the iron girders of therailroad bridge), four were {91} in quarries, sixteen were in barns, sheds, under piazzas, etc. , and one was on the ground at the foot of abush. " In addition to searching out the birds in their natural haunts, thereis a great fascination in trying to attract them to our homes. Duringwinter evenings boy scouts can busy themselves making nesting boxes. Even an old cigar box or a tomato can with a hole in it the size of aquarter will satisfy a house wren. Other boxes which are suitable forbluebirds, chickadees, tree swallows, purple martins, and starlings, will, if set up in March, often have tenants the very first season. Inmany cases it is feasible to have hinged doors or sides on the nestingboxes, so that they may occasionally be opened and the progress ofevents within observed. It is needless to add, however, that greatcaution must be exercised to prevent desertion of the nest, or otherdisturbance of the birds' home life. Under favorable circumstances, even some of the shyer inhabitants of the woods, such as woodpeckers, owls, and ducks can be induced to patronize artificial cavities, ifthey are made right and erected right. [Illustration: Downy woodpecker. ] [Illustration: Observation box, open. ] Caring for Birds Another way of attracting birds in summer is by providing drinking andbathing places. A little artificial pool protected from cats, will bea source of joy to the birds and of delight to the observer frommorning to night. Apply to the {92} National Association of AudubonSocieties for information as to where ready-made nest boxes andfountains can be procured, also books on this subject, as well as onthe subject of making friends of the birds through feeding. [Illustration: House wren and tomato-can house] [Illustration: Birch-bark house] The Bird Lunch Counter How best to feed the birds is almost an art in itself. A winter lunchcounter spread with suet, nuts, hemp seed, meat, and crumbs willattract nuthatches, chickadees, downy and hairy woodpeckers, creepers, blue jays, etc. Canary seed, buckwheat, oats and hay-chaff scatteredon the ground beneath will provide an irresistible banquet for otherfeathered boarders. A feeding place of this sort can be arranged forconvenient observation from a window, and afford no end of diversionand instruction. But whether close to home or far afield, the greatsecret of success in such work is regularity. Begin to put the foodout early in November, and let the birds get to know that they arealways sure to find a supply of dainties in a certain spot, and thenews will soon spread among them. In wintry weather, especially, it isamazing what can be accomplished by feeding the birds regularly, andat least the following birds have been induced to feed from the humanhand: chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, browncreeper, Carolina wren, cardinal, evening grosbeak, tufted titmouse, Canada jay, Florida jay, Oregon jay, and redpoll. Even in springuntiring patience has resulted in the gratification of this supremeambition of the bird-lover, and bluebird, robin, cat-bird: chippingsparrow, oven-bird, brown thrasher and yellow-throated vireo have beenknown to feed from the hand of a trusted friend, even with plenty offood all around. What scout can add to this list? Protecting the Birds Many a boy thinks that just because a bird is alive and moves it is aproper target for his air rifle or his sling shot. {93} Let us bethankful that there has now arisen a new class of boys, the scouts, who, like the knights of old, are champions of the defenceless, eventhe birds. Scouts are the birds' police, and wo betide the lad who iscaught with a nest and eggs, or the limp corpse of some featheredsongster that he has slaughtered. Scouts know that there is no valuein birds that are shot, except a few scientific specimens collected bytrained museum experts. Scouts will not commend a farmer for shootinga hawk or an owl as a harmful bird, even though it were seen tocapture a young chicken. They will post themselves on the subject andfind that most hawks and owls feed chiefly on field mice and largeinsects injurious to the farmer's crops, and that thus, in spite of anoccasional toll on the poultry, they are as a whole of tremendousvalue. The way the birds help mankind is little short of a marvel. Aband of nuthatches worked all winter in a pear orchard near Rochesterand rid the trees of a certain insect that had entirely destroyed thecrop of the previous summer. A pair of rose-breasted grosbeaks wereseen to feed their nest of youngsters four hundred and twenty-sixtimes in a day, each time with a billful of potato-bugs or otherinsects. A professor in Washington counted two hundred and fifty tentcaterpillars in the stomach of a dead yellow-billed cuckoo, and, whatappeals to us even more, five hundred bloodthirsty mosquitoes insideof one night-hawk. [Illustration: White-breasted nuthatch] [Illustration: Bluebird at entrance of nesting-box] It must not be forgotten that large city parks are among the bestplaces for observing birds. As an example of what can be accomplished, even with limited opportunities, there was a boy who happened to knowwhere some owls roosted. {94} Now all owls swallow their prey whole, and in digesting this food they disgorge the skulls, bones, fur, andfeathers in the form of hard dry pellets. This boy used to go out onSaturday or Sunday afternoon and bring home his pockets full ofpellets, and then in the evening he would break them apart. In thisway he learned exactly what the owls had been eating (without killingthem) and he even discovered the skulls of certain field mice thatnaturalists had never known existed in that region. He let the owl behis collector. Patrol Work It is a good idea to keep at patrol headquarters a large sheet on thewall, where a list of the year's bird observations can be tabulated. Each time a new bird is seen, its name is added, together with theinitial of the observer, and after that its various occurrences arenoted opposite its name. The keenest eyed scouts are those whoseinitials appear most frequently in the table. In addition, the tableswill show the appearance and relative abundance of birds in a givenlocality. For patrols of young boys, a plan of tacking up a coloredpicture of each bird, as soon as it is thoroughly known, has beenfound very successful, and the result provides a way to decorate theheadquarters. Such pictures can be obtained very cheaply from the Perry PicturesCo. , Boston, Mass. , or the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City. MOLLUSCA--Shells and Shellfish _By Dr. William Healey Dall, of the United States Geological Survey_ [Illustration: Fig. 1; White lipped snail (Polygyra albolabris)] Among the shy and retiring animals which inhabit our woods and waters, or the borders of the sea, without making themselves conspicuous toman except when he seeks the larger ones for food, are the mollusca, usually confounded with crabs and crayfish under the popular name of"shellfish, " except the few which have no external shell, which aregenerally called slugs. Hardly any part of the world (except deserts)is without them, but, shy as they are, it takes pretty sharp eyes tofind them. Some come out of their hiding places {95} only at night, and nearly all our American kinds live under cover of some sort. The mollusks can be conveniently divided into three groups: thosewhich inhabit fresh water, those which breathe air and live on dryland, and lastly those which are confined to the sea. The land shells, or snails, have generally thin shells of spiral form and live uponvegetable matter, many of them laying small eggs which look likeminute pearls. Their hiding places are under leaves in shady or moistplaces, under the bark of dead trees or stumps, or under loose stone. They creep slowly and are most active after rain. Some of our largerkinds are an inch or two in diameter, (see Fig. 1. , the white-lipped)but from this size there are others diminishing in size to thesmallest, which are hardly larger than the head of a pin, Incollecting them the little ones may be allowed to dry up. The big onesmust be killed in boiling water, when the animal can be pulled outwith a hook made of a crooked pin, leaving the shell clean andperfect. The slugs are not attractive on account of the slime whichthey throw out and can only be kept in spirits. Some of the speciesfound in California are as large as a small cigar, but those of thestates east of the Rocky Mountains are smaller and have mostly beenintroduced from Europe, where they do a lot of mischief by eating suchgarden plants as lettuce. Many of the fresh-water snails are abundant in brooks and ponds, andtheir relations, the fresh-water mussels, are often very numerous inshallow rivers. They have a shell frequently beautifully pearly, whiteor purple, and sometimes have the brown outer skin prettily streakedwith bright green. [Illustration: Fig. 2 Whelk (Buccinum umatum)] [Illustration: Fig. 3 Pond snail (Lymnaea palustris)] The principal fresh-water snails are the pond snail (_Lymnaea_; seeFig. 3); the _Physa_ (see Fig. 6), which is remarkable for having thecoil turned to the left instead of the right; and the orb-snail, (_Planorbis_: see Fig. 4) which has its coil flat. All of {96} theselay minute eggs in a mass of transparent jelly, and are to be found onlily pads and other water plants, or crawling on the bottom, while themussels bury themselves more or less in the mud or lie on the gravellybottom of streams. There is also a very numerous tribe of smallbivalve shells, varying from half an inch to very minute in size, which are also mud lovers and are known as Sphaerium or Pisidium, having no "common" English names, since only those who hunt for themknow of their existence. On the seashore everybody knows the mussel (Mytilus: see Fig. 5), thesoft clam, the round clam, and the oyster, as these are sought forfood; but there is a multitude of smaller bivalves which are not sowell known. The sea-snails best known on the coast north of ChesapeakeBay are the whelk (Buccinum: see Fig. 2), the sand snail or Natica, which bores the round holes often found in clam shells on the beach, in order to suck the juices of its neighbors, and the various kinds ofperiwinkles (rock snails or Littorina) found by the millions on therocks between tides. These, as well as the limpets, small boat-shapedor slipper-shaped conical shells found in similar places, arevegetable feeders. Altogether, there are several hundred kinds foundon the seashore and the water near the shore, and a collection of themwill not only contain many curious, pretty, and interesting things, but will have the advantage of requiring no preservative to keep themin good condition after the animal has been taken out. [Illustration: Fig. 4 Orb-Shell (Planorbis trivolvis)] [Illustration: Fig. 5 Black Mussel (Mytilus)] [Illustration: Fig. 6 Bubble snail (Physa heterostropha)] The squids, cuttle-fishes, octopus, and their allies are alsomollusks, but not so accessible to the ordinary collector, and canonly be kept in spirits. Books which may help the collector to identify the shells he may findare: For the land and fresh-water shells: {97} "Mollusks of the Chicago Area" and "The Lymnaeidae of North America. "By F. C. Baker. Published by the Chicago Academy of Sciences. For the American Marine Shells: Bulletin No. 37. Published by theUnited States National Museum, at Washington. For shells in general: "The Shell Book. " Published by Doubleday, Page& Co. , Garden City, N. Y. On the Pacific Coast the "West Coast Shells, " by Prof. Josiah Keep ofMills College, will be found very useful. REPTILES _By Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, Curator National Museum_ By reptiles we understand properly a certain class of vertebrate orbackboned animals, which, on the whole, may be described as possessingscales or horny shields since most of them may be distinguished bythis outer covering, as the mammals by their hair and the birds bytheir feathers. Such animals as thousand-legs, scorpions, tarantulas, etc. , though often erroneously referred to as reptiles, do not concernus in this connection. Among the living reptiles we distinguish fourseparate groups, the crocodiles, the turtles, the lizards, and thesnakes. The crocodiles resemble lizards in shape, but are very much larger andlive only in the tropics and the adjacent regions of the temperatezone. To this order belongs our North American alligator, whichinhabits the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and the coast countryalong the Atlantic Ocean as far north as North Carolina. They arehunted for their skin, which furnishes an excellent leather fortraveling bags, purses, etc. , and because of the incessant pursuit arenow becoming quite rare in many localities where formerly they werenumerous. The American crocodile, very much like the one occurring inthe river Nile, is also found at the extreme southern end of Florida. The turtles are easily recognized by the bony covering which encasestheir body, and into which most species can withdraw their heads andlegs for protection. This bony box is usually covered with hornyplates, but in a large group, the so-called soft-shell turtles, theouter covering is a soft skin, thus forming a {98} notable exceptionto the rule that reptiles are characterized by being covered withscales or plates. While most of the turtles live in fresh water or onland, a few species pass their lives in the open ocean, only comingashore during the breeding season to deposit their eggs. Some of thesemarine turtles grow to an enormous size, sometimes reaching a weightof over eight hundred pounds. One of them is much sought for onaccount of the delicacy of its flesh; another because of the thicknessand beauty of its horny plates which furnish the so-calledtortoise-shell, an important article of commerce. Turtles appear toreach a very old age, specimens having been known to have livedseveral hundred years. The box tortoise of our woods, the muskturtles, the snapping turtles are familiar examples of this order, while the terrapin, which lives in brackish ponds and swamps along oursea-coasts, is famous as a table delicacy. [Illustration: Harlequin snake] The lizards are four-legged reptiles, usually of small size, living onthe ground or in the trees, out very rarely voluntarily enteringwater. The so-called water lizards are not lizards at all, but belongto the salamanders and are distinguished by having a naked body notcovered with scales. Most of the true lizards are of very gracefulform, exceedingly quick at running; others display the most gorgeouscoloration which, in many of them, such as the chameleons, changesaccording to the light, or the temperature, or the mood of the animal. Not all of them have four legs, however, there being a strong tendencyto develop legless species which then externally become so much likesnakes that they are told apart with some difficulty. Thus ourso-called glass-snake, common in the Southern states, is not a snakeat all, but a lizard, as we may easily see by observing the earopenings on each side of the head, as no snake has ears. Thisbeautiful animal is also known as the joint-snake, and both names havereference to the exceeding brittleness of its long tail, which oftenbreaks in many pieces in the hands of the enemy trying to capture thelizard. That these pieces ever join and heal together is of course asilly fable. As a matter of fact, the body in a comparatively shorttime grows a new tail, which, however, is much shorter and stumpierthan the old one. The new piece is often of a different color from therest of the body and {99} greatly resembles a "horn, " being conical andpointed, and has thus given rise to another equally silly fable, viz. , that of the horn snake, or hoop snake, which is said to have a stingin its tail and to be deadly poisonous. The lizards are all perfectlyharmless, except the sluggish Gila monster (pronounced Heela, namedfrom the Gila River in Arizona) which lives in the deserts of Arizonaand Mexico, and whose bite may be fatal to man. The poison glands aresituated at the point of the lower jaw, and the venom is taken up bythe wound while the animal hangs on to its victim with the tenacity ofa bulldog. All the other lizards are harmless in spite of the dreadfulstories told about the deadly quality of some of the species invarious parts of the country. [Illustration: Rattlesnake palate] The snakes form the last group of the reptiles. Universally legless, though some of the boas and pythons have distinct outer rudiments ofhind limbs, they are not easily mistaken. And it is perhaps well so, for unless one is an expert at distinguishing between the poisonousand the harmless kind it is just as well to keep at a respectfuldistance from them. It is safest not to interfere with them, especially as those that are not poisonous are usually very useful indestroying rats and mice and other vermin, except perhaps those livingin trees and feeding on eggs and young birds, which certainly do notdeserve our protection. Of course the rattlesnake is not to bemistaken. The horny appendix to its tail, with which it sounds thewarning of its presence, is enough to distinguish it. It should herebe explained that both lizards and snakes at various intervals shedthe outer layer of their skin, the so-called epidermis. Thistransparent layer, after a certain length of time, loosens and isusually stripped off whole by the animal crawling out of it andturning it inside out, as a tight glove is turned. Now, at the end ofa rattlesnake's tail there is a horny cap which is {100} called thebutton, and being narrowed at the base and more strongly built thanthe rest of the epidermis it is not shed with the rest of the skin, but remains attached. Thus for each shedding a new joint or ring is added to the rattle. Howoften the shedding takes place depends on various circumstances andmay occur an uncertain number of times each year. Such a rattle, loose-jointed as it is, is rather brittle and the tip of the soundinginstrument is easily broken and lost. It will therefore be easilyunderstood that the common notion that a rattlesnake's age can be toldby the number of the rings in its rattle is absolutely erroneous. Another equally common and equally erroneous notion relates to thetongue of the snake, which the ignorant often term its "sting" andwhich they believe to be the death-dealing instrument. Of course, thesoft, forked tongue which constantly darts out and in of the snake'smouth is perfectly harmless. It serves rather as a "feeler" than as ataste organ. The wound is inflicted by a pair of large, curved, teethor fangs, in the upper jaw. These fangs are hollow and connected by aduct with the gland on the side of the head, in which the poison isformed. Pressure on this gland at the time of the strike--for ourpoisonous snakes strike rather than bite--squirts the poison into thewound like a hypodermic syringe. The fangs when shed or damaged arereplaced within a short time with new ones, so that a poisonous snakecan only be made harmless for a short period by breaking them off. Only in exceptional cases need snake bites prove fatal. It isestimated that in North America only about two persons in a hundredbitten are killed by the poison, though many more die fromcarelessness or bad treatment, the worst of which is the filling upwith whiskey, which aids the poison rather than counteracts it. Theessential things in case of snake bite are: (1) keeping one's wits;(2) tying a string, or the like, tightly around the wounded limbbetween the wound and the heart, and loosening it about once infifteen minutes, so as to admit the poison slowly into thecirculation; (3) making the wound bleed freely by enlarging it with aknife or otherwise; (4) if permanganate of potash be handy it shouldat once be applied to the {101} wound; (5) treat the wound asantiseptically as it is possible with the means at hand and hurry to adoctor. [Illustration: Copperhead] The danger depends greatly on the amount of the poison injected, henceupon the size of the snake. It is for this reason that the big Floridarattlesnakes which grow to six feet and over are more to be fearedthan are other poisonous snakes. Of these, we have in our country, besides the rattlesnakes, the water moccasin, or cotton mouth, thecopperhead, and the coral snake. The latter is a bright-colored snakeof red, yellow, and black rings found in the South, but it is usuallysmall, and not aggressive, so that but few cases of poisoning areknown. The other two are common enough, the former from Norfolk, Va. , south, the other all over the eastern country from Texas toMassachusetts. They are usually confounded, however, with twoperfectly harmless snakes, the cotton mouth with the common watersnake, the copperhead with the so-called spreading adder, but astheir differences have to be learned from actual inspection and arevery hard to express in a description which would help to identifyliving specimens, it is wisest to keep away from all of them. See "The Poisonous Snakes of North America. " By Leonard Stejneger, published by Government Printing office, Washington. [Illustration: Water moccasin] [Illustration: Chrysalis] INSECTS AND BUTTERFLIES _United States Bureau of Entomology_ (Illustrations are copies from Comstock's "How to Know theButterflies, " through courtesy of D. Appleton & Company. ) There is an advantage in the study of insects over most other branchesof nature, excepting perhaps plants, in that there is plenty ofmaterial. You may have to tramp miles to see a certain bird or wildanimal, but if you will sit down on the first patch of grass you aresure to see something going on in the insect world. Butterflies Nearly all insects go through several different stages. The young birdis very much like its parent, so is the young squirrel or a youngsnake or a {102} young fish or a young snail; but with most of theinsects the young is very different from its parents. All butterfliesand moths lay eggs, and these hatch into caterpillars which when fullgrown transform to what are called pupae or chrysalids--nearlymotionless objects with all of the parts soldered together under anenveloping sheath. With some of the moths, the pupae are surrounded bysilk cocoons spun by the caterpillars just before finally transformingto pupae. With all butterflies the chrysalids are naked, except withone species which occurs in Central America in which there is a commonsilk cocoon. With the moths, the larger part spin cocoons, but some ofthem, like the owlet moths whose larvae are the cutworms, have nakedpupre, usually under the surface of the ground. It is not difficult tostudy the transformations of the butterflies and moths, and it isalways very interesting to feed a caterpillar until it transforms, inorder to see what kind of a butterfly or moth comes out of thechrysalis. Take the monarch butterfly, for example: This is a large, reddish-brown butterfly, a strong flier, which is seen often flyingabout in the spring and again in the late summer and autumn. This isone of the most remarkable butterflies in America. It is found allover the United States. It is one of the strongest fliers that weknow. It passes the winter in the Southern states as an adultbutterfly, probably hidden away in cracks under the bark of trees orelsewhere. When spring comes the butterflies come out and begin to flytoward the north. Wherever they find the milk-weed plant they stop andlay some eggs on the leaves. The caterpillars issue from the eggs, feed on the milkweed, transform to chrysalids; then the butterfliesissue and continue the northward flight, stopping to lay eggs farthernorth on other milkweeds. By the end of June or July some of theseSouthern butterflies have found their way north into Canada and beginthe return flight southward. Along in early August they will be seenat the summer resorts in the Catskill Mountains, and by the end ofOctober they will have traveled far down into the Southern stateswhere they pass the winter. [Illustration: Empty chrysalis and butterfly] The caterpillar of the monarch or milkweed butterfly is a verystriking creature. It is nearly two inches long when full grown. Itshead is yellow striped with black; its body is white with narrow blackand yellow cross-stripes on each {103} segment. On the back of thesecond segment of the thorax there is a pair of black, whiplash-likefilaments, and on the eighth joint there is a similar shorter pair. When this caterpillar gets ready to transform to chrysalis, it hangsitself up by its tail end, the skin splits and gradually draws back, and the chrysalis itself is revealed--pale pea-green in color withgolden spots. Anyone by hunting over a patch of milkweed anywhere inthe United States during the summer is quite apt to find thesecaterpillars feeding. It will be easy to watch them and to see themtransform, and eventually to get the butterfly. The same thing may be done with anyone of the six hundred andfifty-two different kinds of butterflies in the United States. [Illustration: Larva getting ready to transform] [Illustration: Full grown larva] Moths When it comes to moths, there is a much greater variety. Instead of six hundred and fifty-two, there are fifty-nine hundred andseventy in Doctor Dyar's big catalogue. Perhaps the most interestingof these caterpillars are the big native silk-worms, like those of thececropia moth, the luna moth, the polyphemus moth, or the promethiamoth. These caterpillars are very large and are to be found feedingupon the leaves of different trees, and all spin strong silkencocoons. People have tried to reel these cocoons, thinking that theymight be able to use the silk to make silk cloth as with the domesticsilk-worm of commerce, but they have been unable to reel themproperly. The polyphemus moth, for example, has been experimented witha great deal. It is found over a greater part of the United States, and its caterpillar feeds upon a great variety of trees and shrubssuch as oak, Butternut, hickory, basswood, elm, maple, birch, chestnut, sycamore, and many others. The caterpillar is light greenand has raised lines of silvery white on the side. It grows to a verylarge size and spins a dense, hard cocoon, usually attached to leaves. There {104} are two generations in the Southern states, and one in theNorthern states. The moth which comes out of the cocoon has a wingspread of fully five inches. It is reddish-gray or somewhat buff incolor with darker bands near the edge of the wings, which themselvesare pinkish on the outside, and with a large clear spot near thecentre of the forewing and a regular eyespot (clear in part and bluein the rest) in the centre of the hind wing. One wishing to know about butterflies and moths should consult a bookentitled, "How to Know the Butterflies, " by Prof. J. H. Comstock ofCornell University and his wife, Mrs. Comstock, published by D. Appleton & Co. , of New York, or, "The Butterfly Book, " by Dr. W. J. Holland of Pittsburg, published by Doubleday, Page & Co. , of New York, and "The Moth Book, " also by Doctor Holland, and published by the samefirm. [Illustration: Caterpillar to chrysalis] Other Insects There are many more different kinds of insects than there are offlowering plants, and if we were to add together all of the differentkinds of birds, mammals, reptiles, fishes, crabs, mollusks, and all ofthe lower forms of animal life, they would not all together amount toso many different kinds as there are insects. This makes theclassification of insects quite complicated. There are eighteen ornineteen main orders, and each one is subdivided almost indefinitely. There is not one of these that is not full of interest. The habits ofants, for example, living in communities by themselves, afford atremendous opportunity for interesting observation. A good book aboutthem has been recently written by Dr. W. M. Wheeler, of Harvard, entitled "Ants, their Structure, Development, and Behavior, " publishedby the Columbia University Press, New York. {105} Many insects live in the water, and to follow their life histories insmall home-made aquaria is one of the most interesting occupations onecould have, and there is a lot to be learned about these insects. Goto any stagnant pool and you will find it swarming with animal life:Larvae or "wigglers" of mosquitoes, and a number of other aquaticinsects will be found, feeding upon these wigglers. Water bugs ofdifferent kinds will be found and the life histories of most of thesewere until quite recently almost unknown. Beetles and Wasps The order _Coleoptera_, comprising what we know as beetles, hasthousands of species, each one with its own distinctive mode of life;some of them feeding upon other insects, others boring into wood, others feeding upon flowers, others upon leaves, and so on in endlessvariety. The wasps also will bear study. Here, too, there is a great variety, some of them building the paper nests known to every one, othersburrowing into the surface of the ground and storing up in theseburrows grasshoppers and other insects for food for their young whichare grub-like in form; others still burrowing into the twigs ofbushes, and others making mud nests attached to the trunks of trees orto the clapboards of houses or outbuildings. This is just a hint at the endless variety of habits of insects. TheUnited States National Museum publishes a bulletin, by Mr. NathanBanks, entitled "Directions for Collecting and Preserving Insects, "which gives a general outline of the classification, and should bepossessed by everyone who wishes to take up the study from thebeginning. FISHES _By Dr. Hugh M. Smith, Deputy Commissioner United States Fisheries_ There is no more fascinating and profitable study than the fish lifeof the lakes, ponds, rivers, brooks, bays, estuaries, and coasts ofthe United States; and no more important service can be rendered ourAmerican boys than to teach them to become familiar with our nativefood and game fishes, to realize their needs, and by example andprecept to {106} endeavor to secure for the fishes fair consideration andtreatment. [Illustration: _Esox lucius_--Common pike pickerel] [Illustration: _Oncorhynchus tschawytscha_--Chinook salmon] [Illustration: _Coregonus clupeiformis_--Common whitefish] [Illustration: _Salvelinus fontinalis_--Brook trout: speckled trout] [Illustration: _Ictalurus punctatus_--The speckled catfish] Classes of Fish Fishes may be roughly classified as (1) fresh water, (2) migratorybetween fresh and salt water, and (3) marine. Among the families ofAmerican fresh-water fishes that are conspicuous on account of theirsize, abundance, or economic importance, or all of these, there may bementioned the sturgeons, the catfishes, the suckers, the minnows orcarps, the pikes, the killifishes, the trouts, salmons, andwhitefishes, the perches, and the basses, and sun fishes. Migratory Fish The migratory fishes fall into two groups, the anadromous and thecatadtomous. The anadromous fishes pass most of their lives in thesea, run up stream only for the purpose of spawning, and constitutethe most valuable of our river fishes. In this group are the shads andthe alewives or river herrings, the white perch, the striped bass orrock fish, some {107} of the sturgeons, and the Atlantic salmon, allof which go back to sea after spawning, and the Pacific salmons (fivespecies), all of which die after spawning. Of the catadromous fishesthere is a single example in our waters--the common eel. It spendsmost of its life in the fresh waters and sometimes becomes permanentlylandlocked there, and runs down to the sea to spawn, laying its eggsoff shore in deep water. Marine Fish The marine fishes that are found in the coastal waters of the UnitedStates number many hundred species, some of them of great value asfood. Among the most important are cod, haddock, hake, halibut, Flounder, herring, bluefish, mackeral, weakfish or squeteague, mullet, snapper, drum, and rock fishes. [Illustration: _Perea flavescens_--Yellow perch] [Illustration: _Pomolobus altivalis_--The alewife or river herring] [Illustration: _Micropterus salmoides_--Large-mouth black bass] [Illustration: _Notropis hudsonius_--Minnow or shiner] [Illustration: _Acipenser oxyrhynchus_--The Atlantic sturgeon] Studying Fish The study of living fishes is most entertaining and is renderedsomewhat difficult by the medium in which they live, by their {108}shyness, and by the necessity of approaching closely in order toobtain any accurate view. The spawning, feeding, swimming and otherhabits of very few of our fishes are so well known that furtherinformation thereon is not needed; and the boy scout's patience, skill, and powers of observation will be reflected in the records thatmay be and should be kept about the different fishes met with. Fishesmay be studied from a bank, wharf, or boat, or by wading; and the viewof the bottom and the fishes on or adjacent thereto may be greatlyimproved by the use of a "water bucket"--an ordinary wooden pail whosebottom is replaced by a piece of window glass. A more elaboratearrangement for observation is to provide at the bow of a row-boat aglass bottom box over which may be thrown a hood so that the studentis invisible to the fishes. [Illustration: _Fundulus diaphanus_--Killifish: top minnow] [Illustration: _Catostomus commersonii_--Common sucker: white sucker] Identification of Specimens While many of the fishes in a given section are easily recognizable, there are in every water fishes which, on account of their small size, rarity, retiring habits, or close similarity to other fishes, areunknown to the average boy. These latter fishes often afford the mostinteresting subjects for study; and in all parts of the country it ispossible for energetic observers and collectors to add to the list offishes already recorded from particular districts. When fishes cannot be identified in the field, the larger ones may besketched and notes taken on their color, while the smaller ones may bepreserved with salt, formalin, or any kind of spirits. Specimens anddrawings may be forwarded for identification to the zoologicaldepartment of the local state university, to the state fishcommission, to the Bureau of Fisheries, Washington, D. C. , or to theUnited States National Museum in the same city. {109} Angling This most delightful of outdoor pastimes requires for its enjoyment noelaborate or expensive paraphernalia: a rod cut on the spot, a corkfloat, an ordinary hook baited with angleworm, grasshopper, grub, may-fly, or any of a dozen other handy lures, will answer for mostoccasions. At the same time, the joys of fishing will often beincreased if one possesses and learns how to use a light, jointed rod, with reel, fine line, and artificial baits. The necessary equipmentfor scientific angling is so light and compact that it should form apart of the outfit of every one who spends much time in the open air. It should be the invariable practice of anglers to return to the waterall uninjured fish that are not needed for food or study. "It is notall of fishing to fish, " and no thoughtful boy who has the interestsof the country at heart, and no lover of nature, will go fishingmerely for the purpose of catching the longest possible string offish, thus placing himself in the class of anglers properly known as"fish hogs. " Special Service by Boy Scouts Valuable service may be rendered by boy scouts in all parts of thecountry by bringing to the attention of the proper state, county, ormunicipal authorities matters affecting the welfare of the fishes. Among the subjects that should be reported to fish commissioners, fishwardens, or local legal officers are: (1) All cases noticed where fish are being killed by dynamite, poisons, or other illegal and improper means. (2) Threatened destruction of fish by the drying of streams or ponds. (3) The existence of obstructions to the passage of fish on their wayto their spawning grounds. All dams in streams in which are migratoryfish should have fish-ways or fish-ladders. Aquarium _William Leland Stowell, M. D. _ Every boy should have an aquarium. The aquarium will give ten times asmuch pleasure as annoyance, and the longer time you have oneundisturbed the greater will be its revelations. A simple tank can be made from a large water bottle or demijohn. Filea line around the top and carefully break it off. For the back yard, cut a paint barrel in two or coat a tub inside with spar varnish. Anything that will hold a few gallons of water, two inches of cleansand, and some water plants will be a suitable home for fish and othercreatures. A boy handy with tools can make a frame, and with plateglass and proper cement construct a large tank. {110} Starting the Aquarium You can balance your aquarium by plenty of plants. As they grow theygive off oxygen which purifies the water and is breathed by the fish. The water need not be changed for years. The swamps and slow streamsafford great numbers of plants. If you know the plants get pond weeds, Canadian water weed, ludwigia, willow moss, or tape grass. (Look inthe dictionary for official names of the plants or get special booksfrom the library. ) Take some tape grass (vallisneria) to your teacheror doctor and ask him to show you under his microscope how the sapflows and the green coloring matter is deposited. The simplest form ofvegetation is algae which grows on the sides of the tank. Lest thisgrow too thick, put in a few snails. Watch the snails' eggs develop inclusters. Buy if you cannot find banded swamp snails that give birthto their young instead of laying eggs. Any pond or stream will furnish fish that are beautiful or interestingto watch, e. G. , killies, sunfish, cat-fish, carp, shiners, blacknoseddace, minnows--the mud minnow that seems to stand on histail--darters, etc. If you get your supply from dealers, buy goldfish, of which there are several varieties, fan-tailed, comets, fringetails and telescope eyed. Mirror carp are lively. Paradise fish are asbeautiful as butterflies. [Illustration: A balanced aquarium] Fish Nests Every one knows something of birds' nests. Did you ever watchsticklebacks build their barrel-like nest, or the Paradise fish hisfloating nest, and the father fish take all the care of the young? Didyou ever see the newt roll her eggs in small leaves, or the caddis flymake a case of bits of stick, leaves, and sand? For a real marvelwatch a pair of diving spiders weave their balloon-like nest underwater and actually carry air down to fill it, so that the young may bedry though submerged. {111} Put in a few fresh-water clams and insects in variety, water boatmen, diving spiders, and whirligigs. A tank of beetles will be full ofinterest. Always add two or three tadpoles as scavengers, and watchtheir legs grow out as the tail grows short and they become frogs. Youcan find or buy a variety of turtles which will soon be tame and eatfrom your fingers. Do not keep turtles with fish. On every hike or tramp carry a wide-mouthed bottle for specimens and apiece of rubber cloth in which to bring home water plants. Fish can becarried wrapped in damp moss for hours and will be found well andlively when put in the aquarium. Fish Food Fish require very little food other than the minute creatures thatdevelop in the water. The dealers supply proper foods for aquaria, or you can prepare yourown. Fine vermicelli is good for gold fish, scraped lean beef is justwhat the sunfish and Paradise fish want. Ant eggs suit many fish, andpowdered dog biscuit will fill many mouths. It is evident that anarticle so brief as this is only suggestive. The libraries containmany books of which two are recommended: "Home Aquarium and How to Care For It. " By Eugene Smith, 1902. Published by Dutton, New York. "Book of Aquaria. " By Bateman and Bennett, 1890. Published by L. Upcott Gill, 170 Strand, W. C. , London. ROCKS AND PEBBLES _United States Geological Survey_ Geologists study the materials of the earth's crust, the processescontinually changing its surface, and the forms and structures thusproduced. In a day's tramp one may see much under each of these heads. The earth's crust is made up chiefly of the hard rocks, which outcropin many places, but are largely covered by thin, loose, surfacematerials. Rocks may be igneous, which have cooled from a meltedcondition; or sedimentary, which are made of layers spread one uponanother by water currents or waves, or by winds. Igneous rocks, while still molten, have been forced into other rocksfrom below, or poured out on the surface from volcanoes. They arechiefly made of crystals of various minerals, such as quartz, felspar, mica, and pyrite. Granite often contains large crystals of felspar ormica. Some igneous rocks, especially lavas, are glassy; others are sofine grained that the crystals cannot be seen. In places one may find veins filling cracks in the rocks, and {113}made of material deposited from solution in water. Many valuableminerals and ores occur in such veins, and fine specimens cansometimes be obtained from them. {112} [Illustration: Fold in stratified rock] [Illustration: Wearing the soft and hard beds by rain and wind] [Illustration: Quartz vein in rock] {113 continued} Sedimentary rock are formed of material usually derived from thebreaking up and wearing away of older rocks. When first deposited, thematerials are loose, but later, when covered by other beds, theybecome hardened into solid rock. If the layers were of sand, the rockis sandstone; if of clay, it is shale. Rocks made of layers of pebblesare called conglomerate or pudding-stone; those of limy material, derived perhaps from shells, are limestone. Many sedimentary rockscontain fossils, which are the shells or bones of animals or the stemsand leaves of plants living in former times, and buried by successivebeds of sand or mud spread over them. Much of the land is covered by athin surface deposit of clay, sand, or gravel, which is yet loosematerial and which shows the mode of formation of sedimentary rocks. Some rocks have undergone, since their formation, great pressure orheat and have been much changed. They are called metamorphic rocks. Some are now made of crystals though at first they were not; in othersthe minerals have become arranged {114} in layers closely resemblingthe beds of sedimentary rocks; still others, like slate, tend to splitinto thin plates. The earth's surface is continually being changed; the outcropping hardrock is worn away by wind and rain, and is broken up by frost, bysolution of some minerals, etc. The loose material formed is blownaway or washed away by rain and deposited elsewhere by streams ingravel bars, sand beds, and mud flats. The streams cut away theirbeds, aided by the sand and pebbles washed along. Thus the hills arebeing worn down and the valleys deepened and widened, and thematerials of the land are slowly being moved toward the sea, again tobe deposited in beds. [Illustration: Wave-cut cliff with beach and spit built by waves andcurrents] Along the coast the waves, with the pebbles washed about, are wearingaway the land and spreading out its materials in new beds elsewhere. The shore is being cut back in some places and built out in others. Rivers bring down sand and mud and build deltas or bars at theirmouths. Volcanoes pour out melted rock on the surface, and much fine materialis blown out in eruptions. Swamps are filled {115} by dead vegetablematter and by sand and mud washed in. These materials form new rocksand build up the surface. Thus the two processes, the wearing down insome places and the building up in others, are tending to bring thesurface to a uniform level. Another process, so slow that it can beobserved only through long periods of time, tends to deform theearth's crust and to make the surface more irregular. In times past, layers of rock once horizontal have been bent and folded into greatarches and troughs, and large areas of the earth's surface have beenraised high above sea-level. [Illustration: Rock ledge rounded smooth and scratched by ice] [Illustration: Sand-dune with wind-rippled surface] At almost any rock outcrop the result of {116} the breaking-up processmay be seen; the outer portion is softer, more easily broken, and ofdifferent color from the fresh rock, as shown by breaking open a largepiece. The wearing away of the land surface is well shown in raingullies, and the carrying along and depositing of sand and gravel maybe seen in almost any stream. In the Northern states and Canada, whichat one time were covered by a great sheet of ice, moving southward andgrinding off the surface over which it passed, most of the rockoutcrops are smoothly rounded and many show scratches made by pebblesdragged along by the ice. The hills too have {117} smoother and rounderoutlines, as compared with those farther south where the land has beencarved only by rain and streams. Along the coast the wearing away ofthe land by waves is shown at cliffs, found where the coast is high, and by the abundant pebbles on the beaches, which are built ofmaterial torn from the land by the waves. Sand bars and tidal flatsshow the deposition of material brought by streams and spread out bycurrents. Sand dunes and barrens illustrate the carrying and spreadingout of fine material by the wind. [Illustration: Slab containing fossil shells] [Illustration: Conglomerate or pudding-stone] In many regions the beds of sedimentary rocks, which must have beennearly horizontal when formed, are now found sloping at various anglesor standing on edge, the result of slow deforming of these beds at anearlier time. As some beds are more easily worn away than others, thehills and valleys in such regions owe their form and position largelyto the different extent to which the harder and softer beds have beenworn down by weather and by streams. The irregular line of many coastsis likewise due to the different hardness of the rocks along theshore. It is by the study of the rocks and of the remains of life found inthem, by observing the way in which the surface of the earth is beingchanged and examining the results of those changes and by concludingthat similar results were produced in former times in the same way, that geologists are able to read much of the past history of theearth, uncounted years before there were men upon it. Plants, Ferns, and Grasses _By Dr. L. C. Corbett, Horticulturist, United States Bureau of Plant Industry_ The appearance of the blossoms and fruits of the fields and forests inany locality note the advent and progress of the seasons moreaccurately than does the calendar. Plants and seeds which have lainasleep during the winter are awakened not by the birth of a month, butby the return of heat and moisture in proper proportions. This may beearly one year and late another, but, no matter what the calendarsays, the plants respond to the call and give evidence of spring, summer, or autumn as the case may be. The surface of the earth is notflat. We have valleys and we have mountains; we have torrid and wehave temperate zones. The plant life of the world has been adjusted tothese varied conditions, and as a result we have plants with certaincharacteristics growing in the tropics at sea-level, but a verydifferent class of plants with {118} different habits andcharacteristics inhabiting the elevated regions of this same zone. Itmust be remembered that even under the tropics some of the highestmountains carry a perpetual snow-cap. There is therefore all possiblegradations of climate from sea-level to the top of such mountains, even at the equator, and plant life is as a result as varied as isclimate. Each zone, whether determined by latitude or by altitude, possesses a distinctive flora. But altitude and latitude are not the only factors which have beeninstrumental in determining the plants found in any particularlocality. This old earth of ours has not always been as we see herto-day. The nature we know and observe is quite different from thatwhich existed in earlier ages of the earth's history. The plants, thetrees, and the flowers that existed upon the earth during the age whenour coal was being deposited were very different from those we nowhave. There has been a change, but, strange as it may seem, there arein some places upon the earth to-day some of the same species ofplants which were abundant during the coal-forming periods. These areamong the oldest representatives of the plant world now extant. Thenwe are told that there was a period when the north temperate zone wascovered with a great ice field which crowded down as far as southernPennsylvania and central Ohio. This naturally brought about a profoundchange in the location and character of the plants of this region. There are in the Black Hills of Dakota species of plants which have norelatives anywhere in the prairie region, and no means is known bywhich these representatives of a Rocky Mountain family could findtheir way into the Black Hills, save that, previous to the ice age, this species was generally scattered over the territory, and that, during the ice age, the species was perpetuated in the hills, but waskilled out between there and the Rocky Mountains where it is found inabundance. These are some of the natural reasons for the existence ofvaried plants in different localities. They are sufficient to explainthe reason for the existence of local floras. But nature has provided untold ways for the perpetuation as well asthe dispersal of plants for the purpose of, so far as possible, enabling the plants of the world to take possession of all parts ofthe earth's surface. If this adjustment were complete, the plantswould be practically alike all over the surface of the earth, but wehave already explained why this cannot be and why we have a differentflora in each zone, whether it be marked by lines of latitude orheight of {120} the mountains. Plants are perpetuated by seeds, bybulbs, and by woody parts. Some seeds are highly perishable and mustbe sown as soon as ripe; others remain years without losing theirpower to produce plants. Some grow as soon as they come in contactwith the soil; others must fall, be buried and frozen before they willgerminate. Some plants are perpetuated by bulbs, tubers, or roots inwhich a supply of food material is stored away to carry the plant overa period when its above-ground parts cannot thrive owing to frost ordrought. Upon the return of favorable conditions, these resting partsthrow out shoots and again make the round of growth, usually producingboth seeds and underground parts for the preservation of the species. There are both wild and cultivated plants in nearly all sections whichillustrate these methods of preservation. Besides plants which havebulbs, tubers, or perennial roots, we have the large, woody plantswhich live many years and so perpetuate themselves, not only asindividuals the same as plants with perennial roots; but they, too, asa rule, produce seed for the multiplication of their kind. {119} [Illustration: _Pinkster Flower_--It shows its pink flowers in rockywoods and thickets during spring. ] [Illustration: _White Pine_--Common evergreen tree of the Northeasternstates. Needle-like leaves in bundles of five. ] [Illustration: _Butterfly Weed_--The bright, orange colored flowers areconspicuous in dry meadows from June to September. ] [Illustration: _Poison Ivy_--Can be distinguished from the harmlesswoodbine by its three-lobed leaves. ] {120 continued} The agencies which serve to spread plants about over the earth'ssurface are very varied and interesting. Nature has provided seedswith many appendages which assist in their dispersal. Some seeds havewings, and some parachutes to take advantage of the wind. Some seedsare provided with hooks and stickers by which they become attached tothe fur of animals and are in this way enabled to steal a free ride. Other seeds are provided with edible coverings which attract birds, but the seeds themselves are hard and not digestible; the fruit iseaten and the seeds rejected and so plants are scattered. Besidesthese methods of perpetuation and dispersal, some plants areperpetuated as well as dispersed by vegetative reproduction, i. E. , bycuttings as in the case of willows; by runners as in the case of thestrawberry; and by stolons as with the black raspberry. (For furtherinformation on this point see Bailey's "Lessons with Plants. ") Some plant characteristics, however, of greatest interest to the scoutmay be enumerated. Plants not only mark zones, but they indicate soilswith certain characteristics, and the crop wise say that the soil onwhich chestnut abounds is suitable for buckwheat or peaches. Plantsalso indicate the influence of local conditions such as lakes, ponds, or even variations in contour. A knowledge of the local flora of aregion will at once tell one whether he is upon a northern or asouthern hillside by the plants of the area. The creek bottom will{121} abound with species not to be found on the hillsides, but speciescommon to both plain and mountain will mark the progress of the seasonup the slope. In the north temperate zone the moss if any will be found growing uponthe north side of the tree trunk. Each hundred feet of elevation in agiven latitude makes from one to two days difference in time ofblooming of plants. The character of the vegetation of a region is anindex to its climate. Certain plants are adapted to frigid regions, others to temperate, and still others to tropical areas. Some plantsare adapted to humid sections, while others are admirably adjusted todesert conditions. A knowledge of these differences in plants will beof the greatest value to the scout, and if this is supplemented byinformation about the value and uses of the various plant productsmany hardships can be avoided. Many plants produce valuable juices, gums, and resins, while others yield us valuable timber for buildingand cabinet uses. While it is impossible to even suggest the great variety of plantsfound within the confines of the United States, the following books onbotany will be found helpful in each of the different sections forwhich they are designed. Bibliography For the botany of the Northeastern United States use: "New Manual of Botany, " 7th ed. Asa Gray. "Illustrated Flora of the United States and Canada. " N. L. Britton andHon. Addison Brown. For the botany of the Southern United States use: "Flora of the Southern United States. " A. W. Chapman. "Southern Wild Flowers and Trees. " Alice Lounsberry. For the Botany of the Rocky Mountain region use: "New Manual of Botany of the Central Rocky Mountains. " John M. Coulter; Revised by Aven Nelson. "Rocky Mountain Wild Flower Studies. " Burton O. Longyear. "The Trees of California. " Willis Linn Jepson. For general information regarding the shrubby plants of the UnitedStates use: "Our Shrubs of the United States. " Austin C. Apgar. "Our Northern Shrubs. " Harriet Louise Keeler. For the wild flowers outside of those already mentioned for theSouthern United States and the Rocky Mountain region use: "Our Garden Flowers. " Harriet Louise Keeler. "How to Know the Wild Flowers. " Frances Theodora Parsons. "Field Book of American Wild Flowers. " F. Schuyler Mathews. {122} For the ferns and grasses it will be found worth while to consult: "How to Know the Ferns. " Frances Theodora Parsons. "The Fern Collector's Guide. " Willard Nelson Clute. "New England Ferns and Their Common Allies. " Helen Eastman. "The Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes of the North United States. " EdwardKnobel. For the study of the monarchs of our forests the following books willall be found exceedingly useful: "Manual of the Trees of North America. " Charles Sprague Sargent. "Trees of the Northern United States. " Austin C. Apgar. "Handbook of the Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. "Romeyn Beck Hough. "North American Trees. " N. L. Britton. "Familiar Trees and Their Leaves. " 1911. F. Schuyler Mathews. Besides these, several states have issued through their stateexperiment stations bulletins dealing with the local plantinhabitants. In some instances these publications cover forest trees, grasses, and shrubs, either native or introduced. Several of theeducational institutions, as well as the experiment stations, nowregularly issue nature study leaflets or bulletins which treat ofpopular subjects of interest in connection with outdoor things. Itwould be well to write the state experiment station in your state forliterature of this nature. MUSHROOMS, FUNGI, OR TOADSTOOLS _By Ernest Thompson Seton, Chief Scout Revised by Dr. C. C. Curtis_ There are thousands of different kinds of toadstools or mushrooms inthe world; most of them are good to eat, yet all have a badreputation, because some are deadly poisonous. False tests. First of all let us dispose of some ancient false teststhat have led many into disaster. Cooking or otherwise trying with silver proves absolutely nothing. Itis believed by many that the poisonous mushrooms turn silver black. Some do; some do not; and some eatable ones do. There is nothing init. Bright colors on the cap also mean nothing; many gorgeous toadstoolsare wholesome food. But the color of the pores {123} means a greatdeal, and this is determined by laying the fungus cap gills down ongray paper for six or eight hours under a glass. [Illustration: Moose horn clavaria. ] [Illustration: Spindle clavaria. ] [Illustration: Club clavaria. ] [Illustration: Golden clavaria. ] Poisonous Toadstools Of all the poisonous kinds the deadliest are the Amanitas. Not onlyare they widespread and abundant, but they are unhappily much like theordinary table mushrooms. They have however one or two strong marks:Their stalk always grows out of a "poison cup" which shows either as acup or as a bulb; they have white or yellow gills, and white spores. The worst of these are: Deathcup, Destroying Angel, Sure-death, or Deadly Amanita(_Amanita phalloides_) One and one half to five inches across the cup; three to seven incheshigh; white, green, yellowish olive, or grayish brown; {124} smooth butsticky when moist; gills white; spores white; on the stem is anannulus or ring just below the cap. Fly Amanita (_Amanita muscaria_) About the same size; mostly yellow, but ranging from orange red to oralmost white; usually with raised white spots or scales on the top;gills white or tinged yellow; spores white; flesh white. Hated Amanita (_Amanita spreta_) Four to six inches high; cap three to five inches across; white, tinged with brown in places especially in the middle of the cap, whereit has sometimes a bump. [Illustration: Deadly amanita] [Illustration: Fly amanita] [Illustration: Hated amanita] There are over a score more of amanitas varying in size and color, butall have the general style of mushrooms, and the label marks ofpoison, viz. , white or yellow gills, a poison cup, and white spores. Emetic Russula (_Russula emetica_) In a less degree this russula is poisonous. It is a short-stemmedmushroom, two to four inches high, about the size of the Fly Amanita;its cap is rosy red, pinkish when young, dark red when older, fadingto straw color in age; its gills and spores white. Its peppery tastewhen raw is a fair notice of danger. _Symptoms of Poisoning_: Vomiting and purging, "the discharge from thebowels being watery with small flakes suspended {125} and sometimescontaining blood, " cramps in the extremities. The pulse is very slowand strong at first but later weak and rapid, sometimes sweat andsaliva pour out. Dizziness, faintness, and blindness, the skin clammy, cold, and bluish, or livid; temperature low with dreadful tetanicconvulsions, and finally stupor. _Remedy_: "Take an emetic at once, and send for a physician withinstructions to bring hypodermic syringe and atropine sulphate. Thedose is 1/180 of a grain, and doses should be continued heroicallyuntil 1/20 of a grain is administered, or until, in the physician'sopinion, a proper quantity has been injected. Where the victim iscritically ill, the 1/20 of a grain may be administered. " (McIllvaine& Macadam. ) [Illustration: Emetic russula: russula emetica (after Marshall)] [Illustration: Mushrooms] WHOLESOME TOADSTOOLS IMPORTANT NOTE. --Experimenting with mushrooms is dangerous; it isbetter not to eat them unless gathered under expert direction. The Common Mushroom (_Agaricus campestris_) Known at once by its general shape and smell, its pink or brown gills, white flesh, brown spores and solid stem. Coprinus Also belonging to the gilled or true mushroom family are the ink-capsof the genus. They grow on dung piles and rich ground. They spring up over night andperish in a day. In the last stage the gills turn as black as ink. Inky Coprinus (_Coprinus atramentarius_) This is the species illustrated. The example was from the woods; oftenit is less tall and graceful. The cap is one inch {126} to threeinches in diameter, grayish or grayish brown, sometimes tinged leadcolor. Wash and stew: Stew or bake from twenty to thirty minutes afterthorough washing, being the recognized mode. All the Clavarias or Coral Mushrooms are good except Clavariadichotoma which is white, and has its branches divided in pairs ateach fork. It grows on the ground under beeches and is slightlypoisonous; it is rare. The Delicious Morel (_Morchella deliciosa_) One and a half to three inches high; greenish with brown hollows. There are several kindred species of various colors. This is known bythe cylindrical shape of its cap. Wash, slice, and stew. [Illustration: Inky coprinus] [Illustration: Morel] Puffballs (_Lycoperdaceae_) The next important and safe group are the puffballs before they beginto puff. All our puffballs when young and solid white inside are good, wholesome food. Some of them, like the brain puffball or the giantpuffball, are occasionally a foot in diameter, and yield flesh enoughto feed a dozen persons. [Illustration: Brain puffball] [Illustration: Pear puffball] [Illustration: Cup puffball] They are well known to all who live in the country, their smoothrounded exterior, without special features except the {127} roots, andtheir solid white interior are easily remembered. Peel, slice, andfry. Bibliography The following are standard and beautifully illustrated works onmushrooms and toadstools. They have been freely used for guidance andillustrations in the preparation of the above: "Edible Fungi of New York. " By Charles H. Peck. Published by New YorkState Museum, Albany, 1900. "The Mushroom Book. " By Nina L. Marshall. Published 1902 at New Yorkby Doubleday, Page & Co. $3. 50. "One Thousand American Fungi. " By McIllvaine and Macadam. Published bythe Bobbs-Merrill Company of Indianapolis, 1902. $3. 00. Add 40 centsexpress. "Mushrooms. " G. F. Atkinson. Holt & Co. "The Mushroom. " M. E. Hard. The Ohio Library Co. , Columbus, Ohio. COMMON NORTH AMERICAN TREES White Pine (_Pinus strobus_) A noble evergreen tree, up to 175 feet high. This is the famous pineof New England, the lumberman's prize. Its leaves are in bunches offive, and are 3 to 5 inches long; cones 4 to 6 inches long. Wood pale, soft, straight-grained, easily split. Newfoundland to Manitoba andsouth to Illinois. [Illustration: White pine] [Illustration: Hemlock] [Illustration: Red cedar] {128} There are many different kinds of pines. They are best distinguishedby their cones. Hemlock (_Tsuga Canadensis_) Evergreen. Sixty to seventy feet high. Wood pale, soft, coarse, splintery, not durable. Bark full of tannin. Leaves 1/2 to 3/4 incheslong; cones about the same. Its knots are so hard that they quicklyturn the edge of an axe or gap it as a stone might; these are probablythe hardest vegetable growth in our woods. Its topmost twig usuallypoints easterly. Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to Delaware andMichigan. [Illustration: Cottonwood] [Illustration: Shagbark] [Illustration: Walnut] Red Cedar (_Juniperus Virginiana_) Evergreen. Any height up to 100 feet. Wood, heart a beautiful brightred; sap wood nearly white; soft, weak, but extremely durable asposts, etc. Makes a good bow. The tiny scale-like leaves are 3 to 6 tothe inch; the berry-like cones are light blue and 1/4 of an inch indiameter. It is found in dry places from Nova Scotia to Florida andwest to British Columbia. Cottonwood (_Populus deltoides_) Small and rare in the Northeast, but abundant and large {129} in West;even 150 feet high. Leaves 3 to 6 inches long. Found from Quebec toFlorida and west to the mountains. Shagbark or White Hickory (_Hicoria ovata_) A tall forest tree up to 120 feet high. Known at once by the greatangular slabs of bark hanging partly detached from its main trunk, forced off by the growth of wood, but too tough to fall. Its leavesare 8 to 14 inches long, with 5 to 7 broad leaflets. Black Walnut (_Juglans nigra_) A magnificent forest tree up to 150 feet high. Wood, a darkpurplish-brown or gray; hard, close-grained, strong, very durable inweather or ground work, and heavy; fruit round, 1-3/4 inches through. Leaflets 13 to 23, and 3 to 5 inches long. Found from Canada to theGulf. White Walnut or Butternut (_Juglans cinerea_) A much smaller tree than the last, rarely 100 feet high, with muchsmoother bark, leaves similar but larger and coarser, compound offewer leaflets, but the leaflet stalks and the new twigs are coveredwith sticky down. Leaves 15 to 30 inches long, leaflets 11 to 19 innumber and 3 to 5 inches long; fruit oblong, 2 to 3 inches long. NewBrunswick and Dakota and south to Mississippi. Common Birch or Aspen-leaved Birch (_Betula populifolia_) A small tree on dry and poor soil, rarely 50 feet high. Wood soft, close-grained, not strong, splits in drying, useless for weather orground work. A cubic foot weighs 36 pounds. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long. It has a black triangular scar at each armpit. The canoe birch iswithout these black marks. New Brunswick to Ontario to Pennsylvaniaand Delaware. Black Birch, Sweet Birch, or Mahogany Birch (_Betula lenta_) The largest of the birches; a great tree, in Northern forests up to 80feet high. The bark is scarcely birchy, rather like that of {130}cherry, very dark, and aromatic. Leaves 2-1/2 to 6 inches long. Newfoundland to Western Ontario and south to Tennessee. [Illustration: Ashen-leaved birch] [Illustration: Black birch] [Illustration: Beech] Beech (_Fagus Americana_) In all North America there is but one species of beech. It is a nobleforest tree, 70 to 80 and occasionally 120 feet high, readilydistinguished by its smooth, ashy-gray bark. Leaves 3 to 4 incheslong. It shares with hickory and sugar maple the honor of being aperfect firewood. Nova Scotia to Wisconsin, south to Florida andTexas. Chestnut (_Castanea dentata_) A noble tree, 60 to 80 or even 100 feet high. The most delicious ofnuts. Leaves 6 to 8 inches long. Maine to Michigan and south toTennessee. Red Oak (_Quercus rubra_) A fine forest tree, 70 to 80 or even 140 feet high. Hard, strong, coarse-grained, heavy. It checks, warps, and does not stand forweather or ground work. The acorn takes two {131} seasons to ripen. Leaves 4 to 8 inches long. Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to Texasand Florida. White Oak (_Quercus alba_) A grand forest tree, over 100 up to 150 feet high. Wood pale, strong, tough, fine-grained, durable and heavy, valuable timber. Called whitefrom pale color of bark and wood. Leaves 5 to 9 inches long. Acornsripen in one season. Maine to Minnesota, Florida and Texas. [Illustration: Chestnut] [Illustration: Red oak] [Illustration: White oak] White Elm or Swamp Elm (_Ulmus Americana_) A tall, splendid forest tree, commonly 100, occasionally 120 feethigh. Wood reddish-brown, hard, strong, tough, very hard to split, coarse, heavy. Soon rots near the ground. Leaves 2 to 5 inches long. Flowers in early spring before leafing. Abundant, Newfoundland andManitoba to Texas. Sycamore, Plane Tree, Buttonball or Buttonwood (_Platanus occidentalis_) One of the largest of our trees; up to 140 feet high; commonly hollow. Little use for weather work. Famous for shedding {132} its bark as well asits leaves; leaves 4 to 9 inches long. Canada to Gulf. Black or Yellow Locust, Silver Chain (_Robinia pseudacacia_) A tall forest tree up to 80 feet high; leaves 8 to 14 inches long;leaflets 9 to 19, 1 to 2 inches long, pods 2 to 4 inches long, 4 to 7seeded. This is the common locust so often seen about old lawns. [Illustration: White elm] [Illustration: Sycamore] [Illustration: Black locust] Red, Scarlet, Water, or Swamp Maple (_Acer rubrum_) A fine, tall tree, often over 100 feet high. Noted for its flamingcrimson foliage in fall, as well as its red leaf stalks, flowers, andfruit, earlier. Leaves 2 to 6 inches long. Like all the maples itproduces sugar, though in this case not much. Western North America. The sugar maple is a larger, finer tree. [Illustration: Red maple] [Illustration: White ash] White Ash (_Fraxinus Americana_) A fine tree on moist soil. Seventy to 80 or even 130 feet high. Yellowin autumn; noted for being last to leaf and first {133} to shed in theforest. Called white for the silvery under sides of the leaves; theseare 8 to 12 inches long, each leaflet 3 to 6 inches long. Nova Scotiato Texas. For a full unbotanical account of one hundred and twenty of our finesttrees with their uses as wood, their properties, and the curious andinteresting things about them see: "The Forester's Manual: or Forest Trees That Every Scout Should Know. "By Ernest Thompson Seton. NATIVE WILD ANIMALS Every scout ought to know the principal wild animals that are found inNorth America. He need not know them as a naturalist, but as a hunter, as a camper. Here is a brief account of twenty-four of them, and thosewho wish to know more will find the fullest possible account in "LifeHistories of North America, " by E. T. Seton. (Scribners, 1909. ) Thesetwo volumes are found in all large libraries. [Illustration: Elk] Elk or Wapiti (_Cervus canadensis_) This is smaller than the moose. It stands four to five feet at theshoulder and weighs four hundred to eight hundred pounds. It is knownby its rounded horns and the patch of yellowish-white on the rump andtail. At one time this splendid animal was found throughout temperateAmerica from the Atlantic to the Pacific, north to Massachusetts, theOttawa River, the Peace River, and British Columbia; and south toGeorgia, Texas, and southern California. It is now exterminated exceptin Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta; Vancouver Island, Washington, Wyoming and a few localities in the mountain states and in parks whereit has been reintroduced. {134} The elk of Washington is very dark in color; that of theSouthwest is very pale and small. White-tailed Deer (_Odocoileus virginianus_) This is the best known of the common deer of America. It isdistinguished by the forward bend of the horns, with the snagspointing backward, and by its long tail which is brown or blackishabove and pure white below. Its face is gray, its throat white. A fairsized buck weighs two hundred pounds, live weight. A few have beentaken of over three hundred and fifty pounds weight. In the Southernstates they run much smaller. Several varieties have been described. It was found formerly in all of the timber states east of the Rockies;also in Ontario south of Lake Nipissing, in south Quebec and south NewBrunswick. At present it is exterminated in the highly cultivatedstates of the Middle West, but has spread into northern Ontario, NewBrunswick, and Manitoba. [Illustration: White-tailed deer] [Illustration: Mule deer] [Illustration: Moose] Mule Deer (_Odocoileus hemionus_) This is the commonest deer of the hill country in the centre of thecontinent. It is found in the mountains from Mexico to BritishColumbia and northeasterly Saskatchewan and the Lake of the Woods. Itis known by its {135} double-forked horns, its large ears, the darkpatch on the forehead, the rest of the face being whitish. Also by itstail which is white with a black bunch on the end. This is a largerdeer than the White-tail. There are several varieties of it in theSouth and West. Moose (_Alces americanus_) This is the largest of the deer tribe. It stands five and a half tosix and a half feet at the withers and weighs eight hundred to onethousand pounds. It is readily distinguished by its flat horns andpendulous, hairy muzzle. It is found in all the heavily timberedregions of Canada and Alaska and enters the United States in Maine, Adirondacks, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, and northwestern Wyoming. Those from Alaska are of gigantic stature. In all our deer the antlers are grown and shed each year, reachingperfection in autumn for the mating season. They are found in themales only, except in the caribou, in which species the females alsohave small horns. [Illustration: Antelope] Antelope (_Antilocapra americana_) The antelope is famous as the swiftest quadruped native in America. Itis a small creature, less than a common deer; a fair-sized buck weighsabout one hundred pounds. It is known by its rich buff color with purewhite patches, by having only two hoofs on each foot, and by the hornswhich are of true horn, like those of a goat, but have a snag orbranch and are shed each year. In the female the horns are littlepoints about an inch long. Formerly the antelope abounded on all the high plains from Manitoba toMexico and west to Oregon and California. It is now reduced to a fewstraggling bands in the central and wildest parts of the region. Mountain Goat (_Oreamnos montanus_) The mountain goat is known at once by its pure white coat of wool andhair, its black horns, and peculiar shape. It is {136} above the sizeof a common deer; that is, a full grown male weighs two hundred andfifty to three hundred pounds; the female a third less. It is famousfor its wonderful power as a rock climber and mountaineer. It is foundin the higher Rockies, chiefly above timber lines, from central Idahoto Alaska. [Illustration: Goat] [Illustration: Woodchuck] [Illustration: Beaver] Woodchuck (_Marmota monax_) The common woodchuck is a grizzly brown on the back, chestnut on thebreast, blackish on the crown and paws, and whitish on the cheeks. Itsshort ears and bushy tail are important characteristics. It measuresabout twenty-four inches of which the tail is five and a half inchesand weighs five to ten pounds. It is found in all the wooded parts of Canada from the Rockies to theAtlantic and south in the eastern states to about 40 degrees latitude. Beaver (_Castor canadensis_) The beaver is known by its great size--weighing from twenty-five tofifty pounds--its chestnut color, darker on the crown, its webbedfeet, and its broad, flat, naked, scaly tail. The pelt of this animalis a valuable fur. The creature is famous for building dams anddigging canals. It was found wherever there was water and timber inNorth America north of Mexico, but is now exterminated in most highlysettled regions. Muskrat (_Fiber zibethicus_) The muskrat is about the size of a cat; that is, it is twenty-oneinches long, of which the tail is ten inches. In color it somewhatresembles the beaver, but its feet are not conspicuously webbed, itstail is long and flattened vertically, not {137} horizontally. Thisabundant animal is found throughout North America within the limit oftrees wherever there is fresh water. It is the most abundant fur onthe market. [Illustration: Muskrat] [Illustration: Black-tailed jack rabbit] Jack Rabbit (_Lepus Californicus_) The jack-rabbit, famous for its speed and its ears, is known by itssize, which about doubles that of a common rabbit and the jet blackstripe running from its back into its tail. It is found on the plainsfrom Nebraska to Oregon and south to Mexico. There are severaldifferent varieties. Cottontail (_Sylvilagus floridanus_) The common eastern cottontail is known from the snowshoe by itssmaller feet and its much larger, longer tail, which is gray above, and snow-white underneath. Sometimes the common tame rabbit resemblesthe cottontail in general color, but the latter has the top of itstail black. The cottontails do not turn white in winter. They are found in mostparts of the United States, entering Canada only in the Ontariopeninsula and southern Saskatchewan. [Illustration: Cottontail] Cougar or Panther (_Felis couguar_) The cougar has been called the American lion; it is the largest cat inthe western world except the jaguar or American {138} tiger. It isknown by its unspotted brown coat, its long, heavy tail, and its size. A male cougar weighs one hundred and fifty to two hundred pounds; afew have been taken over that. The females are a third smaller. Theyoung in first coat have black spots. The cougar never attacks man but preys on deer, horses, calves, etc. There are several different forms; one or other of these is (or was)found from Ottawa, Minnesota, and Vancouver Island to Patagonia. [Illustration: Cougar] [Illustration: Lynx] [Illustration: Wild cat or bob cat] Wild Cat or Bob Cat (_Lynx rufus_) This is somewhat like the Canada lynx but is more spotted, has smallerfeet, and the tail has several dark bars above and is pure white onthe under side of the tip. There are several species of bob cats; they cover the timbered statesand enter Canada in Ontario, going north to Lake Simcoe. Fox (_Vulpes fulvus_) The fox is about four feet from snout to tail tip; of this the tail issixteen inches or more; it stands about fifteen inches at theshoulder. It rarely weighs over fifteen pounds and sometimes barelyten. The fox is known by its bright, sandy-red coat, black ears andpaws, its white throat, and the white tip at the end of the tail. At adistance the fox's ears and tail look very large. The silver or blackfox is a mere color freak with black coat and white tail tip. Redfoxes are found throughout the heavily timbered parts of North Americanorth of latitude thirty-five degrees. Gray Wolf (_Canis occidentalis_) The wolf is simply a big wild dog with exceptionally strong jaws andgeneral gray color, becoming dirty white on the under part. The wolfis found in all parts of North America, except where settlement hasdriven it out, and varies in color with locality. The Florida wolvesare black, Texan wolves are reddish, and Arctic wolves are white. Wolves weigh from {139} seventy-five to one hundred and twenty poundsand are distinguishable from coyotes by the heavy muzzle and jaws, greater size, and comparatively small tail, which is often held aloft. Wolves nowadays rarely molest man. Coyote (_Canis latrans_) The common coyote is like a small and delicate edition of the graywolf. It is much smaller, weighing only twenty to thirty pounds, andis distinguished by its sharp, fox-like muzzle and large bushy tail, which is rarely raised to the level. In color it is much like theordinary gray wolf but usually more tinged with yellow. It is found inall the interior country from Wisconsin to Oregon and from Mexico toGreat Slave Lake. There are several different varieties. It neverattacks man. Otter (_Lutra canadensis_) The otter is a large water weasel with close, dense, shiny fur andwebbed feet. It is known by its color--dark brown above shaded intodark gray below and white on the cheeks without any markings--and byits size. It is about forty inches long and weighs about twentypounds. It is found throughout North America within the limit oftrees. Its fur is very valuable. It feeds on fish. [Illustration: Otter] [Illustration: Weasel] Weasel (_Putorius noveboracensis_) The common weasel of New England is about the size of a big rat; thatis, it is sixteen inches long and all brown with the exception ofwhite chin, throat, breast, and paws, and black tip to the tail. Inwinter it turns white except the tail tip; that does not change. The whole continent is inhabited by weasels of one kind or another. Tothe north there is a smaller kind with shorter tail; on the prairies alarge kind with a very long tail; but all are of the same generalstyle and habits. A very small one, {140} the least weasel, is onlysix inches long. It is found chiefly in Canada. Mink (_Putorius vison_) The mink is simply a water weasel. It is known by its size, largerthan that of a common weasel, as it is twenty-four inches long ofwhich the tail is seven inches; also by its deep brown color all overexcept the throat and chin which are pure white. Its fur is brown, harder and glossier than that of the marten, and worth about a quarteras much. It does not turn white in the winter. One form or another ofmink is found over all the unarid parts of North America from thenorth limit of trees to the Gulf of Mexico. [Illustration: Mink] [Illustration: Skunk] [Illustration: Badger] Skunk (_Mephitis mephitica_) The skunk is known at once by its black coat with white stripes, itsimmense bushy tail tipped with white, and its size, nearly that of acat. It weighs three to seven pounds. It ranges from Virginia toHudson Bay. In the Northwest is a larger kind weighing twice as muchand with black tip to tail. Various kinds range over the continentsouth of latitude 55 degrees. It is harmless and beautiful. The smellgun for which it is famous is a liquid musk; this is never used exceptin the extreme of self-defence. Badger (_Taxidea taxus_) The common badger is known by its general whitish-gray color, theblack and white markings on the head, the black paws, and the strongclaws for digging. It weighs from twelve to twenty-two pounds. Thatis, it is about the size of a 'coon. {141} It is found in all theprairie and plains country from the Saskatchewan Valley to Mexico andfrom Wisconsin to the Pacific. Raccoon (_Procyon lotor_) The 'coon looks like a small gray bear with a bushy ringed tail and alarge black patch on each eye. Its paws look like hands, and it hasthe full number of five fingers or toes on each extremity. It is foundin all wooded regions from Manitoba south to Mexico and from Atlanticto Pacific, except the desert and Rocky Mountain region. [Illustration: Racoon] [Illustration: Opossum] [Illustration: Gray Squirrel] Opossum (_Didelphis marsupialis_) The opossum is famous for carrying its young in a pouch in front ofthe body. It may be known by its dirty-white woolly fur, its long, naked, prehensile tail, its hand-like paws, its white face and sharpmuzzle, and the naked pink and blue ears. In size it resembles a cat. The 'possum is found from Connecticut to Florida and westerly toCalifornia. Gray-squirrel (_Sciurus carolinensis_) America is particularly rich in squirrels. Not countingground-squirrels or chipmunks, we have over seventy-five differentforms on this continent. The widest spread is probably thered-squirrel; but the best known in the United States is the commongray-squirrel. Its gray coat white breast, and immense {142} bushytail are familiar to all eastern children. It is found in most of thehardwood timber east of the Mississippi and south of the Ottawa Riverand the State of Maine. Most of the nut trees in the woods of thisregion were planted by the gray-squirrel. Black Bear (_Ursus americanus_) This is the common bear of America. It is known at once by its jetblack color and brown nose. Its claws are short, rarely over an inchlong, and curved, serving better as climbers than do the long claws ofthe grizzly. Two hundred pounds would be a good sized female, threehundred a male; but Florida black bears have been taken weighing fivehundred pounds. Sometimes freaks with cinnamon-brown coats are found. This bear is found throughout North America wherever there is timber. NOTES {143} Notes {144} Notes {145} CHAPTER III CAMPCRAFT(In treating of camping there has been an intentional omission of thelong-term camp. This is treated extensively in the books of referencegiven at the close of this chapter. ) Hiking and Over-night Camp _By H. W. Gibson, Boys' Work Secretary, Young Men's Christian Association Massachusetts and Rhode Island_ Several things should be remembered when going on a hike: First, avoidlong distances. A foot-weary, muscle-tired and temper-tried, hungrygroup of boys is surely not desirable. There are a lot of falsenotions about courage and bravery and grit that read well in print, but fail miserably in practice, and long hikes for boys is one of themost glaring of these notions. Second, have a leader who will set agood easy pace, say two or three miles an hour, prevent the boys fromexcessive water drinking, and assign the duties of pitching camp, etc. Third, observe these two rules given by an old woodsman: (1) Neverwalk over anything you can walk around; (2) never step on anythingthat you can step over. Every time you step on anything you lift theweight of your body. Why lift extra weight when tramping? Fourth, carry with you only the things absolutely needed, rolled in blankets, poncho army style. Before starting on a hike, study carefully the road maps, and takethem with you on the walk for frequent reference. The best maps arethose of the United States Geological Survey, costing five cents each. The map is published in atlas sheets, each sheet representing a small, quadrangular district. Send to the superintendent of documents atWashington, D. C. , for a list. For tramping the boy needs the right kind of a shoe, or the trip willbe a miserable failure. A light-soled or a light-built shoe is notsuited for mountain work or even for an ordinary hike. The feet willblister and become "road weary. " The shoe must be neither too big, toosmall, nor too heavy, and be amply broad to give the toes plenty ofroom. The shoe should be water-tight. A medium weight, high-toppedlace shoe is about right. Bathing the feet at the springs and streamsalong the road will be refreshing, if not indulged in too frequently. {146} See Chapter on "Health and Endurance" for care of the feet andproper way of walking. It is well to carry a spare shirt hanging down the back with thesleeves tied around the neck. Change when the shirt you are wearingbecomes too wet with perspiration. The most practical and inexpensive pack is the one made for the BoyScouts of America. (Price 60 cents. ) It is about 14 x 20 inchessquare, and 6 inches thick, made of water-proof canvas withshoulder-straps, and will easily hold everything needed for a trampingtrip. A few simple remedies for bruises, cuts, etc. , should be taken alongby the leader. You may not need them and some may poke fun at them, but, as the old lady said, "You can't always sometimes tell. " Theamount and kind of provisions must be determined by the locality andhabitation. The Lean-to [Illustration: Fig. 1. Frame of lean-to] Reach the place where you are going to spend the night in plenty oftime to build your lean-to, and make your bed for {147} the night. Select your camping spot with reference to water, wood, drainage, andmaterial for your lean-to. Choose a dry, level place, the ground justsloping enough to insure the water running away from your lean-to incase of rain. In building your lean-to look for a couple of good treesstanding from eight to ten feet apart with branches from six to eightfeet above the ground. By studying the illustration (No. 1) you willbe able to build a very serviceable shack, affording protection fromthe dews and rain. While two or more boys are building the shack, another should be gathering firewood and preparing the meal, whileanother should be cutting and bringing in as many soft, thick tips oftrees as possible, for the roof of the shack and the beds. How to thatch the lean-to is shown in illustration No. 2. If the campsite is to be used for several days, two lean-tos may be built facingeach other, about six feet apart. This will make a very comfortablecamp, as a small fire can be built between the two thus giving warmthand light. [Illustration: Fig. 2. Method of thatching] The Bed On the floor of your lean-to lay a thick layer of the fans or branchesof a balsam or hemlock, with the convex side up, and the butts of thestems toward the foot of the bed. Now thatch this over with more fansby thrusting the butt ends through the first layer at a slight angletoward the head of the bed, so that the soft tips will curve towardthe foot of the bed, and be sure to make the head of your bed awayfrom the opening of the lean-to and the foot toward the opening. Overthis bed spread your rubber blankets or ponchos with rubber side down, your sleeping blanket on top, and you will be surprised how soft, springy, and fragrant a bed you have, upon which to rest your "wearyframe" and sing with the poet: "Then the pine boughs croon me a lullaby, And trickle the white moonbeams To my face on the balsam where I lie While the owl hoots at my dreams. " --_J. George Frederick_. {148} Hot-Stone Wrinkle If the night bids fair to be cold, place a number of stones about sixor eight inches in diameter near the fire, so that they will get hot. These can then be placed at the feet, back, etc. , as needed, and willbe found good "bed warmers. " When a stone loses its heat, it isreplaced near the fire and a hot one taken. If too hot, wrap the stonein a shirt or sweater or wait for it to cool off. Boys desire adventure. This desire may be gratified by theestablishment of night watchers in relays of two boys each, every twohours. Their imaginations will be stirred by the resistless attractionof the camp-fire and the sound of the creatures that creep at night. Observation Practice Many boys have excellent eyes, but see not, and good ears but hearnot, all because they have not been trained to observe or to hearquickly. A good method of teaching observation while on a hike ortramp is to have each boy jot down in a small note-book or diary ofthe trip, the different kinds of trees, birds, animals, tracks, natureof roads, fences, peculiar rock formation, smells of plants, etc. , andthus be able to tell what he saw or heard to the boys upon his returnto the permanent camp or to his home. Camera Snap Shots One of the party should take a small folding camera. Photographs ofthe trip are always of great pleasure and memory revivers. A practicaland convenient method of carrying small folding cameras represents anordinary belt to which a strap with a buckle has been attached, whichis run through the loops at the back of the camera case. The cameramay be pushed around the belt to the point where it will be least inthe way. Camp Lamp A very convenient lamp to use on a hike is the Baldwin Camp Lamp madeby John Simmons Co. , 13 Franklin Street, New York City. It weighs onlyfive ounces when full; is charged with carbide and is but 4-3/4 incheshigh. It projects a strong light 150 feet through the woods. A stiffwind will not blow it out. It can be worn comfortably in your hat orbelt. Handy Articles A boy of ingenuity can make a number of convenient things. A gooddrinking cup may be made from a piece of bark cut {149} inparallelogram shape twisted into pyramid form and fastened with asplit stick. A flat piece of bark may serve as a plate. A pot liftermay be made from a green stick about 18 inches long, allowing a fewinches of a stout branch to remain. By reversing the same kind ofstick and driving a small nail near the other end or cutting a notchin it, it may be used to suspend a kettle over a fire. A novelcandlestick is made by opening the blade of a knife and jabbing itinto a tree; upon the other upturned blade put a candle. A green stickhaving a split which will hold a piece of bread or meat makes anexcellent broiler. Don't pierce the bread or meat. Driving agood-sized stake into the ground at an angle of 45 degrees and cuttinga notch on which may be suspended a kettle over a fire will provide away of boiling water quickly. Building the Fireplace Take two or three stones and build a fireplace, a stick first shavedand then whittled for shavings, a lighted match, a little blaze, somebark and dry twigs added, a few small sticks, place the griddle overthe fire and you are ready to cook the most appetizing griddle-cakes. After the cakes are cooked, fry slices of bacon upon the griddle; inthe surplus fat fry slices of bread, then some thinly sliced rawpotatoes done to a delicious brown. Here is a breakfast capable ofmaking the mouth of a camper water. Another way: Place the green logs side by side, closer together at oneend than the other. Build the fire between. On the logs over the fireyou can rest a frying-pan, kettle, etc. To start the fire have somelight, dry wood split up fine. When sticks begin to blaze, add a fewmore of larger size and continue until you have a good fire. Toprevent the re-kindling of the fire after it is apparently out, pourwater over it and soak the earth for the space of two or three feetaround it. This is very important, for many forest fires have startedthrough failure to observe this caution. COOKING RECEIPTSCooking for Hikes and Over-night Camps The following tested receipts are given for those who go on hikes andover-night camps: Griddle-cakes Beat one egg, tablespoonful of sugar, one cup diluted condensed milkor new milk. Mix enough self-raising flour to {150} make a thick creambatter. Grease the griddle with rind or slices of bacon for each batchof cakes. Be sure to have the griddle hot. Bacon Slice bacon quite thin; remove the rind, which makes slices curl up. Fry on griddle or put on a sharp end of a stick and hold over the hotcoals, or better yet remove the griddle, and put on a clean, flat rockin its place. When hot lay the slices of bacon on the rock and broil. Keep turning so as to brown on both sides. Canned Salmon on Toast Dip slices of stale bread into smoking hot lard. They will brown atonce. Drain them. Heat a pint of salmon, picked into flakes, seasonwith salt and pepper and turn in a tablespoonful of melted butter. Heat in a pan. Stir in one egg, beaten light, with threetablespoonfuls evaporated milk not thinned. Pour the mixture on thefried bread. Roast Potatoes Wash and dry potatoes thoroughly, bury them deep in a good bed ofcoals, cover them with hot coals until well done. It will take aboutforty minutes for them to bake. Then pass a sharpened hard-wood sliverthrough them from end to end, and let the steam escape and useimmediately as a roast potato soon becomes soggy and bitter. Baked Fresh Fish Clean well. Small fish should be fried whole with the back bonesevered to prevent curling up; large fish should be cut into pieces, and ribs loosened from back bone so as to lie flat in pan. Rub thepieces in corn meal or powdered crumbs, thinly and evenly (that brownsthem), fry in plenty of hot fat to a golden brown, sprinkling lightlywith salt just as the color turns. If fish has not been wiped dry itwill absorb too much grease. If the frying fat is not very hot whenfish are put in, they will be soggy with it. Frogs' Legs First, after skinning, soak them an hour in cold water to whichvinegar has been added, or put them for two minutes into scaldingwater that has vinegar in it. Drain, wipe dry, and cook. {151} To fry:roll in flour, season with salt and pepper, and fry not too rapidly, preferably in butter or oil. Water-cress is a good relish with them. To griddle: Prepare three tablespoonsful melted butter, one halftablespoonful salt, and a pinch or two of pepper, into which dip thefrogs' legs, then roll in fresh bread crumbs and broil for threeminutes on each side. Eggs Boiled: Have water to boiling point. Place eggs in carefully. Boilsteadily for three minutes if you wish them soft. If wanted hardboiled, put them in cold water, bring to a boil, and keep it up fortwenty minutes. The yolk will then be mealy and wholesome. Fried: Melt some butter or fat in frying-pan; when it hisses drop ineggs carefully. Fry them three minutes. Scrambled: First stir the eggs up and after putting some butter in thefrying-pan, stir the eggs in it after adding a little condensed milk. Poached: First put in the frying-pan sufficient diluted condensed milkwhich has been thinned with enough water to float the eggs in, and letthem simmer three or four minutes. Serve the eggs on slices ofbuttered toast, pouring on enough of the milk to moisten the toast. Coffee For every cup of water allow a tablespoonful of ground coffee, thenadd one extra. Have water come to boiling point first, add coffee, hold it just below boiling point for five minutes, and settle with onefourth of a cup of cold water. Serve. Some prefer to put the coffee ina small muslin bag loosely tied. Cocoa Allow a teaspoonful of cocoa for every cup of boiling water. Mix thepowdered cocoa with water or boiled milk, with sugar to taste. Boiltwo or three minutes. These receipts have been tried out. Biscuit and bread making have beenpurposely omitted. Take bread and crackers with you from camp. "Amateur" biscuits are not conducive to good digestion or happiness. Pack butter in small jar: cocoa, sugar, and coffee in small cans orheavy paper; also salt and pepper. Wrap bread in a moist cloth toprevent drying up; {152} bacon and dried or chipped beef in wax paper. Pickles can be purchased put up in small bottles. Use the empty bottleas candle-stick. Sample Menu for an Over-night Camp and a Day Hike or Tramp BreakfastGriddle-Cakes, Fried Bacon and Potatoes, Bread, Coffee, Preserves DinnerCreamed Salmon on Toast, Baked Potatoes, Bread, Pickles, Fruit SupperFried Eggs, Creamed or Chipped Beef, Cheese, Bread, Cocoa Ration List for Six Boys, Three Meals 2 pounds bacon (sliced thin)1 pound butter1 dozen eggs1/2 pound cocoa1/2 pound coffee1 pound sugar3 cans salmon24 potatoes2 cans condensed milk1 small package of self-raising flourSalt and pepper _Utensils_ Small griddleSmall stew panSmall coffee-potLarge spoonPlate and cupMatches and candle. Dish Washing First fill the frying-pan with water, place over the fire, and let itboil. Pour out water and you will find the pan has practically cleaneditself. Clean the griddle with sand and water. Greasy knives and forksmay be cleaned by jabbing {153} them into the ground. After all greaseis gotten rid of, wash in hot water and dry with cloth. Don't use thecloth first and get it greasy. Leadership The most important thing about a camping party is that it shouldalways have the best of leadership. No group of boys should go campingby themselves. The first thing a patrol of scouts should do when ithas determined to camp is to insist upon the scout master accompanyingthe members of the patrol. The reason for this is that there is lesslikely to be accidents of the kind that will break up your camp anddrive you home to the town or city. When the scout master is one ofthe party, all of the boys can go in swimming when the proper timecomes for such exercise, and the scout master can stay upon the bankor sit in the boat for the purpose of preventing accidents bydrowning. There are also a hundred and one things which will occur incamp when the need of a man's help will show itself. A scout ought toinsist on his scout master going to camp. The scout master and patrolleader should be present, in order to settle the many questions whichmust of necessity arise, so that there may be no need of differencesor quarrels over disputed points, which would be sure to spoil theouting. Scout Camp Program In a scout camp there will be a regular daily program, somethingsimilar to the following: 6:30 A. M. Turn out, bathe, etc. 7:00 A. M. Breakfast 8:00 A. M. Air bedding in sun, if possible, and clean camp ground 9:00 A. M. Scouting games and practice11:00 A. M. Swimming12:00 P. M. Dinner 1:00 P. M. Talk by leader 2:00 P. M. Water games, etc. 6:00 P. M. Supper 7:30 P. M. Evening council around camp fire. _Order of Business_ 1. Opening Council2. Roll-call3. Record of last council4. Reports of scouts5. Left over business6. Complaints7. Honors8. New scouts9. New business10. Challenges11. Social doings, songs, dances, stories12. Closing Council (devotional services when desired) 8:45 lights out {154} Water Supply Dr. Charles E. A. Winslow, the noted biologist, is authority for thefollowing statement: "The source of danger in water is always human oranimal pollution. Occasionally we find water which is bad to drink onaccount of passage through the ground or on account of passage throughlead pipes, but the danger is never from ordinary decomposingvegetable matter. If you have to choose between a bright clear streamwhich may be polluted at some point above and a pond full of deadleaves and peaty matter, but which you can inspect all around and findfree from contamination, choose the pond. Even in the woods it is noteasy to find surface waters that are surely protected and streamsparticularly are dangerous sources of water supply. We have not gotrid of the idea that running water purifies itself. It is standingwater which purifies itself, if anything does, for in stagnation thereis much more chance for the disease germs to die out. Better thaneither a pond or stream, unless you can carry out a rather carefulexploration of their surroundings, is ground water from a well orspring; though that again is not necessarily safe. If the well is ingood, sandy soil, with no cracks or fissures, even water that has beenpolluted may be well purified and safe to drink. In a clayey or rockyregion, on the other hand, contaminating material may travel for aconsiderable distance under the ground. Even if the well is protectedbelow, a very important point to look after is the pollution from thesurface. I believe more cases of typhoid fever from wells are due tosurface pollution than to the character of the water itself. There isdanger which can, of course, be done away with by protection of thewell from surface drainage, by seeing that the surface wash is notallowed to drain toward it, and that it is protected by a tightcovering from the entrance of its own waste water. If good watercannot be secured in any of these ways, it must in some way bepurified. . .. Boiling will surely destroy all disease germs. " The Indians had a way of purifying water from a pond or swamp bydigging a hole about one foot across and down about six inches belowthe water level, a few feet from the pond. After it was filled withwater, they bailed it out quickly, repeating the bailing process aboutthree times. After the third bailing the hole would fill with filteredwater. Try it. Sanitation A most important matter when in camp, and away from modernconveniences is that of sanitation. This includes not {155} only careas to personal cleanliness, but also as to the water supply and theproper disposal of all refuse through burial or burning. Carelessnessin these matters has been the cause of serious illness to entire campsand brought about many deaths. In many instances the loss of life inthe armies has been greater through disease in the camp than on thebattlefields. Typhoid fever is one of the greatest dangers in camping and is causedby unclean habits, polluted water, and contaminated milk, and food. The armies of the world have given this disease the most careful studywith the result that flies have been found to be its greatestspreaders. Not only should all sources of water supply be carefullyexamined, an analysis obtained if possible before use, but great careshould also be taken when in the vicinity of such a supply, not topollute it in any way. In districts where typhoid is at all prevalentit is advisable for each scout to be immunized before going to camp. A scout's honor will not permit him to disobey in the slightestparticular the sanitary rules of his camp. He will do his part well. He will do everything in his power to make his camp clean, sanitary, and healthful from every standpoint. General Hints Two flannel shirts are better than two overcoats. Don't wring out flannels or woolens. Wash in cold water, very soapy, hang them up dripping wet, and theywill not shrink. If you keep your head from getting hot and your feet dry there will belittle danger of sickness. If your head gets too hot put green leaves inside of your hat. If your throat is parched, and you cannot get water, put a pebble inyour mouth. This will start the saliva and quench the thirst. Water Hints If you work your hands like paddles and kick your feet, you can stayabove water for some time even with your clothes on. It requires alittle courage and enough strength not to lose your head. [Illustration: Ready for the hike. ] {156} Many boy swimmers make the mistake of going into the water too soonafter eating. The stomach and digestive organs are busy preparing thefood for the blood and body. Suddenly they are called upon to care forthe work of the swimmer. The change is too quick for the organs, theprocess of digestion stops, congestion is apt to follow, and thenparalyzing cramps. Indian Bathing Precaution The Indians have a method of protecting themselves from cramps. Comingto a bathing pool, an Indian swimmer, after stripping off, and beforeentering the water, vigorously rubs the pit of the stomach with thedry palm of his hands. This rubbing probably takes a minute, then hedashes cold water all over his stomach and continues the rubbing foranother minute, and after that he is ready for his plunge. If thewater in which you are going to swim is cold, try this method beforeplunging into the water. Good Bathing Rule The rule in most camps regarding entering the water is as follows: "Noone of the party shall enter the water for swimming or bathing exceptat the time and place designated, and in the presence of a leader. "Laxity in the observance of this rule will result disastrously. Clouds Every cloud is a weather sign: Low clouds, swiftly moving, indicatecoolness and rain; hard-edged clouds, wind; rolled or jagged clouds, strong wind; "mackerel" sky, twelve hours day. Look out for rain when A slack rope tightens. Smoke beats downward. Sun is red in the morning. There is a pale yellow or greenish sunset. Rains Rain with east wind is lengthy. A sudden shower is soon over. A slow rain lasts long. Rain before seven, clear before eleven. A circle round the moon means "storm. " "The evening red, the morning gray Sets the traveler on his way; The evening gray, the morning red Brings down showers upon his head. " {157} "When the grass is dry at night Look for rain before the light. " "When the grass is dry at morning light Look for rain before the night. " Clear "When the dew is on the grass Rain will never come to pass. " A heavy morning fog generally indicates a clear day. East wind brings rain. West wind brings clear, bright, and cool weather. North wind brings cold. South wind brings heat. Direction of the Wind The way to find which way the wind is blowing is to throw up littlebits of dry grass, or to hold up a handful of light dust and let itfall, or to suck your thumb, wet it all around and let the wind blowover it, and the cold side of it will then tell you which way the windis blowing. Weather Flags The United States Weather Bureau publishes a "Classification ofClouds" in colors, which may be had for the asking. If you are nearone of the weather signal stations, daily bulletins will be sent tocamp upon request; also the weather map. A set of flag signals run up each day will create interest. The flagsare easily made or may be purchased. Keep a daily record of temperature. A boy in charge of the "weatherbureau" will find it to be full of interest as well as offering anopportunity to render the camp a real service. He will make a weathervane, post a daily bulletin, keep a record of temperature, measurevelocity of wind, and rainfall. How to Get Your Bearings If you have lost your bearings, and it is a cloudy day, put the pointof your knife blade on your thumb nail, and turn the blade arounduntil the full shadow of the blade is on the nail. This will tell youwhere the sun is, and decide in which direction the camp is. Face the sun in the morning, spread out your arms straight {158} frombody. Before you is the east; behind you is the west; to your right isthe south; the left hand is the north. Grass turns with the sun. Remember this when finding your way at night. Building a Camp Fire There are ways and ways of building a camp fire. An old Indian sayingruns, "White man heap fool, make um big fire--can't git near! Injunmake um little fire--git close! Ugh! good!" Make it a service privilege for a tent of boys to gather wood andbuild the fire. This should be done during the afternoon. Two thingsare essential in the building of a fire--kindling and air. A firemust be built systematically. First, get dry, small, dead branches, twigs, fir branches, and other inflammable material. Place these onthe ground. Be sure that air can draw under it and upward through it. Next place some heavier sticks and so on until you have built the campfire the required size. An interesting account of "How to Build a Fireby Rubbing Sticks, " by Ernest Thompson Seton, will be found in Chapter11. In many camps it is considered an honor to light the fire. Never build a large camp fire too near the tent or inflammable pinetrees. Better build it in the open. Be sure and use every precaution to prevent the spreading of fire. This may be done by building a circle of stones around the fire, or bydigging up the earth, or by wetting a space around the fire. Alwayshave the buckets of water near at hand. To prevent the re-kindling ofthe fire after it is apparently out, pour water over it and soak theearth for a space of two or three feet around it. This is veryimportant, for many forest fires have started through failure toobserve this caution. Things to remember: First, it is criminal to leave a burning fire;second, always put out the fire with water or earth. "A fire is never out, " says Chief Forester H. S. Graves, "until thelast spark is extinguished. Often a log or snag will smolder unnoticedafter the flames have apparently been conquered only to break outafresh with a rising wind. " Be sure to get a copy of the laws of your state regarding forestfires, and if a permit is necessary to build a fire, secure it, beforebuilding the fire. Kephart, in his book on "Camping and Woodcraft" (p. 28), says: "Whenthere is nothing dry to strike it on, jerk the head {160} of the matchforward through the teeth. Or, face the wind. Cup your hands backtoward the wind, remove the right hand just long enough to strike thematch on something very close by, then instantly resume formerposition. Flame of match will run up stick instead of blowing awayfrom it. " ----------------------------------------------------------------{159}FOREST FIRES! The great annual destruction of forests by fire is an injury to allpersons and industries. The welfare of every community is dependentupon a cheap and plentiful supply of timber, and a forest cover is themost effective means of preventing floods and maintaining a regularflow of streams used for irrigation and other useful purposes. To prevent forest fires Congress passed the law approved May 5, 1900, which-- Forbids setting fire to the woods, and Forbids leaving any fires unextinguished. This law, for offenses against which officers of the FOREST SERVICEcan arrest without warrant, provides as maximum punishment-- A fine of $5000, or imprisonment for two years, or both, if a fire is set maliciously, and A fine of $1000, or imprisonment for one years, or both, if a fire is set carelessly, It also provides that the money from such fines shall be paid to theschool fund of the county in which the offense is committed. THE EXERCISE OF CARE WITH SMALL FIRES IS THE BEST PREVENTIVE OF LARGEONES. Therefore all persons are requested-- 1. Not to drop matches or burning tobacco where there is inflammablematerial. 2. Not to build larger camp fires than are necessary. 3. Not to build fires in leaves, rotten wood, or other places wherethey are likely to spread. 4. In windy weather and in dangerous places, to dig holes or clear theground to confine camp fires. 5. To extinguish all fires completely before leaving them, even for ashort absence. 6. Not to build fires against large or hollow logs, where it isdifficult to extinguish them. 7. Not to build fires to clear land without informing the nearestofficer of the FOREST SERVICE, so that he may assist in controllingthem. This notice is posted for your benefit and the good of every residentof the region. You are requested to cooperate in preventing theremoval or defacement, which acts are punishable by law. JAMES WILSON, Secretary of Agriculture---------------------------------------------------------------- _The above is a copy of one of a series of notices posted in forests by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, directing attention to U. S. Laws on this important subject_. {160 continued} [Illustration: Around the camp fire. ] The Camp Fire "I cannot conceive of a camp that does not have a big fire. Our cityhouses do not have it, not even a fireplace. The fireplace is one ofthe greatest schools the imagination has ever had or can ever have. Itis moral, and it always has a tremendous stimulus to the imagination, and that is why stories and fire go together. You cannot tell a goodstory unless you tell it before a fire. You cannot have a completefire unless you have a good story-teller along! "There is an impalpable, invisible, softly stepping delight in thecamp fire which escapes analysis. Enumerate all its charms and stillthere is something missing in your catalogue. "Anyone who has witnessed a real camp fire and participated in its funas well as seriousness will never forget it. The huge fire shooting upits tongue of flame into the darkness of the night, the perfect showerof golden rain, the company of happy {161} boys, and the great darkbackground of piny woods, the weird light over all, the singing, theyells, the stories, the fun, and then the serious word at the close, is a happy experience long to be remembered. " Camp-fire Stunts The camp fire is a golden opportunity for the telling of stories--goodstories told well. Indian legends, war stories, ghost stories, detective stories, stories of heroism, the history of life, a talkabout the stars. Don't draw out the telling of a story. Make the storylife-like. College songs always appeal to boys. Let some leader start up a songin a natural way, and soon you will have a chorus of unexpected melodyand harmony. As the fire dies down, let the songs be of a more quiettype like "My Old Kentucky Home, " and ballads of similar nature. When the embers are glowing is the time for toasting marshmallows. Geta long stick sharpened to a point, fasten a marshmallow on the end, hold it over the embers, not in the blaze, until the marsh-mallowexpands. Oh, the deliciousness of it! Ever tasted one? Before roastingcorn on the cob, tie the end of the husk firmly with string or cord;soak in water for about an hour; then put into the hot embers. Thewater prevents the corn from burning and the firmly tied husks enablethe corn to be steamed and the real corn flavor is thus retained. Inabout twenty minutes the corn may be taken from the fire and eaten. Have a bowl of melted butter and salt at hand. Also a pastry brush tospread the melted butter upon the corn. Try it. Story Telling For an example of a good story to be told around the camp fire thisexcellent tale by Prof. F. M. Burr is printed by permission: How Men Found the Great Spirit In the olden time, when the woods covered all the earth except thedeserts and the river bottoms, and men lived on the fruits and berriesthey found and the wild animals which they could shoot or snare, whenthey dressed in skins and lived in caves, there was little time forthought. But as men grew stronger and more cunning and learned how tolive together, they had more time to think and more mind to thinkwith. Men had learned many things. They had learned that cold weatherfollowed hot; and spring, winter; and that the sun got up in themorning and went to bed at night. They said that the great water waskindly when the sun shone, but when the sun hid its face and the windblew upon it, it grew black and angry and upset their canoes. Theyfound that knocking flints together or rubbing dry sticks would lightthe dry moss and that the {162} flames which would bring back summer in themidst of winter and day in the midst of night were hungry and must befed, and when they escaped devoured the woods and only the water couldstop them. These and many other things men learned, but no one knew why it allwas or how it came to be. Man began to wonder, and that was thebeginning of the path which led to the Great Spirit. In the ages when men began to wonder there was born a boy whose namewas Wo, which meant in the language of his time, "Whence. " As he layin his mother's arms she loved him and wondered: "His body is of mybody, but from whence comes the life--the spirit which is like mineand yet not like it?" And his father seeing the wonder in the mother'seyes, said, "Whence came he from?" And there was no one to answer, andso they called him Wo to remind them that they knew not from whence hecame. As Wo grew up, he was stronger and swifter of foot than any of histribe. He became a mighty hunter. He knew the ways of all the wildthings and could read the signs of the seasons. As he grew older theymade him a chief and listened while he spoke at the council board, butWo was not satisfied. His name was a question and questioning filledhis mind. "Whence did he come? Whither was he going? Why did the sun rise andset? Why did life burst into leaf and flower with the coming ofspring? Why did the child become a man and the man grow old and die?" The mystery grew upon him as he pondered. In the morning he stood on amountain top and stretching out his hands cried, "Whence?" At night hecried to the moon "Whither?" He listened to the soughing of the treesand the song of the brook and tried to learn their language. He peeredeagerly into the eyes of little children and tried to read the mysteryof life. He listened at the still lips of the dead, waiting for themto tell him whither they had gone. He went out among his fellows silent and absorbed, always looking forthe unseen and listening for the unspoken. He sat so long silent atthe council board that the elders questioned him. To their questioninghe replied like one awakening from a dream: "Our fathers since the beginning have trailed the beasts of the woods. There is none so cunning as the fox, but we can trail him to his lair. Though we are weaker than the great bear and buffalo, yet by ourwisdom we overcome them. The deer is more swift of foot, but by craftwe overtake him. We cannot fly like a bird, but we snare the wingedone with a hair. We have made ourselves many cunning inventions bywhich the beasts, the trees, the wind, the water and the fire becomeour servants. "Then we speak great swelling words: 'How great and wise we are! Thereis none like us in the air, in the wood, or in the water!' "But the words are false. Our pride is like that of a partridgedrumming on his log in the wood before the fox leaps upon him. Oursight is like that of the mole burrowing under the ground. Our wisdomis like a drop of dew upon the grass. Our ignorance is like the greatwater which no eye can measure. "Our life is like a bird coming out of the dark, fluttering for aheart-beat in the tepee and then going forth into the dark again. Noone can tell whence it comes or whither it goes. I have asked the wisemen and they cannot answer. I have listened to the voice of the treesand wind and water, but I do not know their tongue; I have questionedthe sun and the moon and the stars, but they are silent. "But to-day in the silence before the darkness gives place to light, Iseemed to hear a still small voice within my breast, saying to me, 'Wo, the {163} questioner, rise up like the stag from his lair; away, alone, to the mountain of the sun. There thou shalt find that whichthou seekest. ' I go, but if I fail by the trail another will take itup. If I find the answer I will return. " Waiting for none, Wo left the council of his tribe and went his waytoward the mountain of the sun. For six days he made his way throughthe trackless woods, guided by the sun by day and the stars by night. On the seventh day he came to the great mountain--the mountain of thesun, on whose top, according to the tradition of his tribe, the sunrested each night. All day long he climbed saying to himself, "I willsleep tonight in the teepee of the sun, and he will tell me whence Icome and whither I go. " But as he climbed the sun seemed to climb higher and higher; and, ashe neared the top, a cold cloud settled like a night bird on themountain. Chilled and faint with hunger and fatigue, Wo struggled on. Just at sunset he reached the top of the mountain, but it was not themountain of the sun, for many days' journey to the west the sun wassinking in the Great Water. A bitter cry broke from Wo's parched lips. His long trail was useless. There was no answer to his questions. The sun journeyed farther andfaster than men dreamed, and of wood and waste and water there was noend. Overcome with misery and weakness he fell upon a bed of moss withhis back toward the sunset and the unknown. And Wo slept, although it was unlike any sleep he had ever knownbefore, and as he slept he dreamed. He was alone upon the mountainwaiting for the answer. A cloud covered the mountain but all wassilent. A mighty wind rent the cloud and rushed roaring through thecrags, but there was no voice in the wind. Thunder pealed, lightningflashed, but he whom Wo sought was not there. In the hush that followed up the storm Wo heard a voice, low andquiet, but in it all the sounds of earth and sky seemed to mingle--thesong of the bird, the whispering of the trees, and the murmuring ofthe brook. "Wo, I am he whom thou seekest, I am the Great Spirit. I am the AllFather. Ever since I made man of the dust of the earth, and so childof the earth and brother to all living, and breathed into his nostrilsthe breath of life, thus making him my son, I have waited for a seekerwho should find me. In the fullness of time thou hast come, Wo thequestioner, to the answerer. "Thy body is of the earth and to earth returns; thy spirit is mine; itis given thee for a space to make according to thy will; then itreturns to me better or worse for thy making. "Thou hast found me because thy heart was pure, and thy search for metireless. Go back to thy tribe and be to them the voice of the GreatSpirit. From henceforth I will speak to thee, and the seekers thatcome after thee in a thousand voices and appear in a thousand shapes. I will speak in the voices of the woods and streams and of those youlove. I will appear to you in the sun by day and the stars by night. When thy people and mine are in need and wish for the will of theGreat Spirit, then shall my spirit brood over thine and the words thatthou shalt speak shall be my words. " And Wo awoke, facing the east and the rising sun. His body was warmedby its rays. A great gladness filled his soul. He had sought and foundand prayer came to him like the song to the bird. "O Great Spirit, father of my spirit, the sun is thy messenger, butthou art brighter than the sun. Drive thou the darkness before me. Bethou the light of my spirit. " As Wo went down the mountain and tookthe journey back to the home of his people, his face shone, and thelight never seemed to leave it, so that men called him "He of theshining face. " {164} When Wo came back to his tribe, all who saw his face knew that he hadfound the answer, and they gathered again about the council fire tohear. As Wo stood up and looked into the eager faces in the circle ofthe fire, he remembered that the Great Spirit had given him no messageand for a moment he was dumb. Then the words of the Great Spirit cameto him again. "When thy people and mine shall need to know my will, myspirit shall brood over thine and the words that thou shalt speakshall be my words. " Looking into the eager faces of longing andquestioning, his Spirit moved within him and he spoke: "I went, I sought, I found the Great Spirit who dwells in the earth asyour spirits dwell in your bodies. It is from Him the spirit comes. Weare His children. He cares for us more than a mother for the child onher breast, or the father for the son that is his pride. His love islike the air we breathe: it is about us; it is within us. "The sun is the sign of His brightness, the sky of His greatness andmother-love and father-love, and the love of man and woman are thesigns of His love. We are but His children; we cannot enter into thecouncil of the Great Chief until we have been proved, but this is Hiswill, that we love one another as He loves us; that we bury foreverthe hatchet of hate, that no man shall take what is not his own andthe strong shall help the weak. " The chiefs did not wholly understand the words of Wo, but they took ahatchet and buried it by the fire saying, "Thus bury we hate betweenman and his brother, " and they took an acorn and put it in the earthsaying, "Thus plant we the love of the strong for the weak. " And itbecame the custom of the tribe that the great council in the springshould bury the hatchet and plant the acorn. Every morning the tribegathered to greet the rising sun, and with right hand raised and leftupon their hearts prayed: "Great Spirit hear us; guide us to-day; makeour wills Thy will, our ways Thy way. " And the tribe grew stronger and greater and wiser than all the othertribes--but that is another story. Tent Making Made Easy _By H. J. Holden_ (Reprinted from Recreation. Apr. 1, 1911. By permission of the Editor. ) The accompanying sketches show a few of the many different tents whichmay be made from any available piece of cloth or canvas. The materialneed not be cut, nor its usefulness for other purposes impaired, except that rings or tapes are attached at various points asindicated. For each tent the sketches show a front elevation, with aground plan, or a side view; also a view of the material laid flat, with dotted lines to indicate where creases or folds will occur. Models may be made from stiff paper and will prove as interesting tothe kindergartner in geometry as to the old campaigner in camping. Inmost of the tents a ring for suspension is fastened at the centre ofone side. This may be supported by a pole or hung by means {165} of arope from any convenient fastening; both methods are shown in thesketches. Guy ropes are required for a few of the different models, but most of them are pegged down to the ground. After making paper models, find a stack cover, a tarpaulin, a tentfly, an awning, or buy some wide cotton cloth, say 90-inch. All theshapes may be repeatedly made from the same piece of material, if therings for changes are left attached. In Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, aportion of the canvas is not used and may be turned under to serve assod-cloth, or rolled up out of the way. If your material is a largepiece, more pegs and guy lines will be required than is indicated inthe sketches. The suspension ring, 1-1/2 inches or 2 inches indiameter, should be well fastened, with sufficient reinforcement toprevent tearing out; 1-inch rings fastened with liberal lengths oftape are large enough for the pegs and guy lines. Also reinforce alongthe lines of the strain from peg to pole. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fig. 1. --A square of material hung by one corner, from any convenientsupport, in a manner to make a comfortable shelter; it will shed rainand reflect heat. This square makes a good fly or a good ground clothfor any of the tents. [Illustration: Fig. 1. Tent from a square of canvas. A 7 x 7 sheet isample for a one-man shelter; 9 x 9 will house two. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fig. 2. --A rectangle equal to two squares. A shelter roomy and warm, with part of one side open toward the fire. [Illustration: Fig. 2. Rectangle tent. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- {166} Fig. 3. --Here the rectangle is folded to make a "lean-to" shelter, with the roof front suspended from a rope or from a horizontal pole bymeans of cords. The two corners not in use are folded under, making apartial ground cloth. A square open front is presented toward the campfire. [Illustration: Fig. 3. Baker, or lean-to. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fig. 4. --Same in plan as No. 3, but has a triangular front and only onepoint of suspension. [Illustration: Fig. 4. Same plan as No. 3. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- {167} Fig 5. --Uses all the cloth, has a triangular ground plan, a squarefront opening, plenty of head room at the back and requires two ormore guy lines. This shelter resembles a "toque. " [Illustration: Fig. 5. The toque tent. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fig. 6. --Square or "miner's" tent. Two corners are turned under. Thistent is enclosed on all sides, with a door in front. [Illustration: Fig. 6. Miner's tent. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fig. 7. --Conical tent or "wigwam, " entirely enclosed, with door infront. Two corners of the canvas are turned under. [Illustration: Fig. 7. Conical tent, or wigwam/] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fig. 8. --Has a wall on one side and is called a "canoe tent" in somecatalogues. It requires two or more guy lines and is shown with a polesupport. The front has a triangular opening. [Illustration: Fig. 8. So-called canoe tent. Requires three guy lines, and can be supported by a rope instead of a pole. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fig. 9. --A combination of No. 8, with No. 1 in use as an awning orfly. This sketch shows both tent and fly suspended by means of a rope. The "awning" may be swung around to any angle. [Illustration: Fig. 9. Canoe tent with fly. ] {168} Fig. 10. --Combination of Nos. 1 and 2; they may be fastened togetherby a coarse seam or tied with tapes. The ground plan is an equal-sidedtriangle, with a door opening on one side, as shown. There is no wastecloth. [Illustration: Fig. 10. Combination of Nos. 1 and 2. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fig. 11. --No. 10 changed to a conical shape and suspended as a canopy. The circular shape is secured by the use of small-size gas pipe orlimber poles bent into a large hoop. Of course guy lines may be used, but would probably be in the way. Notice that a little more materialfor making a wall would transform the canopy into a "Sibley" tent. [Illustration: Fig. 11. Sibley awning. ] -------------------------------------------------------------------- There are other shapes and combinations, but perhaps these sketchesare enough in the line of suggestion. The diagram Fig. 12 shows a method for laying out, on your cloth, thelocation of all the rings to make the tents and shelters. Nodimensions are given and none is required. The diagram is good for anysize. Most of the fastenings are found on radial lines, which arespaced to divide a semi-circle into eight equal {169} angles, 22-1/2degrees each; these intersect other construction lines and locate thenecessary loops and rings. Figures are given at each ring which referback to the sketch numbers. [Illustration: Fig. 12. Showing how ten different tents can be madewith but one piece of canvas. ] Suppose the material at hand is the widest unbleached cotton cloth, 90inches wide, 5 yards long, or 7-1/2 feet by 15 feet. The accompanyingtable will give the dimensions for the various shapes from Fig. 1 toFig. 11. If in doubt about the location of rings on your canvas, suspend thetent by the centre ring and fasten the loops temporarily by means ofsafety pins, draw the tent into shape and shift the fastenings asrequired. The guy lines should have hooks or snaps at one end forready attachment and removal; the other end should be provided withthe usual slides for "take up. " The edge of the cloth where the largering for suspension is fastened should be bound with tape or have adouble hem, for it is the edge of the door in most of the tents shown. TABLE OF DIMENSIONS, 90 IN. MATERIAL Size Area, Height Remarks Sq. Ft. Ft. 1 7-1/2 ft. Triangle 25 6-1/4 One side open 2 6-1/2 X 15 ft. 65 6-1/4 One side open 3 6 x 7-1/2 ft. 45 4-1/2 One side open 4 7-1/2 x 8 ft. 60 5-1/2 One side open 5 7-1/2 ft. Triangle 25 7-1/2 One side open 6 6-1/4 x 6-1/4 ft. 39 7 Enclosed 7 7-1/2 ft. Diam. 44 6-1/2 Enclosed 8 5 x 7-1/2 ft. 37-1/2 6-1/2 2-1/2 ft. Wall 9 7-1/2 x 8 ft. 60 6-1/2 No. 8, with fly 10 15 ft. Triangle 97 6-1/4 Enclosed 11 11-1/4 ft. Circle 108 5 Canopy, no sides {170} Waterproofing a Tent Dissolve half a pound of alum in two quarts of boiling water; then addtwo gallons of pure cold water. In this solution place the materialand let it remain for a day. Dissolve a quarter of a pound of sugar oflead in two quarts boiling water, then add two gallons of cold water. Take the material from the alum solution, wring it lightly, place inthe second solution and leave for five or six hours; then wring outagain lightly and allow it to dry. [Transcriber's note: Sugar of Lead (Lead Acetate) is toxic. ] If you want to avoid trouble with a leaky tent, the following solutionis a "sure cure;" Take a gallon or two gallons of turpentine and oneor two cakes of paraffin, drug store size. Chip the paraffin fairlyfine; dump it into the turpentine. Place the turpentine in a pail andset same in a larger pail or a tub of hot water. The hot water willheat the turpentine, and the turpentine will melt the paraffin. Stirthoroughly, and renew your supply of hot water if necessary. Then pileyour tent into a tub and pour in the turpentine and paraffin mixture. Work the tent all over thoroughly with your hands, so that every fibergets well saturated. You must work fast, however, as the paraffinbegins to thicken as it cools; and work out of doors, in a breeze ifpossible, as the fumes of the turpentine will surely make you sick ifyou try it indoors. When you have the tent thoroughly saturated, hangit up to dry. It is not necessary to wring the tent out when you hangit up. Just let it drip. If you use too much paraffin the tent maylook a little dirty after it dries, but it will be all right after youhave used it once or twice. An Open Outing Tent _By Warren H. Miller, Editor "Field and Stream. "_ To make an open outing tent, get thirteen yards of 8 oz. Duck canvas, which can be bought at any department store or dry goods store forseventeen or eighteen cents a yard. This makes your total expense$2. 21 for your tent. Layout the strip of canvas on the floor and cutone end square; measure up 8 inches along the edge and draw a line tothe other corner. {171} From this corner layoff 7 ft. 8 in. Along theedge and on the opposite side, layoff 5 ft. 9 in. Beginning at the endof your 8-in. Measurement. Now take a ruler and draw another diagonalacross the canvas at the ends of these measurements and you have thefirst gore of your tent. Cut it across, turn the gore over, lay itdown on the strip so as to measure off another one exactly like it. This is the corresponding gore for the other side of the tent. To makethe second pair of gores, layoff 5 ft. 9 in. Along one side of theremaining strip of canvas beginning at the pointed end, and 3 ft. 10in. On the other side. Join these points with a diagonal and you havea second gore, a duplicate of which is then cut by using it as apattern, reversing and laying it down on the strip of canvas. To makethe third gore, layoff 3 ft. 10 in, on one edge of your stripbeginning at the point, and 1 ft. 11 in. On the other side. Draw adiagonal across and you have the third gore. [Illustration: How to cut up your strip of canvas. ] [Illustration: Forester tent pattern. ] [Illustration: Forester tent with hood. ] You have now used up all but two yards of your canvas, plus a littleleft-over piece of about two feet long. Out of this little left-overpiece make a triangle 1 ft. 11 in. On the side, which will form theback triangle of your tent. Now pin your three gores together to makethe side of your tent, just as in the illustrations, and pin the twosides together along the ridge. Then sew this tent up. Sew in thelittle back triangle and hem all around the edges. Leave a hole at thepeak of the little triangle through which the ridge pole must go. {172} To set it up, cut three small saplings, one of which should be twelvefeet long and the other two, ten feet long. Tie these two together atthe ends making what the sailors call a "shears. " Take the twelve-footpole and run it down the ridge inside the tent, and out through thehole in the back. Now raise the ridge pole with one end stuck in theground and the front end resting on the two shear poles and tie allthree of them together. At the end of each seam along the hem you mustwork in a little eyelet hole for a short piece of twine to tie to thetent pegs. Stretch out the back triangle, pegging it down at the twocorners on the ground, and then peg out each hole along the foot untilthe entire tent stretches out taut as in our illustrations. Three feetfrom the peak along the front edge you must have another eyelet holewith a little piece of twine and you tie this out to the shear pole oneach side which gives the tent the peculiar gambrel roof which it has, and which has the advantage of giving you lots more room inside thanthe straight tent would. You now have what is known as the "open"forester tent. [Illustration: Forester tent with hood. ] If a thunder storm comes up with a driving rain it will surely rain inat the front unless you turn the tent around by moving the poles oneat a time. If you don't want to do this you can make a hood for thefront out of the two yards of canvas you have left. Simply draw adiagonal from one corner to the other of this {173} two-yard piece ofduck and cut it down the diagonal, making two thin triangles which aresewed to the front edges of the open forester tent, making a hood ofthe shape shown in our picture. This prevents the rain beating in theopening of your tent but still lets the heat of your fire strike inand at the same time it keeps the heat in the tent as it will not flowout along the ridge pole as it does in the open type. This tent weighs six pounds and packs into a little package fourteeninches long by seven inches wide by six: inches thick, and can becarried as a shoulder strap or put in a back pack or any way you wishto take it. It will sleep three boys, or two men and a boy, verycomfortably indeed. While it really does not need to be water-proofed, as it immediately shrinks tight after the first rain, you canwater-proof it if you wish by making a solution of ten ounces of quicklime with four ounces of alum in ten quarts of water. Stiroccasionally until the lime has slackened. Put the tent in anotherpail and pour the solution over it, letting it stand twelve hours. Take out and hang it on the clothes-line to dry. It will then beentirely waterproof. To make a good night fire in front of the tent, drive two stout stakesthree feet long in the ground about three feet from the mouth of thetent; pile four logs one on top of the other against these stakes ortake a large flat stone and rest it against it. Make two log andironsfor each side of the fire and build your fire in the space betweenthem. It will give you a fine cheerful fire and all the heat will bereflected by the back logs into the tent, making it warm and cheerful. Inside you can put your browse bags stuffed with balsam browse; orpile up a mountain of dry leaves over which you can stretch yourblankets. Pile all the duffle way back in the peak against the littleback triangle where it will surely keep dry and will form a sort ofback for your pillows. You will find the forester tent lighter andwarmer than the ordinary lean-to, as it reflects the heat better. After a couple of weeks in it you will come home with your lungs sofull of ozone that it will be impossible to sleep in an ordinary roomwithout feeling smothered. Canoeing, Rowing and Sailing(Prepared with the cooperation of Mr. Arthur A. Carey, Scout Master, Boy Scout ship Pioneer; Mr. Carleton E. Sholl, Captain Lakanoo BoatClub Crew; Mr. Frederick K. Vreeland, Camp-Fire Club of America. AndMr. R. F. Tims, Vice-Commodore, American Canoe Association. ) The birch-bark canoe is the boat of the North American Indians, andour modern canvas canoes are made, with some {174} variations, on theIndian model. With the possible exception of the Venetian gondola, themotion of a canoe is more graceful than that of any other boatpropelled by hand; it should be continuous and gliding, and so silentthat it may be brought up in the night to an animal or enemy, Indianfashion, without making any sound, and so take them by surprise. [Illustration: Canoeing stroke (a)] 175 Campcraft Many accidents happen in canoes--not because they are unsafe whenproperly handled, but because they are unsafe when improperlyhandled--and many people do not take the trouble even to find out theproper way of managing a canoe. Many canoes have seats almost on alevel with the gunwale, whereas, properly speaking, the only place tosit in a canoe is on the bottom; for a seat raises the body too highabove the centre of gravity and makes the canoe unsteady and likely toupset. It is, however, difficult to paddle while sitting in the bottomof a canoe, and the best position for paddling is that of kneeling andat the same time resting back against one of the thwarts. The size ofthe single-blade paddle should be in proportion to the size of the boywho uses it--long enough to reach from the ground to the tip of hisnose. The bow paddle may be a little shorter. The canoeman shouldlearn to paddle equally well on either side of a canoe. When paddlingon the {175} left side the top of the paddle should be held by theright hand, and the left hand should be placed a few inches above thebeginning of the blade. The old Indian stroke, which is the mostapproved modern method for all-round canoeing, whether racing orcruising, is made with the arms almost straight--but not stiff--thearm at the top of the paddle bending only slightly at the elbow. Thisstroke is really a swing from the shoulder, in which there is littleor no push or pull with the arm. When paddling on the left side of thecanoe the right shoulder swings forward and the whole force of thebody is used to push the blade of the paddle through the water, theleft hand acting as a fulcrum. While the right shoulder is swungforward, the right hand is at the same time twisted at the wrist sothat the thumb goes down; this motion of the wrist has the effect ofturning the paddle around in the left hand--the left wrist beingallowed to bend freely--so that, at the end of the stroke, the bladeslides out of the water almost horizontally. If you should twist thepaddle in the opposite direction it would force the head of the canoearound so that it would travel in a circle. At the recovery of thestroke the right shoulder swings back and the paddle is broughtforward in a horizontal position, with the blade almost parallel tothe water. It is swung forward until the paddle is at right anglesacross the canoe, then the blade is dipped edgewise with a slicingmotion and a new stroke begins. In paddling on the right side of thecanoe the position of the two hands and the motion of the twoshoulders are reversed. [Illustration: Canoeing stroke (b)] Something should also be said about double paddles--that is, paddleswith two blades--one at each end--as their use is becoming moregeneral every year. With the double paddle a novice can handle acanoe, head on to a stiff wind, a feat which {176} requires skill andexperience with a single blade. The doubles give greater safety andmore speed and they develop chest, arm and shoulder muscles notbrought into play with a single blade. The double paddle is not to berecommended to the exclusion of the single blade, but there are manytimes when there is an advantage in its use. [Illustration: Canoeing stroke (c)] In getting in or out of a canoe it is especially necessary to step inthe very centre of the boat; and be careful never to lean on anyobject--such as the edge of a wharf--outside of the boat, for thisdisturbs your balance and may capsize the canoe. Especially in gettingout, put down your paddle first, and then, grasping the gunwale firmlyin each hand, rise by putting your weight equally on both sides of thecanoe. If your canoe should drift away sideways from thelanding-place, when you are trying to land, place the blade of yourpaddle flat upon the water in the direction of the wharf and gentlydraw the canoe up to the landing-place with a slight sculling motion. When it is necessary to cross the waves in rough water, always try tocross them "quartering, " i. E. At an oblique angle, but not at rightangles. Crossing big waves at right angles {177} is difficult and aptto strain a canoe, and getting lengthwise between the waves isdangerous. Always have more weight aft than in the bow; but, whenthere is only one person in the canoe, it may be convenient to place aweight forward as a balance; but it should always be lighter than theweight aft. A skillful canoeman will paddle a light canoe even in astrong wind by kneeling at a point about one third of the length fromthe stern. For the purpose of sailing in a canoe the Lateen rig is the safest, most easily handled, and the best all-round sailing outfit. For aseventeen-foot canoe a sail having forty square feet of surface is tobe recommended, and, in all except very high winds, this can behandled by one man. [Illustration: Canoe with sail. ] The Lateen sail is made in the form of an equilateral triangle, andtwo sides are fastened to spars which are connected at one end by ahinge or jaw. The mast--which should be set well forward--should be solong that, when the sail is spread and the slanting upper spar isswung from the top of the mast, the lower spar will swing level aboutsix to eight inches above the gunwale and hang clear above all partsof the boat in going about. The sail is hoisted by a halyard attachedat, or a little above, the centre of the upper spar, then drawnthrough a block attached to the brace which holds the mast inposition, {178} and thus to the cleats--within easy reach of thesailor. The sheet line is fastened to the lower spar, about two feetfrom the outer end; and, when not held in the hand, may be fastened toanother cleat. Both halyard and sheet should at all times be keptclear, so as to run easily, and with knots about the cleats that canbe instantly slipped. The leeboard is a necessary attachment to the sailing outfit. It ismade with two blades--about three feet long and ten inches wide wouldfurnish a good-sized surface in the water--one dropping on each sideof the canoe and firmly supported by a bar fastened to the gunwale. The blades should be so rigged that, when striking an object in thewater, they will quickly release, causing no strain on the canoe. Theleeboard, like a centre board, is of course intended to keep the canoefrom sliding off when trying to beat up into the wind. When runningfree before the wind the board should be raised. The general rules forsailing larger craft apply to the canoe. The paddle is used as a rudder and may be held by the sailor, but abetter plan is to have two paddles, one over each side, made fast tothe gunwale or the brace. The sailor can then grasp either one as hegoes about and there is no danger of losing the paddles overboard. Insailing, the sailor sits on the bottom, on the opposite side from thesail, except in a high wind, when he sits on the gunwale where he canthe better balance the sail with his weight. The combination of sail, leeboards, and the balancing weight of the sailor, will render thecanoe stiff and safe, with proper care, in any wind less than a gale. A crew may consist of two or three in a seventeen foot canoe. The spars and mast of a sailing outfit should be of spruce or someother light but strong wood, while cedar or some non-splitting wood isbest for the leeboards. Young canoeists will enjoy making their ownsailing outfits; or a complete Lateen rig as made by various canoemanufacturers can be purchased either directly from them or throughalmost any dealer. In case of an upset the greatest mistake is to leave the boat. Acapsized canoe will support at least four persons as long as they havestrength to cling to it. A single man or boy, in case of upsettingbeyond swimming distance to land, should stretch himself flat upon thebottom of the canoe, with arms and legs spread down over thetumblehome toward the submerged gunwales. He can thus lie in safetyfor hours till help arrives. When two persons are upset, they shouldrange themselves one {179} on each side of the overturned boat; and, with one hand grasping each other's wrists across the boat, use theother hand to cling to the keel or the gunwale. If the canoe shouldswamp, {180} fill with water, and begin to sink, it should be turnedover in the water. It is the air remaining under the inverted hullthat gives the craft sufficient buoyancy to support weight. Never overload a canoe. In one of the ordinary size--about seventeenfeet in length--three persons should be the maximum number atanytime, and remember never to change seats in a canoe when out ofyour depth. {179}[Illustration: This diagram illustrates some of the angles formed bythe boom and the keel line of the boat in different positions. ] Running free, or before the wind Wind abeam Port tack Wind abeam Starboard tack Pointing into the wind Port tack Pointing into the wind Starboard tack. {180 continued} Row-boats There is a certain caution in the use of boats which you will alwaysfind among sailors and fishermen and all persons who are using themconstantly. Such a person instinctively steps into the middle of theboat when getting in, and always sits in the middle of the thwart orseat. This is a matter of instinct with seafaring people, and so isthe habit of never fooling in a boat. Only landlubbers will try tostand up in a small boat while in motion; and, as for the man whorocks a boat "for fun, " he is like the man "who didn't know the gunwas loaded. " Rowing Row-boats are propelled either by rowing or by sculling; and rowing iseither "pulling" or "backing water. " The usual way of rowing is to"pull" and to do so, you sit with your back to the bow and propel theboat by pulling the handles toward your body and so pressing theblades of the oars against the water toward the stern, while pushingwith your feet against a brace. In backing water you reverse theaction of the oars, pushing the handles away from your body andpressing the blades of the oars against the water toward the bow. Turning To turn your boat to the right, when pulling, you row only with theleft oar; or, if you wish to make a sharp turn "pull" with the leftoar and "back water" with the right. To turn your boat to the left theaction of the oars is reversed. Feathering To prevent the momentum of the boat from being checked by the windblowing on the blades of the oars, the blades must be turned into ahorizontal position as they leave the water. In "pulling" this is doneby turning the hands backward at {181} the wrist, and in backing waterit is done by turning the hands forward at the wrist. Sculling To scull is to propel a boat by a single oar at the stern. The boatmust be provided with rowlock or a semicircular scoop in the stern, and the boat is propelled by working the oar at the stem, obliquelyfrom side to side. This is a convenient way of doing when you areworking among boats in the water, and have to go short distanceswithout the necessity of speed. Steering When rowing a boat without the use of a rudder, instead of constantlyturning the head around to see where you are going, it is convenientto fix upon some object in the landscape on an imaginary line with themiddle of the stern and the middle of the bow; you can then keep yourboat approximately in the right position, without the trouble ofturning your head, by keeping the object selected on a line with themiddle of the stern board. Coming Alongside When coming alongside of a boat or wharf always approach on theleeward side or that opposite from which the wind is blowing, and comeup so that the boat will be headed into the wind and waves. Stoprowing at a convenient distance from the landing-place and come upwith gentle headway; then take in the oar nearest the landing, and, ifnecessary, back water with the other oar. Keeping Stroke When two or more are rowing together the length and speed of thestroke are set by the man sitting nearest the stern. Rough Weather Always try to row as nearly as possible into the waves at rightangles. In this way you are likely to ship less water and to avoidcapsizing. Going Ashore When going ashore always leave your oars lying flat on the thwarts oneither side of your boat. The Salute To salute a passing vessel or boat, hold the oars up at right angleswith the water. {182} Every row-boat should be provided with a rough sponge and a tindipper to be used in bailing out the water. Always bail out the waterafter a rain and keep your boat clean and tidy. Sailing in Small Boats The most convenient kind of a boat to learn to sail in is a cat-boat, which is a boat with a single fore and aft sail held in place by aboom at the bottom and a gaff at the top. To understand the principle of sailing we must realize that asail-boat, without the use of a rudder, acts in the water and windvery much the way a weather vane acts in the air. The bow of the boatnaturally turns toward the wind, thus relieving the sail of allpressure and keeping it shaking. But if by keeping the main sheet inyour hand you hold the sail in a fixed position, and, at the sametime, draw the tiller away from the sail, it will gradually fill withair beginning at the hoist or mast end of the sail and impel the boatin the direction in which you are steering. Given a certain directionin which you want to travel, the problem is, by letting out or haulingin your main-sheet, to keep the sail as nearly as possible at rightangles with the direction of the wind. We must remember, also, that, while the sail must be kept full, it should not be kept more thanfull; that is, its position must be such that, by the least push ofthe tiller toward the sail, the sail will begin to shake at the hoist. It is even desirable in a strong wind, and especially for beginners, to always let the sail, close to the mast, shake a little withoutlosing too much pressure. When you are sailing with the wind comingover the boat from its port side you are sailing on the port tack, andwhen you are sailing with the wind coming across the boat on itsstarboard side you are sailing on the starboard tack. The port side ofthe boat is the left hand side as you face the bow while standing onboard, and the starboard side is the right hand side. An easy way ofremembering this is by recalling the sentence, "Jack left port. " Direction of Wind Of course, you will see that, if you should forget which way the windis blowing, you could not possibly know the right position for yoursail; and this is one of the first requirements for a beginner. It isquite easy to become confused with regard to the direction of thewind, and therefore every boat should be provided with a small flag orfly at its mast-head and you should keep watching it at every turn ofthe boat until the habit {183} has become instinctive. It isconvenient to remember that the fly should always point as nearly aspossible to the end of the gaff, except when you are sailing free orbefore the wind. Close to Wind Sailing with the boat pointing as nearly as possible against the windis called sailing close to the wind; when you have turned your bow tothe right or left so that the wind strikes both boat and sail at rightangles you are sailing with the wind abeam; as you let out your sheetso that the boom makes a larger angle with an imaginary line runningfrom the mast to the middle of the stern you are sailing off the wind;and, when your sail stands at right angles to this same line, you aresailing free or before the wind. Before the Wind Sailing free, or before the wind, is the extreme opposite of sailingclose hauled or on the wind, and the wind is blowing behind your backinstead of approaching the sail from the direction of the mast. If youare sailing free on the port tack, with the boom at right angles tothe mast on the starboard side, and you should steer your boatsufficiently to starboard, the wind would strike the sail at its outeredge or leech and throw the sail and boom violently over to the portside of the mast. This is called jibing and is a very dangerous thing;it should be carefully guarded against whenever sailing before thewind. Reefing If you find that the wind is too strong for your boat, and that youare carrying too much sail, you can let her come up into the wind andtake in one or two reefs. This is done by letting out both the throatand peak halliards enough to give sufficient slack of sail, then byhauling the sail out toward the end of the boom, and afterward byrolling the sail up and tying the points under and around it, but notaround the boom. Always use a square or reef knot in tying your reefpoints. In case of a squall or a strong puff of wind, remember thatyou can always ease the pressure on your sail by turning the bow intothe wind, and if for any reason you wish to shorten suddenly you candrop your peak by loosening the peak halliards. Ready About Before "going about, " or turning your bow so that the wind will strikethe other side of the sail at its mast end, the man {184} at the helmshould always give warning by singing out the words, "ready about. ""Going about" is just the opposite of jibbing. Right of Way When two boats approach each other in opposite directions, closehauled, the boat on the starboard tack has the right of way and shouldcontinue her course. The responsibility of avoiding a collision restswith the boat sailing on the port tack. But a boat running before thewind must always give way to a boat close hauled. When sailing through high waves, always try as far as possible to headinto them directly at right angles. Always steer as steadily aspossible. If you are careful to keep the boat on her course and do notlet your mind wander, only a slight motion of the tiller from side toside will be necessary. Flying the Flag While the "fly" or "pennant" is carried at the top of the mast, theflag is carried at the peak or upper corner of the sail at the end ofthe gaff. The salute consists of tipping or slightly lowering the flagand raising it again into position. {185} Notes {186} Notes {187} CHAPTER IV TRACKS, TRAILING AND SIGNALING _By Ernest Thompson Seton, Chief Scout_ "I wish I could go West and join the Indians so that I should have nolessons to learn, " said an unhappy small boy who could discover noatom of sense or purpose in any one of the three R's. "You never made a greater mistake, " said the scribe. "For the youngIndians have many hard lessons from their earliest day--hard lessonsand hard punishments. With them the dread penalty of failure is 'gohungry till you win, ' and no harder task have they than their readinglesson. Not twenty-six characters are to be learned in this exercise, but one thousand; not clear straight print are they, but dim, washed-out, crooked traces; not in-doors on comfortable chairs, with apatient teacher always near, but out in the forest, often alone and inevery kind of weather, they slowly decipher their letters and readsentences of the oldest writing on earth--a style so old that thehieroglyphs of Egypt, the cylinders of Nippur, and the drawings of thecave men are as things of to-day in comparison--the one universalscript--the tracks in the dust, mud, or snow. "These are the inscriptions that every hunter must learn to readinfallibly, and be they strong or faint, straight or crooked, simpleor overwritten with many a puzzling, diverse phrase, he must decipherand follow them swiftly, unerringly if there is to be a successfulending to the hunt which provides his daily food. "This is the reading lesson of the young Indians, and it is a stylethat will never become out of date. The naturalist also must acquiresome measure of proficiency in the ancient art. Its usefulness isunending to the student of wild life; without it he would know littleof the people of the wood. " There Are Still Many Wild Animals It is a remarkable fact that there are always more wild animals aboutthan any but the expert has an idea of. For {188} example, there are, within twenty miles of New York City, fully fifty different kinds--notcounting birds, reptiles, or fishes--one quarter of which at least areabundant. Or more particularly within the limits of Greater New Yorkthere are at least a dozen species of wild beasts, half of which arequite common. "Then how is it that we never see any?" is the first question of theincredulous. The answer is: Long ago the beasts learned the direlesson--man is our worst enemy; shun him at any price. And thesimplest way to do this is to come out only at night. Man is a daytimecreature; he is blind in the soft half-light that most beasts prefer. While many animals have always limited their activity to the hours oftwilight and gloom, there are not a few that moved about in daytime, but have given up that portion of their working day in order to avoidthe arch enemy. Thus they can flourish under our noses and eat at our tables, withoutour knowledge or consent. They come and go at will, and the worldknows nothing of them; their presence might long go unsuspected butfor one thing, well known to the hunter, the trapper, and thenaturalist: wherever the wild four-foot goes, it leaves behind arecord of its visit, its name, the direction whence it came, the time, the thing it did or tried to do, with the time and direction ofdeparture. These it puts down in the ancient script. Each of thesedotted lines, called the trail, is a wonderful, unfinished record ofthe creature's life during the time it made the same, and it needsonly the patient work of the naturalist to decipher that record andfrom it learn much about the animal that made it, without that animalever having been seen. Savages are more skilful at it than civilized folk, because trackingis their serious life-long pursuit and they do not injure their eyeswith books. Intelligence is important here as elsewhere, yet it is aremarkable fact that the lowest race of mankind, the Australianblacks, are reputed to be by far the best trackers; not only are theireyes and attention developed and disciplined, but they have retainedmuch of the scent power that civilized man has lost, and can follow afresh track, partly at least by smell. It is hard to over-value the powers of the clever tracker. To him thetrail of each animal is not a mere series of similar footprints; it isan accurate account of the creature's life, habit, changing whims, andemotions during the portion of life whose record is in view. These areindeed autobiographical chapters, {190} and differ from otherautobiographies in this--they cannot tell a lie. We may get wronginformation from them, but it is our fault if we do; we misread thedocument that cannot falsify. {189} [Illustration: Animal tracks; Deer, Sheep, Mink, Cottontail, Hawk, Owl, Meadow Mouse. ] {190 continued} When to Learn Tracking The ideal time for tracking, and almost the only time for most folk, is when the ground is white. After the first snow the student walksforth and begins at once to realize the wonders of the trail. A scoreof creatures of whose existence, maybe, he did not know, are nowrevealed about him, and the reading of their autographs becomes easy. It is when the snow is on the ground, indeed, that we take ourfour-foot census of the woods. How often we learn with surprise fromthe telltale white that a fox was around our hen house last night, amink is living even now under the wood pile, and a deer--yes! there isno mistaking its sharp-pointed un-sheep-like footprint--has wanderedinto our woods from the farther wilds. Never lose the chance of the first snow if you wish to become atrailer. Nevertheless, remember that the first morning after a night'ssnow fall is not so good as the second. Most creatures "lie up" duringthe storm; the snow hides the tracks of those that do go forth; andsome actually go into a "cold sleep" for a day or two after a heavydownfall. But a calm, mild night following a storm is sure to offerabundant and ideal opportunity for beginning the study of the trail. How to Learn Here are some of the important facts to keep in view, when you setforth to master the rudiments: _First_. --No two animals leave the same trail; not only each kind buteach individual, and each individual at each stage of its life, leavesa trail as distinctive as the creature's appearance, and it is obviousthat in that they differ among themselves just as we do, because theyoung know their mothers, the mothers know their young, and the oldones know their mates, when scent is clearly out of the question. Another simple evidence of this is the well known fact that no twohuman beings have the same thumb mark; all living creatures havecorresponding peculiarities, and all use these parts in making thetrail. _Second_. --The trail was begun at the birthplace of that creature andends only at its death place; it may be recorded in visible track orperceptible odor. It may last but a few {191} hours, and may be toofaint even for an expert with present equipment to follow, butevidently the trail is made, wherever the creature journeys afoot. _Third_. --It varies with every important change of impulse, action, oremotion. _Fourth_--When we find a trail we may rest assured that, if living, thecreature that made it is at the other end. And if one can follow, itis only a question of time before coming up with that animal. And besure of its direction before setting out; many a novice has lost muchtime by going backward on the trail. _Fifth_. --In studying trails one must always keep probabilities in mind. Sometimes one kind of track looks much like another; then the questionis, "Which is the likeliest in this place. " If I saw a jaguar track in India, I should know it was made by aleopard. If I found a leopard in Colorado, I should be sure I hadfound the mark of a cougar or mountain lion. A wolf track on Broadwaywould doubtless be the doing of a very large dog, and a St. Bernard'sfootmark in the Rockies, twenty miles from anywhere, would most likelyturn out to be the happen-so imprint of a gray wolf's foot. To be sureof the marks, then, one should know all the animals that belong to theneighborhood. These facts are well known to every hunter. Most savages are hunters, and one of the early lessons of the Indian boy is to know the tracksof the different beasts about him. These are the letters of the old, old writing. A First Try Let us go forth into the woods in one of the North-eastern states whenthere is a good tracking snow, and learn a few of these letters of thewood alphabet. Two at least are sure to be seen--the track of the blarina and of thedeer mouse. They are shown on the same scale in Figs. 1 and 2, page198. In Fig. 3 is the track of the meadow mouse. This is not unlike that ofthe blarina, because it walks, being a ground animal, while the deermouse more often bounds. The delicate lace traceries of the maskedshrew, shown in Fig. 4, are almost invisible unless the sun be low;they are difficult to draw, and impossible to photograph or castsatisfactorily but the sketch gives enough to recognize them by. The meadow mouse belongs to the rank grass in the lowland {192} nearthe brook, and passing it toward the open, running, water we may seethe curious track of the muskrat; its five-toed hind foot, itsfour-toed front foot, and its long keeled tail, are plainly on record. When he goes slowly the tail mark is nearly straight; when he goesfast it is wavy in proportion to his pace. Page 193. The muskrat is a valiant beast; he never dies without fighting to thelast, but he is in dread of another brookland creature whose trail ishere--the mink. Individual tracks of this animal are shown in No. 1, page 161. Here he was bounding; the forefeet are together, thehindfeet track ahead, and tail mark shows, and but four toes in eachtrack, though the creature has five on each foot. He is a dreadedenemy of poor Molly Cottontail, and more than once I have seen therecords of his relentless pursuit. One of these fits in admirably asan illustration of our present study. A Story of the Trail It was in the winter of 1900, I was standing with my brother, abusiness man, on Goat Island, Niagara, when he remarked, "How is it?You and I have been in the same parts of America for twenty years, yetI never see any of the curious sides of animal life that you arecontinually coming across. " "Largely because you do not study tracks, " was the reply. "Look atyour feet now. There is a whole history to be read. " "I see some marks, " he replied, "that might have been made by someanimal. " "That is the track of a cottontail, " was the answer. "Now, let us read the chapter of his life. See, he went in a generalstraight course as though making some well-known haunt, his easy pace, with eight or ten inches between each set of tracks, shows unalarm. But see here, joining on, is something else. " "So there is. Another cottontail. " "Not at all, this new track is smaller, the forefeet are more or lesspaired, showing that the creature can climb a tree; there is asuggestion of toe pads and there is a mark telling evidently of a longtail; these things combined with the size and the place identify itclearly. This is the trail of a mink. See! he has also found therabbit track, and finding it fresh, he followed it. His bounds arelengthened now, but the rabbit's are not, showing that the latter wasunconscious of the pursuit. " After one hundred yards the double trail led us to a great pile ofwood, and into this both went. Having followed his {193} game intodense cover, the trailer's first business was to make sure that it didnot go out the other side. We went carefully around the pile; therewere no tracks leading out. "Now, " I said, "if you will take the trouble to move that wood pileyou will find in it the remains of the rabbit half devoured and themink himself. At this moment he is no doubt curled up asleep. " As the pile was large and the conclusion more or less self-evident, mybrother was content to accept my reading of the episode. [Illustration: Tracks. ] Dog tracks, front and back (1/2 life-size) Cat tracks, front and bad (1/2 life-size) Uppermost, well-developed human foot Middle, a foot always cramped by boots Bottom, a bare foot, never in boots Muskrat tracks, (1/3 life-size) What About Winter Sleepers Although so much is to be read in the wintry white, we cannot now makea full account of all the woodland four-foots, for there are somekinds that do not come out on the snow; they sleep more or less allwinter. {194} Thus, one rarely sees the track of a chipmunk or woodchuck in trulywintry weather; and never, so far as I know, have the trails ofjumping mouse or mud turtle been seen in the snow. These we can trackonly in the mud or dust. Such trails cannot be followed as far asthose in the snow, simply because the mud and dust do not cover thewhole country, but they are usually as clear and in some respects moreeasy of record. How to Make Pictures of Tracks It is a most fascinating amusement to learn some creature's way oflife by following its fresh track for hours in good snow. I never misssuch a chance. If I cannot find a fresh track, I take a stale one, knowing that, theoretically, it is fresher at every step, and frompractical experience that it always brings one to some track that isfresh. How often I have wished for a perfect means of transferring these wildlife tales to paper or otherwise making a permanent collection. Myearliest attempts were in free-hand drawing, which answers, but hasthis great disadvantage--it is a translation, a record discolored byan intervening personality, and the value of the result is likely tobe limited by one's own knowledge at the time. Casting in plaster was another means attempted; but not one track inten thousand is fit to cast. Nearly all are blemished and imperfect insome way, and the most abundant--those in snow--cannot be cast atall. Then I tried spreading plastic wax where the beasts would walk on it, in pathways or before dens. How they did scoff! The simplest groundsquirrel knew too much to venture on my waxen snare; around 'it, or ifhemmed in, over it, with a mighty bound they went; but never a trackdid I so secure. Photography naturally suggested itself, but the difficulties proved asgreat as unexpected, almost as great as in casting. Not one track inone thousand is fit to photograph; the essential details are almostalways left out. You must have open sunlight, and even when theweather is perfect there are practically but two times each day whenit is possible--in mid-morning and mid-afternoon, when the sun is highenough for clear photographs and low enough to cast a shadow in thefaint track. The Coon that Showed Me How Then a new method was suggested in an unexpected way. A friend of minehad a pet coon which he kept in a cage in his bachelor quarters uptown. One day, during my friend's {195} absence the coon got loose andset about a series of long-deferred exploring expeditions, beginningwith the bachelor's bedroom. The first promising object was a writingdesk. Mounting by a chair the coon examined several uninterestingbooks and papers, and then noticed higher up a large stone bottle. Hehad several times found pleasurable stuff in bottles, so he went forit. The cork was lightly in and easily disposed of, but the smell wasfar from inviting, for it was merely a quart of ink. Determined toleave no stone unturned, however, the coon upset the ink to taste andtry. Alas! it tasted even worse than it smelt; it was an utter failureas a beverage. And the coon, pushing it contemptuously away, turned to a pile of finehand-made, deckle-edge, heraldry note-paper--the pride of my friend'sheart--and when he raised his inky little paws there were left on thepaper some beautiful black prints. This was a new idea: the coon triedit again and again. But the ink held out longer than the paper, sothat the fur-clad painter worked over sundry books, and the adjoiningwalls, while the ink, dribbling over everything, formed a great poolbelow the desk. Something attracted the artist's attention, causinghim to jump down. He landed in the pool of ink, making it splash inall directions; some of the black splotches reached the whitecounterpane of the bachelor's bed. Another happy idea: the coon nowleaped on the bed, racing around as long as the ink on his feet gaveresults. As he paused to rest, or perhaps to see if any places hadbeen neglected, the door opened, and in came the landlady. The scenewhich followed was too painful for description; no one present enjoyedit. My friend was sent for to come and take his coon out of thereforever. He came and took him away, I suppose "forever. " He had onlyone other place for him--his office and there it was I made theanimal's acquaintance and heard of his exploit--an ink and paper, ifnot a literary affair. This gave me the hint at the Zoo I needed, a plan to make an authenticrecord of animal tracks. Armed with printer's ink and paper rolls Iset about gathering a dictionary collection of imprints. After many failures and much experiment, better methods were devised. A number of improvements were made by my wife; one was thesubstitution of black paint for printer's ink, as the latter dries tooquickly; another was the padding of the paper, which should be lightand soft for very light animals, and stronger and harder for theheavy. Printing from a mouse, for example, is much like printing adelicate {196} etching; ink, paper, dampness, etc. , must be exactlyright, and furthermore, you have this handicap--you cannot regulatethe pressure. This is, of course, strictly a Zoo method. All attemptsto secure black prints from wild animals have been total failures. Thepaper, the smell of paint, etc. , are enough to keep the wild thingsaway. In the Zoo we spread the black pad and the white paper in a narrow, temporary lane, and one by one drove, or tried to drive, the captivesover them, securing a series of tracks that are life-size, properlyspaced, absolutely authentic, and capable of yielding more facts asthe observer learns more about the subject. As related here, all this sounds quite easy. But no one has any ideahow cross, crooked, and contrary a creature can be, until he wishes itto repeat for him some ordinary things that it has hitherto donehourly. Some of them balked at the paint, some at the paper, some madea leap to clear all, and thereby wrecked the entire apparatus. Somewould begin very well, but rush back when half-way over, so as todestroy the print already made, and in most cases the calmest, steadiest, tamest of beasts became utterly wild, erratic, andunmanageable when approached with tracklogical intent. Trying It on the Cat Even domestic animals are difficult. A tame cat that was highlytrained to do anything a cat could do, was selected as promising for ablack track study, and her owner's two boys volunteered to get all thecat tracks I needed. They put down a long roll of paper in a hall, painted pussy's feet black, and proceeded to chase her up and down. Her docility banished under the strain. She raced madly about, leavinglong, useless splashes of black; then, leaping to a fanlight, sheescaped up stairs to take refuge among the snowy draperies. Afterwhich the boys' troubles began. Drawing is Mostly Used These, however, are mere by-accidents and illustrate the manypractical difficulties. After these had been conquered with patienceand ingenuity, there could be no doubt of the value of the prints. They are the best of records for size, spacing, and detail, but failin giving incidents of wild life, or the landscape surroundings. Thedrawings, as already seen, are best for a long series and for faintfeatures; in fact, the {197} drawings alone can give everything youcan perceive; but they fail in authentic size and detail. Photography has this great advantage--it gives the surroundings, theessential landscape and setting, and, therefore, the local reason forany changes of action on the part of the animal; also the aestheticbeauties of its records are unique, and will help to keep the methodin a high place. Thus each of the three means may be successful in a different way, andthe best, most nearly perfect alphabet of the woods, would include allthree, and consist of a drawing, a pedoscript and a photograph of eachtrack, and a trail; i. E. , a single footprint, and the long series ofeach animal. My practice has been to use all whenever I could, but still I findfree-hand drawing is the one of the most practical application. When Iget a photograph I treasure it as an adjunct to the sketch. A Story of the Trail To illustrate the relative value as records, of sketch and photograph, I give a track that I drew from nature, but which could not at anyplace have been photographed. This was made in February 15, 1885, nearToronto. It is really a condensation of the facts, as the trail isshortened where uninteresting. Page 189, No. 2. At A, I found a round place about 5 x 8 inches, where a cottontail hadcrouched during the light snowfall. At B he had leaped out and satlooking around; the small prints in front were made by his forefeet, the two long ones by his hind feet, and farther back is a littledimple made by the tail, showing that he was sitting on it. Somethingalarmed him, causing him to dart out at full speed toward C and D, andnow a remarkable change is to be seen: the marks made by the frontfeet are behind the large marks made by the hind feet, because therabbit overreaches each time; the hind feet track ahead of the frontfeet; the faster he goes, the farther ahead those hind feet get; andwhat would happen if he multiplied his speed by ten I really cannotimagine. This overreach of the hind feet takes place in most boundinganimals. Now the cottontail began a series of the most extraordinary leaps anddodgings (D, E, F. ) as though trying to escape from some enemy. But whatenemy? There were no other tracks. I began to think the rabbit wascrazy--was flying from an imaginary foe--that possibly I was on thetrail of a March hare. But at G I found for the first time some spotsof blood. {198} This told me that the rabbit was in real danger butgave no due to its source. I wondered if a weasel were clinging to itsneck. A few yards farther, at H, I found more blood. Twenty yardsmore, at I, for the first time on each side of the rabbit trail, werethe obvious marks of a pair of broad, strong wings. Oho! now I knewthe mystery of the cottontail running from a foe that left no track. He was pursued by an eagle, a hawk, or an owl. A few yards farther andI found the remains (J) of the cottontail partly devoured. This putthe eagle out of the question; an eagle would have carried the rabbitoff boldly. A hawk or an owl then was the assassin. I looked forsomething to decide which, and close by the remains found the peculiartwo-paired track of an owl. A hawk's track would have been as K, whilethe owl nearly always sets its feet in the ground {199} with two toesforward and two toes back. But which owl? There were at least three inthe valley that might be blamed. I looked for more proof and got it onthe near-by sapling--one small feather, downy, as are all owlfeathers, and bearing three broad bars, telling me plainly that abarred owl had been there lately, and that, therefore, he was almostcertainly the slayer of the cottontail. As I busied myself makingnotes, what should come flying up the valley but the owl himself--backto the very place of the crime, intent on completing his meal nodoubt. He alighted on a branch ten feet above my head and just overthe rabbit remains, and sat there muttering in his throat. The proof in this case was purely circumstantial, but I think that wecan come to only one conclusion; that the evidence of the track in thesnow was complete and convincing. {198} [Illustration: TRACKS; 1. Blarina in snow; 2. Deermouse; 3. Meadowmouse; 4. Masked shrew. ] {199 continued} Meadow Mouse The meadow mouse autograph (page 189) illustrates the black-trackmethod. At first these dots look inconsequent and fortuitous, but acareful examination shows that the creature had four toes with clawson the forefeet, and five on the hind, which is evidence, though notconclusive, that it was a rodent; the absence of tail marks shows thatthe tail was short or wanting; the tubercules on each palm show towhat group of mice the creature belongs. The alternation of the trackshows that it was a ground-animal, not a tree-climber; the spacingshows the shortness of the legs; their size determines the size of thecreature. Thus we come near to reconstructing the animal from itstracks, and see how by the help of these studies, we can get muchlight on the by-gone animals whose only monuments are tracks in thesedimentary rocks about us--rocks that, when they received theseimprints, were the muddy margin of these long-gone creatures' haunts. What the Trail Gives--The Secrets of the Woods There is yet another feature of trail study that gives it exceptionalvalue--it is an account of the creature pursuing its ordinary life. Ifyou succeeded in getting a glimpse of a fox or a hare in the woods, the chances are a hundred to one that it was aware of your presencefirst. They are much cleverer than we are at this sort of thing, andif they do not actually sight or sense you, they observe, and arewarned by the action of some other creature that did sense us, and socease their occupations to steal away or hide. But the snow story will{201} tell of the life that the animal ordinarily leads--its method ofsearching for food, its kind of food, the help it gets from itsfriends, or sometimes from its rivals--and thus offers an insight intoits home ways that is scarcely to be attained in any other way. The trailer has the key to a new storehouse of Nature's secrets, another of the Sybilline books is opened to his view; his fairygodmother has, indeed, conferred on him a wonderful {202} gift in openinghis eyes to the foot-writing of the trail. It is like giving sight tothe blind man, like the rolling away of fogs from a mountain view, andthe trailer comes closer than others to the heart of the woods. Dowered with a precious power is he, He drinks where others sipped, And wild things write their lives for him In endless manuscript. {200} [Illustration: Tracks: Wild Turkey, Toad, Crow, 1. Jackrabbit 2. Cottontail 3. Gray squirrel 4. Coon 5. Ground bird, such as quail 6. Tree-bird 7. A bird living partly in tree, partly on ground] {201} Horses' Track_N. B. --The large tracks represent the hind feet_. [Illustration: Tracks; Walking, Trotting, Canter, Galloping, LameHorse Walking: Which leg is the lame in?] These are the tracks of two birds on the ground. One lives generally on the ground, the other in bushes and trees. Which track belongs to which bird? (_From Sir Robert Baden Powell's book_) {202 continued} The American Morse Telegraph Alphabet [Illustration: Morse codes. (tr)] Signals 4. Start me. 5. Have you anything for me? 9. Train order (or important military message)--give away. 13. Do you understand? {203} 25. Busy. 30. Circuit closed (or closed station). 73. Accept compliments. 92. Deliver (ed). Abbreviations Ahr--Another. Ans--Answer. Ck--Check. Col--Collect. D H--Dead head. G A--Go ahead. G E--Good evening. G M--Good morning. G N--Good night. G R--Government rate. N M--No more. Min--Wait a moment O B--Official business. O K--All right Opr--Operator. Pd--Paid. Qk--Quick. Sig--Signature. Rememberable Morse or Re-Morse Alphabet [Illustration: Rememberable Morse or Re-Morse Alphabet. ] By this method it is possible to learn the Morse alphabet in less thanan hour. {204} [Illustration: Scouts using signal flags. (tr)]From A to B in both figures, illustrates method of making a dot. A complete swing from A to C in both figures indicates method ofmaking a dash. Wig-Wag or Myer Code _Instructions for Using the System_ The whole number opposite each letter or numeral stands for thatletter or numeral. A 22B 2112C 121D 222E 12F 2221G 2211H 122I 1J 1122K 2121L 221M 1221N 11O 21P 1212Q 1211R 211S 212T 2U 112V 1222W 1121X 2122Y 111Z 2222tion 1112 Numerals1 11112 22223 11124 22215 11226 22117 12228 21119 12210 2112 Conventional Signals End of word 3Wait a moment 1111 3End of sentence 33Repeat after (word) 121 121 3 22 3 (word)End of message 333x x 3 numerals follow (or) numerals end. Repeat last word 121 121 33Repeat last message 121 121 121 333sig 3 signature follows. Error 12 12 3Move a little to right 211 211 3Acknowledgment, or "I understand" 22 22 3Move a little to left 221 221 3Cease signaling 22 22 22 333Signal faster 2212 3 {205} Abbreviationsa afterb beforec canh haven notr aret theu youur yourw wordwi withy yes Rememberable Myer Code The elements--a thick and a thin, i. E. 2 and 1 [Illustration: Rememberable Myer Code. ] To Signal with Flag or Torch Wig-Wag There is but one position and three motions. The first position is with the flag or other appliance heldvertically, the signalman facing squarely toward the station withwhich it is desired to communicate. {206} The first motion ("one" or "1") is to the right of the sender and willembrace an arc of 90 degrees, starting with the vertical and returningto it, and will be made in a plane at right angle to the lineconnecting the two stations. The second motion ("two" or "2") is a similar motion to the left ofthe sender. The third motion ("front, " "three" or "3") is downward, directly infront of the sender, and instantly returned upward to the firstposition. Numbers which occur in the body of a message must be spelled out infull. Numerals may be used in signaling between stations having navalbooks, using the code calls. To break or stop the signals from thesending station, make with the flag or other signal 12 12 12continuously. To Send a Message To call a station signal its letter until acknowledged; if the callletter be not known, signal "E" until acknowledged. To acknowledge acall, signal "1 understand, " followed by the call letter of theacknowledging station. Make a slight pause after each letter and also after "front. " If thesender discovers that he has made an error he should make 3 followedby 12 123, after which he begins the word in which the error occurred. The Semaphore Signal Code The scout may learn the correct angles at which to hold the flags fromthe diagram. The easiest method of learning the alphabet is bygrouping the various letters together as follows: For all letters from A to G, one arm only is used, making a quarter ofa circle for each letter in succession. The letters from H to N (except J)--the right arm stands at A whilethe left moves round the circle for the other letters. For O to S, the right arm stands at B--the left arm moves round asbefore. For T, U, Y and the "annul, " the right arm stands at C, the leftmoving to the next point of the circle successively. The numerical sign J (or alphabetical sign) and V--the right armstands at position for letter D the left arm only being moved. {207} W and X--the left arm stands at position for letter E, the right inthis case moving down 45 degrees to show letter X. For the letter Z, the left arm stands at the position G--the right armcrosses the breast taking the position F. [Illustration: Semaphore code. (tr)] {208} The letters A to I also stand for the figures 1 to 9 (K standing for0), if you make the numerical sign to show that you are going to sendnumbers followed by the alphabetical sign (J) when the figures arefinished. They will be checked by being repeated back by the receivingstation. Should figures be wrongly repeated by the receiving stationthe sending station will send the "annul" sign (which is answered bythe same sign) and then send the group of figures again. The sender must always face the station to which he is sending. On aword failing to make sense, the writer down will say, "no, " when thereader will at once stop the sending station by raising both armshorizontally to their full extent (letter R). This demand forrepetition the sending station will acknowledge by making J. Thesignaller receiving the message will then send the last word he hasread correctly, upon which the sender will continue the message fromthat word. Whistle Signs 1. One long blast means "Silence, " "Alert, " "Look out for my nextsignal. " Also approaching a station. 2. Two short blasts means "All right. " 3. A succession of long, slow blasts means "Go out, " "Get fartheraway, " or "Advance, " "Extend, " "Scatter. " 4. A succession of short, sharp blasts means "Rally, " "Close in, ""Come together, " "Fall in, " "Danger, " "Alarm. " 5. Three short blasts followed by one long one from scout master callsup the patrol leaders--i. E. , "Leaders, come here. " Any whistle signal must be instantly obeyed at the double--as fast asyou can run--no matter what other job you may be doing at the time. Hand or Flag Signals Hand signals, which can also be made by patrol leaders with theirpatrol flags when necessary: Hand waved several times across the face from side to side or flagwaved horizontally, from side to side opposite the face, means "No, ""Never mind, " "As you were. " Hand or flag held high, and waved as though pushing forward, at fullextent of arm, or whistle a succession of slow blasts means "Extend, ""Go farther out, " "Scatter. " Hand or flag held high, and waved rapidly from side to side, at fullextent of arm, or a succession of short, quick blasts on the whistle, means "Close in, " "Rally, " "Come here, " "Danger, " "Cattle on track. " {209} Hand or flag pointing in any direction means "Go in that direction. " Clenched hand or flag jumped rapidly up and down several times means, "Hurry, " "Run. " The movement, pushing or beckoning, indicates whether "Hurry here" or"Hurry there. " Hand (or flag) held straight up over head, palm forward, means "Stop, ""Halt. " When a leader is shouting an order or message to a scout who is someway off, the scout, if he hears what is being said, should hold up hishand level with his head all the time. If he cannot hear, he shouldstand still, making no sign. The leader will then repeat louder, orbeckon to the scout to come in nearer. The following signals are made by a scout with his staff when he issent out to reconnoitre within sight of his patrol, and they have thefollowing meaning: Staff held up horizontally, that is, level, with both hands above thehead, means, "I have found. " The same, out with staff moved up and down slowly, means, "I havefound, but a long way off. " The same, staff moved up and down rapidly, means, "I have found, andclose by. " The staff held straight up over the head means, "Nothing in sight. " Indian Signs and Blazes Shaking a blanket: I want to talk to you. Hold up a tree-branch: I want to make peace. Hold up a weapon, means war: I am ready to fight. Hold up a pole horizontally, with hands on it: I have found something. [Illustration: Indian Signs and Blazes. This is good water. Good water not far in this direction. A long way to good water, go in direction of arrow. We camped here because one of us was sick. ] {210} [Illustration: Indian Signs and Blazes. War or trouble about. Peace. Road to be followed. Letter hidden three paces from here in the direction of arrow. This path not to be followed. "I have gone home. "] WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY _The Boy Scout Wireless ClubY. M. C. A. , Newark, N. J. _ The following directions are given for an up-to-date wirelessapparatus for stationary use in the home or at the meeting place ofeach patrol. We will consider the receiving apparatus first: [Illustration: Diagram of wireless transmitter and receiver. (tr)] The first thing to do is to build an aerial. First find out how longyour location will allow you to build it, and how high. It ought to beat least 50 to 60 feet high and about 70 to 100 feet long. The mainpoint in building an aerial is to have it {211} well insulated fromthe ground, and all connections in wire perfectly solid. It isadvisable to solder every connection and to make your aerial strong asit has a great deal to do with the working qualities of the station. After this is completed, the inside work on instruments should begin. 1. A pair of watch-case receivers having a resistance of 1, 000 ohmseach, manufactured by a reliable firm. 2. A loose coupler tuning coil of about 800 meters. 3. One of Mordock's metal detectors or one of similar design. 4. A variable condenser of about 5-10 plates. 5. A fixed condenser so arranged that its capacity can be changed ifdesired. With these instruments the receiving set is complete, so we next takeup the sending apparatus. 1. A two-inch induction coil. 2. A heavy spark gap (zinc preferable). 3. One wireless key with heavy contacts. 4. A plate condenser which can be easily made by any scout. Good glassis the main point. 5. A triple pole, double throw aerial switch. (Can be made by scouts. ) Now you have everything necessary to go ahead and assemble yourstation. The next thing is to connect them up. Above is a diagram which will make a good station for a scout. Thisstation, if the aero is of the proper height, is capable of sendingmessages from 8 to 10 miles. The Receiving Set Perhaps the most fundamentally important part of a wireless telegraphstation is the aerial. Its construction varies with each station, buta few general suggestions may be of use. The builder should aim to get as high and as long an aerial aspossible, height being the more important factor. In a stationary setthe aerial may be fastened to a tree or pole or high building while ina field set a tree or an easily portable pole must be used. The aerial itself should be made of copper wire and should be hungbetween spreaders as long as convenient and insulated from them by twocleat insulators in series at each end. The experimenter should see that his leading-in wire is placedconveniently and comes in contact with the walls, etc. , {212} aslittle as possible. All points of contact must be well insulated withglass, porcelain, or hard rubber. The tuning coil is very simple in construction. A cardboard tube, about three inches in diameter, is mounted between two square heads. This tube is wound with No. 24 insulated copper wire and very wellshellaced to avoid loosening of the wire. Two pieces of one quarter inch square brass rod, to be fastenedbetween the heads, are secured, and a slider, as shown in drawing, ismade. The rods are fastened on the heads and the insulation in thepath of the slides is then well scraped off. Binding posts are thenfastened to rods and coil ends. [Illustration: Details of instruments for field use. ] {213} The detector, although the most important of the instruments, isperhaps the simplest. It is constructed of a hardwood base with asmall brass plate fastened on by means of a binding post. On the otherend of the base is fastened a double binding post which holds a brassspring, as in the drawing. On the end of this spring is fastened acopper point made by winding a few inches of No. 36 or 40 wire on itand allowing about three sixteenths of an inch to project. Thiscompletes the detector but, for use in this instrument, lead sulphideor Galena crystals must be secured. The condenser is made of two pieces of tin-foil, four by ten, andthree pieces of waxed paper a little larger than the foil. A piece ofwire is twisted into the end of each piece of foil, and then one sheetof foil is laid on a sheet of paper. This is then covered by anothersheet of paper upon which is laid the second sheet of foil. On top ofthis is laid the third sheet of paper and the whole is folded into aconvenient bundle. The sheets of foil must be well insulated from eachother and the wires must project from the condenser. The ground connection is made by soldering a wire to a cold waterpipe. In the case of a portable set the ground may be made by drivinga metal rod into the ground or sinking metal netting into a body ofwater. The telephone receivers cannot well be made and must therefore bebought. The type of phones used will therefore depend entirely on thebuilder's purse. The Sending Set The same aerial and ground are used for sending as were used forreceiving, and for the experimenter, it will be far cheaper to buy aspark coil for his sending set than to attempt to make one. For a field set there will be very little need of a sending helix, asclose tuning will be hardly possible; but for the stationary set thisis very useful. The helix is made by building a drum with square heads fastenedtogether by six or eight uprights, arranged on the circumference of acircle. On this then are wound ten or twelve turns of No. 10 or 12, brass or copper wire. Binding posts are fastened to the ends of thewire and variable contact made on the turns by means of metal springclips. The spark gap is made of a hard-wood base with two uprights to whichare fastened strips of brass. Under these strips are {214} placed twopieces of battery zincs so as to make the gap between their endsvariable. Binding posts are fastened to the strips for contact. The sending condenser is the same as the receiving in construction, but different in material. The dielectric is glass while theconducting surfaces are tin-foil, arranged in a pile of alternatesheets of glass and foil. The foil is shaped as in drawing andalternate sheets have their lugs projecting on opposite sides, alllugs on same side being connected together. For a one-inch coil but afew of these plates are needed, but for higher power a greater numberare necessary. [Illustration: Wireless Telegraph Set Designed for Boy Scouts ofAmerica by L. Horle. ] All that now remains is the setting up of the instruments. They arearranged as in the drawing, a double-point, {215} double-throw switchbeing used to switch from sending to receiving. After having connected up the receiving instruments, the receiver isplaced at the ear and the point of the detector placed on the variousparts of the mineral until the signals are heard clearly. Then thetuning coil is adjusted until the signals are loudest. The sending apparatus is set up, the key and batteries having beenbought or made, and used to call some other station. The clip is puton various twins of the helix until the other station signals that thesignals are loudest. The station is then ready for actual operation. NOTES {216} Notes {217} Notes {218} Notes {219} CHAPTER V HEALTH AND ENDURANCE _George J. Fisher, M. D. Secretary, Physical Department International Committee Young Men's Christian Association_ Fitness Two things greatly affect the conditions under which a boy lives inthese days. One is that he lives in-doors for the greater part of thetime, and the other is that he must attend school, which is prettylargely a matter of sitting still. Two things therefore are needs ofevery boy: out-door experience and physical activity. To secure endurance, physical power, physical courage, and skill, thefirst thing needful is to take stock of one's physical make-up, putthe body in the best possible condition for doing its work and thenkeep it in good order. Proper Carriage Head up, chin in, chest out, and shoulders back is a good slogan for aboy scout who desires an erect figure. One can scarcely think of around-shouldered scout. Yet there are such among the boys who desireto be scouts. There is no particular exercise that a boy can take to cure roundshoulders. The thing to remember is that all exercise that is takenshould be done in the erect position, then the muscles will hold thebody there. An erect body means a deeper chest, room for the important organs towork and thus affords them the best chance to act. A few setting-up exercises each day in the erect position will helpgreatly to get this result. {220} [Illustration: Exercise 1]Position: Heels together, arms down and at sides, palms in. Movement: Swing arms, sideways, upward to vertical, and return. [Illustration: Exercise 2]Same as Exercise I, except that armsare swung forward, upward to vertical. [Illustration: Exercise 3. ]Position: Arms extended to side horizontal. Movement: Swing forward and return. (Emphasis upon backward movement. ) [Illustration: Exercise 4. ]Position: Arms at side, horizontal, back slightly arched. Movement: Circle arms backward. Setting-up Exercises {221} [Illustration: Exercise 5. ]Position: Forearms flexed at side of chest. Movement: Thrust arms forward and return. [Illustration: Exercise 6. ]Position: Arms at front, horizontal, forearms flexed, fingers on shoulders. Movement: Swing backward to side, horizontal in position. [Illustration: Exercise 7. ]Position: Same as Exercise 6. Movement: Swing downward, forward, bringing arms beyond sidesof body. Rise on toes with end of backward swing. [Illustration: Exercise 8a. ]Position: Arms at vertical, thumbs locked, head fixed between arms. [Illustration: Exercise 8b. ]Movement: Bend forward as far as possible, without bending knees, and return. Setting-up Exercises {222} [Illustration: Exercise 9. ]Position: Arms at vertical. Repeat exercise 8b [Illustration: Exercise 9b. ]Movement: Arm circles, downward, inward, across chest. Reverse the movement. [Illustration: Exercise 10. ]Position: Arms on hips. Movement: Forward bend. [Illustration: Exercise 11. ]Position: Same as Exercise 10. Movement: Backward bend. [Illustration: Exercise 12. ]Position: Same as Exercise 10. Movement: Sideward bend, right and left. Setting-up Exercises {223} [Illustration: Exercise 13. ]Position: Same as Exercise 10. Movement: Rotate body of waist. [Illustration: Exercise 14. ]Position: Same as Exercise 10. Movement: Raise high on toes. (Hold shoulders back firmly) [Illustration: Exercise 15. ]Position: Same as Exercise 10. Movement: Full knee bend. Setting-up Exercises Growth The chief business of a boy is to grow. He may have other affairs, butthis is his chief concern. He should, therefore, have a few simplerules for living and make them a part of his daily life. Out-door Exercises Each day should have its out-door exercises. Walking is a splendidform of exercise. Walk to school or business; don't ride unlessabsolutely necessary because of unusual distance. Walk with a good, swinging stride with chest well up and spine fairly straight. Slowrunning across country is great; it lacks strain and yet affordssplendid stimulation to heart and lungs. Cross-country running andhiking should be favorite sport for scout patrols and troops. A boyought to have at least two hours of sport daily in some good, vigorousgame, such as baseball or tennis, and, if he can possibly afford it, at least two periods a week, of an hour each, in a gymnasium, where hecan receive guidance in body building. Boys under sixteen should avoidexercise of strain, such as weight lifting, or sprint running over onehundred yards, or long distance racing. They should have carefulguidance in all gymnastic work. Work on apparatus may prove harmfulunless of the right sort. The horse {224} and parallel bars should be usedlargely to jump over rather than perform upon. Exercises demanding asustained support of the body with the arms are not helpful, but maybe harmful. The chief activity should be of the legs, to strengthenheart and lungs. A boy should be careful not to overdo. In hisexcitement to win in a contest he is likely to do this unlesscautioned. A boy should never try to reduce his weight. Now that thereare weight classes in sports for boys there is a temptation to do thisand it may prove very serious. Severe training for athletics should beavoided. All training should be in moderation. Medical Examinations Every boy ought to have, as he takes up his boy-scout work, a thoroughmedical examination. Some physician who is interested in boys will bewilling to act as examiner for a patrol or troop. A boy should knowthe condition of his heart and lungs before entering any contest. Ifhe has any defects in his breathing apparatus--nose, throat, or lungs, these should be attended to or they will seriously interfere with hisendurance tests. Baths Beside exercises a boy should have simple, workable rules for living. A boy ought to take a good soap bath at least twice a week and alwaysafter he has played a hard game or performed work of a nature that hascaused him to perspire freely. Each morning a quick sponge bath should be the first order of the day, in water as cool as he can stand it, followed by a good rub with acoarse towel. If there is a feeling of warmth after the bath, it ishelpful, if not, the water should be slightly warm or only a portionof the body should be bathed at a time. Pain One thing that should be regarded seriously is pain in any form in anypart of the body. If there is a dull headache frequently, find outwhat causes it. Pain in the knee, the arch of the foot, or at anypoint, should be taken seriously. Pain means something wrong. It maybe brave to bear it, but it {225} is not wise. It may mean somethingserious. Remember that pain felt in one part of the body may be theresult of something wrong in another part. See a wise doctor about it. Eating And now in reference to what one shall eat. The average boy ought tohave and usually does have an appetite like an ostrich. Three pointsto remember are; don't eat too much, most healthy boys do; don't eatmeat more than once a day; and, third, don't eat anything that youalways taste for several hours after you have eaten it, even thoughyou like it. Digestion The fact that you taste it is an indication that your stomach ishaving a wresting match with the food. Some people can't digestonions, others thrive upon them. Some can't eat cucumbers, others cando so readily. The one must give them up; the other can continue toeat them. Each person has some peculiarity of diet and must observe itto be happy. Many a race has been lost through failure to obey thisrule. A simple diet is best. Most boys eat too much of a mixed nature. They mix pickles, soda water, frankfurters, and chocolate without fearor favor. No wonder there is so much stomach ache. In boys' camps thechief trouble is indigestion caused by this riot of eating. Such boysare laying up for themselves for the future some beautiful headachesand bilious attacks, which, when they become chronic later, will cryout against them and seriously impair their value. Don't eat when verytired; lie down a while and get rested. Don't eat heavily beforeexercising, or, better, put it the other way around, don't exerciseimmediately after eating. Never eat when excited or angry and verylightly when worried or when expecting to study hard. We should learnto eat slowly and chew the food thoroughly remembering that all foodbefore it can be taken up in the blood must be as thin as pea soup. Chewing well will help the digestive organs greatly. Always wash thehands before eating. Be careful about eating food that has beenexposed to the dust unless it has been washed. Drink freely of cleanwater between meals. Never use a public drinking cup withoutthoroughly rinsing it. Don't touch your lips to the rim of the cup. Boys who cook their own meals when in camp should be {226} careful tohave their food well done. Half-baked and soggy food provesindigestible. Coffee and Tea Should a boy drink coffee or tea? This is a question often asked byboys. Coffee and tea are the greatest stimulants known. But does astrong boy need a stimulant? What is a stimulant and what does it do?A stimulant is a whip, making the body do more at a given time than itordinarily would. It doesn't add any fibre to the tissues, doesn't addany strength, isn't a food, but merely gets more out of the tissues ornervous system than they would ordinarily yield. Of course there is areaction, because the tissues have had nothing to feed on. HerbertFisher says that Peary's men, who drank lots of tea on their voyagenorth, during the most trying time of their trip showed it in theirhaggard faces and loss of tissue. Their own tissues had turnedcannibal and fed on their own material. Stimulants are not foods. Theyadd no strength to the body. They exact of the body what ought not tobe exacted of it. There is always a reaction and one is always worseoff as a result. Growing boys especially should have nothing to dowith tea, coffee, or any stimulant. Alcohol and Tobacco Alcohol is not a stimulant, but is really a narcotic that is verydepressing. It dulls rather than stimulates. The same is true ofnicotine in tobacco. No growing boy should use either. The firstathletes to drop out of a race are usually drinkers and all trainersknow that smoking is bad for the wind. Constipation Those boys who find their digestion sluggish and are troubled withconstipation may find the following plan helpful in overcoming thecondition: Drink a cool, copious draught of water upon arising. Then take somebody-bending exercises. Follow this with the sponge bath. Then, ifpossible, take a walk around the block before breakfast. After school, play some favorite game for at least an hour. In the absence of this, take a good hike of three or four miles or a longer bicycle ride. Atleast twice a week, if possible, enter a gymnasium class and makespecial emphasis of body-bending exercises. {227} Have a regular time for going to stool. A good plan is to go justbefore retiring and immediately upon arising. Go even though you feelno desire to do so. A regular habit may be established by this method. Always respond quickly to any call of nature. Toasted bread and grahambread and the coarser foods and fruit will be found helpful. The Teeth Closely related to the matter of eating is the proper care of theteeth. Perhaps--without care--the mouth is the filthiest cavity of the body. We spend a great deal of energy trying to keep food clean and waterpure, but what is the use if we place them in a dirty cavity as theyenter the body. Full 90 per cent. Of the children examined in ourschools have decayed and dirty teeth. These decayed teeth providecavities in which food particles decay and germs grow, and throughwhich poisons are absorbed. These conditions need not exist. Now justa few suggestions about the care of the teeth. Every boy should ownhis own tooth brush. The teeth should be scrubbed at least twice aday. At night they should receive most careful cleansing, using a goodtooth paste or powder. Then again in the morning they should be rinsedat which time simply clean water is sufficient. Time should be takenin the cleansing of the teeth. The gums should be included in thescrubbing, as this acts as a good stimulant to the circulation of theblood to the teeth. Not only should the teeth be brushed with abackward and forward stroke, as we ordinarily do, but also upward anddownward the length of the teeth. In addition to the scrubbing, particles of food which are lodged between the teeth should be removedafter meals, or at least after the last meal of the day. This is mostsafely done by the use of a thread of a fair degree of thickness. Dentists and druggists furnish this thread in spools. Hard toothpicksoften cause bleeding and detach fillings. A dentist should be visitedonce every six months so as to detect decay immediately. Never have atooth pulled unless absolutely necessary. Care of the Eyes Most troubles with the eyes come from eye strain. Styes and red lidsare usually due to this cause. See how foolish, therefore, it is totreat these conditions as causes, when really {228} they are only theresult of something else. Of course there are exceptions. Sometimeswild hairs and skin disease affect the eyes. Eye strain should beremoved by wearing well-fitting glasses and then these otherconditions will disappear. If constant headache is experienced or theeyes itch or become tired easily, there is possibly eye strain. One way to test the eye is for vision. Place the following lettersfifteen feet from you. If you cannot read them clearly with both eyesand with each eye separately, consult a first-class oculist. C L V F O T E A C F D L O T D V C L A E O T F Never buy eye-glasses unless fitted by an expert. Such glasses shouldbe worn in proper relation to the eyes. They should not be permittedto slide forward on the nose or tilt. They may need to be changedoften as the eyes grow better. For reading, a good, steady light is needed. Never sit in front of awindow facing it to read. Always have the light come from the rear andover the left shoulder preferably. The book should be held on a levelwith the face and not too close. Sit {229} erect. Reading when lyingdown or from the light of a fireplace is unwise. Care of the Ears Affections of the ears are exceedingly serious and may lead to graveresults. Any trouble with them should be given very prompt attentionand a good specialist consulted. Pain in the ear, or ringing orhissing sounds, and particularly any discharge from the ear, shouldnot be neglected. Any sign of deafness must be heeded. Sometimesdeafness occurs in reference to some particular sounds while hearingis normal to others. No matter what the degree of deafness may be donot neglect to see a physician about it. Ordinarily the tick of awatch can be heard at a distance of thirty inches. If you cannot hearit at that distance and can hear it say at fifteen inches then you arejust one half from the normal in your hearing. The test should be madewith one ear closed. Ear troubles are often caused by sticking foreign objects in the ear, such as hair pins, pins, matches, toothpicks and lead pencils. Neverpick the ear with anything. Often the ear drum is pierced in this way. The normal ear does not require anything more than the usual cleansingwith the wash rag over the end of the finger. If wax to any extent accumulates in the ear it should be removed bysyringing, but ought to be done by a physician. In camp an insect might crawl into the ear and if alive cause pain. Putting oil or other fluids in the ear to drown it is unwise. If aforeign body should get in the ear it should not cause great alarmunless attended with severe pain. If a physician is not available atonce such objects may remain for a day or two without serious results. Syringing usually removes them, but it should be remembered that someobjects like peas or beans swell if made wet. In swimming water is aptto get into the ear and cause annoyance. A rubber ear stop can besecured and placed in the ear at the time of swimming, thus keepingthe water out. Cotton should not be stuffed into the ear to keep waterout, as it may get inside. One thing to keep in mind is that catarrh of the nose and throat oftenextends into the ear passages through a tube which reaches from thethroat to the ear and that syringing of the nose and throat frequentlycauses trouble in the ear. Care of Nose and Throat Always breathe through the nose. Air passing through the nose iswarmed and moistened and cleansed; thus it gets to {230} the lungs ina better condition. If you cannot breathe clearly through the nose, have it examined. There may be a growth present which needs to beremoved. To become a good runner this is important. Adenoids, whichare growths far back in the mouth, often interfere with nose breathingand are serious in other ways. Don't stick anything in the nose; andnose picking is not cleanly. If crusts form in the nose, use a littlevaseline to soften them. Don't blow the nose too vigorously. It maycause trouble. Frequent sore throat may be due to enlarged tonsils which either needtreatment or removal. To one who has frequent colds in the head, theout-of-door life and morning sponge bath and moderate eating will beof help. Care of the Feet This is an important matter with scouts, as they will make frequenthikes and tramps. The first thing to do is to walk right. The straightfoot is the normal foot. The normal foot is broad at the ball withspace between the toes. How different from the awful feet we see withtoes twisted upon each other and crowded together. Walk with feetpointing straight forward. The feet that turn outward are weak feet. Shoes therefore should be straight on the inner border, broad acrossthe ball, and have a low, broad heel. The shoe adopted by the scoutmovement is a good design. When a foot is normal, the inner border does not touch the floor. Bywetting the foot one can see readily whether he is flat-footed by theimprint made. The following exercises are good to strengthen thearches of the foot if there is a tendency to flat feet: (1) Turn toesin, raise the heels, and come down slowly on the outer borders of thefeet; (2) Walk with heels raised and toes pointing inward, or walk onthe outer borders of the foot, inner borders turned up. Shoes should fit the feet comfortably. Tight shoes, or shoes that fitloosely, will cause callouses or corns. The way to get rid of these isto remove the cause--namely, the badly-fitting shoes. Soft corns aredue to pressure between the toes. The toes in such cases should bekept apart with cotton. Pointed shoes should be avoided. Patent-leather shoes are non-porous and hot. Ingrown toe nails areexceedingly painful. The pain comes from the nail piercing the softparts. Allowing the nail to grow long and beyond the point of thetender spot will help; {231} and on the side of the nail and under itcotton should be inserted to protect the soft parts. Hot foot baths will generally relieve tired feet. Boys should be verycareful in trimming corns for fear of blood poisoning. Never buyplates at a store for flat feet. They may not be adapted to yourneeds. Always consult a foot specialist for treatment and buy platesif needed on his order. Only severe cases need plates. Many boys are troubled with perspiring feet and are frequently annoyedby the odor resulting. Those who are thus troubled should wash thefeet often and carefully, especially, between the toes. By dusting thefeet with boric acid the odor will disappear. At first it may benecessary to change the stockings daily. In severe cases two pairs ofshoes should be used, changing alternately. Care of the Finger Nails The chief thing in the care of the finger nails is to keep them clean. Each boy should possess and use a nail brush. Always wash the handsthoroughly before eating, and use the end of a nail file to remove theaccumulation still remaining under the nails. Keep the nails properlytrimmed. They should not be too long nor too short. If long they areliable to break and if short to be sensitive. Biting the nails is afilthy practice and mutilates the fingers dreadfully and makes themunsightly. It is a very hard habit to overcome ofttimes and willrequire persistent effort in order to succeed. By keeping the nailssmooth the tendency to bite them will to some extent be overcome. Abitter application to the nails will often remind one of the habit, asoften the biting is done unconsciously. The nails should never bepared with a knife; a curved pair of scissors is better as the cuttingshould be done in a curved direction; but the best method is to use afile. The skin overhanging the nails should be pressed back once aweek to keep them shapely. Rubbing the nails with a nail buffer orcloth will keep them polished. Sleep One thing a growing boy wants to be long on is sleep, and yet he ismost apt to be careless about it. It is during sleep that a boy growsmost and catches up. During his waking hours he tears down and burnsup more tissue than he builds. Good, sound and sufficient sleep isessential to growth, strength, {232} and endurance. A boy scout shouldhave at least nine or ten hours sleep out of every twenty-four. If youlose out on this amount on one day, make it up the next. Wheneverunusually tired, or when you feel out of trim, stay in bed a few hoursmore if it is possible. A boy should wake up each morning feeling likea fighting cock. When he doesn't he ought to get to bed earlier thatnight. Sleep is a wonderful restorative and tonic. It helps to storeup energy and conserve strength. Sleeping Out of Doors The conditions under which one sleeps are as important as the lengthof time one sleeps. Many people are finding it wonderfully helpful andinvigorating to sleep out of doors. Often a back porch can bearranged, or, in summer, a tent can be pitched in the yard. But, byall means, the sleeping room should be well ventilated. Windows shouldbe thrown wide open. Avoid drafts. If the bed is in such relation tothe windows as to cause the wind to blow directly on it, a screen canbe used to divert it or a sheet hung up as protection. Good, fresh, cool air is a splendid tonic. In winter open windows are a splendidpreparation for camping out in summer. Conservation In this chapter much has been said of the active measures which a boyshould take in order to become strong and well. We should be equallyconcerned in saving and storing up natural forces we already have. Inthe body of every boy, who has reached his teens, the Creator of theuniverse has sown a very important fluid. This fluid is the mostwonderful material in all the physical world. Some parts of it findtheir way into the blood, and through the blood give tone to themuscles, power to the brain, and strength to the nerves. This fluid isthe sex fluid. When this fluid appears in a boy's body, it works awonderful change in him. His chest deepens, his shoulders broaden, hisvoice changes, his ideals are changed and enlarged. It gives him thecapacity for deep feeling, for rich emotion. Pity the boy, therefore, who has wrong ideas of this important function, because they willlower his ideals of life. These organs actually secrete into the bloodmaterial that makes a boy manly, strong, and noble. Any habit which aboy has that causes this fluid to be discharged from the body tends toweaken his strength, to make him less able to resist disease, andoften unfortunately fastens upon him habits which later in life he{233} cannot break. Even several years before this fluid appears inthe body such habits are harmful to a growing boy. To become strong, therefore, one must be pure in thought and clean inhabit. This power which I have spoken of must be conserved, becausethis sex function is so deep and strong that there will come timeswhen temptation to wrong habits will be very powerful. But rememberthat to yield means to sacrifice strength and power and manliness. For boys who desire to know more of this subject we would suggest asplendid book by Dr. Winfield S. Hall, entitled, "From Youth intoManhood. " Every boy in his teens who wants to know the secret ofstrength, power, and endurance should read this book. NOTES {234} Notes {235} Notes {236} Notes {237} CHAPTER VI CHIVALRY _By John L. Alexander, Boy Scouts of America_ Ancient Knighthood A little over fifteen hundred years ago the great order of knighthoodand chivalry was founded. The reason for this was the feeling on thepart of the best men of that day that it was the duty of the strongerto help the weak. These were the days when might was right, and theman with the strongest arm did as he pleased, often oppressing thepoor and riding rough shod without any regard over the feelings andaffections of others. In revolt against this, there sprang up all overEurope a noble and useful order of men who called themselves knights. Among these great-hearted men were Arthur, Gareth, Lancelot, Bedivere, and Alfred the Great. The desire of these men was "To live pure, speaktrue, right wrong, follow the king. " Of course in these days therealso lived men who called themselves knights, but who had none of thedesire for service that inspired Arthur and the others. These falseknights, who cared for no one but themselves and their own pleasure, often brought great sorrow to the common people. Chivalry then was arevolt against their brutal acts and ignorance and a protest againstthe continuation of the idea that might was right. Nowhere in all the stories that have come down to us have the acts ofchivalry been so well told as in the tales of the Round Table. Here itwas that King Arthur gathered about him men like Sir Bors, SirGawaine, Sir Pellias, Sir Geraint, Sir Tristram, Sir Lancelot, and SirGalahad. These men moved by the desire of giving themselves inservice, cleared the forests of wild animals, suppressed the robberbarons, {238} punished the outlaws, bullies, and thieves of their day, and enforced wherever they went a proper respect for women. It was forthis great service that they trained themselves, passing through thedegrees of page, esquire, and knight with all the hard work that eachof these meant in order that they might the better do their duty totheir God and country. [Illustration: Ancient knight. ] Struggle for Freedom Of course this struggle of right against wrong was not confined to thedays in which chivalry was born. The founding of the order ofknighthood was merely the beginning of the age-long struggle to makeright the ruling thought of life. Long after knighthood had passedaway, the struggle continued. In the birth of the modern nations, England, Germany, France, and others, there was the distinct feelingon the part of the best men of these nations that might should andmust give way to right, and that tyranny must yield to the spirit offreedom. The great struggle of the English barons under King John andthe wresting from the king of the Magna Charta, which became the basisof English liberty, was merely another development of the idea forwhich chivalry stood. The protest of the French Revolution, and theterrible doings of the common people in these days, although wickedand brutal in method, were symptoms of the same revolt againstoppression. [Illustration: Pilgrim father. ] The Pilgrim Fathers When the Pilgrim Fathers founded the American colonies, the work ofArthur and Alfred and the other great men of ancient days was renewedand extended and fitted to the new conditions and times. With theEnglish settlements of Raleigh and Captain John Smith we might almostsay that a new race of men was born and a new kind of knight wasdeveloped. All over America an idea made itself felt that in the eyesof the law every man should be considered just as good as every otherman, and that every man ought to have a fair and square chance {239}at all the good things that were to be had in a land of plenty. It wasthis spirit that compelled the colonists to seek their independenceand that found its way into our Declaration of Independence asfollows: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The fight of the colonists was the old-time fight of the knightsagainst the oppression and injustice and the might that dared to callitself right. [Illustration: Pioneer. ] American Pioneers No set of men, however, showed this spirit of chivalry more than ourpioneers beyond the Alleghanies. In their work and service theyparalleled very closely the knights of the Round Table, but whereasArthur's knights were dressed in suits of armor, the American pioneerswere dressed in buckskin. They did, however, the very same thingswhich ancient chivalry had done, clearing the forests of wild animals, suppressing the outlaws and bullies and thieves of their day andenforcing a proper respect for women. Like the old knights they oftenwere compelled to do their work amid scenes of great bloodshed, although they loved to live in peace. These American knights andpioneers were generally termed backwoods men and scouts, and were menof distinguished appearance, of athletic build, of high moralcharacter and frequently of firm religious convictions. Such men as"Apple-seed Johnny, " Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clark, Simon Kentonand John James Audubon, are the types of men these pioneers were. Theywere noted for their staunch qualities of character. They hateddishonesty and were truthful and brave. They were polite to women andold people, ever ready to rescue a companion when in danger, andequally ready to risk their lives for a stranger. They were veryhospitable, dividing their last crust with one another, or with thestranger whom they happened to meet. They were ever ready to do an actof kindness. {240} They were exceedingly simple in their dress andhabits. They fought the Indians, not because they wished to, butbecause it was necessary to protect their wives and children from theraids of the savages. They knew all the things that scouts ought toknow. They were acquainted with the woods and the fields; knew wherethe best fish were to be caught; understood the trees, the signs andblazes, the haunts of animals and how to track them; how to find theirway by the stars; how to make themselves comfortable in the heart ofthe primeval forest; and such other things as are classed under thegeneral term of woodcraft. And, with all this, they inherited thesplendid ideas of chivalry that had been developed in the thousandyears preceding them, and fitted these ideas to the conditions oftheir own day, standing solidly against evil and falsehood wheneverthey lifted their head among them. They were not perfect, but they didtheir best to be of service to those who came within their reach andworked conscientiously for their country. [Illustration: Modern knight. ] Modern Knighthood A hundred years have passed since then, and the conditions of lifewhich existed west of the Alleghanies are no more. Just as the life ofthe pioneers was different from that of the knights of the RoundTable, and as they each practised chivalry in keeping with their ownsur-roundings, so the life of to-day is different from both, but theneed of chivalry is very much the same. Might still tries to makeright, and while there are now no robber barons or outlaws with swordsand spears, their spirit is not unknown in business and commerciallife. Vice and dishonesty lift their heads just as strongly to-day asin the past and there is just as much need of respect for women andgirls as there ever was. So to-day there is a demand for a modern typeof chivalry. It is for this reason that the Boy Scouts of Americahave come into being; for there is need of service in these days, andthat is represented by the good turn done to somebody every day. Doingthe good turn daily will help to form the habit of useful service. Aboy scout, then, while living in modern times, must consider himselfthe heir of ancient chivalry {241} and of the pioneers, and he mustfor this reason give himself to ever renewed efforts to be true to thetraditions which have been handed down to him by these great and goodleaders of men. The boy-scout movement is a call to American boysto-day to become in spirit members of the order of chivalry, and achallenge to them to make their lives count in the communities inwhich they live--for clean lives, clean speech, clean sport, cleanhabits, and clean relationships with others. It is also a challengefor them to stand for the right against the wrong, for truth againstfalsehood, to help the weak and oppressed, and to love and seek thebest things of life. Abraham Lincoln [Illustration: Portrait of Abraham Lincoln. (tr)] Perhaps there is no better example of chivalry than the life andexperience of Abraham Lincoln, the greatest of all our American men. Every boy ought to read the story of his life and come to understandand appreciate what it means. Lincoln was born in the backwoods ofKentucky. He was a tall, spare man of awkward build, and knew verylittle of the school room as a boy. He fought for his education. Heborrowed books wherever he could. Many long nights were spent by himbefore the flickering lights of the log cabin, gleaning from hisborrowed treasures the knowledge he longed to possess. He passedthrough all the experiences of life that other scouts and pioneershave experienced. He split rails for a livelihood, and fought his wayupward by hard work, finally achieving for himself an education in thelaw, becoming an advocate in the courts of Illinois. Wherever hewent, he made a profound impression on the lives and minds of thepeople and won over his political opponents by his strength, sympathy, {242} and breadth of mind. At the period when storms threatened toengulf our Ship of State, he became President of our country. AlthoughLincoln was an untried pilot, he stood by the helm like a veteranmaster. A man of earnest and intense conviction, he strove tomaintain the glory of our flag and to keep the Union un-broken. Hundreds of stories are told of his great heart and almost boundlesssympathy for others. The generals of the Civil War were deeplyattached to him, and the rank and file of the sold-iers who foughtunder these generals loved and revered him. He was familiarly known as"Honest Abe. " He could always be relied upon to give help andencouragement. His smile cheered the defenders of the Union, and hiswise counsel gave heart to the men who were helping him to shape thedestinies of the nation. At the close of the war which saw the Unionmore firmly established than ever, he fell by the hand of theassassin, mourned deeply both by his own country and by the world atlarge. The further we get from the scene of his life and work the more firmlyare we, his countrymen, convinced of his sincerity, strength, wisdom, and bigness of heart. The two men who stand out preeminently inhistory among great Americans are Washington and Lincoln, the formeras the founder of the Union and the latter as the man who gave itunbreakable continuity and preserved it, as we hope and believe, forall time. [Illustration: Using every opportunity. ] Lincoln's life and career should be the study and inspiration of everyboy scout. He became familiar with all of the things for which the BoyScouts of America stand. He was a lover of the wild things in thewoods, and loved and lived the life of the out-of-doors. He had a highsense of honor and was intensely chivalrous, as the many hundredstories told about {243} him testify. He did many times more than onegood turn a day; he sincerely loved his country; he lived, fought, andworked for it; and finally he sealed his loyalty by giving his life. The path that he travelled from the log cabin to the White Houseclearly shows that an American boy who has well defined ideas of truthand right, and then dares to stand by them, can become great in thecouncils of the nation. The life, then, of Abraham Lincoln should be asteady inspiration to every boy who wishes to call himself a scout. Challenge of the Present Thus we see that chivalry is not a virtue that had its beginning longago and merely lived a short time, becoming a mere story. Chivalrybegan in the far-distant past out of the desire to help others, andthe knights of the olden days did this as best they could. Later thenew race of men in America took up the burden of chivalry, and did thebest they could. Now the privilege and responsibility comes to theboys of to-day, and the voices of the knight of the olden time and ofthe hardy pioneers of our own country are urging the boys of to-day todo the right thing, in a gentlemanly way, for the sake of those aboutthem. All of those men, whether knights or pioneers, had an unwrittencode, somewhat like our scout law, and their motto was very much likethe motto of the boy scouts, "Be Prepared. " [Illustration: Politeness. ] Good Manners The same thing that entered into the training of these men, knights, pioneers, and Lincoln, then, must enter into the training of the boyscouts of to-day. Just as they respected women and served them, so thetenderfoot and the scout must be polite and kind to women, not merelyto well-dressed women, but to poorly-dressed women; not merely toyoung women, but to old women: to women wherever they may be found--{244} wherever they may be. To these a scout must always be courteous andhelpful. When a scout is walking with a lady or a child, he should always walkon the outside of the sidewalk, so that he can better protect themagainst the jostling crowds. This rule is only altered when crossingthe street, when the scout should get between the lady and thetraffic, so as to shield her from accident or mud. Also in meeting awoman or child, a scout, as a matter of course, should always make wayfor them even if he himself has to step off the sidewalk into the mud. When riding in a street car or train a scout should never allow awoman, an elderly person, or a child to stand, but will offer hisseat; and when he does it he should do it cheerfully and with a smile. When on the street, be continually on a quest, on the lookout to helpothers, and always refuse any reward for the effort. This kind ofcourtesy and good manners is essential to success. It was thisunselfish desire to protect and help that made these men of olden timesuch splendid fellows. Good manners attract and please, and should be cultivated by every boywho expects to win success and make his life interesting to others. Inthe home, on the street, in the school, in the workshop or the office, or wherever one may be, his relationship to others should becharacterized as gentle, courteous, polite, considerate andthoughtful. These are virtues and graces that make life easier andpleasanter for all. Cheerfulness As has been said, whatever a scout does should be done withcheerfulness, and the duty of always being cheerful cannot beemphasized too much. Why don't you laugh, and make us all laugh too, And keep us mortals all from getting blue? A laugh will always win. If you can't laugh--just grin. Go on! Let's all join in! Why don't you laugh? Benjamin Franklin said: "Money never yet made a man happy, and thereis nothing in its nature to produce happiness, One's personalenjoyment is a very small thing, but one's personal usefulness is avery important thing. " Those only are happy who have their minds fixedupon some object other and higher than their own happiness. DoctorRaffles once said, {245} "I have made it a rule never to be with aperson ten minutes without trying to make him happier. " A boy oncesaid to his mother, "I couldn't make little sister happy, nohow Icould fix it, but I made myself happy trying to make her happy. " There was once a king who had a tall, handsome son whom he loved withhis whole heart, so he gave him everything that his heart desired--apony to ride, beautiful rooms to live in, picture books, stories, andeverything that money could buy. And yet, in spite of this, the youngprince was unhappy and wore a wry face and a frown wherever he went, and was always wishing for something he did not have. By and by, amagician came to the court, and seeing a frown on the prince's face, said to the king, "I can make your boy happy and turn his frown into asmile, but you must pay me a very large price for the secret. " "Allright, " said the king, "whatever you ask, I will do. " So the magiciantook the boy into a private room, and with white liquid wrotesomething on a piece of paper; then he gave the boy a candle and toldhim to warm the paper and read what was written. The prince did as hewas told. The white letters turned into letters of blue, and he readthese words; "Do a kindness to some one every day. " So the princefollowed the magician's advice and became the happiest boy in all theking's realm. To be a good scout one must remain cheerful under every circumstance, bearing both fortune and misfortune with a smile. [Illustration: Cheer up. ] Character If a scout is cheerful, follows the advice of the magician to theking's son, and does a good turn to some one every day, he will comeinto possession of a strong character such as the knights of the RoundTable had; for, after all, character is the thing that distinguishes agood scout from a bad one. Character is not what men say about you. Agreat writer {246} once said, "I can't hear what you say for what youare, " and another one said, "Your life speaks louder than your words. "It was not the words of the knights of old that told what they were. It was their strong life and fine character that gave power to theirwords and the thrust to their spears. It is necessary that a boy should live right and possess such acharacter as will help him to do the hardest things of life. Every boyshould remember that he is in reality just what he is when alone inthe dark. The great quests of the knights were most often done singlyand alone. Will Another thing that entered into the make-up of a knight was an ironwill. He had staying powers because he willed to stick; and the way hetrained his will to do the hard things was to keep himself doing thesmall things. Not long ago, there was a lad whom the boys nicknamed"Blockey" and "Wooden Man. " When they played ball in the school playground, Blockey never caught the ball. When they worked together inthe gymnasium, Blockey was always left out of the game because hecouldn't do things, and was slow and unwieldy in his motions. But oneday, a great change came over Blockey and he began to train his will. He worked hard in the gymnasium: he learned to catch the ball, and, bysticking to it, was not only able to catch the ball but becameproficient. Then there came a time when the first one chosen upon theteam was Blockey; and it all came about because he had trained hiswill so that when he made up his mind to do a thing, he did it. Thrift Another thing which entered into the training of a knight was hisreadiness to seize his opportunities. The motto of the scout is "BePrepared. " He should be prepared for whatever opportunity presentsitself. An interesting story is told by Orison Swett Marden. He saysthat a lad, who later became one of the millionaires of one of ourgreat Western cities, began his earning career by taking advantage ofan opportunity that came to him as he was passing an auction shop. Hesaw several boxes of a kind of soap which his mother was accustomed tobuy from the family grocer. Hastening to the grocery store he askedthe price of the soap. "Twelve cents a pound" was the reply. On beingpressed for a lower figure the shopkeeper remarked in a bantering tonethat he would buy all that the boy could bring to his store at {247}nine cents a pound. The boy hurried back to the auction and bought thesoap at six cents a pound. It was in this way that he made his firstmoney in trade and laid the foundation of his fortune. The knight never waited for opportunity to come to him. He went outlooking for it, and wore his armor in order that he might be ready forit when it came. There is a story of a Greek god who had only one lockof hair upon his forehead. The remainder of his head was shining bald. In order to get this ancient god's attention, it was necessary to griphim by his forelock, for when he had passed, nothing could check hisspeed. So it is with opportunity, and the hour of opportunity. A goodscout is ready for both and always grips "time by the forelock. " Individuality If the foregoing qualities enter into a scout's training, anindividuality will be developed in him, which will make itself knownand felt. Every scout should read over the following list of scout virtues, andshould strive at all times to keep them before him in his training, thus making them a part of his life: Unselfishness: The art of thinking of others first and one's self afterward. Self Sacrifice: The giving up of one's comfort, desires, and pleasures for the benefit of some one else. Kindness: The habit of thinking well of others and doing good to them. Friendliness: The disposition to make everyone you meet feel at ease, and to be of service to him if possible. Honesty: The desire to give to every one a square deal and the same fair chance that you yourself wish to enjoy. It means also respect for the property and rights of others, the ability to face the truth, and to call your own faults by their right name. Fair Play: Scorning to take unfair advantage of a rival and readiness even to give up an advantage to him. Loyalty: The quality of remaining true and faithful not only to your principles but also to your parents and friends. Obedience: Compliance with the wishes of parents or those in places of authority. Discipline: That self-restraint and self-control that keep a boy steady, and help him in team work. Endurance: A manly moderation which keeps a boy fit and strong and in good condition. {248} Self Improvement: The ambition to get on in life by all fair means. Humility: That fine quality which keeps a scout from boasting, and which generally reveals a boy of courage and achievement. Honor: That great thing which is more sacred than anything else to scouts and gentlemen; the disdain of telling or implying an untruth; absolute trustworthiness and faithfulness. Duty to God: That greatest of all things, which keeps a boy faithful to his principles and true to his friends and comrades; that gives him a belief in things that are high and noble, and which makes him prove his belief by doing his good turn to some one every day. This list of virtues a scout must have, and if there are any thatstandout more prominently than the others, they are the following: [Illustration: Scout protecting child from mad dog. ] Courage It is horrible to be a coward. It is weak to yield to fear and heroicto face danger without flinching. The old Indian who had been mortallywounded faced death with a grim smile on his lips and sang his owndeath song. The soldier of the {249} Roman legions laughed in the faceof death, and died often with a "Hail, Imperator!" for the RomanCaesar upon his lips. One of the stories connected with the battle of Agincourt tells usthat four fair ladies had sent their knightly lovers into battle. Oneof these was killed. Another was made prisoner. The third was lost inthe battle and never heard of afterward. The fourth was safe, but owedhis safety to shameful flight. "Ah! woe is me, " said the lady of thisbase knight, "for having placed my affections on a coward. He wouldhave been dear to me dead. But alive he is my reproach. " A scout must be as courageous as any knight of old or any Romansoldier or any dying Indian. Loyalty Loyalty is another scout virtue which must stand out prominently, because it is that which makes him true to his home, his parents, andhis country. Charles VIII, at the Battle of Foronovo, picked out nineof his bravest officers and gave to each of them a complete suit ofarmor, which was a counterpart of his own. By this device he outwitteda group of his enemies who had leagued themselves to kill him duringthe fight. They sought him through all the ranks, and every time theymet one of these officers they thought they had come face to face withthe king. The fact that these officers hailed such a dangerous honorwith delight and devotion is a striking illustration of their loyalty. The scout should be no less loyal to his parents, home, and country. Duty to God No scout can ever hope to amount to much until he has learned areverence for religion. The scout should believe in God and God'sword. In the olden days, knighthood, when it was bestowed, was areligious ceremony, and a knight not only considered himself a servantof the king, but also a servant of God. The entire night preceding theday upon which the young esquire was made knight was spent by him onhis knees in prayer, in a fast and vigil. There are many kinds of religion in the world. One important point, however, about them is that they all involve the worship of the sameGod. There is but one leader, although many ways of following Him. Ifa scout meets one of another religion, he should remember that he, too, is striving for the best. {250} A scout should respect theconvictions of others in matters of custom and religion. [Illustration: Scout helping old lady across street. ] A Boy Scout's Religion The Boy Scouts of America maintain that no boy can grow into the bestkind of citizenship without recognizing his obligation to God. Thefirst part of the boy scout's oath or pledge is therefore: "I promiseon my honor to do my best to honor my God and my country. " Therecognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe, and the grateful acknowledgement of His favors and blessings isnecessary to the best type of citizenship and is a wholesome thing inthe education of the growing boy. No matter what the boy maybe--Catholic, or Protestant, or Jew--this fundamental need of goodcitizenship should be kept before him. The Boy Scouts of Americatherefore recognize the religious element in the training of a boy, but it is absolutely non-sectarian in its attitude toward thatreligious training. Its policy is that the organization or institutionwith which the boy scout is connected shall give definite attention tohis religious life. If he be a Catholic boy scout, the Catholic Churchof which he is a member is the best channel for his training. If he bea Hebrew boy, then the Synagogue will train him in the faith of hisfathers. If he be a Protestant, no matter to what denomination ofProtestantism he may belong, the church of which he is an adherent ora member should be the proper organization to give him an education inthe things that pertain to his allegiance to God. The Boy Scouts ofAmerica, then, while recognizing the fact that the boy should betaught the things that pertain to religion, insists upon the boy'sreligious life being stimulated and fostered by the institution withwhich he is connected. Of course, it is a fundamental principle of theBoy Scouts of America to insist on {251} clean, capable leadership inits scout masters, and the influence of the leader on the boy scoutshould be of a distinctly helpful character. Work, Not Luck Life, after all, is just this: Some go through life trusting to luck. They are not worthy to be scouts. Others go through life trusting tohard work and clear thinking. These are they who have cleared thewilderness and planted wheat where forests once grew, who have drivenback the savage, and have fostered civilization in the uncultivatedplaces of the earth. The good scout is always at work--working toimprove himself and to improve the daily lot of others. The thing that is to be noticed in all of these men, those of theRound Table, and those of American pioneer days, is the fact that theywere ever ready to do a good turn to some one. The knights of theRound Table did theirs by clash of arms, by the jousts and thetourney, and by the fierce hand-to-hand fights that were their delightin open battle. The old scouts, our own pioneers, very often had touse the rifle and the hatchet and the implements of war. However, those days have passed, and we are living in a non-military andpeace-loving age; and the glory of it is that, whereas these men tooktheir lives in their hands and by dint of rifle and sword did theirpart in helping others, our modern civilization gives the Boy Scoutsof America an opportunity to go out and do their good turn daily forothers in the thousand ways that will benefit our American life themost. Sometimes they will have to risk their lives, but it will be incase of fire or accident or catastrophe. At other times they will begiven the privilege of showing simple deeds of chivalry by theircourteous treatment of their elders, cripples, and children, by givingup their seats in street cars, or by carrying the bundles of those whoare not as physically strong as themselves. And in it all will comethe satisfying feeling that they are doing just as much and perhaps agreat deal more than the iron-clad men or the buckskin clothed scoutsin making their country a little safer and a little better place tolive in. Chivalry and courtesy and being a gentleman mean just as muchnow as they ever did, and there is a greater demand in these days tolive pure, to speak true, and to help others by a good turn daily thanever before in the world's history. {252} Notes {253} Notes {254} Notes {255} CHAPTER VII FIRST AID AND LIFE SAVING _Major Charles Lynch, Medical Corps, U. S. A. Acting for the American Red Cross_ PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS General Considerably over a million persons are seriously injured in theUnited States each year. The enormous loss of life and the greatsuffering involved certainly demand that every boy scout do what hecan to improve conditions in this respect. Some accidents happen underall circumstances, but, on the other hand a great many accidents areavoidable and probably quite one half of the injuries which occur inthe United States yearly could be prevented if common care wereexercised. Panics and Their Prevention In case of a panic, at an in-door assembly, scouts, if they live up totheir motto, "Be Prepared, " will be able to save hundreds of lives. There is usually plenty of time for people to get out of a building ifthe exits are not blocked by too many crowding them at once. Oneshould, if possible, try to arrange to have the performance go on, andthe others could reassure the people and get them to go out quietlythrough the exits provided. Almost all scouts know how quickly andsafely our school buildings are cleared by means of the fire drill. Fires Fires constitute a danger as great as panics, and scouts should beequally well informed what to do in case of fire. It is the duty of ascout to know how to prevent fires. Many fires are caused bycarelessness. Never throw away a lighted match, for it may fall oninflammable material and start a fire. Reading in bed by the light ofa lamp or candle is dangerous, for if the reader goes to sleep the bedclothing is likely to catch fire. {256} A scout may often have to dryhis clothes before a fire and if so, they should be carefully watched. Hot ashes in wooden boxes, or in barrels, are responsible for manyfires. In camp, dry grass should be cut away from the locality of thecamp fire; and not to put out a camp fire on leaving a camp iscriminal. Many of the great fires in our forests have been due tocarelessness in this respect. Fires also result frequently fromexplosions of gas or gunpowder. A room in which the odor of gas isapparent should never be entered with a light, and in handlinggunpowder a scout should have no matches loose in his pockets. How To Put Out Burning Clothing If your own clothing should catch fire do not run for help as thiswill fan the flames. Lie down and roll up as tightly as possible in anovercoat, blanket, or rug. If nothing can be obtained in which to wrapup, lie down and roll over slowly at the same time beating out thefire with the hands. If another person's clothing catches fire, throwhim to the ground and smother the fire with a coat, blanket, or rug. What To Do in Case of Fire A fire can usually be put out very easily when it starts, and here isan occasion when a scout can show his presence of mind and coolness. At first a few buckets of water or blankets or woollen clothing thrownupon a fire will smother it. Sand, ashes, or dirt, or even flour, willhave the same effect. [Transcriber's note: Flour dust suspended in air is explosive. ] If a scout discovers a building to be on fire, he should sound thealarm for the fire department at once. If possible he should send someone else, as the scout will probably know better what to do before thefire-engine arrives. All doors should be kept closed so as to preventdraughts. If you enter the burning building, close the window or doorafter you, if possible, and leave some responsible person to guard itso it will not be opened and cause a draught. In searching for people, go to the top floor and walk down, examining each room as carefully aspossible. If necessary to get air while making the search, close thedoor of the room, open a window, and stick the head out until a fewbreaths can be obtained. Afterward close the window to prevent adraught. If doors are found locked and you suspect people are asleepinside, knock and pound on doors to arouse them. If this produces noresults, you will have to try to break down the door. While searchingthrough a burning building it will be best to tie a wet handkerchiefor cloth {257} over the nose and mouth. You will get a little air fromthe water. Remember the air within six inches of the floor is free from smoke, sowhen you have difficulty in breathing, crawl along the floor, with thehead low, dragging anyone you have rescued behind you. If you tie the hands of an insensible person together with ahandkerchief and put them over your head, you will find it fairly easyto crawl along the floor dragging him with you. [Illustration: Learning by doing. ] Never jump from a window unless the flames are so close to you thatthis is the only means of escape. If you are outside a building, put bedding in a pile to break thejumper's fall, or get a strong carpet or rug to catch him, and have itfirmly held by as many men and boys as can secure hand holds. In country districts, scouts should organize a bucket brigade whichconsists of two lines from the nearest water supply to the fire. Scouts in one line pass buckets, pitchers, or anything else that willhold water from one to another till the last scout {258} throws thewater on the fire. The buckets are returned by the other line. Drowning Drowning accidents are very common. Every scout should know how toswim and to swim well, but this is not all that is necessary. Heshould also know how to prevent accidents that may result in drowning. In summer, boating and bathing accidents are common. Remember a lightboat is not intended for heavy seas; do not change seats except in awide and steady boat; and above all things do not put yourself in theclass of idiots who rock a boat. At the sea-shore, unless you are a strong swimmer, do not go outsidethe life line, and if the undertow is strong be careful not to walkout where the water is so deep it will carry you off your feet. Verycold water and very long swims are likely to exhaust even a strongswimmer and are therefore hazardous unless a boat accompanies theswimmer. Rescue of the Drowning(_See pages 279 to 285_) Ice Rescue To rescue a person who has broken through the ice you should first tiea rope around your body and have the other end tied, or held, onshore. Then secure a long board or a ladder or limb of a tree, crawlout on this, or push it out, so that the person in the water may reachit. If nothing can be found on which you can support your weight donot attempt to walk out toward the person to be rescued, but lie downflat on your face and crawl out, as by doing this much less weightbears at anyone point on the ice than in walking. If you yourselfbreak through the ice remember that if you try to crawl up on thebroken edge it will very likely break again with you. If rescuers arenear, it would be much better to support yourself on the edge of theice and wait for them to come to you. Restoring the Drowning and Artificial Respiration(_See pages 286 to 288_) Electric Accidents For his own benefit and that of his comrades, the scout should knowhow to avoid accidents from electricity. The third rail is alwaysdangerous, so do not touch {259} it. Swinging wires of any kind maysomewhere in their course be in contact with live wires, so theyshould not be touched. A person in contact with a wire or rail carrying an electric currentwill transfer the current to the rescuer. Therefore he must not touchthe unfortunate victim unless his own body is thoroughly insulated. The rescuer must act very promptly, for the danger to the person incontact is much increased the longer the electric current is allowedto pass through his body. If possible, the rescuer should insulatehimself by covering his hands with a mackintosh, rubber sheeting, several thicknesses of silk, or even dry cloth. In addition he should, if possible, complete his insulation by standing on a dry board, athick piece of paper, or even on a dry coat. Rubber gloves and rubbershoes or boots are still safer, but they cannot usually be procuredquickly. If a live wire is under a person and the ground is dry, it will beperfectly safe to stand on the ground and pull him off the wire withthe bare hands, care being taken to touch only his clothing, and thismust not be wet. A live wire lying on a patient may be flipped off with safety with adry board or stick. In removing the live wire from the person, or theperson from the wire, do this, with one motion, as rocking him to andfro on the wire will increase shock and burn. A live wire may be safely cut by an axe or hatchet with dry, woodenhandle. The electric current may be short circuited by dropping acrow-bar or poker on the wire. These must be dropped on the side fromwhich the current is coming and not on the farther side, as the latterwill not short circuit the current before it is passed through thebody of the person in contact. Drop the metal bar; do not place it onthe wire or you will then be made a part of the short circuit andreceive the current of electricity through your body. What To Do for Electric Shocks Always send for a doctor, but do not wait for him. Treatment should begiven even if the man appears to be dead. Loosen the clothing aroundneck and body. Proceed to restore breathing by artificial respirationas in drowning. (See pages 286, 287. ) Gas Accidents The commonest gas encountered is the ordinary illuminating gas. Toprevent such gas from escaping in dangerous {260} quantities, leaks ingas pipes should be promptly repaired. Be careful in turning off gasto make sure that gas is actually shut off. It is dangerous to leave agas jet burning faintly when you go to sleep: as it may go out ifpressure in the gas pipe becomes less, and if pressure is afterwardincreased gas may escape into the room. Coal gas will escape through red-hot cast-iron, and very big fires insuch stoves are dangerous, especially in sleeping rooms. Charcoalburned in open vessels in tight rooms is especially dangerous. Inunderground sewers and wells other dangerous gases are found. If alighted candle or torch will not burn in such a place, it is verycertain the air will be deadly for any person who enters. To rescue an unconscious person in a place filled with gas, movequickly and carry him out without breathing yourself. Take a few deepbreaths before entering and if possible hold breath while in theplace. Frequently less gas will be found near the floor of a building, so one may be able to crawl where it would be dangerous to walk. What To Do for Gas Poisoning Proceed to restore breathing by artificial respiration as in drowning. (See pages 286, 287. ) Runaway Horses The method for checking a horse running away is not to run out andwave your arm in front of him, as this will only cause him to dodge toone side and to run faster, but to try to run alongside the vehiclewith one hand on the shaft to prevent yourself from falling, seizingthe reins with the other hand and dragging the horse's head towardyou. If when he has somewhat slowed down by this method, you can turnhim toward a wall or a house he will probably stop. Mad Dog The first thing to do is to kill the mad dog at once. Wrap ahandkerchief around the hand to prevent the dog's teeth from enteringthe flesh and grasp a club of some kind. If you can stop the dog witha stick you should hit him hard over the head with it, or kick himunder the jaw. A handkerchief held in front of you in youroutstretched hands will generally cause the dog to stop to paw itbefore he attempts to bite you. This will give you an opportunity tokick him under the lower jaw. {261} Another way suggested is to wrap a coat around the left arm and letthe dog bite it; then with the other hand seize the dog's throat andchoke him. FIRST AID FOR INJURIES General Directions Keep cool. There is no cause for excitement or hurry. In not one casein a thousand are the few moments necessary to find out what is thematter with an injured man going to result in any harm to him, and ofcourse in order to treat him intelligently you must first know what isthe matter. Commonsense will tell the scout that he must waste notime, however, when there is severe bleeding, or in case of poisoning. If possible, always send for a doctor, unless the injury is a trivialone. Don't wait until he arrives, however, to do something for theinjured person. A crowd should always be kept back and tight clothingshould be loosened. If the patient's face is pale, place him on hisback with his head low. If his face is flushed, fold your coat and putit under his head so as to raise it slightly. In case of vomiting, place the patient on his side. Do not give anunconscious person a stimulant, as he cannot swallow, and it will rundown his windpipe and choke him. If the injury is covered by clothing, remove it by cutting or tearing, but never remove more clothing than necessary, as one of the resultsof injury is for a person to feel cold. Shoes and boots should be cutin severe injuries about the feet. Shock For example, a scout is riding on a trolley-car. The car runs into aloaded wagon. The wagon is overturned and the driver thrown to thepavement. Part of the load falls upon his body and when you reach himhe is unconscious. So far as you can find out, nothing else is thematter with him. This is called shock. It accompanies all seriousinjuries and is itself serious, as a person may die without everrecovering from shock. Of course, there are different degrees ofshock. In severe shock the person is completely unconscious or he maybe only slightly confused and feel weak and uncertain of what hashappened. In shock always send for a doctor when you can. Before he comes, warmand stimulate the patient in every possible way. Place him on his backwith his head low and cover him with {262} your coat or a blanket. Rubhis arms and legs toward his body but do not uncover him to do this. If you have ammonia or smelling salts, place them before the patient'snose so he may breathe them. This is all you can do when unconsciousness is complete. When thepatient begins to recover a little, however, and as soon as he canswallow, give him hot tea or coffee, or a half teaspoonful of aromaticspirits of ammonia in a quarter glass of water. Warning: Remember always that a person with shock may have some otherserious injuries. These you should always look for and treat ifnecessary. Injuries in Which the Skin is Not Broken--Fractures A fracture is the same thing as a broken bone. When the bone piercesor breaks through the skin, it is called a compound fracture, and whenit does not, a simple fracture. [Illustration: Splints for broken thigh. ] A scout is in the country with a comrade. The latter mounts a stonewall to cross it. The wall falls with him and he calls out for help. When the other scout reaches him, he finds the injured scout lyingflat on the ground with both legs stretched out. One of these does notlook quite natural, and the scout complains of a great deal of pain atthe middle of the thigh and thinks he felt something break when hefell. He cannot raise the injured leg. Carefully rip the trousers andthe underclothing at the seam to above the painful point. When youhave done this the deformity will indicate the location of thefracture. You must be very gentle now or you will do harm, but if onehand is put above where you think the {263} break occurred and theother below it and it is lifted gently you will find that there ismovement at the broken point. [Illustration: Splints for broken leg. ] Send for a doctor first, if you can, and, if you expect him to arrivevery soon, let your comrade lie where he is, putting his injured legin the same position as the sound one and holding it there by coats orother articles piled around the leg. But if the doctor cannot beexpected for some time, draw the injured limb into position like thesound one and hold it there by splints. Splints can be made ofanything that is stiff and rigid. Something flat like a board isbetter than a pole or staff; limbs broken off a tree will do ifnothing else can be found. Shingles make excellent splints. Inapplying splints remember that they should extend beyond the nextjoint above and the next joint below; otherwise, movements of thejoint will cause movement at the broken point. With a fracture of thethigh, such as that described, the outer splint should be a very longone, extending below the feet from the arm pit. A short one extendingjust below the knee will do for the inner splint. Splints may be tiedon with handkerchiefs, pieces of cloth torn from the clothing, or thelike. Tie firmly but not tight enough to cause severe pain. In afracture of the thigh it will also be well to bind the injured leg tothe sound one by two or three pieces of cloth around both. Theclothing put back in place will serve as padding under the splint, butwith thin summer clothing it is better to use straw, hay, or leaves inaddition. Fractures of the lower leg and of the upper and lower armare treated in the same way with a splint on the inner and outer sidesof the broken bone. A sling will be required for a fracture of thearm. This may be made of the triangular bandage, or of a triangularpiece of cloth, torn from your shirt. {264} The Red Cross First Aid Outfit is very convenient to use infractures as well as in other injuries. The gauze bandage may be usedfor the strips to tie on the splints and the triangular bandage for anarm sling; or, if a sling is not needed, for strips to fix the splintsfirmly in place. Compound Fractures The edges of a broken bone are very sharp and may cut through the skinat the time of an injury, but more often afterward, if the injuredperson moves about or if the splints are not well applied so as toprevent movement at the point where the bone is broken. If a compoundfracture has occurred, the wound produced by the sharp bone mustalways be treated first. The treatment is the same for any otherwound. _Warning_: You will not always be able to tell whether or not afracture has occurred. In this case do not pull and haul the limbabout to make sure, but treat as a fracture. There will always be aconsiderable amount of shock with fracture and this must also betreated. [Illustration: Splints and sling for fracture of upper arm. ] Bruises Everybody has suffered from a bruise at some time in his life andknows just what it is. A slight bruise needs no treatment. For asevere one, apply very hot or very cold water to prevent pain andswelling. Sprains A scout slips and twists his ankle and immediately suffers severepain, and in a little while the ankle begins to swell. {265} Thesprained joint should be put in an elevated position and cloths wrungout in very hot or very cold water should be wrapped around it andchanged very frequently. Movement of any sprained joint is likely toincrease the injury, so this ought not to be permitted. Walking with asprained ankle is not only exceedingly painful but it generallyincreases the hurt. [Illustration: Triangular sling for arm. ] Dislocation A dislocation is an injury where the head of a bone has slipped out ofits socket at a joint. A scout is playing foot-ball. He suddenly feelsas though his shoulder has been twisted out of place. Comparison withthe other side will show that the injured shoulder does not look likethe other one, being longer, or shorter, and contrary to the case withfracture there will not be increased movement at the point of injurybut a lessened movement. Do not attempt to get a dislocated joint backin place. Cover the joint with cloths wrung out in very hot or verycold water, and get the patient into the hands of a doctor as soon aspossible. Injuries in Which the Skin is Broken Such injuries are called wounds. There is one very important factwhich must be remembered in connection with such injuries. Any injuryin which the skin is unbroken is much less dangerous, as the skinprevents germs from reaching the injured part. The principle to befollowed in treating a wound is to apply something to prevent germsfrom reaching the injury. {266} All wounds unless protected from germs are very liable to becomeinfected with matter, or pus. Blood poisoning and even death mayresult from infection. To prevent infection of wounds, the scoutshould cover them promptly with what is called a sterilized dressing. This is a surgical dressing which has been so treated that it is freefrom germs. A number of dressings are on the market and can beprocured in drug stores. In using them, be very careful not to touchthe surface of the dressing which is to be placed in contact with thewound. The Red Cross First Aid Dressing is so made that this accidentis almost impossible. In taking care of a wound, do not handle it ordo anything else to it. Every one's hands, though they may appear tobe perfectly clean, are not so in the sense of being free from germs;nor is water, so a wound should never be washed. [Illustration: Head bandage. ] It will be a good thing for a scout always to carry a Red Cross FirstAid Outfit, or some similar outfit, for with this he is ready to takecare of almost any injury; without it he will find it very difficultto improvise anything to cover a wound with safety to the injuredperson. If no prepared dressing is procurable, boil a towel ifpossible for fifteen minutes, squeeze the water out of it withouttouching the inner surface, and apply that to the wound. The next bestdressing, if you cannot prepare this, will be a towel or handkerchiefwhich has been recently washed and has not been used. These should beheld in place on the wound with a bandage. Do not be afraid to leave awound exposed to the air; germs do not float around in the air andsuch exposure is much safer than water or any dressing which is notfree from germs. Of course you can bind up a {267} wound with a towelnot boiled or piece of cotton torn from your shirt, but you cannot doso without the liability of a great deal of harm to the injuredperson. Snake Bites While snake bites are wounds, the wounds caused by venomous snakes arenot important as such but because the venom is quickly absorbed and byits action on the brain may cause speedy death. The rattlesnake andthe moccasin are the most dangerous snakes in the United States. In order to prevent absorption of the poison, immediately tie astring, handkerchief, or bandage above the bite. This can only be donein the extremities, but nearly all bites are received on the arms orlegs. Then soak the wound in hot water and squeeze or suck it toextract the poison. Sucking a wound is not dangerous unless one hascuts or scrapes in the mouth. Then burn the wound with strong ammonia. This is not aromatic spirits of ammonia, but what is commonly known asstrong ammonia in any drug store. Aromatic spirits of ammonia shouldalso be given as a stimulant. If you have nothing but a string to tie off the wound, be sure to dothat and to get out as much poison as you can by squeezing or suckingthe wound. A doctor should of course always be sent for whenpracticable in any injury as severe as a snake bite. Leave your stringor bandage in place for an hour. A longer period is unsafe, as cuttingoff the circulation may cause mortification. Loosen the string orbandage after an hour's time, so that a little poison escapes into thebody. If the bitten person does not seem to be much affected, repeatat the end of a few moments, and keep this up until the band has beenentirely removed. If, however, the bitten person seems to be seriouslyaffected by the poison you have allowed to escape into his body, youmust not loosen the bandage again, but leave it in place and take thechance of mortification. Wounds Without Severe Bleeding These constitute the majority of all wounds. Use the Red Cross Outfitas described in the slip contained in the outfit. The pressure of abandage will stop ordinary bleeding if firmly bound into place. Wounds With Severe Bleeding A scout must be prepared to check severe bleeding at once, and heshould then dress the wound. Bleeding from an {268} artery is by farthe most dangerous. Blood coming from a cut artery is bright red incolor and flows rapidly in spurts or jets. As the course of the bloodin an artery is away from the heart, pressure must be applied on theheart side just as a rubber pipe which is cut must be compressed onthe side from which the water is coming in order to prevent leakage ata cut beyond. The scout must also know the course of the largerarteries in order that he may know where to press on them. In the armthe course of the large artery is down the inner side of the bigmuscle in the upper arm about in line with the seam of the coat. Theartery in the leg runs down from the centre of a line from the pointof the hip to the middle of the crotch, and is about in line with theinseam of the trousers. Pressure should be applied about three inchesbelow the crotch. In making pressure on either of these arteries, usethe fingers and press back against the bone. You can often feel theartery beat under your fingers, and the bleeding below will stop whenyou have your pressure properly made. Of course you cannot keep up thepressure with your fingers indefinitely in this way as they will soonbecome tired and cramped. Therefore, while you are doing this havesome other scout prepare a tourniquet. The simplest form of tourniquetis a handkerchief tied loosely about the limb. In this handkerchief asmooth stone or a cork should be placed just above your fingers on theartery. When this is in place put a stick about a foot long under thehandkerchief at the outer side of the limb and twist around till thestone makes pressure on the artery in the same way that your {269}fingers have. Tie the stick in position so it will not untwist. [Illustration: How to apply first aid dressing. ] _Warning_: When using a tourniquet remember that cutting off thecirculation for a long time is dangerous. It is much safer not to keepon a tourniquet more than an hour. Loosen it, but be ready to tightenit again quickly if bleeding re-commences. Another method to stop bleeding from an artery when the wound is belowthe knee or elbow is to place a pad in the bend of the joint anddouble the limb back over it holding the pad in tightly. Tie the armor leg in this position. If these means do not check the bleeding puta pad into the wound and press on it there. If you have no dressingand blood is being lost very rapidly, make pressure in the wound withyour fingers. Remember, however, that this should only be resorted toin the case of absolute necessity as it will infect the wound. Blood from veins flows in a steady stream back toward the heart and isdark in color. From most veins a pad firmly bandaged on the bleedingpoint will stop the bleeding. If a vein in the neck is wounded, bloodwill be lost so rapidly that the injured person is in danger ofimmediate death, so you must disregard the danger of infection and jamyour hand tightly against the bleeding point. Keep the patent quiet in all cases of severe bleeding, for even if itis checked it may start up again. Do not give any stimulants until thebleeding has been checked unless the patient is very weak. The beststimulant is aromatic spirits of ammonia, one teaspoonful in half aglass of water. [Illustration: How to apply tourniquet to upper arm. ] {270} Unconsciousness and Poisoning Unconsciousness, of course, means lack of consciousness, or, in otherwords; one who is unconscious knows nothing of his surroundings or ofwhat is happening. A person may, however, be partially, as well aswholly, unconscious. Unconsciousness may be due to so many causes that, in order to givethe best treatment, the scout should first know the cause. Always tryto find this out if you can. If you cannot do this, however, youshould at least determine whether unconsciousness is due to poison, tobleeding, to sunstroke, or to freezing; for each of these demandimmediate, special treatment. If it is not due to one of these causes, and the patient is pale and weak, have him placed with his head low, and warm and stimulate him in every possible way. If the face is redand the pulse is bounding and strong, that patient should have hishead raised on a folded coat. No stimulants should be given him andcold water should be sprinkled on his face and chest. The common causes of unconsciousness are shock, electric shock, fainting, apoplexy and injury to the brain, sunstroke and heatexhaustion, freezing, suffocation, and poisoning. The first two havealready been described and the treatment of any form of suffocation inartificial respiration. Fainting Fainting usually occurs in overheated, crowded places. The patient isvery pale and partially or completely unconscious. The pupils of theeye are natural, the pulse is weak and rapid. The patient should beplaced in a lying-down position with the head lower than the rest ofthe body so that the brain will receive more blood. Loosen theclothing, especially about the neck. Keep the crowd back and open thewindows if in-doors so that the patient may get plenty of fresh air. Sprinkle the face and chest with cold water. Apply smelling salts orammonia to the nose, rub the limbs toward the body. A stimulant may begiven when the patient is so far recovered that he is able to swallow. Apoplexy and Injury to the Brain Apoplexy and unconsciousness from injury to the brain are due to thepressure of blood on the brain so that they {271} may be describedtogether. Apoplexy is of course much harder to distinguish than injuryto the brain as in the latter the scout can always see that the headhas been hurt. With both, unconsciousness will usually be complete. Pupils are large and frequently unequal in size, breathing is snoring, and the pulse is usually full and slow. One side of the body will beparalyzed. Test this by raising arm or leg; if paralyzed, it will dropabsolutely helpless. Send for a doctor at once. Keep patient quiet andin a dark room if possible. Put in lying-down position with headraised by pillows. Apply ice or cold cloths to head. No stimulants. Drunkenness is sometimes mistaken for apoplexy. If there is any doubton this point always treat for apoplexy. Sunstroke and Heat Exhaustion Anyone is liable to sunstroke or heat exhaustion if exposed toexcessive heat. A scout should remember not to expose himself too muchto the sun nor should he wear too heavy clothing in the summer. Leavesin the hat will do much to prevent sunstroke. If the scout becomesdizzy and exhausted through exposure to the sun he should find a coolplace, lie down, and bathe the face, hands, and chest in cold waterand drink freely of cold water. Sunstroke and heat exhaustion, though due to the same cause, are quitedifferent and require different treatment. In sunstrokeunconsciousness is complete. The face is red, pupils large, the skinis very hot and dry with no perspiration. The patient sighs and thepulse is full and slow. The treatment for sunstroke consists inreducing the temperature of the body. A doctor should be summonedwhenever possible. The patient should be removed to a cool place andhis clothing loosened, or better the greater part of it removed. Coldwater, or ice, should be rubbed over the face, neck, chest, and in armpits. When consciousness returns give cold water freely. Heat exhaustion is simply exhaustion or collapse due to heat. Thepatient is greatly depressed and weak but not usually unconscious. Face is pale and covered with clammy sweat, breathing and pulse areweak and rigid. While this condition is not nearly as dangerous assunstroke, a doctor should be summoned if possible. Remove the patientto a cool place and have him lie down with his clothing loosened. Don't use anything cold {272} externally, but permit him to take smallsips of cold water. Stimulants should be given just as in fainting. Freezing The patient should be taken into a cold room and the body should berubbed with rough cloths wet in cold water. The temperature of theroom should be increased if possible. This should be done graduallyand the cloths should be wet in warmer and warmer water. As soon asthe patient can swallow give him stimulants. It will be dangerous toplace him before an open fire or in a hot bath until he begins torecover. You will know this by his skin becoming warmer, by his bettercolor, and by his generally improved appearance. Frost-Bite Remember that you are in danger of frost-bite if you do not wearsufficient clothing in cold weather, and that rubbing any part of thebody which becomes very cold helps to prevent frostbite, because itbrings more warm blood to the surface. The danger is when, after beingcold, the part suddenly has no feeling. The object of the treatment is gradually to restore warmth to thefrozen part. To do this the part should be rubbed first with snow orcold water; the water should be warmed gradually. The use of hot waterat once would be likely to cause mortification of the frozen part. Poisoning For all poisons give an emetic. Send for a doctor at once and ifpossible have the messenger tell what poison has been taken so thatthe doctor may bring the proper antidote. Do not wait for him toarrive, but give an emetic to rid the stomach of the poison. Goodemetics are mustard and water, salt water, or lukewarm water alone inlarge quantities. Never mind the exact dose and if vomiting is notprofuse repeat the dose. Fits A person in a fit first has convulsive movements of the body, then heusually becomes unconscious. A scout should have no difficulty inmaking out what is the matter with a person in a fit. Put the sufferer on the floor or the ground where he can not hurthimself by striking anything. Loosen tight clothing and do not try torestrain the convulsive movements. A wad of {273} cloth thrust in themouth will prevent biting the tongue. When he becomes quiet do notdisturb him. INJURIES DUE TO HEAT AND COLD Burns and Scalds For slight burns in order to relieve the pain some dressing to excludethe air is needed. Very good substances of this character are pastesmade with water and baking soda, starch, or flour. Carbolizedvaseline, olive or castor oil, and fresh lard or cream are all good. One of these substances should be smeared over a thin piece of clothand placed on the burned part. A bandage should be put on over this tohold the dressing in place and for additional protection. Severe burns and scalds are very serious injuries which requiretreatment from a physician. Pending his arrival the scout shouldremember to treat the sufferer for shock as well as to dress thewound. Burns from electricity should be treated exactly like other burns. Donot attempt to remove clothing which sticks to a burn; cut the clotharound the part which sticks and leave it on the burn. FIRST AID FOR EMERGENCIES Besides the accidents which have been mentioned, certain emergenciesmay demand treatment by a scout. The commonest of these are described here. Something in the Eye No little thing causes more pain and discomfort than something in theeye. Do not rub to remove a foreign body from the eye, as this islikely to injure the delicate covering of the eyeball. First, closethe eye so the tears will accumulate, these may wash the foreign bodyinto plain view so that it may be easily removed. If this fails, pullthe upper lid over the lower two or three times, close the nostril onthe opposite side and have the patient blow his nose hard. If theforeign body still remains in the eye, examine first under the lowerand then the upper lid. For the former have the patient look up, presslower lid down, and if the foreign body is seen lift it out gentlywith the corner of a clean handkerchief. It is not so easy {274} tosee the upper lid. Seat the patient in a chair with his head bentbackward. Stand behind him and place a match or thin pencil across theupper lid one half an inch from its edge, turn the upper lid back overthe match, and lift the foreign body off as before. A drop of castoroil in the eye after removing the foreign body will soothe it. [Illustration: Eye bandage. ] Sunburn This is simply an inflammation of the skin due to action of the sun. It may be prevented by hardening the skin gradually. Any toilet powderor boracic acid will protect the skin to a considerable extent. Thetreatment consists of soothing applications such as ordinary orcarbolized vaseline. Ivy Poisoning Poison ivy causes a very intense inflammation of the skin. Betteravoid, even though it has not harmed you before. Baking soda made in athick paste with water or carbolized vaseline are good remedies. Insevere cases a doctor should be consulted. Bites and Stings Ammonia should be immediately applied. Wet salt and wet earth are alsogood applications. Nosebleed Slight nosebleed does not require treatment as no harm will resultfrom it. When more severe the collar should be {275} loosened. Do notblow the nose. Apply cold to the back of the neck by means of a key orcloth wrung out in cold water. A roll of paper under the upper lip, between it and the gum, will alsohelp. When the bleeding still continues shove a cotton or gauze pluginto the nostrils, leaving it there until the bleeding stops. [Illustration: Position of hands. ] [Illustration: Chair carry. ] Earache This is likely to result seriously and a doctor should be consulted inorder to prevent bad results with possible loss of hearing. Hotcloths, a bag of heated salt, or a hot bottle applied to the ear willoften cure earache. A few drops of alcohol on a hot cloth so placedthat the alcohol fumes enter the ear will often succeed. If neither iseffective, heat a few drops of sweet oil as hot as you can stand, puta few drops in the ear and plug with cotton. Be careful that it is nottoo hot. Toothache Remember that toothache indicates something seriously wrong with theteeth which can only be permanently corrected {276} by a dentist. Intoothache if you can find a cavity, clean it out with a small piece ofcotton or a toothpick. Then plug it with cotton, on which a drop ofoil of cloves has been put if you have it. If no cavity is found, soaka piece of cotton in camphor and apply it to the outside of the gum. Hot cloths and hot bottles or bags will help in toothache, just asthey do in earache. Inflammation of the Eye Cover with a cloth wrung out in cold water and change cloths from timeto time when they get warm. See a doctor in order to safeguard yoursight. Cramp or Stomachache This is usually due to the irritation produced by undigested food. Ahot bottle applied to the stomach or rubbing will often give relief. Alittle peppermint in hot water and ginger tea are both excellentremedies. The undigested matter should be gotten rid of by vomiting ora cathartic. Remember this kind of pain is sometimes due to something serious andif it is very severe or continues for some time, it is much safer tosend for a doctor. Hiccough This is due to indigestion. Holding the breath will often cure, aswill also drinking a full glass of water in small sips without takinga breath. If these fail vomiting is an almost certain remedy. [Illustration: Arm carry. ] {277} Chills In order to stop a chill drink hot milk or hot lemonade and get intobed. Plenty of covers should be used, and hot water bottles or hotmilk or lemonade help to warm one quickly. [Illustration: Improvised stretcher. ] Carrying Injured A severely injured person is always best carried on a stretcher. Theeasiest stretcher for a scout to improvise is the coat stretcher. Forthis two coats and a pair of poles are needed. The sleeves of the coatare first turned inside out. The coats are then placed on the groundwith their lower sides touching each other. The poles are passedthrough the sleeves on each side, the coats are buttoned up with thebutton side down. A piece of carpet, a blanket, or sacking can be usedin much the same way as the coat, rolling in a portion at each side. Shutters and doors make fair stretchers. In order not to jounce thepatient in carrying him the bearers should break step. The bearer infront steps off with the left foot and the one in the rear with theright. A number of different methods for carrying a patient by twobearers are practiced. The four-handed {278} seat is a very good one. To make this each bearer grasps his left wrist in his right hand, andthe other bearer's right wrist in his left hand with the backs of thehands uppermost. The {279} bearers then stoop and place the chairunder the sitting patient who steadies himself by placing his armsaround their necks. [Illustration: First position. ] [Illustration: Fireman's lift. ] It will sometimes be necessary for one scout to carry an injuredcomrade. The scout should first turn the patient on his face; he thensteps astride his body, facing toward the patient's head, and, withhands under his arm-pits, lifts him to his knees; then, clasping handsover the abdomen, lifts him to his feet; he then, with his left hand, seizes the patient by the left wrist and draws his left arm around his(the bearer's) neck and holds it against his left chest, the patient'sleft side resting against his body, and supports him with his rightarm about the waist. The scout, with his left hand, seizes the rightwrist of the patient and draws the arm over his head and down upon hisshoulder, then, shifting himself in front, stoops and clasps the rightthigh with his right arm passed between the legs, his right handseizing the patient's right wrist; lastly, the scout, with his lefthand, grasps the patient's left hand, and steadies it against his sidewhen he arises. WATER ACCIDENTS _Wilbert E. Longfellow, United States Volunteer Life Saving Corps_ The scout's motto, "Be Prepared, " is more than usually applicable tothe work of caring for accidents which happen in the water. To save lives, the scout must know first how to swim, to care forhimself, and then to learn to carry another and to break the clutch, the "death grip, " which we read so much about in the newspaperaccounts of drowning accidents. By constant training, a boy, eventhough not a good swimmer, can be perfectly at home in the water, fully dressed, undressed, or carrying a boy of his own size or larger. In fact two boys of twelve or fourteen years can save a man. Swimming For physical development the breast stroke is useful, for it is onethat is used in carrying a tired swimmer and is used to go to thebottom for lost articles and to search for a person who has sunkbefore help has reached him. It is possible, you know, to go to thebottom and bring a body to the surface and swim with it to shorebefore life is extinct and to restore consciousness by well-directedefforts. The body of an unconscious person weighs little when whollyor partially submerged and {280} in salt water weighs less than infresh water, and is consequently more readily carried. Training makesa small boy the equal or superior of an untrained boy much larger andof greater strength, and the way to learn to carry a drowning personis to carry a boy who is not drowning to get used to handling theweights. A little struggle now and then lends realism to the work andincreases the skill of the scout candidate for a life saver's rating. Speed swimming for itself alone is a very selfish sport so that thescout should develop his ability to make it generally useful toothers. [Illustration: Breast stroke for tired swimmer. ] [Illustration: Under-arm carry. ] Floating After the breast stroke is learned, floating on the back for rest andswimming on the back, using feet only for propulsion, leaving thehands free to hold a drowning person, should be learned. This can bereadily acquired with a little practice, carrying the hands on thesurface of the water, arms half bent, with the elbows close to thesides at the waist line. To carry a man this way the hands are placedat either side of the {281} drowning man's head and he is towedfloating on his back, the rescuer swimming on his back, keeping theother away. It is well to remember to go with the tide or current, anddo not wear your strength away opposing it. Other ways of carrying areto place the hands beneath the arms of the drowning man, or to grasphim firmly by the biceps from beneath, at the same time using the kneein the middle of his back to get him into a floating position, thefeet acting as propellers. Methods which enable the rescuer's use ofone arm in addition to the feet are known as the "German army" and the"cross shoulder. " In the first, the swimmer approaches the drowningperson from the back, passes the left arm under the other's left arm, across in front of the chest, and firmly grasps the right arm, eitherby the biceps or below the elbow, giving him control. This leaves theright arm to swim with. The other one-arm hold mentioned is one inwhich the rescuer passes an arm over {282} the shoulder of the one tobe carried, approaching from the back as before, and getting a holdunder the other's arm, which makes the drowning man helpless. Thebreast stroke carry previously mentioned is used only for helping atired swimmer, and one in possession of his faculties who will not tryto grasp the rescuer. The tired swimmer lies on the back and, extending his arms fully in front, rests a hand on either shoulder ofthe swimmer who rests facing him in the regular breast positionallowing the feet of the other to drop between his own. Quite goodspeed can be made in this way, and all of these methods are practicalas a trial will show. A little practice will enable the beginner tosee which he can do most readily and then he can perfect himself in itfor instant use. {281} [Illustration: Swimming on back without hands. ] [Illustration: Head carry-swim on back. ] [Illustration: Break for wrist hold. ] [Illustration: Breaking back strangle hold. ] {282 continue} Breaking "Death Grips" If one uses care in approaching a frightened or drowning person in thewater, there will be no use for the release methods; but the best ofswimmers get careless at times and all swimmers need to know how toget clear when gripped. Wrist Grip Of these the simplest is the one where the wrists of the swimmer havebeen grasped by the drowning man in his {283} struggles. The swimmerthrows both hands above his head which forces both low in the waterand then turns the leverage of his arms against the other's thumbs, breaking the hold easily. It should be borne in mind that a drowningman grasps what he can see above the surface of the water, so he willnot attempt to grasp his rescuer below the points of the shoulders. Remember also that a tall man and a short man would have about thesame amount of their body projecting above the surface of the water. [Illustration: Break for front strangle hold. ] Neck Grip For the grip around the swimmer's neck from the front, for both armsaround the shoulders, and for a grip in which the drowning man had theother over one shoulder and under the other arm, the break is much thesame. As soon as the rescuer feels the hold, he covers the other'smouth with the palm of his hand, clasping the nostrils tightly betweenhis first two fingers, at the same time pulling the drowning man tohim with the left hand in the small of the back, treading water in themeantime. Then, taking a full breath, he applies his knee {284} in theother's stomach, forcing him to expel the air in his lungs and at thesame time preventing him from getting more by pressure on the nostrilsand mouth. Should the pressure of the grip around the body be toogreat to allow freedom of the arms, the preliminary move in that casewould be to bring both arms to the level of the shoulder, thus slidingthe other's arms to the neck, leaving the rescuer's arms to cover thenose. Back Strangle The back strangle hold is an awkward one to break and one which mustbe broken without an instant's delay, or the would-be rescuer himselfwill be in great need of help. In practice it will be found that, bygrasping the encircling arms at the wrists and pushing back with thebuttocks against the other's abdomen, room to slip out can beobtained. In a life and death struggle, sharper measures are needed, and if the rescuer throws his head suddenly back against the nose ofthe drowning man, he will secure his freedom very readily and have himunder control by the time he has recovered from his dazed condition. Rescue From Shore or Boat It is not always necessary to go into the water to attempt a rescue, and in many cases, when some one has fallen off a bridge or dock, aline or buoy or boat can be used to advantage without placing morelives in danger than the one in the water. Discretion in such mattersis worthy of recognition rather than too much recklessness in swimmingout. Use a boat when possible. Practice in throwing a life buoy shouldbe indulged in where possible, and a good scout should always leavethe line coiled over pegs and the buoy hanging on top to bind it inplace for instant use in an emergency. Diving From the Surface When a bather or victim from a boating accident sinks to the bottom ofa river or pond of from seven to twenty feet in depth, prompt rescuemethods may bring him to the surface, and resuscitation methods, promptly applied, will restore breath. If there is no current in thepond or lake, bubbles from the body will indicate its whereaboutsdirectly beneath the place where it sank. Should there be tide orcurrents, the bubbles are carried at an angle with the streams and thesearcher must go from the spot where the person disappeared and lookalong {285} the bottom going with the current. When a drowning mangives up his struggle and goes down, his body sinks a little way andis brought up again by the buoyancy within it and the air is expelled. It sinks again and next rises less high and air is again expelled. This happens several times until enough water is taken into thestomach and air passages to offset the floating capacity. The floatingcapacity is barely overcome, so the body weighs but little. It is verysimple, as almost any youthful swimmer knows, to go to the bottom ifone can dive from a float, pier, or boat, but to be able to dive downten feet from the surface requires practice. In most cases to godeeper would require a weight after the manner of the Southern spongeand pearl fishers. Grasp a ten or fifteen pound stone and dive in; tocome up the swimmer lets go and rises to the top. [Illustration: Throwing feet for dive from surface. ] Diving For Lost Objects In covering a considerable area in search for bodies or lost objects, several ropes can be anchored with grapnels or rocks in squares and asystematic search thus maintained by divers. Going down from thesurface is not so simple and the knack is attained by practice, especially by athletic lads. The secret is to swim to a point where asounding is to be made, and to plunge the head and shoulders under, elevating the hips above the surface to drive the shoulders deep andgive chance for a few strokes--breast stroke preferred--until thewhole body in a vertical position is headed for the bottom. Theelevation of the feet and lower legs in the air gives the bodyadditional {286} impetus downward, and when the object is attained apush-off from the bottom with both feet sends the swimmer to thesurface in quick order. To carry any weight ashore, it is necessary tocarry it low on the body, hugged close to the waist line, allowing onehand and both feet for swimming, or if on the back, hold by both handsusing the feet as propellers. [Illustration: Artificial respiration (a)] [Illustration: Artificial respiration (b)] Restoring Breathing Knowledge of resuscitation of the apparently drowned is an importantpart of the equipment of a first-class scout, and a great many livescould have been saved had it been more general. To be effective notime must be lost in getting the apparently drowned person out of thewater and getting the {287} water out of him. The Schaefer or pronemethod requires but one operator at a time and no waste of time inpreliminaries. When taken from the water the patient is laid on the ground facedownward, arms extended above the head, face a little to one side, soas not to prevent the free passage of air. The operator kneels astrideor beside the prone figure and lets his hands fall into the spacesbetween the short ribs. By letting the weight of the upper body fallupon his hands resting on the prone man, the air is forced out of thelungs; by relaxing the pressure, the chest cavity enlarges and air isdrawn in to take the place of that forced out. By effecting thischange of air--pressing and relaxing, twelve to fifteen times a minute(time it by watch at first, and then count) artificial breathing isperformed. Sometimes it is necessary to work an hour or two before theflicker of an eyelid or a gasp from the patient rewards the lifesaver's efforts, and then he must carefully "piece in" the breathinguntil natural breathing is resumed. When breathing starts, thenpromote circulation by rubbing the legs and body toward the heart. Donot attempt to stimulate by the throat until the patient can swallow. Give a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia, in half a glass ofwater. _Remember that by laying the patient face downward fluids in the airpassages will run or be forced out and the tongue will drop forward, and require no holding, always an awkward task_. Treatment After Respiration Begins The after treatment is important. Put the patient to bed, keep quietand warm. Always get the services of a physician as soon as possible, but do not wait for him to come. Start work instantly. The patientneeds oxygen, so keep spectators away. They are robbing the man of thelife-giving properties of the air. For this reason, in all but themost severe weather, it is well to work on the patient in the open. Life Buoys If one is to place a life buoy for instant use in emergencies itshould be hung upon four pegs driven into holes in two pieces of woodnailed together in the form of the diameter of a two-foot square orthree pegs in strips of wood arranged in the form of a T, abouteighteen or twenty inches high, the two pegs at either side of the topbar of the T and the other one on the upright near the bottom. Mostlife buoys used on shore have fifty or seventy-five feet of light lineattached to draw the {288} rescued person ashore or to recover thebuoy after a faulty throw. Commencing at the free end of the line, where a small wooden float is often attached, the rope should first becoiled on the pegs, hanging the buoy outside the coil to bind it inplace so wind or jars will not loosen it. Then, when the buoy isneeded, the ring is grasped by the throwing hand which clasps the buoyitself, and the coil is clasped in the free hand, the end of the ropebeing secured ashore by standing upon it with one foot. After each useor practice the buoy line should be restored to its pegs for instantuse. [Illustration: Life buoy and ice ball/] {289} Notes {290} Notes {291} CHAPTER VIII GAMES AND ATHLETIC STANDARDS THE GAMES _By Ernest Thompson Seton, Chief Scout_ Deer Hunting The deer hunt has proved one of our most successful games. The deer is a dummy, best made with a wire frame, on which soft hay iswrapped till it is of proper size and shape, then all is covered withopen burlap. A few touches of white and black make it very realistic. If time does not admit of a well-finished deer, one can be made of asack stuffed with hay, decorated at one end with a smaller sack forhead and neck, and set on four thin sticks. The side of the deer is marked with a large oval, and over the heartis a smaller one. Bows and arrows only are used to shoot this deer. [Illustration: Wooden Legged Deer. ] A pocketful of corn, peas, or other large grain is now needed forscent. The boy who is the deer for the first hunt takes the dummyunder his arm and runs off, getting ten minutes' start, or until hecomes back and shouts "ready!" He leaves a trail of corn, dropping twoor three grains for every yard and making the trail as crooked as helikes, playing such tricks as a deer would do to baffle his pursuers. Then he hides the deer in any place he fancies, but not among rocks oron the top of a ridge, because in one case many arrows would bebroken, and in the other, lost. The hunters now hunt for this deer just as for a real deer, eitherfollowing the trail or watching the woods ahead; the {292} besthunters combine the two. If at any time the trail is quite lost theone in charge shouts: "Lost Trail!" After that the one who finds thetrail scores two. Anyone giving a false alarm by shouting "Deer" isfined five. [Illustration: Burlap Deer, 3 ft. High. ] Thus they go till some one finds the deer. He shouts: "_Deer!_" andscores ten for finding it. The others shout: "_Second_, " "_Third_, "etc. , in order of seeing it, but they do not score. The finder must shoot at the deer with his bow and arrow from the veryspot whence he saw it. If he misses, the second hunter may step upfive paces, and have his shot. If he misses, the third one goes five, and so on till some one hits the deer, or until the ten-yard limit isreached. If the finder is within ten yards on sighting the deer, andmisses his shot, the other hunters go back to the ten-yard limit. Oncethe deer is hit, all the shooting must be from the exact spot whencethe successful shot was fired. A shot in the big oval is a body wound; that scores five. A shotoutside that is a scratch; that scores two. A shot in the small ovalor heart is a heart wound; it scores ten, and ends the hunt. Arrowswhich do not stick do not count, unless it can be proved that theypassed right through, in which case they take the highest score thatthey pierced. If all the arrows are used, and none in the heart, the deer escapes, and the boy who was deer scores twenty-five. The one who found the dummy is deer for the next hunt. A clever deer can add greatly to the excitement of the game. Originally we used paper for scent, but found it bad. It littered thewoods; yesterday's trail was confused with that of {293} to-day, etc. Corn proved better, because the birds and the squirrels kept itcleaned up from day to day, and thus the ground was always ready for afresh start. But the best of all is the hoof mark for the shoe. Theseiron hoof marks are fast to a pair of shoes, and leave a trail muchlike a real deer. This has several advantages. It gives the hunter achance to tell where the trail doubled, and which way the deer wasgoing, It is more realistic, and the boy who can follow thisskillfully can follow a living deer. In actual practice it is foundwell to use a little corn with this on the hard places, a plan quiteconsistent with realism, as every hunter will recall. [Illustration: Shoe with iron hoof. (tr)] It is strictly forbidden to any hunter to stand in front of the firingline; all must be back of the line on which the shooter stands. There is no limit to the situations and curious combinations in thishunt. The deer may be left standing or lying. There is no law why itshould not be hidden behind a solid tree trunk. The game develops asone follows it. After it has been played for some time with the ironhoof mark as above, the boys grow so skilful on the trail that we candispense with even the corn. The iron mark like a deer hoof leaves avery realistic "slot" or track, which the more skilful boys readilyfollow through the woods. A hunt is usually for three, five, or moredeer, according to agreement and the result is reckoned by points onthe whole chase. The Bear Hunt This is played by half a dozen or more boys. Each has a club about thesize and shape of a baseball club, but made of straw {294} tied around twoor three switches and tightly sewn up in burlap. --One big fellow isselected for the bear. He has a school bag tightly strapped on hisback, and in that a toy balloon fully blown up. This is his heart. Onhis neck is a bear-claw necklace of wooden beads and claws. (See cut. ) [Illustration: Bear-claw necklace, claw and bead. ] He has three dens about one hundred yards apart in a triangle. Whilein his den the bear is safe. If the den is a tree or rock, he is safewhile touching it. He is obliged to come out when the chief huntercounts one hundred, and must go the rounds of the three till the huntis settled. The object of the hunters is to break the balloon or heart; that is, to kill the bear. He must drop dead when the heart bursts. The hunterwho kills him claims the necklace. But the bear also has a club for defence. Each hunter must wear a hat, and once the bear knocks a hunter's hat off, that one is dead and outof this hunt. He must drop where his hat falls. [Illustration: Straw club. ] Tackling of any kind is forbidden. The bear wins by killing or putting to flight all the hunters. In thiscase he keeps the necklace. The savageness of these big bears is indescribable. Many lives arelost in each hunt, and it has several times happened that the wholeparty of hunters has been exterminated by some monster of unusualferocity. This game has also been developed into a play. {295} Spearing the Great Sturgeon This water game is exceedingly popular and is especially good forpublic exhibition, being spectacular and full of amusement andexcitement. [Illustration: Wooden Sturgeon. ] The outfit needed is: (1) A sturgeon roughly formed of soft wood; it should be about threefeet long and nearly a foot thick at the head. It may be maderealistic, or a small log pointed at both ends will serve. (2) Two spears with six-inch steel heads and wooden handles (aboutthree feet long). The points should be sharp, but not the barbs. Sometimes the barbs are omitted altogether. Each head should have aneye to which is attached twenty feet of one-quarter inch rope. On eachrope, six feet from the spearhead, is a fathom mark made by tying on arag or cord. (3) Two boats with crews. Each crew consists of a spearman, who iscaptain, and one or two oarsmen or paddlers, of whom the after one isthe pilot. All should be expert swimmers or else wear life-beltsduring the game. [Illustration: Spearhead. ] The Game. --Each boat has a base or harbor; this is usually part of theshore opposite that of the enemy; or it obviates all danger ofcollision if the boats start from the same side. The sturgeon is leftby the referee's canoe at a point midway between the bases. At theword "Go!" each boat leaves its base and, making for the sturgeon, tries to spear it, then drag it by the line to his base. When both gettheir spears into it the contest becomes a tug of war until one of thespears pulls out. {296} The sturgeon is landed when the prow of the boat that has it in towtouches its proper base, even though the spear of the enemy is then inthe fish: or it is landed when the fish itself touches base. The boatschange bases after each heat. Matches are usually for one, three, or five sturgeon. Points arecounted only for the landing of the fish, but the referee may give thedecision on a foul or a succession of fouls, or the delinquent may beset back one or more boat lengths. Sometimes the game is played in canoes or boats, with one man asspearman and crew. _Rules_. --It is _not allowable_ to push the sturgeon into a new positionwith the spear or paddle before striking. It is _allowable_ to pull the sturgeon under the boat or pass it aroundby using the line after spearing. It is _allowable_ to lay hands on the other boat to prevent a collision, but otherwise it is forbidden to touch the other boat or crew orpaddle or spear or line, or to lay hands on the fish, or to touch itwith the paddle or oar, or touch your own spear while it is in thefish, or to tie the line around the fish except so far as this may beaccidentally done in spearing. It is _allowable_ to dislodge the enemy's spear by throwing your ownover it. The purpose of the barbs is to assist in this. It is _allowable_ to run on to the sturgeon with the boat. _It is absolutely forbidden to throw the spear over the other boat orover the heads of your crew_. In towing the sturgeon the fathom mark must be over the gunwale--atleast six feet of line should be out when the fish is in tow. It isnot a foul to have less, but the spearman must at once let it out ifthe umpire or the other crew cries "fathom!" The spearman is allowed to drop the spear and use the paddle or oar atwill, but not to resign his spear to another of the crew. The spearmanmust be in his boat when the spear is thrown. If the boat is upset the referee's canoe helps them to right. Eachcrew must accept the backset of its accidents. Tilting In The Water For this we usually have two boats or war canoes manned by four meneach. These are a spearman, who is also a captain, a pilot, and twooarsmen. The spearman is armed with a light pole or bamboo eight or ten feetlong, with a soft pad on the end. Sometimes this is {297} furtherprovided with a hook. This is a forked branch with limbs a foot long;one is lashed to the bamboo, the other projecting out a foot, andslightly backward. The end of the spear and the fork are nowthoroughly padded with burlap to the shape of a duck's head and bill. And it must be cased in waterproof, to keep it from getting wet andheavy. The object of the hook is to change suddenly from pushing, andto pull the enemy by hooking round his neck. Each boat should have aquarter-deck or raised platform at one end, on which the spearmanstands. [Illustration: Tilting spear. ] The battle is fought in rounds and by points. To put your opponent back into the canoe with one foot counts youfive; two feet, ten. If he loses his spear you count five (exceptingwhen he is put overboard). If you put him down on one knee on thefighting deck, you count five; two knees, ten. If you put himoverboard it counts twenty-five. One hundred points is a round. A battle is for one or more rounds, as agreed on. It is forbidden tohook or strike below the belt. The umpire may dock for fouls. Canoe Tag Any number of canoes or boats may engage in this. A rubber cushion, ahot-water bag full of air, any rubber football, {298} or a cotton bagwith a lot of corks in it is needed. The game is to tag the othercanoe by throwing this into it. The rules are as in ordinary cross-tag. Scouting Scouts are sent out in pairs or singly. A number of points are markedon the map at equal distances from camp, and the scouts draw straws tosee where each goes. If one place is obviously hard, the scout isallowed a fair number of points as handicap. All set out at same time, go direct, and return as soon as possible. Points are thus allowed: Last back, zero for travelling. The others count one for each minute they are ahead of the last. Points up to one hundred are allowed for their story on return. Sometimes we allow ten points for each turtle they have seen; ten foreach owl seen and properly named; five for each hawk, and one each forother wild birds; also two for a cat one for a dog. No information is given the scout; he is told to go to such a pointand do so and so, but is fined points if he hesitates or asks how orwhy, etc. [Illustration: Quicksight Game. ] The Game of Quicksight Make two boards about a foot square, divide each into twenty-fivesquares; get ten nuts and ten pebbles. Give to one player one board, five nuts, and five pebbles. He places {299} these on the squares inany pattern he fancies, and when ready the other player is allowed tosee it for five seconds. Then it is covered up, and from the memory ofwhat he saw the second player must reproduce the pattern on his ownboard. He counts one for each that was right, and takes off one foreach that was wrong. They take turn and turn about. This game is a wonderful developer of the power to see and memorizequickly. [Illustration: Farsight game. ] Farsight, or Spot the Rabbit Take two six-inch squares of stiff white pasteboard or whitened wood. On each of these draw an outline rabbit, one an exact duplicate of theother. Make twenty round black wafers or spots, each half an inchacross. Let one player stick a few of these on one rabbit-board andset it up in full light. The other, beginning at one hundred yards, draws near till he can see the spots well enough to reproduce thepattern on the other which he carries. If he can do it at seventy-fiveyards he has wonderful eyes. Down even to seventy (done three timesout of five), he counts high honor; from seventy to sixty countshonor. Below that does not count at all. Pole-star Each competitor is given a long straight stick in daytime, and told tolay it due north and south. In doing this he may guide himself by sun, moss, or anything he can find in nature--anything, indeed, except acompass. {300} The direction is checked by a good compass corrected for the locality. The one who comes nearest wins. It is optional with the judges whether the use of a timepiece is to beallowed. Rabbit Hunt The game of rabbit hunting is suited for two hunters in limitedgrounds. Three little sacks of brown burlap, each about eight inches by twelve, are stuffed with hay. At any given place in the woods the two hunters stand in a ten-footcircle with their bows and arrows. One boy is blindfolded; the other, without leaving the circle, throws the rabbits into good hiding placeson the ground. Then the second hunter has to find the rabbits andshoot them without leaving the circle. The lowest number of pointswins, as in golf. If the hunter has to leave the circle he gets onepoint for every step he takes outside. After he sees the rabbit hemust keep to that spot and shoot till it is hit once. One shot killsit, no matter where struck. For every shot he misses he gets fivepoints. After his first shot at each rabbit the hider takes alternate shotswith him. If it is the hider who kills the rabbit, the hunter adds ten points tohis score. If the hunter hits it, he takes ten off his score. If the hunter fails to find all the rabbits, he scores twenty-five foreach one he gives up. The hider cannot score at all. He can only help his friend intotrouble. Next time the two change places. A match is usually for two brace of rabbits. Hostile Spy Hanging from the totem pole is a red or yellow horse-tail. This is thegrand medicine scalp of the band. The hostile spy has to steal it. Theleader goes around on the morning of the day and whispers to thevarious braves, "Look out--there's a spy in camp. " At length he getssecretly near the one he has selected for spy and whispers, "Look out, there's a spy in camp, and you are it. " He gives him at the same timesome bright-coloured badge, that he must wear as soon as he hassecured the medicine scalp. He must not hide the scalp on his person, but keep it in view. He has all day till sunset {301} to get away withit. If he gets across the river or other limit, with warriors in closepursuit, they give him ten arrow heads (two and one half cents each), or other ransom agreed on. If he gets away safely and hides it, he cancome back and claim fifteen arrow heads from the council as ransom forthe scalp. If he is caught, he pays his captor ten arrow heads ransomfor his life. The Man-Hunt This is played with a scout and ten or more hostiles, or hounds, according to the country, more when it is rough or wooded. The scout is given a letter addressed to the "Military Commandant"(usually the lady of the house that he gets to) of any given place amile or two away. He is told to take the letter to anyone of threegiven houses, and get it endorsed, with the hour when he arrived, thenreturn to the starting-point within a certain time. The hostiles are sent to a point half-way, and let go by a starter atthe same time as the scout leaves the camp. They are to intercept him. If they catch him before he delivers the letter he must ransom hislife by paying each two arrow heads (or other forfeit) and his captorkeeps the letter as a trophy. If he gets through, but is caught on theroad back, he pays half as much for his life. If he gets through, butis over time, it is a draw. If he gets through successfully on time heclaims three arrow heads from each hostile and keeps the letter as atrophy. They may not follow him into the house (that is, the fort), but maysurround it at one hundred yards distance. They do not know whichthree houses he is free to enter, but they do know that these arewithin certain limits. The scout should wear a conspicuous badge (hat, shirt, coat, orfeather), and may ride a wheel or go in a wagon, etc. , as long as hisbadge is clearly visible. To "tag" the scout is not to capture. "The blockade to be binding mustbe effectual. " Hunt the Coon This is an in-door game, founded on the familiar "Hunt the Thimble. " We use a little dummy coon; either make it or turn a ready-made toyrabbit into one by adding tail and black mask, and cropping the ears. {302} All the players but one go out of the room. That one places the coonanywhere in sight, high or low, but in plain view; all come in andseek. The first to find it, sits down silently, and scores one. Eachsits down, on seeing it, giving no clue to the others. The first to score three coons is winner, usually. Sometimes we playtill everyone but one has a coon; that one is the booby. The othersare first, second, etc. Sometimes each is given his number in order of finding it. Then, after seven or eight coons, these numbers are added up, and thelowest is winner. If no coon is available use a thimble. Spear Fights This is an in-door game with out-door weapons. The soft-headed, eightfoot spears of the tilting-match are used. The contestants stand onbarrels eight feet apart. Each tries to put the other off his barrel. It is well to have a catcher behind each player to save him if hefalls. Games are for seven, eleven, or thirteen points. Navajo Feather Dance An eagle feather hung on a horse-hair, so as to stand upright, isworked by a hidden operator, so as to dance and caper. The dancer hasto imitate all its motions. A marionette may be used. It is a greatfun-maker. Feather Football or Feather Blow This is an in-door, wet-weather game. The players hold a blanket on the knees or on the table. A softfeather is put in the middle. As many may play as can get near. Theymay be in sides, two or four or each for himself. At the signal, "Go!"each tries to blow the feather off the blanket at the enemy's side, and so count one for himself. A game is usually best out of seven, eleven, or thirteen. Cock-Fighting Get two stout sticks, each two feet long (broomsticks will do). Padeach of these on the end with a ball of rag. These are the spurs. Makean eight-foot ring. The two rivals are on their hunkers, each with astick through behind his knees, his hands clasped in front of theknees, and the arms under the ends of the spurs. {303} Now they close; each aiming to upset the other, to make him lose hisspurs, or to put him out of the ring, any of which ends that round andscores one for the victor. If both fall, or lose a spur, or go outtogether, it is a draw. Battle is for seven, eleven, or thirteenrounds. Hand-Wrestling This is a jiujitsu game, introduced by Dr. L. H. Gulick. The twocontestants stand right toe to right toe, each right hand clasped, left feet braced, left hand free. At the word, "Go!" each tries tounbalance the other: that is, make him lift or move one of his feet. Alift or a shift ends the round. Battles are for best out of five, seven, eleven, or thirteen rounds. Badger-Pulling The two contestants, on hands and knees, face each other. A strong belt or strap is buckled into one great loop that passesround the head of each: that is, crosses his nape. Half-way betweenthem is a dead line. The one who pulls the other over this line iswinner. The contestant can at any time end the bout by lowering his head sothe strap slips off; but this counts one against him. Game is best out of five, seven, eleven, or thirteen points. Poison This is an ancient game. A circle about three feet across is drawn onthe ground. The players, holding hands, make a ring around this, andtry to make one of the number step into the poison circle. He canevade it by side-stepping, by jumping over, or by dragging anotherfellow into it. First to make the misstep is "it" for the time or for next game. Hat-Ball When I was among the Chepewyan Indians of Great Slave Lake, in 1907, Imade myself popular with the young men, as well as boys, by teachingthem the old game of hat-ball. The players (about a dozen) put their hats in a row near a house, fence, or log (hollows up). A dead line is drawn ten feet from thehats; all must stand outside of that. The one who is "it" begins bythrowing a soft ball into one of the hats. If he misses the hat, achip is put into his own, and he tries over. As soon as he drops theball into a hat, the owner runs {304} to get the ball; all the restrun away. The owner must not follow beyond the dead line, but mustthrow the ball at some one. If he hits him, a chip goes into thatperson's hat; if not, a chip goes into his own. As soon as some one has five chips, he wins the booby prize: that is, he must hold his hand out steady against the wall, and each player hasfive shots at it with the ball, as he stands on the dead line. Duck-on-a-Rock This is a good old grandfather game. Each player has a large, smooth, roundish stone, about five or sixinches through. This is his duck. He keeps it permanently. Toe rock is any low bowlder, block, stump, bump, or hillock on levelground. A dead line is drawn through the rock, and another parallel, fifteen feet away, for a firing line. The fellow who is "it, " or "keeper, " perches his duck on the rock. Theothers stand at the firing line and throw their ducks at his. Theymust not pick them up or touch them with their hands when they arebeyond the dead line. If one does, then the keeper can tag him (unlesshe reaches the firing line), and send him to do duty as keeper at therock. But they can coax their ducks with their feet, up to the dead line, not beyond, then watch for a chance to dodge back to the firing line, where they are safe at all times. If the duck is knocked off by anyone in fair firing, the keeper ispowerless till he has replaced it. Meantime, most of the players havesecured their ducks and got back safely to the firing line. Road-side Cribbage This is a game we often play in the train, to pass the timepleasantly. Sometimes one party takes the right side of the road, with the windowsthere, and the other the left. Sometimes all players sit on the sameside. The game is, whoever is first to see certain things agreed on scoresso many points. Thus:A crow or a cow counts 1A cat 2A hawk 3An owl 4A sheep 5A goat 6A horse 7 {305} The winner is the one who first gets twenty-five or fiftypoints, as agreed. When afoot, one naturally takes other things for points, as certaintrees, flowers, etc. Lion Hunting (The games from Lion Hunting to Hare and Hounds are from GeneralBaden-Powell. ) A lion is represented by one scout, who goes out with tracking ironson his feet, and a pocketful of corn or peas, and six lawn-tennisballs or rag balls. He is allowed half an hour's start, and then thepatrol go after him, following his spoor, each armed with one tennisball with which to shoot him when they find him. The lion may hide orcreep about or run, just as he feels inclined, but whenever the groundis hard or very greasy he must drop a few grains of corn every fewyards to show the trail. If the hunters fail to come up to him neither wins the game. When they come near to his lair the lion fires at them with his tennisballs, and the moment a hunter is hit he must fall out dead and cannotthrow his tennis ball. If the lion gets hit by a hunter's tennis ballhe is wounded, and if he gets wounded three times he is killed. Tennis balls may only be fired once; they cannot be picked up andfired again in the same fight. Each scout must collect and hand in his tennis balls after the game. In winter, if there is snow, this game can be played without trackingirons, and using snowballs instead of tennis balls. Plant Race Start off your scouts, either cycling or on foot, to go in anydirection they like, to get a specimen of any ordered plant, say asprig of yew, a shoot of ilex, a horseshoe mark from a chestnut tree, a briar rose, or something of that kind, whichever you may order, suchas will tax their knowledge of plants and will test their memory as towhere they noticed one of the kind required and will also make themquick in getting there and back. Throwing the Assegai Target, a thin sack, lightly stuffed with straw, or a sheet ofcard-board, or canvas stretched on a frame. Assegais to be made of wands, with weighted ends sharpened or withiron arrow heads on them. {306} Flag Raiding Two or more patrols on each side. Each side will form an outpost within a given tract of country toprotect three flags (or at night three lanterns two feet aboveground), planted not less than two hundred yards (one hundred yards atnight) from it. The protecting outpost will be posted in concealmenteither all together or spread out in pairs. It will then send outscouts to discover the enemy's position. When these have found outwhere the outpost is, they try to creep round out of sight till theycan get to the flags and bring them away to their own line. One scoutmay not take away more than one flag. This is the general position of a patrol on such an outpost: Pair of Scouts Pair of Scouts Pair of Scouts Patrol Leader P. P. P. Flags Any scout coming within fifty yards of a stronger party will be putout of action if seen by the enemy; if he can creep by without beingseen it is all right. Scouts posted to watch as outposts cannot move from their ground, buttheir strength counts as double, and they may send single messages totheir neighbors or to their own scouting party. An umpire should be with each outpost and with each scouting patrol. At a given hour operations will cease, and all will assemble at thegiven spot to hand in their reports. The following points might beawarded: For each flag or lamp captured and brought in--5 For each report or sketch of the position of the enemy's outposts upto five--5 For each report of movement of enemy's scouting patrols--2 The side which makes the biggest total wins. The same game may be played to test the scouts in steppinglightly--the umpire being blindfolded. The practice should preferablybe carried out where there are dry twigs lying about, and gravel, etc. The scout may start to stalk the blind enemy at one hundred yards'distance, and he must do it fairly fast--say, in one minute and ahalf--to touch the blind man before he hears him. {307} Stalking and Reporting The umpire places himself out in the open and sends each scout or pairof scouts away in different directions about half a mile off. When hewaves a flag, which is the signal to begin, they all hide, and thenproceed to stalk him, creeping up and watching all he does. When hewaves the flag again, they rise, come in, and report each in turn allthat he did, either by handing in a written report or verbally, as maybe ordered. The umpire meantime has kept a lookout in each direction, and, every time he sees a scout he takes two points off that scout'sscore. He, on his part, performs small actions, such as sitting down, kneeling, looking through glasses, using handkerchief, taking hat offfor a bit, walking round in a circle a few times, to give scoutssomething to note and report about him. Scouts are given three pointsfor each act reported correctly. It saves time if the umpire makes outa scoring card beforehand, giving the name of each scout, and a numberof columns showing each act of his, and what mark that scout wins, also a column of deducted marks for exposing themselves. Spider and Fly A bit of country or section of the town about a mile square isselected as the web, and its boundaries described, and an hour fixedat which operations are to cease. One patrol (or half-patrol) is the "spider, " which goes out andselects a place to hide itself. The other patrol (or half-patrol) go a quarter of an hour later as the"fly" to look for the "spider. " They can spread themselves about asthey like, but must tell their leader anything that they discover. An umpire goes with each party. If within the given time (say, about two hours) the fly has notdiscovered the spider, the spider wins. The spiders write down thenames of any of the fly patrol that they may see. Stalking Instructor acts as a deer--not hiding, but standing, moving a littlenow and then if he likes. Scouts go out to find, and each in his own way tries to get up to himunseen. Directly the instructor sees a scout, he directs him to stand up ashaving failed. After a certain time the instructor calls {308} "time, "all stand up at the spot which they have reached, and the nearestwins. _Demonstrate the value of adapting color of clothes to background bysending out one boy about five hundred yards to stand againstdifferent backgrounds in turn, till he gets one similar in color tohis own clothes. _ _The rest of the patrol to watch and to notice how invisible he becomeswhen he gets a suitable background. E. G. , a boy in a gray suitstanding in front of dark bushes, etc. , is quite visible but becomesless so if he stands in front of a gray rock or house; a boy in a darksuit is very visible in a green field, but not when lie stands in anopen door-way against dark interior shadow_. Scout Hunting One scout is given time to go out and hide himself, the remainder thenstart to find him; he wins if he is not found, or if he can get backto the starting point within a given time without being touched. Relay Race One patrol pitted against another to see who can get a message sent along distance in shortest time by means of relays of runners (orcyclists). The patrol is ordered out to send in three successive notesor tokens (such as sprigs of certain plants), from a point, say, twomiles distant or more. The leader in taking his patrol out to the spotdrops scouts at convenient distances, who will then act as runnersfrom one post to the next and back. If relays are posted in pairs, messages can be passed both ways. Track Memory Make a patrol sit with their feet up, so that other scouts can studythem. Give the scouts, say, three minutes to study the boots. Thenleaving the scouts in a room or out of sight, let one of the patrolmake some footmarks in a good bit of ground. Call up the scouts one byone and let them see the track and say who made it. Spot the Thief Get a stranger to make a track unseen by the scouts. The scouts studyhis track so as to know it again. Then put the stranger among eight or ten others and let them all maketheir tracks for the boys to see, going by in rotation. Each scoutthen in turn whispers to the umpire which man, {309} made the originaltrack--describing him by his number in filing past. The scout whoanswers correctly wins; if more than one answers correctly, the onewho then draws the best diagram, from memory, of the footprint wins. Smugglers Over the Border The "border" is a certain line of country about four hundred yardslong, preferably a road or wide path or bit of sand, on which foottracks can easily be seen. One patrol watches the border with sentriesposted along this road, with a reserve posted farther inland. Thislatter about half-way between the "border" and the "town"; the "town"would be a base marked by a tree, building, or flags, etc. , about halfa mile distant from the border. A hostile patrol of smugglers assembleabout half a mile on the other side of the border. They will all crossthe border, in any formation they please, either singly or together orscattered, and make for the town, either walking or running, or atscouts' pace. Only one among them is supposed to be smuggling, and hewears tracking irons, so that the sentries walk up and down their beat(they may not run till after the "alarm"), waiting for the tracks ofthe smuggler. Directly a sentry sees the track, he gives the alarmsignal to the reserve and starts himself to follow up the track asfast as he can. The reserves thereupon cooperate with him and try tocatch the smuggler before he can reach the town. Once within theboundary of the town he is safe and wins the game. Shop Window Out-doors in Town Umpire takes a patrol down a street past six shops, gives them half aminute at each shop, then, after moving them off to some distance, hegives each boy a pencil and card, and tells him to write from memory, or himself takes down, what they noticed in, say, the third and fifthshops. The one who sets down most articles correctly wins. It isuseful practice to match one boy against another in heats--the losercompeting again, till you arrive at the worst. This gives the worstscouts the most practice. Similar Game In-doors Send each scout in turn into a room for half a minute; when he comesout take down a list of furniture and articles which he notices. Theboy who notices most wins. {310} The simplest way of scoring is to make a list of the articles in theroom on your scoring paper with a column for marks for each scoutagainst them, which can then easily be totalled up at foot. Follow the Trail Send out a "hare, " either walking or cycling, with a pocketful ofcorn, nutshells, confetti paper, or buttons, etc. , and drop a few hereand there to give a trail for the patrol to follow. Or go out with a piece of chalk and draw the patrol sign on walls, gate posts, pavements, lamp posts, trees, etc. , every here and there, and let the patrol hunt you by these marks. Patrols should wipe outall these marks as they pass them for tidiness, and so as not tomislead them for another day's practice. The other road signs should also be used, such as closing up certainroads as not used, and hiding a letter at some point, givingdirections as to the next turn. Scout's Nose In-doors Prepare a number of paper bags, all alike, and put in each a differentsmelling article, such as chopped onion in one, tan in another, roseleaves, leather, anise-seed, violet powder, orange peel, etc. Putthese packets in a row a couple of feet apart, and let each competitorwalk down the line and have five seconds sniff at each. At the end hehas one minute in which to write down or to state to the umpire thenames of the different objects smelled, from memory, in their correctorder. Scout Meets Scout in Town or Country Single scouts, or complete patrols or pairs of scouts, to be taken outabout two miles apart, and made to work toward each other, eitheralongside a road, or by giving each side a landmark to work to, suchas a steep hill or big tree, which is directly behind the other party, and will thus insure their coming together. The patrol which firstsees the other wins. This is signified by the patrol leader holding uphis patrol flag for the umpire to see, and sounding his whistle. Apatrol need not keep together, but that patrol wins which first holdsout its flag, so it is well for the scouts to be in touch with theirpatrol leaders by signal, voice, or message. Scouts may employ any ruse they like, such as climbing into trees, hiding in carts, etc. , but they must not dress up in disguise. This may also be practised at night. {311} Shoot Out Two patrols compete. Targets: bottles or bricks set up on end torepresent the opposing patrol. Both patrols are drawn up in line atabout twenty to twenty-five yards from the targets. At the word"fire, " they throw stones at the targets. Directly a target falls, theumpire directs the corresponding man of the other patrol to sitdown--killed. The game goes on, if there are plenty of stones, tillthe whole of one patrol is killed. Or a certain number of stones canbe given to each patrol, or a certain time limit, say one minute. Kim's Game Place about twenty or thirty small articles on a tray, or on the tableor floor, such as two or three different kinds of buttons, pencils, corks, rags, nuts, stones, knives, string, photos--anything you canfind--and cover them over with a cloth or coat. Make a list of these, and make a column opposite the list for eachboy's replies. Then uncover the articles for one minute by your watch, or while youcount sixty at the rate of "quick march. " Then cover them over again. Take each boy separately and let him whisper to you each of thearticles that he can remember, and mark it off on your scoring sheet. The boy who remembers the greatest number wins the game. Morgan's Game Scouts are ordered to run to a certain boarding, where an umpire isalready posted to time them. They are each allowed to look at this forone minute, and then to run back to headquarters and report to theinstructor all that was on the boarding in the way of advertisements. Snow Fort The snow fort may be built by one patrol according to their own ideasof fortification, with loopholes, etc. , for looking out. Whenfinished, it will be attacked by hostile patrols, using snowballs asammunition. Every scout struck by a snowball is counted dead. Theattackers should, as a rule, number at least twice the strength of thedefenders. {312} Siberian Man Hunt One scout as fugitive runs away across the snow in any direction hemay please until he finds a good hiding place, and there concealshimself. The remainder, after giving him twenty minutes' start ormore, proceed to follow him by his tracks. As they approach his hidingplace, he shoots at them with snowballs, and every one that is struckmust fall out dead. The fugitive must be struck three times before heis counted dead. Hare and Hounds Two or more persons representing the hares, and provided with a largequantity of corn, are given a start of several minutes and run acertain length of time, then return by another route to the startingpoint, all the time scattering corn in their path. After the lapse ofthe number of minutes' handicap given the hares, those representingthe hounds start in pursuit, following by the corn and trying to catchthe hares before they reach the starting-point in returning. The handicap given the hares should be small, depending on the runningabilities of the hares and hounds. The fastest runners are usuallypicked for the hounds. Chalk the Arrow This is usually played in the city streets, one player running andtrying to keep out of sight of the others who follow. The runner isgiven time to disappear around the first corner before the othersstart after him, and at every corner he turns he marks (with chalk) anarrow pointing in the direction he takes. Those pursuing follow by thearrow, the first one seeing him being the runner for the next time. This may also be played by having any number run and only one follow, the first becoming "it" for the next time. Dodge Ball Of any number of players, half of that number form a circle, while theother half stand inside of the ring (centre) facing outward. Now, thegame for those in the centre is to dodge the ball which is thrown byany of those forming the circle with the intention of striking thecentre ones {313} out. Every time a member is struck he is dead, andtakes his place among those of the circle. Now he has a chance tothrow at those remaining in the centre. This arrangement keeps alltaking part busy. Only one is out at a time. This being kept up untilfinally only one is left. He is hailed the king. For next round, players exchange places, i. E. , those who were in the centre now formthe circle. Note: If the touch is preceded by a bound of the ball it does notcount. Prisoner's Base Goals are marked off at both ends of the playground, the playersdivided into two equal divisions, occupying the two goals. About tenpaces to the right of each goal is a prison. A player advances towardthe opposite goal, when one from that goal starts out to catch him. Heretreats, and one from his side runs to his rescue by trying to catchthe pursuer--who in turn is succored by one from his side, and so on. Every player may catch anyone from the opposite side who has been outof goal longer than he has. Any player caught is conducted to theprison by his captor and must remain there until rescued by some onefrom his side, who touches him with the hand. The one who does this issubject to being caught like any other player. Throwing the Spear The game is an old Greek and Persian pastime. "Throw the spear andspeak the truth, " was a national maxim of the Persians that we maycopy with advantage. The apparatus required is some light spears and an archery target. Thespears should vary from five to six feet in length; the point shouldbe shod with a steel tip, having a socket into which the wooden handleis fitted, and made fast by small screws passing through holes in thesides of the metal, and then into the wood itself. The wood, for abouta foot above the barb, should be about three quarters of an inch indiameter, and from thence gradually taper to about a quarter of aninch in thickness until the end of the spear is reached. Some spears are fitted with feathers, like an arrow, but these are notnecessary to obtain a good throw, and soon get dismantled incontinually falling upon the ground. Any ordinary target will serve. It may be an archery target, a sack full of straw, or a sod bank. {314} The object of the contest is to hit the target from a given mark, thefiring line. Whoever throws nearest to the centre of the target thegreatest number of times out of six shots is hailed the winner. The best form for throwing is with the left foot forward, the legperfectly straight, body well back, its weight resting on the rightleg. Now extend the left arm forward, in a line with the shoulder, andover the left leg; poise the spear horizontally in the right hand, holding at the centre of gravity by the forefinger and thumb. Bringthe right arm backward until the hand is behind the right shoulder. Now, inclining the point of the spear slightly upward, make your cast, bringing the right arm forward, followed by the right side of thebody, the right leg forward and the left arm backward. Count yourselffortunate if you even hit the target in the first few attempts, butpractice will make a wonderful difference. The distance should bemutually agreed upon, but fifty feet for a boy of fifteen and onehundred feet for an adult will be found about right. To "throw the javelin" is another phase of this pastime. The javelinis four to five feet in length, three quarters of an inch inthickness, and fitted with a barbed end, slightly heavier than thespear end. The "object of the game" is to throw the javelin as far aspossible but not at a target; instead, the javelin must stick into theground. In throwing the javelin, hold it in the right hand, the left leg andhand being advanced; the barb and arm at this point should be at therear. Then, describing a semicircle with the arm over the rightshoulder, and leaning well to the rear, hurl the weapon as far aspossible forward. Arctic Expedition Each patrol make a bob sleigh with ropes, harness, for two of theirnumber to pull or for dogs if they have them and can train them to dothe work. Two scouts or so go a mile or two ahead, the remainder withthe sleigh follow, finding the way by means of the spoor, and by suchsigns as the leading scouts may draw in the snow. All other drawingsseen on the way are to be examined, noted, and their meaning read. Thesleigh carries rations and cooking pots, etc. Build snow huts. These must be made narrow, according to the length ofthe sticks available for forming the roof, which can be made withbrushwood and covered with snow. {315} Dragging Race A line of patients from one patrol is laid out fifty feet distant fromthe start. Another patrol, each carrying a rope, run out, tie ropes tothe patients, and drag them in. Time taken of last in. Patrols changeplaces. The one which completes in the shortest time wins. Knots mustbe carefully tied, and patients' coats laid out under their heads. Far and Near Umpire goes along a given road or line of country with a patrol inpatrol formation. He carries a scoring card with the name of eachscout on it. Each scout looks out for the details required, and directly he noticesone he runs to the umpire and informs him or hands in the article, ifit is an article he finds. The umpire enters a mark accordinglyagainst his name. The scout who gains the most marks in the walk wins. Details like the following should be chosen to develop the scout'sobservation and to encourage him to look far and near, up and down, etc. The details should be varied every time the game is played; and abouteight or ten should be given at a time. Every match found 1 pointEvery button found 1 pointBird tracks 2 pointsPatch noticed on stranger's clothing or boots 2 pointsGray horse seen 2 pointsPigeon flying 2 pointsSparrow sitting 2 pointsAsh tree 2 pointsBroken chimney-pot 2 pointsBroken window 1 point Fire-lighting Race To collect material, build, and light a fire till the log given byumpire is alight. Follow My Leader With a large number of boys this can be made a very effective display, and is easy to do at a jog trot, and occasional "knee-up" with musicalaccompaniment. It also can be done at night, {316} each boy carrying aChinese lantern on top of his staff. If in a building all lights, ofcourse, would be turned down. A usual fault is that the exercise iskept on too long, till it wearies both audience and performers. Games in Path-finding Instructor takes a patrol in patrolling formation into a strange townor into an intricate piece of strange country, with a cycling map. Hethen gives instructions as to where he wants to go, makes each scoutin turn lead the patrol, say, for seven minutes if cycling, fifteenminutes if walking. This scout is to find the way entirely by the map, and points are given for ability in reading. Mountain Scouting This has been played by tourists' clubs in the lake district, and isvery similar to the "Spider and Fly" game. Three hares are sent out atdaybreak to hide themselves about in the mountains: after breakfast aparty of hounds go out to find them before a certain hour, say 4o'clock P. M. If they find them even with field-glasses, it counts, provided that the finder can say definitely who it was he spotted. Certain limits of ground must be given, beyond which anyone would beout of bounds, and therefore disqualified. Knight Errantry Scouts go out singly, or in pairs, or as a patrol. If in a town, tofind women or children in want of help, and to return and report, ontheir honor, what they have done. If in the country, call at any farmsor cottages and ask to do odd jobs--for nothing. The same can be madeinto a race called a "Good Turn" race. Unprepared Plays Give the plot of a short, simple, play and assign to each player hispart, with an outline of what he has to do and say, and then let themact it, making up the required conversation as they go along. This develops the power of imagination and expression on points keptin the mind, and is a valuable means of education. It is well before starting to act a play in this way to be a littleless ambitious, and to make two or three players merely {317} carryout a conversation on given topics leading up to a given point, usingtheir own words and imaginations in doing so. The Treasure Hunt The treasure hunt needs observation and skill in tracking, andpractically any number can take part in it. Several ways of playing the game are given below. 1. The treasure is hidden and the scouts know what the treasure is;they are given the first clew, and from this all the others can betraced. Such clews might be (a) written on a gate post: "Go west andexamine third gate on north side of stream"; (b) on that gate, scout'ssign pointing to notice board on which is written, "Strike south bysouth-east telegraph post, No. 28, " and so on. The clews should be soworded as to need some skill to understand, and the various pointsshould be difficult of access from one another. This method might beused as a patrol competition, starting off patrols at ten-minuteintervals, and at one particular clew there might be different ordersfor each patrol, to prevent the patrols behind from following thefirst. 2. The clews may be bits of colored wood tied to gates, hedges, etc. , at about three-yard intervals, leading in a certain direction, andwhen these clews come to the end it should be known that the treasureis hidden within so many feet. To prevent this degenerating into amere game of follow my leader, several tracks might be laid working upto the same point, and false tracks could be laid, which only leadback again to the original. 3. Each competitor or patrol might be given a description of theway--each perhaps of a slightly different way; the description shouldmake it necessary to go to each spot in turn; and prevent any"cutting" in the following way: "Go to the tallest tree in a certainfield, from there go one hundred yards north, and then walk straighttoward a church tower which will be on your left, " etc. All thedescriptions should lead by an equal journey to a certain spot wherethe treasure is hidden. The first to arrive at that spot should notlet the others know it is the spot, but should search for the treasurein as casual a manner as possible. Will-o'-the-Wisp This game should take place across country at night. Two scouts setoff in a given direction with a lighted bull's-eye {318} lantern. After two minutes have passed the patrol or troop starts in pursuit. The lantern bearer must show his light at least every minuteconcealing it for the rest of the time. The two scouts take turns incarrying the light, and so may relieve each other in difficulties, buteither may be captured. The scout without the light can often minglewith the pursuers without being recognized and relieve his friend whenhe is being hard pressed. They should arrange certain calls or signalsbetween themselves. Treasure Island A treasure is known to be hidden upon a certain island or bit of shoremarked off, and the man who hid it leaves a map with clews for findingit (compass, directions, tide marks, etc. ). This map is hiddensomewhere near the landing-place; the patrols come in turn to look forit--they have to row from a certain distance, land, find the map, andfinally discover the treasure. They should be careful to leave no foottracks, etc. , near the treasure, because then the patrols that followthem will easily find it. The map and treasure are to be hidden afreshfor the next patrol when they have been found. The patrol wins whichreturns to the starting place with the treasure in the shortest time. (This can be played on the river, the patrols having to row across theriver to find the treasure. ) Horse and Rider Tourney In playing this game it is necessary to have a soft, velvety piece ofgrass, or if in doors, in the gymnasium, cover the floor with regulargymnasium mats. It requires four boys to play the game, two beinghorses and the other two riders. The riders mount their horses anddash at each other with great caution, striving to get a good hold ofeach other in such a way as to compel the opponent to dismount. Thiscan be done either by dragging him from his mount or by making thehorse and rider lose their balance so as to throw them off their feet. A great deal of sport can be gotten out of this game, and boys becomevery skilful after a little practice. Mumbly Peg(From Daniel Carter Beard, National Scout Commissioner) First: Hold the right fist with the back to the ground and with thejack-knife, with blade pointing to the right, resting {319} on top ofthe closed fingers. The hand is swung to the right, up and over, describing a semicircle, so that the knife falls point downward andsticks, or should stick, upright in the ground. If there is room toslip two fingers, one above the other, beneath the handle of theknife, and if the point of the knife is hidden in the ground, itcounts as a fair stick or throw. Second: The next motion is the same as the one just described, but isperformed with the left. Third: Take the point of the blade between the first and secondfingers of the right hand, and fillip it with a jerk so that the knifeturns once around in the air and strikes the point into the ground. Fourth: Do the same with the left hand. Fifth: Hold the knife as in the third and fourth positions, and bringthe arm across the chest so that the knife handle touches the leftear. Take hold of the right ear with the left hand and fillip theknife so that it turns once or twice in the air and strikes on itspoint in the earth. Sixth: Do the same with the left hand. Seventh: Still holding the knife in the same manner, bring the handleup to the nose and fillip it over through the air, so that it willstick in the ground. Eighth: Do the same with the handle at the right eye. Ninth: Repeat with the handle at the left eye. Tenth: Place the point of the blade on the top of the head. Hold it inplace with the forefinger, and with a downward push send it whirlingdown to earth, where it must stick with the point of blade in theearth. Eleventh to Fifteenth: Hold the left hand with the fingers pointingupward and, beginning with the thumb, place the point of the knife oneach finger as described above, and the forefinger of the right handon the end of the knife handle. By a downward motion, throw the kniferevolving through the air, so that it will alight with the point ofthe blade in the sod. Sixteenth to Twentieth: Repeat, with the right hand up and theforefinger of the left hand on the knife handle. Twenty-first, twenty-second: Do the same from each knee. Twenty-third: Hold the point of the blade between the first and secondfingers, and, placing the hand on the forehead, fillip the knife backover the head, so that it will stick in the ground behind the personready for the next motion. Twenty-fourth: After twenty-three the knife is left in the ground. Then with the palm of the hand strike the knife handle a smart blowthat will send it revolving over the ground {320} for a yard, more orless, and cause it to stick in the ground where it stops. This iscalled "ploughing the field. " When a miss is made the next player takes his turn, and when the firstplayer's turn comes again he must try the feat over that he failed toperform last. A good player will sometimes go through almost all thetwenty-four motions without failing to make a "two finger, " that is, afair stick, each time; but it is very unusual for anyone to run thegame out in one inning. This is the game in twenty-four motions; manyboys play it double that number. Outdoor Athletic Standards The athletic standards given below are those which most boys ought tobe able to attain. They are the result of the experience of severalphysical directors who have made a special study of athletics andphysical work among boys. The rules governing the events are found in the official handbook ofthe Athletic League of North America. These rules must be strictlyadhered to. EVENTS UNDER UNDER UNDER UNDER OVER 90 LBS. 110 LBS. 125 LBS. 140 LBS. 140 LBS. (1) Running Broad Jump 12' 13' 14' 15' 16'(2) Running High Jump 3' 11" 4' 1" 4' 4" 4' 7" 4' 10"(3) Standing Broad Jump 6' 6" 7' 7' 6" 8' 8' 6"(4) Standing High Jump 3' 2" 3' 4" 3' 6" 3' 8" 3' 10"(5) Pull-Up (times) 5 7 9 11 13(6) 20-Yard Swim 20 sec. 18 sec. 16 sec. 14 sec. 12 sec. (7) 40-Yard Swim 40 sec. 39 sec. 38 sec. 37 sec. 36 sec. (8) 50-Yard Dash 7. 8 sec. 7. 4 sec. 7 sec. 6. 6 sec. 6. 2 sec. (9) Eight-Potato Race 45 sec. 43 sec. 41 sec. 39 sec. 37 sec. (10) 8 lb. -Shot Put * 25' 30' 35' 40'(11) Push-Up from Floor * 11 13 15 17(12) Rope Climb * 14 sec. 12 sec. 10 sec. 8 sec. (13) 100-Yard Dash * * 13 sec. 12. 6 sec. 12. 2 sec. * Should not attempt this event For merit badge a boy under ninety pounds must qualify in seven of thefirst nine events; a boy under one hundred and ten pounds must qualifyin ten of the first twelve events; all others must qualify in theirproper class in eleven of the thirteen events. {321} Notes {322} Notes {323} CHAPTER IX PATRIOTISM AND CITIZENSHIP _By Waldo H. Sherman, Author of "Civics--Studies in American Citizenship"_ OUR COUNTRY America is the home of social, religious, and political liberty--"theland of the free and the home of the brave. " As a nation, we have always been rich in land, and for this reasonmillions of people have sought our shores. We have come intopossession of our territory through treaty, purchase, and annexation. In speaking of our territorial area we usually speak of the "originalterritory" and "additions" to same. When we speak of "originalterritory" we mean that part of the United States which was ceded tous by Great Britain in the peace treaty of 1783, at the close of theWar of the Revolution. This territory, in brief, is described asfollows: East to the Atlantic Ocean, west to the Mississippi River, north to the Great Lakes and Canada, and as far south as the northernline of Florida. We sometimes hear it spoken of as the territory ofthe "Thirteen Original States, " meaning the states that formed theGovernment of the Constitution in 1789. However if we look at the mapwe shall see that the original territory includes not only theterritory of the thirteen original states, but comprises also land outof which twelve other states have been formed. Looking at this areato-day, however, it seems a small part of our country compared withour present limits. Additions _Louisiana Purchase_: What is known as the Louisiana Purchase we boughtfrom France in 1803. It consisted of 875, 025 square miles, for whichwe paid $15, 000, 000. It is described as follows: west of theMississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, north to Canada, and southto the Gulf of Mexico, exclusive of Texas. This is a territory greaterthan the present combined areas of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, and the Balkan states. {324} _Florida Purchase_: In 1819, we purchased Florida from Spain at a costof over $5, 000, 000, and this single state is larger in territorialarea than the combined territory of Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, andSwitzerland. _Texas_: In 1845, Texas came to us by annexation, but the outcome ofthis annexation later on was our war with Mexico. In territorial areathis is an empire in itself--larger than the whole German Empire. _Oregon Territory_: In 1846, by treaty with Great Britain, we acquiredwhat is known as the Oregon Territory. This includes the states ofOregon, Washington, and Idaho. _Mexican Cession and Purchase from Texas_: As an outcome of the MexicanWar, we obtained from Mexico, in 1848, the territory of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and a part of New Mexico at a cost of$15, 000, 000; and in 1850, we purchased from Texas the remaining partof New Mexico and that part of Colorado not included in the LouisianaPurchase, at a cost of $10, 000, 000. _Gadsden Purchase_: In 1853, we made what is known as the GadsdenPurchase, acquiring thus from Mexico a needed tract of land on theboundary between Mexico, Arizona, and New Mexico, paying for thistract $10, 000, 000. _Alaska_: In 1867, we paid Russia $7, 000, 000, and added Alaska to ourpossessions. This purchase is spoken of in history as "Seward'sFolly, " because the transaction, made while he was secretary of state, was not generally considered a good bargain. Nevertheless it hasproved one of our most valuable possessions. _Hawaii_: In 1898, we reached out into the Pacific waters and annexedthe beautiful Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands. _Porto Rico, Pine Islands, Guam, Philippine Islands_: In 1898, theisland of Porto Rico with an area of 3600 square miles came into ourpossession as an outcome of the Spanish-American War; likewise thePine Islands with their 882 square miles; Guam with 175 square miles;and the Philippine Islands with a territorial area of 143, 000 squaremiles. But for these latter in settlement of a number of privateclaims, and to gain peaceable possession of various public lands, wepaid Spain $20, 000, 000. _Samoan Islands_: In 1899, we acquired the Samoan Islands, with an areaof 73 square miles; and, in 1901, some additional islands in thePhilippines. {325} Land Settlements The first permanent English settlements in America were made atJamestown, Va. , in 1607, and at Plymouth, Mass. , in 1620; and fromthese two settlements we may trace in large part the growth, character, and development of our national life. The story of the"Pilgrim Fathers" in Massachusetts has been told for generations inliterature and in song, and can never cease to be of romantic andthrilling interest. The story of the settlement and dispersal of other nationalities inAmerica--the Swedes in Delaware, the Dutch in New York, the Spanishand French in Florida and along the banks of the Mississippi and OhioRivers--all this is summed up in what is known as "colonial history. " In 1763, at the close of the French and Indian wars, England had comeinto possession of practically all the territory east of theMississippi--that territory which was ceded in 1783 as the originalterritory of the United States. You will sometimes hear it said that thirteen is an unlucky number. Indeed you may have known people so superstitious that they refuse tosit down at a table when the number is thirteen. Again you may know itto be a fact that some hotels do not have a room numbered thirteen, and that many steamboats likewise follow the same custom in state-roomarrangement. Strange superstition for Americans! It took thirteenstates to make our Union; we have made thirteen additions to ourterritory; when George Washington was inaugurated as president, asalute of thirteen guns was fired; and, finally, the foundation of theflag of our country bears thirteen stripes. The American Revolution The story of the American Revolution (1775-1783)--Declaration ofIndependence (1776), the adoption of the Articles of Confederation(1781), and, finally, the making and adoption of the Constitution ofthe United States in 1789--all is summed up in a period of fourteenyears, and may be told and written in the life of George Washington, who was indeed the "Father of His Country. " The cause of the American Revolution was England's oppression of herAmerican colonists; and the injustice of taxation withoutrepresentation, with other injustices, finally brought aboutrebellion. The war began in Massachusetts with the battles ofLexington and Concord, April 19, 1775, and ended at Yorktown, Va. , October 19, 1781. The treaty of peace was {326} signed at Paris, France, September 3, 1783, and November 25 of that year, known inhistory as "Evacuation Day, " the British took their departure down thebay of New York harbor and America was free. Now do we find ourselves at the fireside of American patriotism. Hereis Washington. He is a Virginian, and the American people know him atthis time as Colonel Washington. It is the 13th day of June, 1775, andthe second Continental Congress is in session at Philadelphia. JohnAdams of Massachusetts has the floor. He is to show himself at thistime the master statesman. Justly has he been called the "Colossus ofthe Revolution. " On his way to Independence Hall this morning he meetshis cousin, Samuel Adams, and tells him what he is going to do. "Wemust, " he says; "act on this matter at once. We must make Congressdeclare for or against something. I'll tell you what I am going to do. I am determined this very morning to make a direct motion thatCongress shall adopt the army before Boston, and appoint theVirginian, Colonel Washington, commander of it. " Adams is now stating to the Congress the gravity of the situation; hepoints out the necessity of immediate action the colonies must beunited, the army must be brought together, disciplined, and trainedfor service, and, under Congress, a fitting commander appointed. "Sucha gentleman, " he said, "I have in mind. I mention no names, but everygentleman here knows him at once as a brave soldier and a man ofaffairs. He is a gentleman from Virginia, one of this body, and wellknown to all of us. He is a gentleman of skill and excellent universalcharacter and would command the approbation of all the colonies betterthan any other person in the Union. " George Washington is in the hall. The eyes of all Congress have turnedtoward him. He is surprised, confused, and embarrassed, leaves hisseat and hurries into the library. Congress spent two days considering Adams's motion, for there wereother men who had hoped for the appointment; but finally, on the 15thof June, 1775, a ballot was taken, and Washington was unanimouslyelected commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. On July 2, 1775, he took command of the army at Cambridge, Mass. , andMarch 17, 1776, the British were expelled from Boston. {327} We now come to the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. It waswritten by Thomas Jefferson, at that time a young man of thirty-three. The committee of the General Congress appointed to draft it, consistedof the following: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. The strong feeling of Thomas Jefferson as he wrote the Declaration isindicated by his statement that, "Rather than submit to the right oflegislating for us assumed by the British Parliament, I would lend myhand to sink the whole island in the ocean. " Here also we get aglimpse of one of the most interesting and delightful characters inthe history of this period--Benjamin Franklin. History records thatwhile Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, a fewverbal suggestions were made by Doctor Franklin, as the followingconversation reported to have taken place between them would indicate:"Well, Brother Jefferson, " said Franklin, "is the fair copy made?""All ready, doctor, " replied Jefferson. "Will you hear it through oncemore?" "As many times as you wish, " responded the smiling doctor, witha merry twinkle in his eyes. "One can't get too much of a good thing, you know. " Jefferson then read to Franklin the Declaration ofIndependence, which has been pronounced one of the world's greatestpapers. "That's good, Thomas! That's right to the point! That willmake King George wince. I wish I had done it myself. " It is saidFranklin would "have put a joke into the Declaration of Independence, if it had fallen to his lot to write that immortal document. " The Declaration of Independence went forth to the world signed by oneman, John Hancock--which explains the expression you sometimes hear, "Put your John Hancock there. " It was, however, signed later by allthe members of that Congress--fifty-four in number. This immortaldocument has been carefully preserved and the original may be seen atWashington. The Declaration was a notice to Great Britain and to all the worldthat the American colonists would no longer be subject to GreatBritain; that henceforth they were to be a free and independentpeople, holding Great Britain as they held the rest of mankind, "enemies in war--in peace friends. " This Declaration marks the birthof our nation. Our government fathers fully realized the step they were taking. Theyknew it meant a final breaking with the home government of England, but--"with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, " insupport of this {328} Declaration, they pledged to each other "theirlives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. " Following the expulsion of the British from Boston, the battle fieldof the Revolution changes to New York, moving to Harlem Heights andWhite Plains; then to New Jersey; Trenton, and Princeton; then toPennsylvania; Brandywine, Westchester, Germantown, Valley Forge, andon to Monmouth. But here let us pause. It has been a terrible winter at Valley Forge. While the British at Philadelphia, twenty miles away, have been livingin luxury, our Washington and his men have suffered bitterly withhunger and cold; and out of a list of eleven thousand men, threethousand at Valley Forge lay sick at one time. But at last the springhas come and Washington has now been nearly three years in service. Listen! The order has gone forth! At 10:30 o'clock comes the signal, and the firing of a cannon sees all men under arms! At 11:30 o'clockthe second signal is given and the march begins. It is May 7, 1778, and Washington is assembling his men. Great news has come and it isfitting to return thanks to Divine Providence--so reads hisproclamation. Now comes the third signal, the firing of thirteen cannon! Anothersignal! and the whole army breaks into a loud huzza "Long live theKing of France!" followed by a running fire of guns. On this same day in the afternoon, Washington gives a banquet to hisofficers, aides, and guests, to which they march arm-in-arm, thirteenabreast. What does it mean? It means that Benjamin Franklin has beenheard from, and that an alliance with France, England's bitterestenemy, has been made. Some day when you are in Washington, you may seedirectly in front of the White House, Lafayette Park, and, knowing thestory of the Revolution, you understand why it is there. You alsounderstand why Washington's army on that May morning shouted, "Longlive the King of France. " But it is not our purpose here to tell the whole story: we can onlytouch the high points. Again the army moves to White Plains and on toMiddlebrook and New Windsor; and Washington spends the winter (1781)at Morristown, N. J. The end is approaching. He joins Lafayette atYorktown, Va. , and on October 19th, Cornwallis, the British general, surrenders to George Washington, commander-in-chief of the AmericanArmy. Thus the conflict begun in one English settlement is ended inthe other. Massachusetts marks the beginning and Virginia the endingof the War of the Revolution. {329} The War of 1812-1815 The War of 1812 was a naval war. It was a battle for rights--therights of our sailors, the rights of our commerce. American ships andcargoes were being confiscated. France and England and the Barbarypirates were engaged in a profitable war on our commerce, and last butnot least twenty thousand American seamen had been pressed intoservice and were slaves on ships that were foreign, England especiallyclaiming the right to search American ships and press into service allmen found on board who were English by birth, though American bychoice and adoption. "Once a subject always a subject, " said Great Britain, but our answerin 1812 was as it is now: any foreigner after five years' residencewithin our territory, who has complied with our naturalization lawsand taken the oath of allegiance to our flag, becomes one of ourcitizens as completely as if he were native born. This war is sometimes spoken of as a "leaderless war, " but greatleaders came out of it. The names of Hull, Perry, and Lawrence arememorable in its history; it was the war which made Andrew Jackson, known as "Old Hickory, " President of the United States in 1828. Youwill read the story of his great victory in the Battle of New Orleans. Some day you will read the life story of David Glasgow Farragut ofwhom it is said that, with the exception of Nelson, the great Englishadmiral, "he was as great an admiral as ever sailed the broad ornarrow seas. " Although the great work of Farragut was in the CivilWar, the story of his life began in the War of 1812 when he was butten years old. Admiral Farragut is reported as giving thisexplanation, in the late years of his life, of his success in theservice of his country "It was all owing to a resolution that I formed when I was ten yearsold. My father was sent to New Orleans with the little navy we had, tolook after the treason of Burr. I accompanied him as cabin-boy. I hadsome qualities that I thought made a man of me. I could swear like anold salt, could drink as stiff a glass of grog as if I had doubledCape Horn, and could smoke like a locomotive. I was great at cards, and was fond of gambling in every shape. At the close of dinner oneday, my father turned everybody out of the cabin, locked the door, andsaid to me: "David, what do you mean to be?" "'I mean to follow the sea, ' I said. " {330} "'Follow the sea!' exclaimed my father; 'yes, be a poor, miserable, drunken sailor before the mast, kicked and cuffed about the world, anddie in some fever hospital in a foreign clime?' "'No, father, ' I replied, 'I will tread the quarter-deck, and commandas you do!' "'No, David; no boy ever trod the quarter-deck with such principlesas you have, and such habits as you exhibit. You will have to changeyour whole course of life if you ever become a man. ' "My father left me and went on deck. I was stunned by the rebuke, andoverwhelmed with mortification. 'A poor, miserable, drunken sailorbefore the mast, kicked and cuffed about the world, and die in somefever hospital!' That's my fate is it? I'll change my life, and I willchange it at once. I will never utter another oath, never drinkanother drop of intoxicating liquor, never gamble, and as God is mywitness I have kept these three vows to this hour. " The Star Spangled Banner The sun is slowly sinking in the west. The men of the army and navyare drawn up at attention. At every fort, army post, and navy yard, and on every American battle-ship at home or abroad, the flag of ourcountry is flying at full mast. The sunset gun will soon be fired, andnight will follow the day as darkness follows the light. All is ready, the signal is given, the men salute, and the flag to the band'saccompaniment of "The Star Spangled Banner" slowly descends for thenight to be folded and kept for the morning's hoisting. "And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave While the land of the free is the home of the brave. " In the cemetery of Mt. Olivet, near Frederick, Md. , there is a spotwhere the flag of our country is never lowered. It is keeping watch bynight as by day over the grave of Francis Scott Key, author of "TheStar Spangled Banner. " He was born in Frederick County, Md. , August 1, 1779, and died in Baltimore, January 11, 1843. The Congress of the United States has never formally adopted "The StarSpangled Banner" as a national anthem, but it has become such throughthe recognition {331} given to it by the army and navy. It is playedon all state occasions at home or abroad and is the response of ourbands at all international gatherings. In the theatre, at a publicmeeting, or at a banquet--whenever it is played, the people rise andremain standing to the end as a tribute to the flag of our country. The poem itself is descriptive of what the author saw and felt on thenight of September 13, 1814, as he watched the bombardment of FortMcHenry by the British during the War of 1812. The city of Washingtonhad been sacked, bombarded, and burned by the British, and now intheir march of destruction, they were bombarding the fort to gainentrance to Baltimore's harbor, in which city they had purposed tospend the winter. We can well imagine the joy of Key's heart, the sonof a Revolutionary patriot, held in custody on a British battle-ship, to see in the morning "that our flag was still there, " and to know, therefore, that there was still hope for our country. "Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto, 'In God is our Trust'. " The Birth of New States The history of the fifty-six years between 1789 and 1845 is marked bythe development of new states formed out of the territorial settlementof the wilderness. The people of our country have always beenpioneering, going ahead of civilization, so to speak, but alwaystaking it with them. Scouts they have been in every sense of the word. Following the rivers, clearing the forests, fording the streams, braving the dangers, living the wild life--brave men and women! The first state to come into the Union of the thirteen original stateswas Vermont, the "Green Mountain" state (1791); next came Kentucky(1792), the "Blue Grass" state, the home of Daniel Boone, the greathunter and pioneer. Four years later, (1796) came Tennessee, the"Volunteer" state, receiving this name because of its large number ofvolunteer soldiers for the Seminole war and the War of 1812; nextcomes Ohio (1803), the "Buckeye, " so called because of the largenumber of buckeye trees, the nut of which bears some resemblance to abuck's eye. This is the first state to be formed out of the publicdomain, known at this time as the "Northwest Territory. " The landordinance bill of 1785 and the homestead act of 1862 {332} relate tothe development and settlement of the public domain, the first being aplan of survey applied to all public lands owned by the United Statesgovernment; the other being a law by which the possession of theselands was made possible to settlers. Following Ohio into the Union came Louisiana (1812), the "Creole"state whose people were descendants of the original French and Spanishsettlers. This was the first state to be formed west of theMississippi, and New Orleans, its chief city, known as the "CrescentCity, " is one of the oldest in our country and full of historicinterest. After the War of 1812 the new states began to come in rapidly. Theadmission of Indiana (1816), "The Hoosier"; Mississippi (1817), the"Bayou"; Illinois, the "Prairie" (1818); Alabama (1819), the "Cotton, "show that the pioneer settlements of our people had been closing inalong the banks of the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers. We now go back to the far East, for the state of Maine, our "PineTree" state, has now been developed, and its admission (1820)completes the coast line of states as far south as Georgia. The nextstate admitted is Missouri (1821), the "Iron, " followed by Arkansas, the "Bear" (1836), to be followed in turn by Michigan (1836), the"Lake" or "Wolverine" state, the thirteenth state to be admitted; andthe stars in our flag are now doubled. The first census of the United States was taken in 1790, and theConstitution provided that it must be taken every ten yearsthereafter. In that year, the order of states in rank of populationwas as follows: Virginia first, Pennsylvania second, North Carolinathird, Massachusetts fourth, and New York fifth. The census of 1820 makes a decided change, we find, in the order ofpopulation, and New York comes first, Virginia second, Pennsylvaniathird, North Carolina fourth, Ohio fifth, Kentucky sixth, andMassachusetts seventh. The states of Florida and Texas came into the Union in the sameyear--the one March 3 and the other December 29, 1845; and therebyhangs a tale. It had been claimed by our government that Texas wasincluded in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803; but the Mexicans claimedit also, and, in 1819, in order to close the deal for the purchase ofFlorida, our government was obliged to relinquish its claim to Texas. At this time the possession of Florida was more desirable andnecessary to the peace of our country than the {333} possession ofTexas; it was under Spanish rule, overrun with outlaws and a mostundesirable neighbor, besides being very necessary to the rounding outof our coast territory. The Mexican War The annexation and admission of Texas into the Union in 1845 cameabout through the pioneering and settlement of our people in herterritory; where at first welcomed and encouraged by the Mexicans, they were later deluged in blood. The spirit of Americanism grewrampant under the barbaric and military despotism of the Mexicangovernment, and in 1835 there was an uprising of the settlers led by apioneer, an ex-governor of Tennessee, Gen. Samuel Houston, the manfor whom the city of Houston, Texas, was named. At this time therewere about ten thousand Americans in Texas, and on March 2, 1836, through their representatives in convention assembled, these Americansin true Revolutionary spirit declared Texas an independent republic. The Mexican government tried to put down this rebellion, but met witha crushing defeat, and Texas, the "Lone Star" state, remained anindependent republic up to the time of her annexation and admission asa state of the Union. The cause of the war with Mexico, then, was her resentment becauseTexas began to move for annexation to the United States. The fact thatTexas had been for many years an independent republic and been sorecognized by the United States, Great Britain, France, and somesmaller countries, gave Texas the right on her part to ask forannexation, and the United States the right to annex her. But in orderto bring Texas into the Union and save her people from the Mexicans, the United States was obliged to declare war against Mexico. This shedid May 13, 1845, although Texas was not admitted as a state untilDecember 29th of that year. The war lasted nearly three years, peacebeing declared February 2, 1848. As an outcome of the war the peacefulpossession of Texas was secured, and also possession of the territoryof California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and a part of Colorado and NewMexico, for which territory, however, our government in finalsettlement paid Mexico, $15, 000, 000. New States--1845-1861 During the Mexican War, Iowa (1846), the "Hawkeye" state, came intothe Union, followed by the state of Wisconsin (1848), {334} the"Badger. " Next comes the story of the "Forty-niners, " and California(1850), the "Golden State, " enters the Union; and then comes Minnesota(1858), the "North Star" State, and the Great Lakes are walled in, this state completing the circuit. Oregon, (1859), the "Beaver"follows, then the "Garden of the West, " Kansas (1861), and the CivilWar is upon us. Of course, we do not mean to say that Kansas was thecause of the Civil War, although it had much to do with it. The Civil War--1861-1865 The Civil War was a war between states, in the government of theUnited States between states that were slave and states that werefree. The rights of property ownership are involved in state rights, andslaves held as property in slave-holding states were not recognized assuch in states that were free. Therefore, the principle of slaverybecame involved not alone in the individual ownership of slaves, butalso in the rights of a state, and the relationship of states to eachother in the government of the United States. At the close of the Revolutionary War, one of the first things to besettled was the boundaries as between states of the land comprisingthe thirteen original states; and as an outcome of this settlement, there came into possession of the United States all of that territoryceded by Great Britain in 1783, which was not included in theboundaries of those states. This territory, in brief, may be describedas the territory east of the Mississippi, and north and south of theOhio River; and out of this territory and that west of the Mississippiadded later (1803) through the Louisiana Purchase, most of the newstates were formed that came into the Union before the Civil War. Andthis was the beginning of what is known as the "public domain"--thatis, land owned by the Federal Government. In 1785, Congress passed a law which has become general in itsapplication to all public lands of the United States. It is a law forthe uniform survey of public lands into townships six miles square, subdivided into sections containing 640 acres, and quarter sectionscontaining 160 acres. The purpose of the government in making thissurvey was to make public lands in the territories of the governmenteasy of settlement, and as the townships became settled, to develop inthem the local township form of government. {335} The territory north of the Ohio River was designated the "NorthwestTerritory. " As soon as the public lands in this territory were thrownopen to settlers, they began to pour in. Indeed, in many instances, they went ahead of the survey. The next step taken by Congress was to pass a law, in 1787, for thegovernment and protection of those settlers in this NorthwestTerritory, and in this law Congress made provision that slavery shouldbe prohibited. Therefore, states formed in this territory had to comeinto the Union as free states. This was a restriction of slavery, however, which did not apply to the territory south of the Ohio, norwest of the Mississippi; so that when a new state came into the Union, formed out of either one of these territories, it became a greatpolitical factor in our government either for or against slavery. In the passing of the years, many changes were taking place in ourgovernment, but there came a time when the people began to realizethat slavery was spreading and that our government was politicallydivided between states that were slave and states that were free--or, in other words, that in the principle of slavery the peace andpreservation of the Union were involved. And thus it happened that the slave-holding states, not being able tolive at peace in the Union, decided to go out of it, and live bythemselves. The right of a state to leave the Union was called "theright of secession"--a right which the North held did not exist underthe Constitution. Nevertheless, one by one, under the leadership of South Carolina, December 20, 1860, the slave-holding states announced their secession, either by act of state legislature or in convention assembled; and onFebruary 4, 1861, there had been formed in our government a Southernconfederacy. At this time the whole number of states in the Union wasthirty-two, and of this number eleven entered the Southernconfederacy. The first shot was fired by the Southern confederacy on April 12, 1861, against Fort Sumter, a fortification of the Federal Governmentover which floated the stars and stripes. The war lasted four years, ending on April 9, 1865, when Robert E. Lee, commander-in-chief of thearmy of the Southern confederacy, surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, commander-in-chief of the Federal army. Abraham Lincoln The central figure in the Civil War is Abraham Lincoln--in heart, brain, and character, not only one of our greatest Americans, but oneof the world's greatest men. {336} Lincoln was born February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. Hisparents had come to this then pioneer state from Virginia, and hisgrandfather, whose Christian name he bore, moved there as early as1781, where, a few years later, he was killed by the Indians whiletrying to make a home in the forest. When Lincoln was eight years old, his people moved to the new state of Indiana about the time it cameinto the Union, and there he lived until he was twenty-one, when hewent to Illinois, from which state, eventually, he was electedPresident. In 1859, when he was beginning to gain some recognition as a nationalfigure, he was asked to write a little sketch of his life, and in theletter enclosing it he said: "There is not much of it, for the reason, I suppose, there is not much of me. " In this sketch, which is indeedbrief, he tells us he was raised to farm work until he was twenty-two;that up to that time he had had little education; and when he becameof age he did not know much beyond reading, writing, and ciphering tothe "rule of three. " He clerked for one year in a store and waselected and served as captain of the volunteers in the Black Hawk War;later on he ran for the state legislature (1832) and was defeated, though successful in the three succeeding elections. While in thestate legislature, he studied law and later went to Springfield topractise it. The only other public office he makes note of is hiselection to the lower house of Congress for one term (1846). Hereturned to Springfield and took up more earnestly the study andpractice of law; he entered with spirit into the political campaigns, and constantly was growing in public esteem. His public debates withDouglas (1858) made him a familiar figure throughout the state ofIllinois, and his profound knowledge and masterful handling ofquestions debated, his convincing and unanswerable arguments, hisclear grasp of the political situation, began to gain the attention ofEastern politicians, convincing them and the country at large thatthey had a mighty force to reckon with in the prairie state ofIllinois. Although he lost the election to the United States Senate, and Douglaswon, the campaign had pushed him to the front as a national figure, and paved the way for his presidential nomination. In 1860, at the Republican convention assembled in Chicago, AbrahamLincoln was nominated for President. In November he was elected andMarch 4, 1861, he was inaugurated. His address at this time was anearnest plea for peace and friendship {337} between the North and theSouth: "We are not enemies but friends. We must not be enemies. Thoughpassion may have strained, it must not break our bond of affection. " But the war tide was rising and could not be stemmed; four years ofbitter conflict ensued. Lincoln's emancipation of the slaves was madeonly after he had convinced himself it could not be longer deferredand preserve the Union. "My paramount duty, " he said, "is to save theUnion, and not either to destroy or save slavery. What I do aboutslavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to savethe Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe itwould save the Union. " His Emancipation Proclamation, officiallyfreeing the slaves, was finally issued in September, 1862, to takeeffect Jan, 1st of the following year. Lincoln was elected to the Presidency for the second term andinaugurated March 4, 1865, while the war was still on. His secondinaugural address closes with these words with which every boy shouldbe familiar, voicing as they do the exalted spirit of a great and goodman: With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and for his orphan; to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations. The war ended on April 9th of this same year, and on April 14th, thePresident, weary with the cares of state, but with the burden of thewar clouds lifted, had gone to Ford's Theatre in Washington for anevening's entertainment and pleasure, accompanied by Mrs. Lincoln. Thebox which the President occupied had been most elaborately decoratedwith the flag of the country. His coming had been heralded abroad andthe audience that had assembled in his honor was large, brilliant, andjoyously happy over the assured preservation of the Union. In themidst of the play, the assassin, J. Wilkes Booth, entered the box andfired the fatal shot. The body of the bleeding President was taken toa house across the street where the next morning at 7:20 o'clock hedied. Thus the emancipator of the slave, the friend of the wholepeople and the savior of our country died, a martyr to the cause offreedom. Washington has been called "the aristocrat, " and Lincoln "the man ofthe people. " The one had culture, wealth, and social position; theother lacked all of these in his early years. Lincoln's early life wascradled in the woods, and all of life out of doors had been his in thenew and pioneer states of the {338} wilderness. He grew up not knowingmany people, but somehow in his up-coming there was developed in hislife a great heart full of tenderness and kindly feeling. Doubtless itwas the very hardships of life that made him what he was. At any rate, he was one of the greatest and noblest figures in all history. He wascalled "Honest Abe" by those who knew him because always, even inlittle things, he wanted to see perfect justice done; and thus it was, when he came to things of large importance, that the man was only aboy grown tall, not only in stature but in the things that make forrighteousness in a nation. The Spanish-American War--1889 The war with Spain was not of this country's seeking. The island ofCuba, whose distress had aroused the sympathy of the whole world, wasour near neighbor, and to sit idly by and witness the inhumantreatment practised by the Spanish soldiery upon the helplessislanders would hardly be a part creditable to any people. It was notour intention at first to do other than to relieve the suffering anddistress of Cuba, near at hand, and this we tried to do peaceably inthe supplying of food and other necessities of life. As the next step, the United States sent a remonstrance to Spaintelling her she should send a more humane governor to the island. Butas matters grew worse instead of better, even under a change ofgovernors, the sympathy of the United States became daily more deeplyenlisted in the freedom of the Cubans. The battleship Maine was sent to Havana Harbor to protect, if need be, the Americans and American interests in Cuba. On the night of February15th, 1898, an explosion occurred, sinking the ship almostimmediately. With the destruction of the Maine--whether by accident or intent--withthe appalling loss of two hundred and fifty-six men, including twoofficers, relations with Spain became more and more strained, untilwar seemed inevitable. On April 11, 1898, President McKinley in aspecial message to Congress, said: "In the name of humanity andcivilization, the war in Cuba must stop. " War indeed was formally declared April 25th, and in the brief space ofone hundred and fourteen days history had added to its annals: theblockading of Cuban ports whereby the Spanish fleet was trapped; theinvasion and siege of the island by United States regulars, volunteers, and rough riders; the {339} destruction of the PacificSpanish fleet in Manila Bay by Admiral Dewey; and, finally, thedestruction of the remainder of the Spanish fleet under command ofAdmiral Cervera, Sunday morning, July 3d. The final outcome of thiswar was the freedom of Cuba and the possession by the United States ofPorto Rico, Guam, and the Philippine Islands. Peace There is no country in the world less warlike than ours, and nocountry in the world that more potently argues for universal peace. Wehave never departed from the spirit of our Declaration ofIndependence, "that all men are created equal; that they are endowedby their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these arelife, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. " We put it into ourConstitution when we said, "in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for thecommon defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessingsof liberty to ourselves and our posterity" we "do ordain and establishthis Constitution for the United States of America. " Such has been, then, and always must be, our programme--the chart and compass of allour ways. The American Flag "_A star for every state and a state for every star_. " The flag of one's country is its dearest possession--emblem of home, and country, and native land. This is what one thinks and feels whenhe sees the flag, and this is what it means. Our flag is the emblem ofliberty--the emblem of hope--the emblem of peace and good-will towardmen. There is a story, quite generally believed, that the first flag wasplanned and made in 1776 by Betsy Ross, who kept an upholstery shop onArch Street, Philadelphia, and that this, a year later, was adopted byCongress. The special committee appointed to design a national flagconsisted of George Washington, Robert Morris, and Col. George Ross, uncle of the late husband of Betsy Ross. The star that the committeedecided upon had six points, but Mrs. Ross advised the five-pointedstar, which has ever since been used in the United States flag. Theflag thus designed was colored by a local artist, and from thiscolored copy Betsy Ross made the first American flag. When Washington was in command at Cambridge, in January, 1776, theflag used by him consisted of a banner of {340} thirteen red and whitestripes with the British Union Jack in the upper left-hand comer. The Betsy Ross house has been purchased by the American Flag House andBetsy Ross Memorial Association, and is pointed out as one of theinteresting historical places in Philadelphia. The official history of our flag begins on June 14, 1777, when theAmerican Congress adopted the following resolution proposed by JohnAdams: Resolved: That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation. "We take, " said Washington, "the star from Heaven, the red from ourmother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that wehave separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down toposterity representing liberty. " In designing the flag there was much discussion as to the arrangementof the stars in the field of blue. It was thought at one time that anew stripe as well as a new star should be added for each new stateadmitted to the Union. Indeed, in 1794, Congress passed an act to theeffect that on and after May 1, 1795, "the flag of the United States befifteen stripes, alternate red and white; and that the union befifteen stars, white in a field of blue. " These additional stars andstripes were for the states of Vermont and Kentucky. The impracticability of adding a stripe for each state was apparent asother states began to be admitted. Moreover, the flag of fifteenstripes, it was thought, did not properly represent the Union;therefore, on April 14, 1818, after a period of twenty-one years inwhich the flag of fifteen stripes had been used, Congress passed anact which finally fixed the general flag of our country, which readsas follows: An Act to Establish the Flag of the United States. Sec. 1. Be it enacted, etc. . That from and after the fourth day of July next, the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; that the union have twenty stars, white in a blue field. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, that, on the admission of every new state into the union, one star be added to the union of the flag; and that such addition shall take effect on the fourth day of July succeeding such admission. 341 Patriotism and Citizenship Flag Day June 14th, the anniversary of the adoption of the flag, is celebratedas flag day in many of our states. {341} In order to show proper respect for the flag, the following rulesshould be observed: It should not be hoisted before sunrise nor allowed to remain up after sunset. At "retreat, " sunset, civilian spectators should stand at attention and give the military salute. When the national colors are passing on parade or review, the spectators should, if walking, halt, and if sitting, rise and stand at attention and uncover. When the flag is flown at half staff as a sign of mourning it should be hoisted to full staff at the conclusion of the funeral. In placing the flag at half mast, it should first be hoisted to the top of the staff and then lowered to position, and preliminary to lowering from half staff it should first be raised to top. On Memorial Day, May 30th, the flag should fly at half mast from sunrise until noon, and full staff from noon to sunset. (Taken from the "Sons of the Revolution, " state of New York. ) The Scout's Pledge to the Flag "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which itstands; one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. " Congress The Congress of the United States is its law-making body, and iscomposed of the Senate and House of Representatives. Senators areelected for six years, two from each state; representatives for twoyears, each state being represented in proportion to its population. The Vice-president of the United States is the president of theSenate, and the presiding officer of the House of Representatives ischosen by the members from their number; he is called the speaker. Thesalary of the senators and representatives is $7, 500 a year and 20cents per mile is allowed for traveling to and from Washington. Thespeaker's salary is $12, 000 a year. The President The President is elected for a term of four years. He lives during histerm of office at the White House, where presidential receptions andsocial affairs of state are held. The President's offices areconnected with the White House. Here he receives his callers and herethe meetings of his Cabinet are held. The salary of the President is$75, 000, a year. The Cabinet The members of the Cabinet are the officers and heads of the severaldepartments of the administrative government. {342} They are appointedby the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Themembers of the Cabinet are as follows: secretary of state, secretaryof the treasury, secretary of war, attorney general, postmastergeneral, secretary of the navy, secretary of the interior, secretaryof agriculture, secretary of commerce and labor. The members of theCabinet are such men as the President believes are qualified to serveduring his administration of office, and are usually members of thesame political party as the President. United States Courts The Supreme Court of the United States is at Washington, D. C. , butthere are other courts of the United States held in the severalstates, called district courts. Washington, D. C. The capitol at Washington is the home of Congress, and the SupremeCourt. The Library of Congress, the Treasury, Army and Navy, Pension, Post-office, and many other buildings of public character are locatedin Washington. These during certain hours are open to visitors. The Army The President, in accordance with the Constitution, iscommander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States and ofthe militia of the several states when called to the actual service ofthe United States. The law provides that the total strength of thearmy shall not exceed at any one time 100, 000. As now organized (1910)the total strength of the staff and line is 76, 911 not including theprovisional force and the hospital corps. These figures include thePorto Rico Regiment of Infantry, the Service School Detachments, theMilitary Academy (officers, soldiers and cadets), the Indian Scouts, 52, 000 native scouts in the Philippine Islands, 193 First Lieutenantsof the Medical Reserve Corps on active duty, and 11, 777 recruits, etc. They do not include the veterinary surgeons, the officers of theMedical Reserve Corps not on active duty, nor the retired officers andenlisted men of the army. The appropriation for the maintenance of thearmy for the year 1909-10 was $100, 330, 181. Militia The law of our country states that in time of war every able-bodiedmale citizen, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, {343} shallbe counted a member of the state militia. The state militia is dividedinto two classes: one, the organized, known as the national guard; andthe other the unorganized, known as the reserve militia. The membership of the national guard is voluntary. One may join ornot, as he chooses, except that in some states the law requires thatstudents at the state university shall receive military training forat least a part of their university course, and during that time theyare accounted a part of the national guard of the State. The governorof each state holds the same relationship to the state militia as thePresident to the army and navy: he is commander-in-chief. Military Academy The United States Military Academy is at West Point, N. Y. , on theHudson River. The number of students is limited to 533, andappointments to the academy are made in accordance with the rule whichpermits each United States senator and each congressman to have onerepresentative, and also gives the President the right to make fortyappointments at large. Candidates for appointment must be between theages of seventeen and twenty-two; must pass the required physicalexamination; also an examination in English grammar, composition andliterature, algebra and geometry, geography and history. The course ofinstruction is four years; the discipline very strict. Only one leaveof absence is granted during the entire four years, and this comes atthe close of the second year. The pay is $709. 50 per year, and ongraduation a cadet is commissioned a second lieutenant. To receive anappointment to West Point, one must apply to his United States senatoror to a congressman in the state in which he lives, or to thePresident. The Navy The enlisted strength of the navy, as in the army, is limited. The lawallows 47, 500 men and apprenticed seamen. The number of officers andenlisted men at the present time is 46, 898, and the annual expenditurefor the support of the navy at this date (1911) is about $130, 000, 000. Naval Enlistment The enlistment of men in the United States navy, as in the army, isvoluntary. The term is four years. To be eligible for enlistment onemust be between the ages of eighteen and {344} twenty-two. He must beof good moral character, must pass the physical examination, must beable to write English, and take the oath of allegiance. Naval Militia In the District of Columbia and in twenty of the states we have whatis known as the naval militia. The assistant secretary of the navystands in a special relation to the naval militia through the governorand the adjutant-general of the several states. The naval militiaholds the same relationship to the navy that the national guard doesto the United States army. Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy is at Annapolis, Md. The students arecalled midshipmen, and candidates for appointment must be between theages of sixteen and twenty. The appointment of candidates is made asat West Point--through senators and congressmen and the President, theonly difference being in the number of appointments that may be made:each senator and representative may be represented by two midshipmenat Annapolis, while at West Point he is represented by but one cadet. The President has the appointment of seven men to the NavalAcademy--two from the District of Columbia and five from the UnitedStates at large. He may also appoint one from Porto Rico, who must bea native. The midshipmen's course is six years--four at Annapolis, andtwo at sea. The pay is $600 per year. Civil Service In the administration of the government of the United States, thousands of men and women are employed in the various offices atWashington, and are sometimes termed the great "peace army. " In one period of our country's history, it was believed that eachPresident, when he came into office, had the right to turn out ofoffice every person employed by the government in any of its civildepartments, should it please him to do so, and to put into office hisown friends or the friends of his party. This right was claimed on theground that "to the victor belong the spoils"--a theory of governmentadministration that has been severely dealt with and reformed throughwhat is known as the "Civil Service Act. " The Civil Service Act waspassed {345} by Congress January 16, 1883, and by this act a civilservice commission was brought into existence. The three members ofthis commission are appointed by the President with consent of theSenate, not more than two of whom may be members of the same party. Thus, by this civil service act, positions in the government serviceare now obtained for the most part through competitive examinations, and such positions are not affected in any way by the incoming of anew President or the appointment of a new head of a department. In some states and in most of the large cities civil serviceappointments are now made through competitive examinations. Anyoneinterested in learning what positions may be secured in the service ofthe government, may apply to the Civil Service Commission atWashington, D. C. , or make inquiry at the local post-office. Foreign Service The foreign service of our government is carried on through thediplomatic corps and the consular service. In the diplomatic corps, wehave ambassadors, envoys, ministers, diplomatic agents, andsecretaries; in the consular service, consuls general, consuls, andconsular agents. Our diplomatic representatives abroad look after our interests as anation in the family of nations. They represent us socially as well aspolitically in the great foreign capitals of the world. They arereceived as our representatives of state, and it is their duty tosustain and promote good-will and friendly feeling between us andother nations. The consular service is more directly responsible forour trade relationships in the great centres of the world. Through ourforeign service, also, Americans abroad, whether as tourists, orresidents, are protected in person and in property interests. Appointments to the foreign service are made by the President with theadvice of the Senate. As we send our representatives abroad, so the countries to which ourrepresentatives go in turn send their representatives to us. In thecity of Washington, one may see representatives of all the principalnations of the earth living there as ambassadors, for the purpose ofpromoting friendly commercial and political relationships. Thesecretary of state is the representative of our government throughwhose office the great work of the foreign service is directly carriedon, and upon him devolves therefore the great affairs of staterelationships with other countries. When our independence as a nationwas declared in 1776, it {346} was important to gain as quickly aspossible from other nations a recognition of our independence and ofour entrance into the family of nations. France was the first to giveus recognition, and the first to enter into a treaty relationship. Some of the most thrilling and interesting stories of our nationallife are to be found in the adventurous determination of ourrepresentatives to gain the recognition of our independence as anation from the great powers of the earth. The name of BenjaminFranklin, sent to the court of France, stands at the head of ourdiplomatic service; and we may read with interest of the firstappearance of our diplomatic representative, John Adams, at the courtof Great Britain. When we speak of court in this sense, we mean, ofcourse, the king's court--the place of meeting--usually the throneroom. In our country, foreign representatives are received by thePresident at the White House, or by the secretary of state in hisoffice apartments. Some foreign countries have built for theirrepresentatives in Washington palatial and beautiful residences, overwhich floats the flag of the country to which the palace or residencebelongs. Our own country has already begun to make this residentialprovision for her representatives abroad, and in time will undoubtedlyown residences in all of the principal foreign capitals. State Government The states of the United States are not all alike either inconstitution or government, although there is a likeness at manypoints. For instance, each state has about the same officers, agovernor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, adjutant general, superintendent of schools, etc. Each state has its own state legislature: a senate to which statesenators are elected, and a house of representatives sometimes calledthe assembly, to which state representatives or assemblymen areelected. Each state legislature makes laws only for its own state;therefore not all state laws are alike. Indeed, there is a great dealof individuality to each state, and rightly so. As each person has hisown individuality, and as each family has its own characteristics, soeach state has an individuality and characteristics peculiar toitself. The history of each state reveals its character, so also theclimate, the hills, the valleys, the mountains, the plains, the lakes, the rivers, the harbors, the schools, the colleges, the towns, thevillages, and the cities within its borders, all help in forming thecharacter of a state. {347} Towns, Villages, and Cities The government of the town, or the village, or the city is calledlocal government. It is government close at hand--home government. Andout of the home government of each town, village, and city in a statemust come, by the votes of the people at the ballot-box, the men whomthey choose as their representatives, in the government of the stateand the nation--for the people rule through representatives of theirown choosing. Politics In every presidential election, the people, through the rule of themajority, as determined by the Constitution, elect their chiefmagistrate, the President, who becomes the "first citizen" of thenation and is entitled "Mr. President. " The people of a state by thesame rule elect their chief magistrate and entitle him "HisExcellency, the Governor"; he is the state's chief or leading citizen. The people of the city by the same rule elect their chief magistrateand entitle him "His Honor, the Mayor, " the city's leading citizen. The people of the town, in the New England States, elect their chiefofficers three to five men--and entitle them the "Selectmen"; althoughin towns of the middle and western states, they are called"Supervisors. " So, likewise, the people in town, village, and city by the same "ruleof the majority" elect aldermen, councilmen, state senators, representatives or assemblymen, and congressmen. And the state legislatures in turn elect, according to theConstitution of the United States, the state's United States senators, two in number. Thus, by the rule of the majority, are all officers oftown, village, and city, county and state elected, except such few asare appointed by law to offices by superior officers, heads ofdepartments, bureaus, or districts of supervision or administration. Property The ownership of property, both real and personal, and the protectionof that ownership, is made possible in the organization ofsociety--termed the government--and in the power of that government tomake and enforce its laws. Real property is the kind of property whichpertains to land, the ownership of which is transferred from oneperson to another, either by a deed recorded in the office of theregister of deeds in the county court house, or else transferred bydescent, or by will through the {348} administration of the countycourt, usually called the probate court. This latter proceeding is inthe case of the owner's death when his property is divided by thecourt and distributed to the heirs--the family or other relativesaccording to his will; or in case no will is left the law provides forthe manner of its distribution. The Register of Deeds: County Court House The record title, therefore, of all real property is to be found inthe office of the register of deeds in the county court house. Itmakes no difference what kind of real property it is, acre property orcity property, here the title of ownership is always to be found, thebooks of record being always open to the public. Thus when one buys apiece of real property, a home for instance, he should receive fromthe owner a deed and an abstract of title, which is a paper showingthe title as it appears on the records, and this title when notvouched for as perfect by an abstract title company, should be passedupon by a lawyer in order that any flaw or defect therein may be maderight before the deed is passed from one owner to another. In somestates, however, the law does not require the owner to furnish anabstract. When the title is proved or pronounced good, the deed shouldat once be placed on record. Personal Property Personal property is that form of property which in general terms isstated as movable, such as animals, furniture, clothing, tools, implements, money, stocks, bonds, mortgages, etc. , the transfer ofwhich from one owner to another is not as a rule a matter of publicrecord, although in the case of a bill of sale--sometimes made of someforms of personal property--the county record may give evidencethereof. Therefore it is, that in the matter of taxation, the taxrecord or assessment comes under two general heads--a tax on realproperty and a tax on personal property. Property and Government It is desirable to be a property owner so long as the government underwhich one lives protects one in his property ownership. The governmentmust do two things: it must protect the person and his personal rightsas a citizen, and it must also protect property and the rights ofproperty ownership from enemies within, as from without. In order thatthis may {349} be done and done in all fairness and justice, we electsome citizens to make laws and term them legislators. We elect othersto enforce or administer the laws, and term them executives--thePresident, the governor, and the mayor coming under this head. Weelect other citizens to enforce and interpret the laws, and we termthem judges and officers of the court. In fact, it is a principle inour government that no man or set of men shall have authority in alldepartments of government, legislative, executive, and judicial. Youwill see that the Constitution of the United States is divided intothese three departments of government, and the state constitutions andcity charters are, as a rule, likewise divided. You will understand that any property you may obtain will be valuableto you only in proportion as you are protected in your rights ofownership by the government, and that the government not only protectsyour property, it also protects your life and its interest as well asthe life and interests of all other citizens. The building and maintenance of schools and colleges, libraries, artand natural history museums, parks, playgrounds, hospitals, etc. , arecarried on at the expense of the government by means of taxation, inasmuch as these things are in the interests of mankind and for itsupbuilding. In the city the protection of life and property is foundin one or the other of these different departments: police, fire, health, street cleaning, parks, water supply, etc. ; and every goodcitizen should lend his hand to help in every way possible theenforcement of law in each department. Citizenship In any form of government, problems are continually arising as to therights of property and the rights of persons, and it is well for us toremember this distinction: that the end of society (and by that termwe mean government) is not the protection of property, but rather theupbuilding of mankind. If we bear this in mind and act upon it as aprinciple in life, we shall find ourselves standing and voting on theright side of public questions. We shall also be able to mark the manin private or public life who shows by his talk or his actions that hethinks more of property rights than he does of the rights ofindividuals. Any business that does not benefit society, but on theother hand degrades it, whether run by an individual or individuals ina firm, company, or corporation, is a business that ought by the lawto be put out of existence. This is why {350} the business ofgambling, for instance, is made unlawful; also why the government hadthe right to make lotteries unlawful; also why some states (forinstance New York) have passed laws making book-making at race tracksunlawful. For all of these things degrade and do not upbuild mankind. It is for every one then, to apply this principle to the town, villageor city in which he lives, and determine just what stand he will takeas to endorsing and protecting such business interests in hiscommunity. One is likely to find in any community men who seem to carenothing for any interests other than their own. They stand forproperty rights because it is for their interest to do so; but for therights of mankind, the rights of society, apparently they carenothing. Here is the distinction then between the good citizen, andthe bad citizen, the desirable and "the undesirable" citizen. Practical Citizenship In nearly every town, village, and city of any size or importance, there is at least one individual, and usually groups of individuals, working for the "betterment of society. " They are people who take aninterest in the people about them and do what they can to improve theconditions of life in the community. If one were to take a survey ofthe whole country and make a study of the social workers--the men andthe women who give freely of their time and of their money to make theworld a better and happier place to live in--he would come to see thatsuch service is a kind of service that grows out of the heart, and isthe fruit of the kindly spirit which prompts the "good turn daily. " In doing the "good turn daily, " then, one has abundant opportunity todo his part toward the social betterment of the community in which helives. There are so many ways that one hardly knows what to write downas the most important, because all are important. It is not alone inbig things, but in the little things as well, that the really greatwork is done. The community--the town, the village, or the city in which onelives--has many problems to solve. The streets in the community arealways interesting and one can do much in the streets to help keepthem clean, attractive, and pleasing, as well as safe for the peopleand horses passing through. In a city where there is a largepopulation the lives of the people are in greater danger at all timesthan in the country, and that is the reason why the city has to be soorganized in its government that it can make special laws, orordinances as they are {351} called, for its own special protection againstthe dangers of city life. The policemen of a city, wherever stationedin the daytime or in the night time, are there to protect the livesand property of individuals, at street crossings, at public buildings, at theatres, in the parks, and on playgrounds; and it is the privilegeas well as the duty of all citizens to help them in every way possibleto do their work well. In the "good turn daily, " one may be able tohelp in more ways than one if he is on the lookout. "A scout's honor is to be trusted" to obey the laws and to see thatthey are not disobeyed by others. "A scout's duty is to be useful andto help others. He must be prepared at any time to save life or tohelp injured persons. " There are often accidents in the streets--manyavoidable ones--due simply to carelessness. For instance, some boyswere careless and threw broken glass bottles into the street, and apassing automobile came to a standstill because of a punctured tire. The man who owned the automobile and was driving it got out and calledone of the boys on the street to come over to him. He did not callthis particular boy because he thought he had thrown the glass, butbecause he thought he was a boy who would appreciate what he wanted tosay to him. He told the boy that he had just had a new tire put on hismachine and appealed to him as to whether or not he thought he hadbeen treated right through the carelessness of the one who threw thatglass into the street. The boy said no, he didn't think he had been, and, after a little more talk, added that he would do all in his powerin that neighborhood to see that such things were kept out of thestreet in the future. That boy was in line for the making of afirst-class scout, and the man to whom he had been talking, being agood scout commissioner, had won the boy, because instead of beingangry, he had been kind, courteous, and friendly--all qualificationsof a good scout. "A scout is a friend to animals. " "Yes, " said a stable keeper, "I havetwo good horses laid up, each injured by stepping on a nail in a boardin the street. You know people are awfully careless about suchthings. " There are some people who never go out of their way to dohelpful things, just as some people never go out of their way to knowpeople, and for that reason are often alone and lonesome. It is thelittle things that count, just such little things as picking up fromthe street a board with a nail in it, and putting it aside--even thatis a good turn. Lincoln once said in speaking of a man whom he thought lacking insympathy: "He is so put up by nature that a {352} lash upon his backwould hurt him, but a lash upon anybody's else back does not hurthim. " There are many people in the world who seem to be like thatman--not so many who feel that way towards mankind, possibly, but manywho thoughtlessly feel and act that way toward animals. The lash onthe back of an animal--the horse, the cow, the dog--hurts, and thegood scout always takes the animal's part. He is kind to animals. In the city, people often become careless as to the necessaryprecautions against fire and for this reason many lives are lost. Inall well-regulated school systems, each school building is properlyprovided with fire escapes and the children regularly disciplined infire drills. Proper fire precautions are not yet generally required bylaw as they should be in great buildings, factories, or workshopswhere men and women are employed in large numbers. If a scout shouldbe employed in such a place, he might make himself very serviceable incase of a fire, because having thought of it beforehand, he would knowwhat to do--his motto being, "Be Prepared. " One very important thing in city life is the protection of one'shealth: it is essential to have good food, pure water, plenty of good, fresh air--things not always easily obtainable, but always mostnecessary. The scout learns through the many activities of scoutingsomething of the market places and sources of supply for food; he hassome idea as to the cost of living in his own home, and should becomea good marketer himself, making himself competent to judge of thequality and prices of food. If he is wide-awake and intelligent, heknows the products of his own county as well as those of the state. Heknows what food products are shipped in and sometimes finds that itwould be cheaper, and more profitable as well, to produce them in hisown community. An industrious scout may often make his own pocketmoney in this way or provide funds towards his own education. In the Constitution of the United States is written this law: "Notitle of nobility shall be granted by the United States. " The purposeof this law is to defeat any attempt to elevate one citizen aboveanother in rank of social or political preferment. Ours is a countryfree from the entanglements of social distinction such as mark one manor family from another by way of title or patent of nobility; and yet, in our country of uncrowned kings and unknighted men, we would notforget the real deeds of valor, the services rendered, or thevictories won. For it was the purpose {353} in the mind and in theheart of our fathers who framed the Constitution that each succeedinggeneration should rise to the duties and responsibilities of theState; that the virtues of the State should not descend or be lodgedin one family, or any selected number of families, but rather shouldbe in the keeping of all the families, in the care and keeping of allthe people. Thus do we remember our Washington and our Lincoln. They served thegeneration to which they belonged; they lived and passed out of theirgeneration having served the State: and all the virtues, cares, andresponsibilities of the State--the government that is--they left tothe generations that should come after them. And, therefore, eachgeneration as it comes and goes must rise or fall in proportion as itraises or lowers the citizenship standard, for each generation mustprove its own worth as must each individual his own virtues. Practical Citizenship As set forth in a letter from Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, HonoraryVice-president, Boy Scouts of America: THE OUTLOOK287 Fourth Avenue, New York Office ofTheodore RooseveltJuly 20th, 1911. My DEAR SIR: I quite agree with Judge Lindsey that the Boy Scout Movement is ofpeculiar importance to the whole country. It has already done muchgood, and it will do far more, for it is in its essence a practicalscheme through which to impart a proper standard of ethical conduct, proper standards of fair play and consideration for others, andcourage and decency, to boys who have never been reached and neverwill be reached by the ordinary type of preaching, lay or clerical. Ihave been particularly interested in that extract of a letter from ascout master in the Philippines, which runs as follows: "It might interest you to know that at a recent fire in Manila whichdevastated acres of ground and rendered 3, 000 people homeless, thattwo patrols of the Manila scouts reached the fire almost with the firecompanies, reported to the proper authorities and worked for hoursunder very trying conditions {354} helping frightened natives intoplaces of safety, removing valuables and other articles from housesthat apparently were in the path of the flames, and performingcheerfully and efficiently all the tasks given to them by the firemenand scout master. They were complimented in the public press, and in akind editorial about their work. " "During the recent Carnival the services of the boys were requested bythe Carnival officers, and for a period of ten days they were on dutyperforming all manner of service in the Carnival grounds, directingstrangers to hotels, and acting as guides and helpers in a hundredways. " What these boy scouts of the Philippines have just done, I think ourboy scouts in every town and country district should train themselvesto be able to do. The movement is one for efficiency and patriotism. It does not try to make soldiers of boy scouts, but to make boys whowill turn out as men to be fine citizens, and who will, if theircountry needs them, make better soldiers for having been scouts. Noone can be a good American unless he is a good citizen, and every boyought to train himself so that as a man he will be able to do his fullduty to the community. I want to see the boy scouts not merely utterfine sentiments, but act on them; not merely sing, "My Country 'Tis ofThee, " but act in a way that will give them a country to be proud of. No man is a good citizen unless he so acts as to show that he actuallyuses the Ten Commandments, and translates the Golden Rule into hislife conduct--and I don't mean by this in exceptional cases underspectacular circumstances, but I mean applying the Ten Commandmentsand the Golden Rule in the ordinary affairs of every-day life. I hopethe boy scouts will practise truth and square dealing, and courage andhonesty, so that when as young men they begin to take a part not onlyin earning their own livelihood, but in governing the community, theymay be able to show in practical fashion their insistence upon thegreat truth that the eighth and ninth commandments are directlyrelated to every-day life, not only between men as such in theirprivate relations, but between men and the government of which theyare part. Indeed the boys even while only boys can have a very realeffect upon the conduct of the grown up members of the community, fordecency and square dealing are just as contagious as vice andcorruption. Every healthy boy ought to feel and will feel that in order to amountto anything, it is necessary to have a constructive, {355} and notmerely a destructive, nature; and if he can keep this feeling as hegrows up he has taken his first step toward good citizenship. The manwho tears down and criticises and scolds may be a good citizen, butonly in a negative sense; and if he never does anything else he is aptnot to be a good citizen at all. The man who counts, and the boy whocounts, are the man and boy who steadily endeavor to build up, toimprove, to better living conditions everywhere and all about them. But the boy can do an immense amount right in the present, entirelyaside from training himself to be a good citizen in the future; and hecan only do this if he associates himself with other boys. Let the boyscouts see to it that the best use is made of the parks andplaygrounds in their villages and home towns. A gang of toughs maymake a playground impossible; and if the boy scouts in theneighborhood of that particular playground are fit for their work, they will show that they won't permit any such gang of toughs to haveits way. Moreover, let the boy scouts take the lead in seeing that theparks and playgrounds are turned to a really good account. I hope, bythe way, that one of the prime teachings among the boy scouts will bethe teaching against vandalism. Let it be a point of honor to protectbirds, trees and flowers, and so to make our country more beautifuland not more ugly, because we have lived in it. The same qualities that mean success or failure to the nation as awhole, mean success or failure in men and boys individually. The boyscouts must war against the same foes and vices that most hurt thenation; and they must try to develop the same virtues that the nationmost needs. To be helpless, self-indulgent, or wasteful, will turn theboy into a mighty poor kind of a man, just as the indulgence in suchvices by the men of a nation means the ruin of the nation. Let the boystand stoutly against his enemies both from without and from within, let him show courage in confronting fearlessly one set of enemies, andin controlling and mastering the others. Any boy is worth nothing ifhe has not got courage, courage to stand up against the forces ofevil, and courage to stand up in the right path. Let him be unselfishand gentle, as well as strong and brave. It should be a matter ofpride to him that he is not afraid of anyone, and that he scorns notto be gentle and considerate to everyone, and especially to those whoare weaker than he is. If he doesn't treat his mother and sisterswell, then he is a poor creature no matter what else he does; just asa man who {356} doesn't treat his wife well is a poor kind of citizenno matter what his other qualities may be. And, by the way, don't everforget to let the boy know that courtesy, politeness, and good mannersmust not be neglected. They are not little things, because they areused at every turn in daily life. Let the boy remember also that inaddition to courage, unselfishness, and fair dealing, he must haveefficiency, he must have knowledge, he must cultivate a sound body anda good mind, and train himself so that he can act with quick decisionin any crisis that may arise. Mind, eye, muscle, all must be trainedso that the boy can master himself, and thereby learn to master hisfate. I heartily wish all good luck to the movement. Very sincerely yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Mr. James E. West, Executive Secretary Boy Scouts of America, New York City. {357} America MY country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing;Land where my fathers died, Land of the Pilgrims' pride, From every mountain side Let freedom ring. My native country, theeLand of the noble free, Thy name I love;I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills;My heart with rapture thrills Like that above. Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song;Let mortal tongues awake, Let all that breathe partake, Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong! Our father's God, to Thee, Author of liberty, To thee we sing:Long may our land be brightWith freedom's holy light;Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King. --Samuel F. Smith, 1832. {358} The Star-Spangled Banner O Say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming;And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there!O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes. What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream--'Tis the star-spangled banner. O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, 'Mid the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country they'd leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave--And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and foul war's desolation, Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto, "In God is our trust"And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, While the land of the free is the home of the brave. --Francis Scott Key, 1814. {359} APPENDIX BOY SCOUT EQUIPMENT As stated in the chapter on "Scoutcraft, " for the convenience of boyswho wish to secure uniforms or other equipment, the National Councilhas made arrangements with certain manufacturers to furnish such partsof the equipment as are most needed by boys. A number of thesemanufacturers have taken advertising space in this book and it isdesired that in case goods are ordered as a result of theiradvertisement they be informed of the fact. Some of them have madearrangements for the distribution of material through Mr. SigmundEisner, of Red Bank, New Jersey, who has the contract for making theofficial uniforms. It should be remembered at all times that the sole purpose of theNational Council in entering into any arrangement whatever withmanufacturers is to secure a low price on the very best materialpossible. The manufacturers have agreed to sell all the materiallisted in this book at a uniform price in all parts of the country. Incase local dealers or agents for the National Outfitter ask a pricedifferent from that given in the price list herewith, NationalHeadquarters should be notified. Every effort is made to have all parts of the uniform and equipmentavailable to scouts through local dealers. If such arrangements havenot been made in your community, the National Headquarters will beglad to help in making such an arrangement. Many scout masters preferto order uniforms and other supplies direct from NationalHeadquarters. In order to cover the expense involved in handling thesesupplies, the manufacturers in some cases have agreed to allowNational Headquarters the same trade discount allowed to localdealers. Trade through National Headquarters, if sufficiently large, will help to meet a part of the current expenses of the NationalOrganization. In this suggested list of equipment all articles marked with a star(*) may be secured either through a local dealer or by {360} orderingdirect through National Headquarters in New York City. Directions for Ordering _Important_: When ordering supplies care should be taken to see that theexact amount of remittance is included with the order. If check isused add New York Exchange. Make checks and money orders payable toBoy Scouts of America. All orders received without the properremittance will be shipped C. O. D. , or held until remittance arrives. [Illustration: Axe]* _Axe_: Any local hardware dealer can suggest quite a variety of goodaxes which may be used by the scout, but because of quality and price, the Boy Scout axe is suggested. Weight without handle, 12 oz. Madeof one piece of solid steel--special temper, axe pattern hickory handle, missionized hand forged--non-rusting finish. Price 35 cents. Axescabbard or shield, 25 cents extra. _Bandanna or Neckerchief_: These are so common that every boy willrecognize at once what is mean by a bandanna. The members of eachpatrol wear bandanas made in the colors of their patrol. These can bepurchased at any local dry goods store at ten or fifteen cents each. [Illustration: Belts]* _Belts_: Any good belt will meet the scout's needs. But for hisconvenience the belt illustrated herewith is suggested. Price 40cents. [Illustration: Breeches]* _Breeches_: Standard material--belt guides--pockets--full pattern-legslaced below the knee, the lacing to be covered by stockings orleggings. Order by age according to following table: Boys' sizes:Price $1. 00. Age-size Waist Seat Inseam Calf Ankle18 32 37 26 13-1/2 9-1/217 31 36-1/2 25-1/2 13-1/2 916 30 35 25 13 915 29 34 24-1/2 12-3/4 8-3/414 28 32-1/2 24 12-1/2 8-1/213 27 31 23 12-1/2 8-1/412 26-1/2 30-1/2 22 12 8-1/4 {361} Extra Sizes: Breeches above eighteen-year size will be made to orderand will cost twenty-five cents more per garment. Waist Seat Inseam Calf Ankle1 32 38 27 13-1/2 9-1/22 33 39 27 13-3/4 9-3/43 34 40 28 14 9-3/44 35 41 27 14-1/2 9-3/45 36 42 28 15 106 37 43 27 15-1/4 10-1/47 38 44 28 15-1/2 10-1/2 [Illustration: Bugle]_Bugle_: It is recommended that the standard bugle used in an army ordrum corps be used. Each patrol should purchase these from a localmusic store. [Illustration: Camp Knives, Forks and Spoons]_Camp Knives, Forks and Spoons_: Ordinary table-knives, forks and spoonsmay be used. An inexpensive knife, fork and spoon for use in camps, like set illustrated herewith, may be secured for about eight centsper dozen through almost any local hardware store. [Illustration: Canteen]_Canteen_: A canteen of this design may be carried by each scout onhikes and long tramps. Many army supply houses carry these in stock, where they may be secured if desired. [Illustration: Coat]* _Coats_: Standard material--four bellows pockets--standing collar--dull metal buttons with Boy Scout emblem. Order by age according/tofollowing table: Boys' sizes: Price $1. 35. Age Breast Waist Length Sleeve Collar18 34 32 26 31 1617 33 31 25 30-1/2 15-1/216 32 30-1/2 24-1/2 29-1/2 1515 31 30 24 28-1/2 14-1/214 30 29 23-1/2 27-1/2 1413 29 28-1/2 23 26 13-1/212 28 27-1/2 22 25 13 {362} Extra Sizes: Coats above eighteen-year size will be made as extra sizeand will cost twenty-five cents more per garment than boys' sizes. Breast Waist Length Sleeve Length Collar Finish1 35 32 27 32 16-1/42 36 33 27-1/2 32 16-1/23 37 34 28 32-1/2 16-3/44 38 35 28-1/2 32-1/2 17-1/45 39 36 29 33 17-1/46 40 37 29-1/2 33 187 42 38 30 33-1/2 18-1/2 [Illustration: Norfolk Coat]* _Norfolk Coat for Scout Masters_: Made of standard olive drab cottoncloth, two pleats, back and front, with belt. Price, $3. 00. _Compass_: Every scout should learn how to use his watch as a compass. However, should he desire to own a compass, he will find no difficultyin securing one at any local jeweler's. [Illustration: Drinking Cup]* _Drinking Cup_: A drinking cup for individual use is recommended. Thefolding cup shown in the illustration is made of brass and is nickelplated. Price 10 cents. _Drum_: The selection of this is left to each local troop desiring thispiece of equipment. Place your order with local music dealer. [Illustration: First Aid Kit]_First Aid Kit_: This kit for the use of the individual scout can besecured through this office or the Red Cross Society in Washington, New York and San Francisco. Price 25 cents. * _Hats_: Four hats are suggested as follows: 1. _Boy Scout Hat_. Olive drab felt--standard quality--detachable ties. Price $1. 15. [Illustration: Boy Scout Hats]No. 1 No. 2 Nos. 3 and 4 {363} 2. _Boy Scout Summer Hat_. Olive drab drill, inside seams reinforcedwith leather, eyelets in crown for ventilation, detachable ties. Price50 cents. 3. _Boy Scout Hat_. Extra fine, fur felt, made for hard service. Price$2. 00. 4. _Scout Master's Hat_. Quality same as above, but larger dimensions. Price $2. 50. Be sure to indicate size desired when ordering. [Illustration: Haversack]* _Haversack_: Waterproof canvas, leather straps--buckles and separatepockets--scout emblem on flap. Price 60 cents. [Illustration: Hospital Corps Pouch]_Hospital Corps Pouch_: This pouch has been made up specially by theAmerican Red Cross Society and contains the following:1 Shears1 Tweezers1 Carbolized Vaseline1 Pkg. Safety Pins2 Wire Gauze Splints1 2-oz. Bottle Aromatic Spirits of Ammonia1 A. R. C. First Aid Outfit (cardboard)2 1-yd. Packages Sterilized Gauze. 3 1-inch Bandages. 3 2-1/2 inch Bandages2 Triangular Bandages (cartons)1 U. S. A. TourniquetArrange with the American Red Cross Society for purchase of these. Price $. 1. 00. [Illustration: Knickerbockers]* _Knickerbockers_: Boy Scout olive drab drill, belt guides, pockets, knee buckles, full pattern. Price 75 cents. Age-Size Waist19 3217 3116 3015 2914 2813 2712 26-1/2 [Illustration: Knives]* _Knives_:No. 1, Price $1. 00. A Stag handle, brass lining, german silver bolsters and shield. Largepolished cutting blade, screw driver, can-opener and leather boringtool (U. S. Pat. 6-10-02. ) Number 2, Price 50 cents. Genuine ebony handle, brass lining, german silver bolsters and shield. Large cutting blade can be opened without using the fingernail. Shackle for hanging to belt. {364} [Illustration: Lanyard]_Lanyard_: This piece of equipment is so simple in construction thatevery scout ought to make his own lanyard. These are used for carryingthe scout whistle or knife. [Illustration: Leggings]* _Leggings_: (Puttees). The style of leggings is the same as UnitedStates Army puttee legging. Made of best waterproof army duck. Price55 cents. [Illustration: Mess Kits]* _Mess Kits_: Number 1. Price 75 cents. Coffee or tea can, cup, stew or fry pan, with cover, one broilertwo handles. Number 2. Price 50 cents. Coffee or tea can, cup, stew or fry pan, one handle. [Illustration: Patrol Flag]_Patrol Flags_: The patrol flags are made from a good quality muslin orwool bunting in the colors of the local patrol. Scouts make their ownpatrol flags. Material may be purchased at a local dry goods store. The size of the flag is 11 in. By 27 in. Emblems can be secured fromNational Headquarters. * _Ponchos_: A good poncho is almost an absolute necessity for the scoutwhen on a march or in camp. Ponchos suitable for scout purposes can besecured from local dealers at prices from $2. 50 upward. _Shelter Tents_: Scouts should make their own tents. Directions formaking tents are given in the text of this book. [Illustration: Shirts]* _Shirts_: Boy Scout shirt, standard material--two bellows pockets--open front, coat style--standard button same as coat. Order by size. Price $1. 00 _Summer Shirts_: Same as above, light weight. Price 75 cents. {365} [Illustration: Shorts]* _Shorts_: Standard material--belt guides. Full running pant pattern--especially desirable for summer use. Order according to age and waistmeasurement. Price 50 cents. [Illustration: Shoes]* _Shoes_: Any good shoe that is made up for the purpose of ease, andcomfort in tramping will serve the boy scout's needs. The Boy Scoutshoe is convenient, inexpensive and especially designed for scouting. Price $2. 50. [Illustration: Signal Flags]_Signal Flags_: These can be made from muslin or bunting which may besecured at local stores. It is recommended that each scout make hisown flags. Regulation sizes of the semaphore 18 in. By 18 in. And theMorse or Myer flag 24 in. By 24 in. As shown in illustration. [Illustration: Staff]_Staff_: Ash or bamboo, two metres, (6 ft. 6-1/2 in. ), in length andabout one and one-half inches in diameter; marked off on one side incentimetres up to one-half metre, and the balance in metres. On theother side it should be marked off in inches up to one foot and thebalance in feet. The staff should have a blunt end. Scouts should maketheir own staffs whenever it is possible for them to secure thelumber. Hoe or rake handles make excellent staffs. These can beprocured through any local dealer at a nominal sum. The Scout Staff and Its Uses Many boys, upon taking up the Scout Movement, are dubious about thevalue of the scout staff and many friends of the movement ask "Whydoes a boy scout carry a staff?" Experience has proven it to be one of the most helpful articles ofequipment. In order to show this we are reproducing, through thecourtesy of Lieut-Gen. Sir Robert S. S. {366} Baden-Powell, illustrations from printed matter used by the English boy scouts. These illustrations show a number of different ways in which the staffwill prove a handy and valuable article; in fact, essential to theScout outfit. [Illustration: Uses of the Staff. ] The staff is very useful for beating out brush fires and outbreaks which occur on open heaths. Wading a stream. Two or three Scouts grasp the Staff like this. Both patrol tents and tepees can be made with the aid of the Staff. An improvised stretcher of coats and staves. A line of Scouts linked together on a night march. When anyone falls through some ice, throw him your Staff so that he can grasp it like this until you can get a rope and pull him out. When climbing gates you can give yourself a push up with your Staff. For erecting a flagstaff and forming a fence, the Staff is very useful. A clear view can be had by looking through a small hole drilled in the Staff. Measuring Distances. Self-defence. Making Splints. Jumping Ditches. Making Rafts. Bridge Building. Climbing a Mountain. --Carry the Staff cross-wise, and if you slip, lean inwards upon it, against the side of the mountain. The weight of your body will then drive the end of the staff into the earth, and so anchor you. Levering up Logs and Stones. Rope ladders, Feeling the way over marshy ground. Recovering Objects Floating in the Water-- First tie a line to the centre of the staff. Then tie a piece of string to each end of the staff, and the other ends of these strings being tied to the centre. That will keep the staff at right angles to the line that is in your hand. By swinging the staff out over the water, beyond the floating article, you will be able to draw the latter in close to shore. * _Stockings_: To match uniforms, made of heavy material and suitablefor scouting. Price 30 cents in cotton, $1. 25 in wool. _Sweaters_: Any local clothing store will be able to secure for thescout the kind and quality of sweater needed. * _Telegraph Instruments_: Beginners' telegraph {367} instruments, to beused in learning the Morse code, may be secured through any electricalsupply house. The instrument illustrated, five ohms, price, $1. 30. _Tracking Irons_: Excellent tracking irons can be made of 7/8-inch heavyband iron, using the design presented here. Any local blacksmith willgladly assist the boys in making their irons. * _Troop Colors_: Made of superior wool bunting upper half, red; lowerhalf, white. Reproduction of the official badge super-imposed in greenand gold. Sufficient space left for troop number and name of city. Size of flag, 22 in. By 36 in. Letters to be attached by the localtroop. Price without letters $1. 00. * _Trousers_: Full length for scout masters: Made of Standard olive drabcotton cloth, belt loop. Price $2. 00. If breeches are preferred, theymay be had at same price. Better quality of boy scout suits--made ofU. S. Army standard olive drab cloth. Coat $2. 50, breeches $2. 00. _Watch_: Every scout should possess a good watch. No particular make ofwatch is recommended. The choice of this article is left entirely withthe boy and may be bought through a local jeweler. _Water Bottle_: In some cases where the individual scout is notfurnished with a canteen, the patrol may desire to carry a supply ofwater on the march. For this purpose water bottles capable of carryinga large quantity of water may be secured. These should be purchasedthrough some army supply house. * _Whistles_: Scout standard whistle, for use in signaling by whistle. Made of brass, gun metal finish, ring at end to attach to lanyard. Price 10 cents. {368} Suggestions for Measuring NameStreetCity Coat MeasureL--All around at breast under coatM--All around at waist under coat SleeveC to D--From centre of collar seam to shoulder seamThenE--To elbow. F--To full length BreechesM--All around at waist under coat LeggingsG--Size of calfH--Size of instep [Illustration: Scout's clothing. (tr)] {369} HatSize of hatSize of linen collar worn Answer following questions plainly:Age? Height? Weight? BOOKS FOR REFERENCE This list of reference books has been prepared for the use of scouts, to supplement information given in the handbook prepared for theiruse. It has been the aim to give as wide a selection as possible, inorder that the boy scout might not fail to find in the local publiclibrary, some book on any subject in which he may have particularinterest. The list includes literature directly or indirectly relatedto scouting, as well as some appropriate books of fiction. For convenience the books have been listed in accordance with thesubject headings of the various chapters of the Handbook. Some of themost experienced librarians of the country have submitted materialwhich has aided in the preparation of this list. For this kindlycooperation, sincere thanks is given. Many of the books have been carefully reviewed by someone connectedwith the boy scouts, and in many cases through the courtesy of thepublishers copies of these books are available for reference purposesat the office of the National Headquarters. Suggestions for additionsor improvements upon this list will be gladly received at any time. Communications should be addressed to the Executive Secretary, 200Fifth Avenue, New York City. [Transcriber's note: In the following list of books the first lineis the title, the second the author, the third the publisher. Theauthor and/or publisher may be omitted. ] Scoutcraft Notes on Scouting and ReconnaissanceJas. F. M. LivingstonLondon, Clowes Pioneering and Mapmaking for Boy ScoutsC. R. EnockLondon, Pearson Scouting for BoysLieut. -Gen. Robert Baden-PowellC. Arthur Pearson, Ltd. Henrietta St. , London Three Amateur ScoutsJadbernsLippincott The Boy ScoutsChipmanBurt Co. Yarns for Boy ScoutsLieut. -Gen. Robert Baden-PowellC. Arthur Pearson, Ltd. Henrietta St. , London Woodcraft ANIMALS American Natural HistoryHornaday Animal ArtisansC. J. CornishLongmans, Green & Co. Animals at HomeLillian BartlettAmerican Book Co. {370} Animal HeroesSetonCentury Co. A Wilderness Dog Biography of a GrizzlySetonScribners Biography of a Silver FoxSetonScribners Claws and HoofsJames JohonnotAmerican Book Co. Dan Beard's Animal Book and Campfire StoriesD. C. BeardScribners Familiar Animals and Their Wild KindredJohn MonteithAmerican Book Co. Four-footed Americans and their KinM. C. Wright Good HuntingTheodore RooseveltHarper Bros. Habits of AnimalsE. Ingersoll Half-hours with the Lower AnimalsC. G. HolderAmerican Book Co. Haunter of Pine GloomC. G. D. Roberts Haunters of the SilencesC. G. D. RobertsGrosset & Dunlap Homes, Haunts and Habits of Wild AnimalsI. T. Johnson House in the WaterC. G. D. Roberts Jock of the BushvoldSir. P. FitzpatrickLongmans, Green & Co. Jungle BookKipling Second Jungle BookKipling Kindred of the WildC. G. D. Roberts King of the MamozekelC. G. D. Roberts Krag and Johny BearSetonScribners Life Histories of North AmericaSetonScribners Little Beasts of Field and WoodCram Little Brother to the BearW. J. LongGinn & Co. Lives of the Fur FolkM. D. HavilandLongmans Green & Co. Living Animals of the World, Vol. I, II, IIIThe University Society Lobo, Rag and VixenSetonScribners Lives of the HuntedSetonScribners MooswaW. A. Fraser My Dogs in the NorthlandE. R. YoungRevell Co. Monarch, the Big Bear of TallacSetonScribners Red FoxC. G. D. Roberts ShaggycoatC. Hawkes Shovelhorns, Biography of a MooseC. Hawkes Some Curious Flyers, Creepers and SwimmersJ. JohonnotAmerican Book Co. Some Useful Animals and What They Do for UsJ. C. MonteithAmerican Book Co. {371} Squirrel and Other Fur BearersJohn Burroughs Stories of Animal LifeC. F. HolderAmerican Book Co. Stories of Humble FriendsKatharine PyleAmerican Book Co. Story of the TrapperA. C. Laut The Romance of Animal Arts and CraftsH. Coupin and John LeaLippincott The Romance of the Animal WorldEdmund SelousSeeley & Co. The Wolf PatrolJohn Finnemore Trapper JimEdwin Sandys Ways of Wood FolkW. J. Long Wild Animals at PlaySetonDoubleday Page & Co. Wild Animals I Have KnownSetonScribners Wilderness WaysW. J. Long Wild Life in the RockiesEnos A. MillsHoughton Mifflin Co. Wild Life of Orchard and FieldIngersoll Wolf, the Storm LeaderFrank CaldwellDodd, Mead & Co. Wood Folk at SchoolW. J. LongGinn & Co. ASTRONOMY A Field Book of the StarsW. F. OlcuttPutnam AstronomyJulia McNair WrightPenn Pub. Co. Astronomy by ObservationEliza A. BowenAmerican Book Co. Astronomy for EverybodySimon NewcombDoubleday, Page & Co. Astronomy with an Opera GlassG. P. Serviss A Study of the SkyH. A. HoweScribners Astronomy with the Naked EyeP. ServissG Harper Bros. Children's Book of the StarsMiltonMacmillan Co. Earth and Sky Every Child Should KnowJ. E. Rogers How to Identify the StarsW. J. Milham How to Locate the StarsHinds, Noble & Co. Popular AstronomyG. Flammarion Round the Year with the StarsG. P. Serviss StarlandBallGinn & Co. Steele's Popular AstronomyJ. D. SteeleAmerican Book Co. The Friendly StarsM. E. Martin The Romance of Modern AstronomyMcPhersonLippincott {372} BIRDS Bird Guide--Part 1 Water BirdsChester A. ReedDoubleday, Page & Co. Bird Guide--Part 2 Land BirdsNeltje BlanchanDoubleday, Page & Co. Bird HomesA. E. DugmoreDoubleday, Page & Co. Birds in their Relation to MenWeed & BeerbornLippincott Bird LifeFrank ChapmanAppleton Bird NeighboursNeltje BlanchanDoubleday, Page & Co. Bird NeighborsJohn BurroughsDoubleday, Page & Co. Birds of Eastern North AmericaChapmanAppleton Birds that Every Child Should KnowNeltje BlanchanDoubleday, Page & Co. Birds that Hunt and Are HuntedNeltje BlanchanDoubleday, Page & Co. Birds Through the YearA. F. GilmoreAmerican Book Co. Citizen BirdM. O. Wright Elo the Eagle and Other StoriesFloyd BrallianPacific Pub. Co. Everyday BirdsBradford Torrey Field Book of Wild Birds and Their MusicF. S. MathewsPutnam's Sons First Book of BirdsH. M. Miller Second Book of BirdsH. M. Miller Flamingo FeatherMunroe How to Attract the BirdsNeltje BlanchanDoubleday, Page & Co. How to Attract the BirdsTrafton How to Know the BirdsH. & E. ParkhurstScribners How to Know the Wild Birds of OhioDietrich Lange How to Study Birds In BirdlandLeander S. KyserMcClurg Co. Land Birds East of the RockiesC. A. Reed Lord of the AirC. G. D. Roberts Nestlings of Forest and MarshIrene G. WheelockMcClurg Co. Our Birds and Hew to Know ThemJ. B. GrantScribners Our Own BirdsWm. L. BailyLippincott Tenants of the TreesC. Hawkes The Blue Goose ChaseH. K. Job The Romance of Bird LifeJohn LeaLippincott Short Stories of our Shy NeighborsMrs. M. A. B. KeelyAmerican Book Co. The Sport of Bird StudyJobOuting Pub. Co. Wild Birds of City Parks {373} FISH AND FISHING Book of AquariaBateman & BennettL. Upcott Gill Boy's Own Guide to FishingJ. H. Keene Denizens of the DeepFrank T. BullenRevell Co. Familiar FishEugene McCarthy Favorite Fish and FishingJ. A. HenshallOuting Pub. Co. Fine Art of FishingS. G. CampOuting Pub. Co. Fishing and Shooting SketchesGrover ClevelandOuting Pub. Co. Fishing Kits and EquipmentG. S. CampN. Y. Outing Co. Fish StoriesHolder and Jordan Half Hours with Fishes Reptiles, and BirdsHolderAmerican Book Co. Home Aquarium and How to Care for ItEugene SmithDutton The Angler's GuideWainwright Randall The Book of Fish and FishingLouis RheadScribners The Little Water FolksHawkesCrowell Co. Tricks and Knacks of Fishing(Horton Mfg. Co. ) Water Wonders Every Child Should KnowJ. M. Thompson FLOWERS, FERNS AND GRASSES BotanyJulia McNair WrightPenn Pub. Co. Botany for ChildrenHarriet C. CooperCrowell Co. Common PlantsGeorge O. GoodallD. C. Heath & Co. Elementary Botany with Spring FloraW. A. KellermanHinds, Noble & Co. Field Book of American Wild FlowersP. Schuyler Mathews Flora of the Southern United StatesA. W. Chapman Flower GuideC. A. & C. K. Reed Gardening for Profit. P. Henderson Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of the North United StatesEdward Knoble How to Collect and Preserve Plants and Sea-weedsHinds, Noble & Co. How to Know the FernsFrances Theodora Parsons How to know the Wild FlowersParsons Illustrated Flora of the United States and CanadaN. L. Britton and Addison Brown {374} Lessons with PlantsBailey Manual of GardeningL. H. Bailey Nature's GardenNeltje BlanchanDoubleday, Page & Co. New England Ferns and Their Common AlliesHelen Eastman New Manual of BotanyAsa Gray New Manual of Botany of the Central Rocky MountainsJohn M. Coulter, revised by Aven Nelson Our Garden FlowersHarriet Louise Keeler Plants and Their ChildrenWm. Starr DanaAmerican Book Co. Rocky Mountain Wild Flower StudiesBurton O. Longyear Southern Wild Flowers and TreesAlice Lounsbery The Fern Collector's GuideWillard Nelson Clute The Garden YardB. Hall Young Folk's Nature Field BookJ. Alden LoringDana Estes Co. FUNGI Edible Fungi of New YorkCharles H. PeckN. Y. State Museum Flowerless Plants: Ferns, Mushrooms, Mosses, Lichens and Sea weeds. E. H. Hale MushroomsAtkinsonHolt & Co. One Thousand American FungiMcIllvain & MacadamBobbs, Merrill & Co. Studies of American FungiAtkinson The MushroomM. E. HardOhio Library Co. The Mushroom BookNina L. MarshallDoubleday, Page & Co. HANDICRAFT Clay ModellingPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay Dynamos and Electric MotorsPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay Electric BellsPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay Electro-PlatingPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay Glass Writing, Embossing and Facia WorkPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay How to Make Baskets. Mary WhiteDoubleday, Page & Co. Leather WorkingPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay PhotographyPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay Photographic CamerasPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay Photographic ChemistryPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay Photographic StudiesPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay UpholsteryPaul N. HasluckDavid McKay {375} INSECTS AND BUTTERFLIES Ants, their Structure, Development and BehaviorW. M. WheelerColumbia Univ. Press Beehives and AppliancesPaul HasluckDavid McKay Directions for Collecting and Preserving InsectsNathan BanksU. S. National Museum Bulletin Everyday Butterflies How to Keep BeesAnna B. ComstockDoubleday, Page Co. How to Know the ButterfliesJ. H. And Mrs. ComstockD. Appleton & Co. Insect LifeComstock Little Busy BodiesMarks MoodyHarper Bros. Manual for the Study of InsectsJ. H. And A. B. Comstock Moths and ButterfliesJulia P. BallardPutnam's Sons Our Insect Friends and EnemiesJ. B. SmithLippincott Our Insect Friends and FoesB. S. CraginPutnam's Sons The Butterfly BookW. J. HollandDoubleday, Page & Co. The House-Fly--Disease CarrierL. O. HowardStokes Co. The Moth BookW. J. HollandDoubleday, Page & Co. The Romance of Insect LifeEdmund SelousSeeley & Co. The Way of the Six-Footed ROCKS AND PEBBLES About PebblesAlpheus HyattD. C. Heath & Co. Boy Mineral CollectorsJ. G. Kelley Common Minerals and RocksWm. O. CrosbyD. C. Heath & Co. Stories of Rocks and MineralsH. W. Fairbanks The Boy Geologist at School and in CampE. G. Houston The Earth and Its StoryA. Heilprin The Romance of Modern GeologyGrewLippincott REPTILES Poisonous Snakes of North AmericaLeonard StejnegerGov. Printing Office The Reptile BookDitmarDoubleday, Page & Co. SHELLS AND SHELLFISH American Marine Shells. Bulletin No. 37U. S. National Museum, Washington {376} Mollusks of the Chicago AreaF. C. BakerChicago Academy The Little Water FolkC. HawkesCrowell Co. The Lymnaedae of North AmericaF. C. BakerChicago Academy of Sciences The Shell BookJulia E. RogersDoubleday, Page & Co. West Coast ShellsJosiah Keep Worms and CrustaceaHyattD. C. Heath & Co. TREES AND SHRUBS A Guide to the TreesAlice Lounsbery Familiar Trees and Their LeavesMathews Field and Forest Handy BookDan C. Beard First Book of ForestryRoth Forest Trees and Forest ScenerySchwartzGrafton Press Handbook of Trees of New EnglandDame and BrooksGinn & Co. Handbook of the Trees of the Northern United States and CanadaHough How to Tell the TreesHinds, Noble & Co. How to Know Wild FruitsMaude C. Peterson Manual of the Trees of North AmericaCharles Sprague Sargent North American TreesBritton North American Forests and ForestryBrunckenPutnam Our Native TreesKeelerScribners Our Northern ShrubsHarriet L. Keeler Our Shrubs of the United StatesApgar Practical Forestry for Beginners in ForestryJ. C. Gifford School of the WoodsW. J. Long Studies of Trees in WinterHuntingtonSargent Ten Common TreesSusan StokesAmerican Book Co. The ForestS. E. White The Forester's Manual or Forest Trees that Every Scout Should KnowSetonDoubleday, Page & Co. The Magic ForestWhiteGrosset & Dunlap The Tree BookJulia E. RogersDoubleday, Page & Co. The Way of the Woods. BreckPutnam's Sons Trees of the Northern United StatesAustin C. Apgar {377} The Trees of CaliforniaJepson The Woodsman's HandbookUnited States Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 36 Trees That Every Child Should KnowJ. E. Rogers MISCELLANEOUS--WOODCRAFT Adventures in the Great ForestsH. W. HyrstLippincott Adventures of Buffalo BillCody Adventures of Four-footed FolkBelle M. BrainFleming H. Revell A Journey to NatureJ. P. MowbrayGrosset & Dunlap American Boys' Handy BookBeard Amateur TaxidermistScorso A Watcher in the WoodsD. L. SharpCentury Co. Bent Iron WorkHasluckDavid McKay Birch Bark RollSeton Boots and SaddlesCuster Boy CraftsmanA. W. Hall Boy PioneersDan BeardScribners Boy's Book of AirshipsH. Delacomb Boy's WorkshopCraigin Boy with the United StatesForestersRobert Wheeler Box FurnitureLouise BrighamCentury Co. DiomedSargentGrosset & Dunlap Chats on PhotographyWallingtonLippincott ElectricityFowlerPenn Pub. Co. Electric Instrument Making for AmateursBottome Electricity for BoysAdams Electricity for EverybodyAtkinson Electricity for Young PeopleJencks Electricity Made EasyE. J. Houston and A. E. Kennelly ExcursionsThoreauHoughton Mifflin Co. Famous Indian ChiefsJohnston Field and Forest Handy BookBeardScribners Four AfootBarbour Frank, the Young NaturalistCastlemanHurst Co. Frontiersman's PocketbookPocock Harper's How to Understand ElectricityOnken and Baker {378} Harper's Indoor Book for BoysAdamsHarper Bros. Harper's Outdoor Book for BoysAdams Home Mechanics for AmateursG. M. Hopkins How Two Boys Made Their Own Electrical ApparatusT. M. St. John In American Fields and ForestsH. D. Thoreau, et al. Indoor and Outdoor HandicraftBeardScribners Jack of All TradesDan BeardScribners Lakerim Athletic ClubHughes Last of the MohicansCooperHoughton Mifflin Co. Log Cabins and CottagesWicksForest & Stream Long TrailGarland Making Wireless OutfitsHarrison Nature StudyF. L. HoltzScribners On Horseback in VirginiaC. D. WarnerHoughton Mifflin Co. Our National ParksJohn MuirHoughton Mifflin Co. Outdoor Handy BookDan BeardScribners Outdoors, Indoors and up the ChimneyC. McIllvainSunday School Times Out-of-DoorsM. Ellsworth OlsonPacific Pub. Co. Romance of Modern PhotographyGibsonLippincott Scholar's ABC of ElectricityMeadowcraftHinds, Noble & Co. Scientific American Boy (www. Gutenberg. Org/etext/15831)BondMunn & Co. Scientific American Boy at SchoolBond Scientific American Reference BookBondMunn & Co. Secret of the WoodsWm. J. LongGinn & Co Sportsman JoeSandys TaxidermyHasluckMcKay The Boy ElectricianHustonLippincott The Boy's Book of ConservationSmallMaynard & Co. The Boy's Book of InventionsBaconDoubleday, Page & Co. The Boy's Second Book of InventionsBakerDoubleday, Page & Co. The Boy's Book of Model AeroplanesCollinsCentury Co. The Boy's Book of SteamshipsHowden The Camp at Willow [Clump] Island (www. Gutenberg. Org/etext/15831)Bond The Frog BookDickermanDoubleday, Page & Co. {379} The Complete PhotographerBaileyDoubleday, Page & Co. The MountainsS. E. White The Open WindowGrosset & Dunlap The Young ElectricianH. HallMacmillan Co. The Young MechanicPutnam's Sons Things a Boy Should Know about ElectricityT. M. St. John Things a Boy Should Know about WirelessSt. John Trapper JimSandys Two Little SavagesSeton Vehicles of the AirLongheedReilly & Britton Co. Walden, or Life in the WoodsThoreauHoughton Mifflin Co. Ways of NatureBurroughsHoughton Mifflin Co. Wilderness HomesKempOuting Pub. Co. Wild NeighborsIngersoll Wireless TelegraphyA. F. Collins WoodcraftSearsCentury Co. Woodmyth and FableSetonCentury Co. Wonders of Man and NatureR. Whiting WoodcraftNessmukForest & Strean Woodworking for BeginnersWheeler Young Folk's Nature Field BookJ. A. LoringDana Estes Co. CAMPCRAFT Around the CampfireC. G. D. Roberts An Old Fashioned Sugar CampP. G. HustonRevell Co. At Home in the WaterCorsonAssociation Press Billy in CampCarrMcClurg Co. Boat Building and Boating for Beginners. Dan BeardScribners Boat SailingKensalyOuting Co. Building Model BoatsHasluckDavid McKay Camp and Trail. Isabel Hornabrook Camp and TrailS. E. WhiteOuting Pub. Co. Camp and Trail MethodsKephart Camp CookeryHorace KephartOuting Pub. Co. Camp Fire and WigwamEllisWinston Co. Camp Fire MusingsW. C. GrayRevell Camping and Camp CookingBates Camping and Camp OutfitsG. O. Shields Camping for BoysGibsonAssociation Press Camping OutStephensHurst & Co. Camp Kits and Camp LifeHanksScribners {380} Camp Life in the WoodsGibson CampmatesC. K. Munroe CanoematesKirk Munroe Canoe and Boat BuildingStephensForest and Stream Canoe and Camp CookerySenecaForest and Stream Canoe Boys and Camp FiresGraydonGrosset and Dunlap Captain Thomas A. Scott, Master DiverF. H. Smith Comrades in CampVictorChatterton Co. Economical Cook BookMrs. Sarah PaulJohn C. Winston & Co. Every Boy His Own CookAtkinson Rice Guns, Ammunition and TackleMoney, et al. Harper's Camping and ScoutingGrinnell & Swan How to SwimDalton Knotting and Splicing Ropes and CordageHasluck Plates Accompanying Canoe and Boat Building for AmateursForest & Stream Pub. Co. Practical Rowing, with Scull and SweepStevens Ropes: Their Knots and SplicesKunardt SwimmingBrewsterHoughton Mifflin Co. SwimmingSinclair The Art of SwimmingNelligan The Boat Sailor's ManualQualtroughScribners The Book of Camping and WoodcraftKephartOuting Pub. Co. The Kidnapped CampersCanfield Watchers of the Camp FiresC. G. D. Roberts TRACKS, TRAILING, AND SIGNALING Along Four Footed TrailsRuth A. CookJames Pott & Co. Black BearWright Comrades of the TrailsRoberts First to Cross the ContinentBrooks Footprints in the ForestEllisWinston Co. GraphologyHowardPenn Pub. Co. Grizzly BearWright International Code of SignalsU. S. Government Printing Office {381} Northern Trails (Books 1 and 2)Wm. J. LongGinn & Co. Our Country's Flag . E. S. Holden PhrenologyOlinPenn. Pub. Co. PhysiognomyLomlaxPenn. Pub. Co. Return to the TrailsC. G. D. Roberts Sign LanguageSetonDoubleday, Page & Co. The Trail of the BadgerHamp The Trail to the Woods. HawkesAmerican Book Co. Tracks and TrackingBrunnerOuting Pub. Co. Trail of the Sand Hill StagSeton Watchers of the TrailsC. G. D. Roberts Young TrailersAltsheler HEALTH AND ENDURANCE Body and its DefencesJewett Confidential Talks with Young MenSperryRevell Control of Body and MindJewettGinn & Co. Daily TrainingBenson & Miles From Youth into ManhoodHall Good HealthJewettGinn & Co. HealthWalter C. WoodPenn Pub. Co. Health, Strength and PowerSargent Home Treatment and Care of the SickLoveringOtis Clapp & Son How to Keep WellWilsonCrowell Japanese Physical TrainingHancock My SystemMuller Rural HygieneBrewerLippincott CHIVALRY AdaptabilityEllen E. Kenyon WarnerHinds, Noble & Co. Adventure Among Red IndiansHyrstLippincott Age of ChivalryBullfinch An Iron WillOrison Swett MardenCrowell A Skilled WorkmanW. A. BodellRevell Co. Aspiration and AchievementFrederick A. AtkinsRevell Co. Aspirations and InfluenceH. Clay TrumbullSunday School Times Book of Famous VerseAgnes Repplier Boy's King ArthurLanier Boy's Life of Captain John SmithJohnson Careers of Danger and DaringCleveland Mofett {382} Character Shaping and Character WorkingH. Clay TrumbullSunday School Times Character the Grandest ThingOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. Cheerfulness as a Life PowerOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. Daniel Boone, BackwoodsmanForbes LindsayLippincott DutyEllen E. Kenyon WarnerHinds, Noble & Co. Duty Knowing and Duty DoingH. Clay TrumbullSunday School Times EconomyOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. Every Man a KingOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. Famous ScoutsJohnston FidelityEllen E. Kenyon WarnerHinds Noble & Co. First BattlesFrederick A. AtkinsRevell Co. Four American PioneersPerry and Beebe Getting One's BearingsAlexander McKenzieRevell Co. Good Manners and SuccessOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. He Can Who Thinks He CanOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. Heroes Every Child Should KnowH. W. MabieHoughton Mifflin Co. Heroes of ChivalryLouise Maitland Heroes of PioneeringSandersonLippincott Heroes of the StormO'ConnorHoughton Hero Myths and Legends of the British RaceM. O. ErbuttCrowell Co. John James AudubonAudubonPutnam John Smith, Gentleman and Adventurer. LindsayLippincott Knight ErrantDavidsonLippincott Knighthood in Germ and FlowerCox Last of the Great ScoutsWetmore Lessons on MannersJulia M. DeweyHinds, Noble & Co. Levels of LivingHenry F. CopeRevell Life of Kit CarsonEllisGrosset & Dunlap Little JarvisSeawell LoyaltyMcClureRevell Co. Making the Most of OurselvesCalvin Dill WilsonMcClurg Co. Men of IronPyle Moral MuscleFrederick A. AtkinsRevell Co. My Young ManLouis Albert BanksFunk & Wagnalls Co. Ourselves and OthersH. Clay TrumbullSunday School Times Page, Esquire and Knight. Lansing Peace, Power and PlentyOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. PossibilitiesMcClureRevell Co. Rising in the World or ArchitectsH. Clay TrumbullSunday School Times Practical ParadoxesOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. Royal ManhoodJames I. VanceRevell Co. {383} Rushing to the FrontOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. Seeing and BeingH. Clay TrumbullSunday School Times Self Control and Its Kingship and MajestyWm. Coe JordanRevell Co. Self RelianceEllen E. Kenyon WarnerHinds, Noble & Co. Stories of CharlemagneChurch Stories of King ArthurWaldo CutlerCrowell Co. Stories of King Arthur and His KnightsPyle Stories of King Arthur and the Round TableBeatrice Clay Stories of the Great WestRoosevelt Story of the CowboyHough Successful Men of To-dayWilbur F. CraftsFunk & Wagnalls Success in LifeEmil ReichDuffield Co. SuccesswardEdward BokRevell Co. Talks with Great WorkersOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. TendencyJames I. VanceRevell Co. The Book of King Arthur and His Noble KnightsMary MacLeodFred'k A. Stokes The Boys GughulainEleanor HullCrowell Co. The Christian GentlemanLouis Albert BanksFunk & Wagnalls The Crown of IndividualityWm. George JordanRevell Co. The Hour of OpportunityOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. The Kingship of Self ControlWm. George JordanRevell Co. The Majesty of CalmnessWm. George JordanRevell Co. The Making of a ManRobert Elliot SpeerRevell Co. The Marks of a ManRobert Elliot SpeerRevell Co. The Optimistic LifeOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. The Oregon TrailParkmanLippincott The Power of PersonalityOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. The Romance of Early ExplorationWilliamsLippincott The Secret of AchievementOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. The Story of HerewardDouglas C. StedmanCrowell Co. The Vision of Sir LaunfalJames Russell LowellBarse & Hopkins The Young Man Entering BusinessOrison Swett MardenCrowell Co. ThoroughnessDavidsonRevell Co. True ManhoodJames, Cardinal GibbonsMcClurg Co. Twentieth Century KnighthoodBanksFunk & Wagnalls What Shall our Boys Do For a LivingCharles F. WingateDoubleday, Page & Co. {384} Winning Their WayFaris With Spurs of GoldF. W. Green and D. V. Kirk Young Men Who OvercameRobert E. SpeerRevell Co. FIRST AID TO THE INJURED American Red Cross Abridged Text-book and First AidMajor Chas. Lynch Backwoods Surgery and MedicineMoody Boys CoastwiseRideing EmergenciesC. V. Gulick Exercise in Education and MedicineR. T. McKenzie Fighting a FireC. T. Hill First Aid in Illness and InjuryPilcher First Aid to the InjuredF. J. WarwickPenn Pub. Co. Health, Strength and PowerD. A. Sargent Heroes of the Life-boat and RocketBallantyne Heroes of the StormDouglas Life Boat and Its WorkLewis NursingS. Virginia LevesPenn Pub. Co. Our Seacoast HeroesDaunt Stories of the Life-boat. Mundell The Beach PatrolDrysdale The Life-boatBallantyne GAMES Book of Athletic and Out-door SportsBingham Book of College SportsWalter Camp Boy's Book of SportsFannie ThompsonCentury Co. Boys' Drill Regulations Games for EverybodyMay C. HofmanDodge Pub. Co. Games for All OccasionsMary E. BlainBarse & Hopkins Games and Songs of American ChildrenNewellHarper Bros. Education by Play and GamesG. E. JohnsonGinn & Co. Money Making EntertainmentsRook & GoodfellowPenn Pub. Co. PlayEmmett D. AngellLittle, Brown & Co. Practical Track and Field AthleticsGraham and ClarkDuffield Co. Social Activities for Men and BoysA. M. ChesleyAssociation Press Outdoor Games for All SeasonsBeardScribners {385} PATRIOTISM AND CITIZENSHIP Abraham LincolnBaldwinAmerican Book Co. Abraham Lincoln--Boy and ManMorgan American Hero StoriesEva M. TappanHoughton American Leaders and HeroesW. F. GordyScribners A Message to GarciaHubbard An American Book of Golden DeedsJames BaldwinAmerican Book Co. Battles for the UnionPrescott HolmesHenry Altemus Co. Battle of the War for IndependencePrescott HolmesHenry Altemus Co. Boy's Life of Abraham LincolnNicolayCentury Co. Boy's Life of Ulysses S. Grant. NicolayCentury Co. Civics--Studies in American Citizenship. ShermanMacmillan Co. Discovery of the Old NorthwestJ. Baldwin Essentials in Civil GovernmentS. E. FormynAmerican Book Co Famous American StatesmenSarah K. BoltonCrowell Co. Famous Voyages and ExplorersSarah K. BoltonCrowell Co. Four American ExplorersKingsleyAmerican Book Co. Four American IndiansEdson L. Whitney and Frances M. PerryAmerican Book Co. Four Great AmericansJames BaldwinAmerican Book Co. Good CitizenshipJulia Richman Good CitizenshipGrover ClevelandHenry Altemus Co. Great Words from Great AmericansG. P. Putnam's Son Guide to United States HistoryHenry W. ElsonBaker, Taylor Co. Heroes of the Army in AmericaCharles MorrisLippincott Heroes of Discovery in AmericaCharles MorrisLippincott Heroes of the Navy in AmericaCharles MorrisLippincott Heroes of Progress in AmericaCharles MorrisLippincott Heroes of the United States NavyHartwell JonesHenry Altemus Co. Hero Tales from American HistoryLodge and Roosevelt History of New York CityChas. E. ToddAmerican Book Co. Historic AmericansE. S. BrooksCrowell Co. {386} Home Life in Colonial DaysAlice Morse EarleGrosset & Dunlap How the People RuleHoxie Lessons for Junior CitizensMabel Hill Lewis and ClarkLightonHoughton Mifflin Co. Life at West PointHancockPutnam Life of Lincoln for BoysSparhawkCrowell & Co. Lyra HeroicaWm. Ernest HenleyScribners Makers and Defenders of AmericaAnna E. Foote & A. W. SkinnerAmerican Book Co. Man Without a CountryE. E. HaleCrowell & Co. New Century History of the United States. Edward EgglestonAmerican Book Co. North AmericaFrank G. CarpenterAmerican Book Co. Our Country's Flag and the Flags of Foreign CountriesHolden Our Country's StoryEva M. TappanHoughton Mifflin Co. Pathfinders of the WestLautGrosset & Dunlap Patriotic Citizenship Poor Boys Who Became FamousSarah K. BoltonCrowell Poems of American CitizenshipBrander MatthewsScribners Politics for Young AmericansCharles NordhoffAmerican Book Co. Poor Richard's Almanac. Benjamin FranklinDuffield Co. Popular Patriotic Poems ExplainedMurphyHinds, Noble & Co. Potter's Advanced GeographyEliza H. HortonHinds, Noble & Co. Stories of Heroic DeedsJames JohonnotAmerican Book Co. Stories of Our CountryJames JohonnotAmerican Book Co. Story of the American Merchant MarineJ. R. SpearsMacmillan Co. Story of the Great RepublicH. A. GuerberAmerican Book Co. Ten Boys From HistorySweetser, Duffield Co. Ten Great Events in HistoryJames JohonnotAmerican Book Co. The True Citizen and How to Become OneW. F. Marwick & W. A. SmithAmerican Book Co. The Century Book for Young AmericansBrooks The CitizenShaler The Community and the CitizenArthur DunnD. C. Heath & Co. The Good Neighbor in the Modern CityMary RichmondLippincott The Ship of StateYouth's CompanionGinn & Co. The PilgrimsF. S. NoblePilgrim Press {387} The Story of our Navy for Young AmericansAbbottDodd, Mead & Co. The Story of our Great LakesE. Channing & M. F. LansingMacmillan Co. The Story of the Thirteen ColoniesGuerberAmerican Book Co. The Young AlaskansHough The Young CitizenDoleHeath Training for CitizenshipSmithLongmans, Green Co. Uncle Sam's BusinessMarriott U. STownsendLothrop Washington and His GeneralsHeadleyHurst & Co. Washington's Farewell AddressDuffield Co. When America Became a NationJenksCrowell Co. When America was NewTudor JenksCrowell Co. When America Won LibertyTudor JenksCrowell Co. Young AmericansJudson Young Continentals at Bunker HillMcIntyrePenn Pub. Co. Young Continentals at LexingtonMcIntyrePenn Pub. Co. Young People's History of the War with SpainPrescott HolmesHenry Altemus Co. MISCELLANEOUS A Guide to BiographyBurton E. StevensonBaker, Taylor Co. American IndiansYonge A Vagabond Journey Around the WorldFranckCentury Co. Book of Golden DeedsCatlin Boy's Life of Captain John SmithEleanor JohnsonCrowell Co. "Boy Wanted"W. Waterman Childhood of Jishib, the OjibwaJenks Choosing a Life WorkL. R. FiskeEaton & Mains Co. Choosing a VocationParsons Christopher Carson, known as Kit CarsonJ. S. C. Abbott CourageCharles Wagner David Crockett: His Life and AdventuresJ. S. C. Abbott Dashing Paul JonesFrank SheridanDavid McKay David Crockett, ScoutAllen Famous Indian ChiefsO. W. HowardCentury Co. First Across the ContinentN. Brooks Handy Parliamentary RulesCraigHinds, Noble & Co. {388} Heroes of the Polar SeasJ. K. MacleanLippincott How George Rogers Clark won the NorthwestR. G. Thwaites Incentives for LifeJ. W. LudlowRevell Co. Indian BoyhoodEastman Indian Fights and FightersBrady Indian Story and SongFletcher Letters to American BoysCarruth Life of David CrockettE. S. Ellis Life of John GutenbergEmily C. PearsonHurst & Co. Life Questions of High School BoysJenksAssociation Press Living Races of Mankind, Vol IV and VThe University Society. LoyaltyJ. G. R. McCleeveRevell Co. Lure of the Labrador WildWallace Northland HeroesFlorence HolbrookHoughton Mifflin Co. Old Santa Fe TrailH. Inman Pony TracksF. Remington Punishment of the StingyGrinnell Pushing to the FrontMarden Romance of Early ExplorationWilliamsSeeley Co. Self-HelpSmiles Some Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. PyleScribners Story of a ScoutFinnemore Starting in LifeFowler Story of the IndianGrinnell SuccessO. S. Marden Successful CareersThayeCrowell Co. The American ShotgunAskinsOuting Pub. Co. The Children's Life of LincolnM. Louise PutnamMcClurg Co. The Blazed TrailWhite The Boy GeneralMrs. E. B. Custer The Boy on a Farm at Work and at PlayJacob AbbottAmerican Book Co. The Heart of the Ancient WoodC. G. D. RobertsWessels Co. The Romance of Polar ExplorationG. F. ScottSeeley & Co. The Seven Ages of WashingtonOwen WisterGrosset & Dunlap The Way of an IndianF. Remington STORIES FOR SCOUTS Adrift on an IcepanW. T. Grenfell American Life and AdventureEgglestonAmerican Book Co. {389} Arizona NightsS. E. White Around the World with the BattleshipsMillerMcClurg Co. BackwoodsmenD. Roberts Black RockGordon (Ralph Connor, pseud) Bob BurtonHoratio Alger, JrWinston Co. Bar B. Boys or the Young Cow Punchers. Edwin S. SabinCrowell Co. Battling for AtlantaByron A. DunnMcClurg Co. Boys of Other CountriesTaylorPutnam's Sons Boy TrappersHarry CastlemanHurst & Co. Camping on the St. LawrenceE. T. Tomlinson Cattle BrandsA. Adams Cattle Ranch to CollegeRussellDoubleday Chilhowee BoysMorrisonCrowell Co. Chilhowee Boys in HarnessSarah E. MorrisonCrowell Co. Chilhowee Boys in War TimesSarah E. MorrisonCrowell Co. Cast up by the SeaSir Samuel W. BakerHurst & Co. Cruise of the Canoe ClubW. L. Alden Cruise of the GhostW. L. Alden Dale and Fraser, Sheep-menS. F. Hamp Dashing Paul JonesSheridanDavid McKay Dare Boys of 1776Stephen Angus CoA. L. Chatterton Co. DorymatesC. R. Monroe Forest RunnersAltsheler For Freedom's CauseT. C. HarbauchDavid McKay Fox HuntingC. A. StephensHurst & Co. Frank in the WoodsCastlemanHurst & Co. FrecklesPorterGrosset & Dunlap From Atlanta to the SeaByron A. DunnA. C. McClurg Co. Frontier Boys on the Overland Trail. Wyn. RooseveltChatterton Co. General Nelson's ScoutByron A. DunnA. C. McClurg Huckleberry FinnTwain Hans Brinker of the Silver SkatesMary Mapes DodgeGrosset & Dunlap In the Clouds for Uncle SamAshton LamarReilly & Britton IvanhoeScott Jack Among the Indians. G: B. Grinnell KimKipling KidnappedStevenson Knights Who Fought the DragonEdwin LeslieSunday School Times Co. Larry Deeter's Great SearchHoward R. GarisGrosset & Dunlap Little MetacometHezekiah ButterworthCrowell Co. {390} Little SmokeW. O. Stoddard Log of a CowboyA. Adams Luke WaltonHoratio Alger, JrWinston Co. Marching Against the IroquoisEverett T. Tomlinson Marion and His MenJohn De MorganDavid McKay Master of the Strong HeartsE. S. Brooks Off the RocksGrenfellS. S. Tirnes On the Indian TrailEgerton R. YoungRevell Co. On the Old KearsargeCyrus Townsend BradyScribners On General Thomas's StaffByron A. DunnMcClurg Paul RevereJohn De MorganDavid McKay Peggy OwenLucy Foster MadisonPenn Pub. Co. Raiding with MorganByron A. DunnMcClurg Range and Trail or the Bar B's Great DriveEdwin L. SabinT. Y. Crowell Co. Rip Van WinkleWashington IrvingBurse & Hopkins Robinson CrusoeDefoeHoughton Mifflin Co. Silent PlacesS. E. White Stories of the Good Green WoodC. HawkesCrowell Co. Story of Sonny SahibS. J. Duncan Sheridan's Troopers on the BordersDe B. Randolph KeirnDavid McKay Sir RaulJames M. LudlowRevell Co. Stories from LifeOrison Swett MardenAmerican Book Co. Struggling UpwardAlger, JrWinsted Co. Swiss Family RobinsonJ. D. Wyss Talking LeavesW. O. Stoddard Tan and FrecklesC. L. BrysonRevell Co. Ten Years Before the Mast. Dana, JrHoughton Mifflin Co The Air Ship BoysSaylerReilly & Britton The Boy Aviators in NicaraguaWilbur LawtonHurst & Co. The Boy Aviators in AfricaWilbur LawtonHurst & Co. The Boy Aviators' Polar DashWilbur LawtonHurst & Co. The Boy Aviators in Record FlightWilbur LawtonHurst & Co. The Boy Aviators in Secret ServiceWilbur LawtonHurst & Co. The Boy Aviators' Treasure QuestWilbur LawtonHurst & Co. The Boy Fortune Hunters in AlaskaF. AkesReilly & Britton The Boy Fortune Hunters in PanamaF. AkesReilly & Britton The HillHorace A. VachellDodd, Mead & Co. The PilotCooper The PioneersCooper The SpyCooper {391} Washington's Young SpyT. C. HarbauchDavid McKay Waste Not Want Not StoriesClifton JohnsonAmerican Book Co. With Fighting Jack BerryJohn T. McIntyreLippincott With Flintlock and FifeEverett T. TomlinsonGrosset & Dunlap With Sully Into the Sioux LandJoseph Mills HansenMcClurg Wolf HuntersJoseph Oliver CurwoodBobbs, Merrill Co. Work and WinEdward S. EllisA. L. Burt Co. {392} {393} {394} INDEX {395} INDEX PAGEAccidents, prevention of 255Additions to Territory of the United States 323A First Try in Tracking 191Aim of the Scout Movement 3Alaska Purchase (1867) 324Alcohol 226Ambassadors 345America (Hymn) 357American Morse Telegraph Alphabet 202American Morse Telegraph Abbreviations 203American Morse Telegraph Numerals 202American Morse Telegraph Punctuations 202American Morse Telegraph Signal 202American Revolution. The (1775-1783) 325-328Angling 109Animals, Native, Wild 133 Antelope 135 Badger 140 Bear, Black 142 Beaver 136 Cottontail 125 Cougar or Panther 137 Coyote 139 Deer, Mule 134 Deer, White Tailed 134 Elk or Wapiti 133 Fox 138 Goat, Mountain 135 Mink 140 Moose 135 Muskrat 136 Opossum 141 Otter 139 Panther or Cougar 137 Rabbit, Cottontail 137 Rabbit, Jack or Black Tailed 137 Raccoon 141 Squirrel, Gray 141 Skunk 140 Weasel 139 Wild Cat or Bob Cat 138 Wolf. Gray 138 Woodchuck 136Annapolis, Md. , Naval Academy 344Apoplexy and Injury to Brain 270Aquarium, Home 109Aquarium Fish Food 111Aquarium Fish Nets 110Aquarium, Starting the 110Archery 255Arm Carry 240, 276Army of the United States 342Articles of Confederation (1781) 325A Story of the Trail 192-197Athletic Standards, Outdoor 320Axes 360 Badges of Rank 44 Chief Scout 45 Chief Scout Camp Master 46 Chief Scout Citizen 46 Chief Scout Director of Athletics 46 Chief Scout Director of Chivalry 46 Chief Scout Director of Health 45 Chief Scout Stalker 45 Chief Scout Surgeon 45 Chief Scout Surveyor 45 Chief Scout Woodsman 45 Scout Master 45 Service Stripes 45Back Strangle 284Bandanna 360Bathing Rules 156Baths 224Battleship Maine (1898) 338Bed. The Camp 147Beetles and Wasps 105Belts 360Bird Box 92Bird Craft 85-94Bird Blind 89Bird Lists 87Bird Lunch Counter 92Bird Patrol Man 94Birds, Caring For 91Birds, How to Photograph 89Birds, Knowing the 85-90Birds, Nesting Season 88Birds, Protecting the 92Birth of New States. The 331Bites and Stings 274Books for Reference 369-391Boy Scout Equipment 359-369Boy Scout Organization, The 10Breeches 360Bruises 264Bugle 361Building a Lot Cabin 59Burns and Scalds 273Butterflies 101Butterfly Weed 119 Cabinet, President's 341Campcraft 145-186Camera Snap Shots 148Camp Fire, The 160Camp Fire Building 158Camp Fire Fireplace 149Camp Fire Story Telling 161Camp Fire Stunts 161Camp Lamp 148Camp Site 147 {396} PAGECanoeing, Rowing and Sailing 173-184Clear Weather Signs 157Clouds as Weather Signs 156Cooking Receipts 149-152 Bacon 150 Cocoa 151 Coffee 151 Eggs--Boiled, fried, scrambled, poached 151 Fish, baked 150 Frog Legs 150 Griddle Cakes 149 Potatoes, Roast 150 Salmon on Toast 150Camp Knives 361Carrying Injured 277Canteen 361Census of United States (1790-1820) taken every ten years 332Chair Carry 275Challenge of the Present 243Character 245Cheerfulness 244Chief Scout and Staff 11Chills 277Chivalry 237-254Citizenship 349Civil Service, United Stales. State and City 344Civil War, The (1861-1865) 334Clothing on Fire--How to Put Out 256Coats 361Coffee 226Compass 362Confederacy, Southern (1861) 335Congress 341Conservation 232Constipation 226Constitution of the United States (1789) 325Consuls 345County Court House 348Courage 248Courts of the United States 342Cramps or Stomach Ache 276Cuba (1898) 338 "Death Grips"--How to Break 282Declaration of Independence (1776) 327Digestion 225Directions for Ordering 360Dish Washing 152Dislocation 265Diving for Lost Objects 285Diving from the Surface 284Drawing Tracks 196Drinking Cup 362Drowning 258Drum 362Dutch in New York 325Duty to God 249 Ear Ache 275Ears, Care of 229Eating 225Electric Accidents 258Electric Shocks, What to do 259Emancipation Proclamation (1862) 337Emergencies, First Aid For 273English Settlements (t607) (1620) 325Equipment 359-369Evacuation Day (1783) 326Exercise, Setting-Up 188-191Exercises. Outdoor 223Eye Bandage 274Eyes--Care of 226Eye--Inflammation of 276Eye--Something in the 273 Fainting 270Farragut, Admiral--Life Story 329Feet, Care of 230Ferns 117Finding your latitude by the Stars 57Finger Nails, Care of 230Fire by Rubbing Sticks. How to Make 70Fire, Building the 158Fireman's Lift 278Fires 255Fires. How to Put Out--What to Do 255First Aid and Life Saving 255-290First Aid 251First Aid Kit 362First Class Scout 17Fitness 219Fits 272Fishes 105-109 Classes of 106 Identification of Specimens 108 Bass, Black--large mouth 107 Catfish, Speckled 106 Herring, River or Alewife 107 Killifish. Tip minnow 108 Perch, Yellow 107 Pickerel, Common Pike 106 Salmon, Chinook 106 Sturgeon, The Atlantic 107 Sucker, Common White 108 Trout, Brook or Speckled 106 Whitefish, Common 106Marine 107Migratory 106Studying 107Flag Day--June 14th 340Flag. The History of American (1777) 337Flag Rules Observed 341Floating 280Florida and Texas 333Florida Purchase (1819) 324Foreign Service 345Forest Fires 159Forks 361Fort Sumter (1861) 335Fractures, Compound 264Franklin. Benjamin 327Freezing 272French and Indian Wars, (1763) 335Frost Bite 272Gadsend Purchase (1853) 324Games 291 Arctic Expedition 314 Badger Pulling 303 Bear Hunt 293 Canoe Tag 297 Chalk the Arrow 312 Cock Fighting 302 Deer Hunting 291 Dodge Ball 312 Dragging Race 351 {397} PAGE Duck-on-a-rock 304 Far and Near 315 Far Sight 299 Feather Football or Feather Blow 302 Fire Lighting Race 315 Flag Raiding 305 Follow My Leader 315 Follow the Trail 310 Hand Wrestling 303 Hare and Hound 312 Hat Ball 303 Horse and Rider Tourney 318 Hostile Spy 300 Hunt the Coon 301 Kim's Game 311 Knight Errantry 316 Lion Hunting 305 Man-Hunt, The 301 Morgan's Game 311 Mountain Scouting 316 Mumbly Peg 318 Navajo Feather Dance 302 Pathfinding, Games in 316 Plant Race 305 Poison 303 Pole-star 299 Prisoner's Base 313 Quick Sight, The Game of 298 Rabbit Hunt 300 Relay Race 308 Roadside Cribbage 304 Scouting 298 Scout Hunting 308 Scout Meets Scout 310 Scout's Nose (Indoors) 310 Shop Window (Indoors in Town) 309 Shop Window (Outdoors in Town) 309 Shoot Out 311 Siberian Man Hunt 312 Smugglers on the Border 309 Snow Fort 311 Spear Fights 302 Spearing the Great Sturgeon 295 Spider and Fly 307 Spot the Rabbit or Far Sight 299 Spot the Thief 308 Stalking 307 Stalking and Reporting 307 Throwing the Assegai 305 Throwing the Spear 313 Tilting in the Water 296 Track Memory 308 Treasure Hunt, The 317 Treasure Island 318 Unprepared Plays 316 Will-o-the-Wisp 317Gas Accidents 259Gas Poisoning, What to Do 260General Hints 155Grant, Ulysses S. 335Grasses 117Growth 223Guam Acquired (1808) 324 Hancock, John 327Hand or Flag Signals 209Handy Articles in Camp 148Hats 362Haversack 363Hawaii Annexed (1898) 324Head Bandage 266Health and Endurance 219-236Hiccough 276Hiking and Over Night Camps 145Honor Medals 44Hospital Corps Pouch 363Hot Stone Wrinkle 148How the Great Spirit was Found 161How to Become a Boy Scout 11How to Get Your Bearings 157How to Make Pictures of Tracks 194 Ice Rescue 258Indian Bathing Precaution 156Indian Signs and Blazes 209Individuality 247Injuries Due to Heat or Cold 273Injuries When Skin is Broken 265Injuries When Skin is Not Broken 262Insects and Butterflies 101-105Insects, Other 104Ivy Poisoning 247 Key. Francis Scott, Author 330Knickerbockers 363Knighthood, Ancient 237Knighthood, Modern 240Knives 363Knots Every Scout Should Know 48-52 Becket Hitch 51 Blackwall Hitch 51 Bowline 50 Carrick Bend 52 Clove Hitch 51 Fisherman's Bend 51 Fisherman's Knot 52 False Reef or Granny 50 Figure of Eight Knot 49 Halter, Slip or Running Knot 50 Overhand Knot. The 49 Sheet Bend or Weaver's Knot 50 Square or Reef Knot 50 Sheepshank 50 Timber Hitch 51 Two Half Hitches 51 Whipping a Rope 49 Land Ordinances (1785) (1787) 334Land Settlements 325Lanyard 364Leadership 152Lean-to, The 146Lee, Robert E 335Leggings 364Letter from Col. Theodore Roosevelt 353Lexington and Concord (1775) 325Life Buoys 287Lincoln, Abraham 241, 335Louisiana Purchase (1803) 323 Mad Dog 260Manners, Good 243Mariner's Compass, The 52Meadow Mouse 199Measurement, Hand 368Measuring Distances 64Medical Examinations 224Memorial Day--May 30th 341Menu for Camp and Hike 152Mess-Kits 364 {398} PageMexican Cession and Purchase from Texas (1848) 324Military Academy West Point 343Militia, Naval 344Militia, State 308Molusca--Shells and Shellfish 94-97Moon, The 85Moths 103Mushrooms, Fungi or Toadstools 122Mushrooms, Common 125Mushrooms, Coprinus 125Mushrooms, Delicious Morel 126Mushrooms, Inky Coprinus 125Mushrooms, Puff Balls 126Merit Badges Agriculture 24 Angling 24 Archery 24 Architecture 25 Art 25 Astronomy 25 Athletics 26 Automobiling 26 Aviation 26 Bee Farming 27 Blacksmithing 27 Bugling 27 Business 27 Camping 28 Carpentry 28 Chemistry 28 Civics 29 Conservation 30 Cooking 30 Craftsmanship 31 Cycling 31 Dairying 31 Eagle Scout 43 Electricity 32 Firemanship 32 First Aid 32 First Aid to Animals 33 Forestry 33 Gardening 34 Handicraft 34 Horsemanship 34 Interpreting 35 Invention 35 Leather Working 35 Life Saving 36 Life Scout 43 Machinery 36 Marksmanship 36 Masonry 36 Mining 37 Music 37 Ornithology 37 Painting 38 Pathfinding 38 Personal Health 39 Photography 39 Pioneering 39 Plumbing 40 Poultry Farming 40 Printing 40 Public Health 40 Scholarship 41 Sculpture 41 Seamanship 41 Signalling 42 Stalking 42 Star Scout 43 Surveying 42 Swimming 42 Taxidermy 43 Naval Enlistment 343Naval Academy 344Navy of United States 343Neckerchief 360Neck Grip 283New States (1845-1861) 333Norfolk Coat 362"Northwest Territory" 335Nose Bleed 274Nose, Care of 229 Observation, Practice 148Open Outing Tent 170-173Order of Business--Camp 153Oregon Territory Acquired (1846) 324Original Territory (1783) 323Orion 83 Pain 224Panics, Prevention of 255Patriotism and Citizenship 323-356Patrol Flags 364Patrol Signs 19Patrol Work 83Peace 339Peace Treaty (1783) 291-292Philippine Islands Acquired (1898) 324Pilgrim Fathers 238, 325Pine Island Acquired (1898) 324Pioneers. American 239Plants, Ferns and Grasses 117-122Pleiades 84Poisoning 272Poison Ivy 119Politics 347Ponchos 364Porto Rico Acquired (1898) 324Practical Citizenship 353President--Term of Office, Salary, etc. 341Program, Scout Camp 153Proper Carriage 219Property-- Real. Personal--Relationship to Government 348Public Domain 322Purchase from Texas (1850) 324Puttees 364 Rains, Signs of 156Ration List 152Register of Deeds 347Religion, Boy Scouts 250Rememberable Morse or Re-Morse Alphabet 203Reptiles 97-101Rescue from Shore or Boat 284Restoring Breathing 286Rocks and Pebbles 111-117 Rocks, Stratified 112 Rocks, Quartz vein 113 Fossill, Shells 116 Pudding-Stone 116Row Boats 180 Coming Alongside 181 Feathering 180 Going Ashore 181 Keeping Ashore 181{399} Rowing 181 Sculling 181 Steering 181 Salute, The 181 Turning. The 180Runaway Horse 260 PAGESailing Small Boats 182Sailing Before Wind 183Sailing Close to Wind 183Sailing, Direction of Wind 182Sailing--Flying the Flag 184Sailing--Reefing 183Sailing--Right of Way 184Samoan Islands Acquired (1899) 324Sanitation 154Scout Badge, The 12Scout Law, The 14Scout Motto, The 12Scout Oath, The 14Scout Salute, The 14Scout Sign, The 14Scout Virtues 8Scout Master, The 153Scouts Pledged to the Flag 341Scout Staff and its Uses 365Secession of States 335Second Class Scout 17Secrets of the Woods 199Semaphore Signal Code 206Shells and Shell Fish 94-97Shelter Tents 364Shirts 364Shock--What to do in Case of 261Shoes 365Signal Flags 365Signalling by Flag or Torch 305Slavery 335Sleep 231Sleeping out of doors 232Snake Bites 237Snakes, Water Moccasin 101Southern Confederacy formed (1861) 335Spanish American War, The (1898) 338Spanish and French 325Speaker, House of Representatives 341Special Service by Boy Scouts 109Splints and Sling for Arm 264Splints for Broken Leg 263Splints for Broken Thigh 262Spoons 361Sports 364Sprains 264Staff 365Star Spangled Banner, The (1815) 330Star Spangled Banner, Hymn 358Stars, The 81State Government 346Stockings 66Stomach Ache 276Stretcher Improvised 277Struggle for Freedom 238Sunburn 274Sun Dial or Hunter's Clock 53Sun Stroke and Heat Exhaustion 274Sweaters 361Swedes in Delaware 325 Taxes 349Tea 226Teeth 227Telegraph Instruments 366Tenderfoot 16Tent Making Made Easy 164-170Texas Annexed 324Three Classes of Scouts, The 16Thrift 246Throat 229Toadstools 122Toadstools, Deadly Cup 123Toadstools, Deadly Amanita 123Toadstools, Destroying Angel 123Toadstools, Fly Amanita 124Toadstools, Hated Amanita 124Toadstools, Poisonous 123Toadstools, Sure Death 123Toadstools, Wholesome 125Tobacco 226Toothache 275Torniquet to Upper Arm 269Towns, Villages and Cities 347Tracking Irons 367Tracks, Tracking and Signaling 187-218 The Coon that Showed How 194 Tracking 188 Tracking, How to Learn 190 Tracking, When to Learn 190 Trying It on the Cat 196Treatment After Respiration Begins 287Trees. Common North American 127-133 Ash, White 132 Beech 130 Birch, Black. Sweet or Mahogany 129 Birch, Common or Aspen Leaved 129 Butternut or White Walnut 129 Cedar, Red 128 Chestnut 130 Cottonwood 128 Elm, White or Swamp 131 Hemlock 128 Hickory, White 128 Locust, Black or Yellow 132 Maple, Red, Scarlet. Water or Swamp 132 Oak, Red 130 Oak, White 131 Pine, White 127 Shagbark, or White Hickory 128 Sycamore, Plane Tree, Buttonball or Buttonwood 131 Walnut, Black 129 Walnut, White or Butternut 129Troop Colors 367Trousers 367Twelve Points of the Scout Law, The 10 Unconsciousness 270 Valley Forge 328Vice-President--President of Senate 341 War of 1812 329Washington, D. C 342Washington, George 325Wasps 105Watch 367Watch for a Compass 57Water Accidents 279-288Water Bottle 367Water Hints 155 {400} PAGEWaterproofing a Tent 170Water Supply 154Waves 179Weather Flags 157West Point Military Academy 343What One Boy Did 90What Scouting Means 3What to do When Lost in the Woods 67Whistles 367Whistle Signs 208White House 341White Pine 119Wig-Wag or Myer Code 204Will 246Wind, How to Tell Direction of 157Wireless Telegraphy 210Wireless Abbreviations 205Wireless Signs 204Wireless Numbers 204Wireless. Receiving Set 211Wireless Sending Set 213Woodcraft 57-145Woodlore 57-85Work not Luck 251Wounds Without Severe Bleeding 267Wounds With Severe Bleeding 267Wrist Grip 282 Yorktown, Va. (1781) 328 THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS. GARDEN CITY. N. Y. [Transcriber's Note: The following pages are advertisements. ] {401} Do You Know This Manual From Cover To Cover? Well, here is another rule for you to memorize: "Whenever Hungry Eat Peter's Chocolate" Alpine climbers, hunters, campers, and woodsmen of all descriptionsconsider Peter's Chocolate the regulation food for camp or trail. It is absolutely the most sustaining; has the most delicious tastethat always makes you want more, and does not create thirst. Don't you go camping this summer without a liberal supply. You can getthe nut chocolate or the plain chocolate as you prefer, but be sure toask for Peter's, the Original Milk Chocolate. Peter's comes in several varieties: Peter's Milk Chocolate Peter's Milk Chocolate Croquettes Peter's Almond Milk Chocolate Peter's Milk Chocolate with Roasted Hazelnuts Peter's Bon-Bons -----------------------------------------------------------{402} World Famous "SCOUTS" Now on Sale! Now's your chance to get the "BoyScout" Shoe, boys--that world famous shoeabout which you have read so much in themagazines. It's making just as big a hit inthis town as it has made in the big cities. Boys are "wild" about them--say theynever saw anything like them for baseball, running, jumping, and all outdoor sports. The "Boy Scout" Shoe Toughest, lightest, most sensible, everyday shoe made. Uppers are soft asgloves. Soles wear two to three times aslong as ordinary soles. No linings. Coolestand most healthful boy's shoe everinvented. COLORSOlive, Tan and Black Tell your pa that "Boy Scouts" outweartwo to three pairs of ordinary shoes. Good-Luck Charm FREEwith each pair of genuine BOY SCOUT SHOES Write us direct if your dealer does nothandle them and we will forward bookletimmediately. The Excelsior Shoe Co. , Portsmouth, Ohio Little Boys', size 10 to 13-1/2; $2. 00Boys', size 1 to 5-1/2, $2. 50Big Boys' and Men's, size 6-10, $3. 00 -----------------------------------------------------------{403} In conjunction with the Boy SCOUTS OF AMERICA we have published a bookcalled "Boy Scouts. " The text of the book is written by Mr. J. L. Alexander and the illustrations are by Gordon Grant. It is the onlyillustrated book of the Boy Scouts. We have made arrangements with theNational Headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America to allow acommission of two cents to any patrol on each book sold for ten centsby the members of that patrol. We will send express collect, to theScoutmaster any number of these books which he thinks can be disposedof within thirty days by the boys under him. At the end of that timehe is to send us eight cents for each book sold and return theremaining books. If a local organization is in need of funds to purchase pictures, furniture, uniforms or anything else needful for its rooms oractivities, this affords an excellent opportunity for the boys to earnpart or all of the necessary amount. This book, "BOY Scouts, " will be sent anywhere for ten cents in stampsor coin by Minute Tapioca Co. , Orange, Mass. -----------------------------------------------------------{404} The Soft, Sure Silent Step of the Indian, the trapper and the guide isyours in the city as well as on the trail, if you will simply attachO'Sullivan's Heels of New Live Rubber to your ordinary shoes. As you carry home with you the high, wholesome ideas of the woods, soalso retain the noiseless tread of the true scout by always wearingO'Sullivan Heels. The best known men today are wearing these heels. They give thatquiet, springy tread which shows the strong, self-reliant man. Put O'Sullivan's on all your shoes. 50 cents per pair attached. We have a free booklet especially for you on the subject. O'Sullivan Rubber Company131 Hudson StreetNew York -----------------------------------------------------------{405} SCOUT'S AXE The Official Axe of the Boy Scout Furnished with a Sheath of Chrome Tanned Leather to carryon the belt. Manufactured by the makers of the famous Plumb "Anchor Brand" tools. Solid steel of special analysis, from head to cutting edge. Doubletempered, making a good keen edge, hard--yet tough. Highest grade Hickory handles, with special Forest finish, whichblends with the colors of the woods. The best axe that money can buy or skill produce. For use in forest or camp it is the handiest tool in a woodsman's kit. FAYETTE R. PLUMB, INC. Philadelphia U. S. A. St. Louis. -----------------------------------------------------------{406} Scout Masters' Manual A handbook especially prepared to aid the scout master in his workwith boys. It is full of suggestions! Programs for Scout Meetings; indoors and out, summer and winter; longterm camp, Scout games, etc. Price 60 cent. PostpaidNational Headquarters200 Fifth AvenueNew York, N. Y. ----------------------------------------------------------- Give a Flood of Light This 14-candle-power lamp projects a bright, white light 150 feet andfulfils every lighting requirement for the camper, Hunter and Angler. The Baldwin Camp Light is only 3-1/2 inches high and weighs but 5ounces. 25 cents worth of carbide gives fifty hours' light. Can behung up in the tent, fastened to bow of boat or worn on cap or belt, leaving both hands free. Sold by leading Hardware and Sporting Goods Dealers, or sent prepaidupon receipt of regular price, $1. 00 John Simmons Company22 Franklin StreetNew York Write for this interesting booklet, sent free if you mention yourdealer's name and address ----------------------------------------------------------- The Official Boys Scout Whistle LOUD TONE Heavy Metal Gun Metal Finish Secure from your dealer, or mailed on receipt of price and 2c extrafor postage. BEHREND & ROTHSCHILDPrice 10 cents355 BroadwayNew York CityStrauss Bros. & Co. , Sole Selling Agents -----------------------------------------------------------{407} Boy Scouts and ScoutMasters The Hill & Loper Co. , Danbury, Conn. , are making a special hat foryou--a hat that's built for scouting--one that will hold its shape andcolor and all the snap and dash that are put into it, in spite of"wind and weather. " It's made to supply the increasing demand for abetter Boy Scout Hat. It's made from Fine Fur Felt--from the samestock and by the same skilled workmen that produce the Hill & LoperCo. 's famous "HI-LO" Felt Hats which are sold to the most particulartrade all over the country. It's "Scout" style, through and through, and built on the thorough, thoroughly honest principles that yourgreat organization stands for. It is approved by your NationalCouncil, and you'll approve it as soon as you see it and try it on. You can get one of these Boy Scout or Scout Master Hats from yourlocal dealer or from National Headquarters, Boy Scouts of America. Besure to look for the Scout Seal, stamped on the Sweat Leather. Nonegenuine without this seal. If there is no dealer in your locality sendyour size and the regular price--$2. 00 for "Boy Scout" or $2. 50 for"Scout Master" Hat, direct to National OutfitterSIGMUND EISNERRed Bank, New Jersey -----------------------------------------------------------{408} BOY SCOUT SHOES Joseph M. Herman & Co. , of Boston, the world famous manufacturers ofHerman's U. S. Army Shoes, the kind the soldiers, sailors, marines andmilitia wear, have created the moat comfortable and best wearing shoefor boys that ever was known. It is made on the sensible orthopediclast designed by army surgeons. The regular army stamp is on theseshoes and so is the official Boy Scout seal. Look for these marks whenbuying. The genuine U. S. Army--Boy Scout Shoe is made of Shrewsbury leather with double sole of solid oak leatherreinforced so that it cannot break away. The upper has a cool liningand is soft and pliable. This is not only the best shoe for wear thata boy can put on but is handsome and snappy--one that any boy will beproud to show to his friends. Be sure to mention your size whenordering. Price $2. 50 Official Seal Bottom StampHerman's US Army ShoeFor Boy Scouts of AmericaT. E. O'DonnellInspector -----------------------------------------------------------{409} Bailey'sBoy Scout UnderwearConsisting of Knit ShirtsDrawers and Union Suits Made in plain and open mesh effect cloth, in olive drab regulationcolor, also in Egyptian and white. Shirts made athletic style as shown in cut. Drawers finished with strong ribbed cuffs that reach just below theknee which insures comfort to wearer. Union suits also made in athletic finish. Sizes from 24 to 34. PRICESAthletic Shirts $. 25Athletic Drawers . 25Union Suits . 50 If you cannot get these goods from your dealer, advise us and we willmail or express them to you prepaid on receipt of price. THE BAILEY KNITTING MILLSFORT PLAIN. N. Y. N. B. Boy Scout Underwear suggested by Master Charles S. Bailey ofTroop 2, Boy Scouts of America, Fort Plain, N. Y. Showing Use of Shirt as a JerseyIdeal for Use in Camp. Color, OliveDrab, Matching Uniform -----------------------------------------------------------{410} Official Equipments'Tabloid' First-AidNo. 709, for Patrol Leaders and Scout Masters $2. 00No. 710, for Scouts $1. 00 Special discount on orders for 1/2 doz. Or more when ordered throughthe local organization. Burroughs, Wellcome & Co. 35 West 33d Street New York City No. 709. 'Tabloid' First-Aid ----------------------------------------------------------- Outfitters for Explorers, Campers, Prospectors, Hunters and Boy ScoutsLight Weight Water and Rot Proof Tents. Ask About Our Green Tents ABERCROMBIE'S CAMPTRADE MARK Outing Clothes, Camp Outfits, FootwearCanoes, Fishing Tackle, Guns and AmmunitionDAVID T. ABERCROMBIE CO. , 311 Broadway, New YorkAmerican Agents. NEWLAND, TARLTON & CO. , Safari Outfitters. Nairobi, B. E. Africa Send for Illustrated Catalogue. Please Note Name and Address -----------------------------------------------------------{411} Knives Recommended by Committee on Equipment of Boy Scouts of AmericaAsk your hardware dealer for these knivesMade to cut and stay sharpTwo Blades, Ebony Handle, "Easy Opener, "Brass Lined, and German Silver BolstersPrice 50 cents Made to cut and stay sharp. Stag Handle, Large Blade, Screwdriver, Leather Punch, Can Opener, Brass Lining, German Silver BolstersPrice $1. 00New York Knife Co. 226 Fifth Ave. , New York WorksWalden, N. Y. -----------------------------------------------------------{412} "It's time you owned a Waltham" The Watch for the Boy Scout as well as for the veteran. The boy oftoday doesn't want a clock watch bought in a notion store at the priceof a toy. He wants an accurate watch bought from a jeweler--one he cantake pride in and one that teaches him to respect time. An accuratetime-piece, like scouting, cultivates habits of precision andpunctuality. WALTHAM Watches are noted time-keepers in every grade. There are moderatepriced Waltham watches that keep perfect time. Even low pricedWalthams maintain wonderful records for accuracy. The pride of owninga watch of the world-wide reputation of Waltham, adds immensely to anyboy's happiness. Send for Descriptive Booklet of Waltham Movements or Ask Your Jeweler. WALTHAM WATCH CO. --Waltham, Mass. -----------------------------------------------------------{413} Boy Scout Knit Union SuitsA New Kind of Underwear Slip into the Suit, fasten it on the shoulders--and there you are!That is the whole idea in a nutshell. A simple, sensible undergarment, easy to get into, comfortable to wear, and very serviceable. There is no "pull" or strain on any part, the suit fits smoothly andcomfortably and allows free action of the whole body. Only four buttons on the whole garment, and they are so well sewn thatnot even the most strenuous boy is apt to pull them off. Boy Scout Union SuitThis label on every garment--None other genuine. Made in sizes to fit every boy and youth PATENT APPLIED FORPrice. 50c per SuitAsk your store-keeper for them, if he hasn't, them, we'll supply you direct. H. L Nelke & CO. ManufacturesNelke BuildingPhiladelphia -----------------------------------------------------------{414} [Illustration: Photograph of two Scouts. ]MADE WITH A BROWNIE CAMERA. The Camera for Field Service: BROWNIE Easy to carry on the march; simple to operate. Loads in daylight withKodak Film Cartridges. Ideal for the equipment of every detachment ofBoy Scouts. Negatives can be easily developed in the field--Nodark-room required. Write for the Book of Brownies. EASTMAN KODAK CO. , Rochester, N. Y. -----------------------------------------------------------{415} ATTENTION SCOUTS!DAN BEARDOne of the National Scout Commissioner. Has written a Library of Scout Books--books you must have for theytell all about the life in fields and forests and on rivers andstreams--the things you want to know in your business. READ THIS LIST The Boy Pioneer Sons of Daniel Boone. Illustrated by the author. $2. 00 net "The reader is told how to take part in all the old Pioneer games. " --Phila. Press. The Field and Forest Handy Book. Illustrated by the author. $2. 00 "A book to be coveted by every active-minded boy capable of handling tools. "--Chicago News, The Jack of All Trades. Illustrated by the author. $2. 00 "Any boy who is handy with tools of any sort will enjoy this book. " --Youths' Companion, The Out Door Handy Book. Illustrated by the author. $2. 00 "It makes a man of a boy and a boy of a man. "--Charles Dana Gibson, The American Boy's Handy Book. Illustrated by the author. $2. 00 "It tells how to make all kinds of things--boats, traps, toys, fishing tackle, balloons, rear wild birds, train dogs, etc. "--Indianapolis Journal. Charles Scribner's SonsNew York City ----------------------------------------------------------- THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION Offers to Boy Scouts an immediate opportunity to earn good returnsfrom useful work in a great cause by acting as Subscription Agents for American Conservation The new illustrated monthly magazine published by the Association. Handsomely printed, magnificently illustrated; every article writtenby a recognized authority; full of interest, each month, for everythoughtful man and boy in America. Write for full details of our plan for enabling boys to earn money byhelping to put into more American homes a magazine in which everythinking American is interested at sight. American ConservationColorado BuildingWashington, D. C. -----------------------------------------------------------{416} "Be Prepared"When you get your camp supplies don't forget to buy a box of"STEERO" Bouillon CubesReg. U. S. Pat. OffMade by American Kitchen Products Co. , New York Add them to the list of supplies on page 152 of your Handbook. A boxof 100 Steero Cubes is the right size for six boys for a week. Steero Cubes will save a lot of cooking in camp. All you have to do isto put a Steero Cube in a cup and pour boiling water on it. You canmake dandy soup for dinner, supper, or any time you're hungry. Youcan't help getting it just right every time, and there isn't any wastebecause "A Cube Makes a Cup" Send for Free Samples and try them at home, so you'll know just whatthey are. If the grocer, druggist, or sporting goods dealer doesn't have SteeroCubes, send 35c for a box of 12 Cubes, prepaid, enough to make 12cups. We also put them up in boxes of 50 and 100 Cubes--they arecheaper this way. Distributed and Guaranteed bySchleffelin & Co. 215 William St. , New YorkUnder Pure Food Law, Serial No. 1 -----------------------------------------------------------{417} SCOUTS!Chief Scout Ernest Thompson Seton has written Books without which noScout Library is first-rate. Here is a List of Them: Animal Heroes Illustrated by the author $2. 00 "The Histories of a dog, a cat, a lynx, a rabbit, two wolves and a reindeer * * * Written in a vein of fiction. Yet the general habits and mode of living of the animals are accurately described. "--Philia. Press Monarch, the Big Bear of Tallac. Illustrated by the author. $1. 25$ net "A fascinating account of a Bear Family. "--Providence Journal. Lives of the Hunted. Illustrated by the author. $2. 00 "There is nothing in Kipling's "Jungle Books" more intensely dramatic and absorbing than The Story of Krag, the Kookney Ram, Scotty's long hunt and its ending. "--Brooklyn Eagle. Wild Animals I Have Known. Illustrated by the author. Tells the histories of such wild creatures as a wolf, a fox, a molly cottontail and others. The Trail of the Sand Hill Stag. Illustrated by the author. $1. 50 "Ought to make any boy happy and will furnish him some delightful hours. " --Detroit Free Press. Krag and Johnny Bear. Illustrated by the author. 50 cents net Tobo Rag and Vixen. Illustrated by the author. 50 cents net Charles Scribner's Sons New York City ----------------------------------------------------------- American Red Cross Abridged Text-Book on FIRST AIDGENERAL EDITIONBy MAJOR CHARLES LYNCHMedical Corps, United States Army The attention of all Boy Scouts is invited to this small TEXTBOOK onFIRST AID. It is now in use by a great number of Boy Scoutorganizations throughout the country. In no respect can the Boy Scoutbetter fit himself for helping others than by learning First Aid andthis text-book will enable him to do so in a thoroughly satisfactorymanner and in the shortest space of time. The book contains everythingon the subject of First Aid which the Boy Scout ought to know and isfree from technical details which serve no useful purpose and onlyresult in confusing the student. With 55 Illustrations. Xii + 183 Pages. Paper Cover. 30c Postpaid Can be purchased through any bookseller, American Red Cross Society. Or National Headquarters, Boy Scouts of America P. BLAKISTON'S SON &: CO. , PUBLISHERS1012 WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA -----------------------------------------------------------{418} Camping for BoysH. W. Gibson Illustrated, Cloth, $1 A Knapsack Full of Outdoor Wisdom The author has put into this book his experience of twenty-two summersof actual camping with boys. The twenty-three chapters are filled withinformation such as this: where to go; what to take; how to layout acamp, pitch tent, build a camp fire; what to cook and how to cook it, how to get well if you eat too much of it; directions for long trips, short trips, any trip at all; something to do every hour of the day, from reveille to taps; first aid, games, nature study and that's nothalf. 294 pages. 100 pictures. ----------------------------------------------------------- At Home in the Water Swimming, Diving. Water Sports, Life-Saving. GEORGE H. CORSAN, Swimming Instructor, University of Toronto. Cloth, 75 cents; paper, 50 cents. The author has started thousands of men and boys on the way to masteryof the various strokes--under arm, over arm, crawl, etc. Over onehundred practical illustrations are shown. More value for less moneythan can be found in any other book of the kind. "The methods ofillustrating are the best that can be devised, and the pictures conveyan extremely clear idea of what is meant. Mr Corsan's book stands withthe best, of which there are few, as a most complete work. "--CHARLESM. DANIELS, Champion swimmer of the United States, in the Playground. ----------------------------------------------------------- From Youth Into Manhood. WINFIELD S. HALL. M. D. , Professor of Physiology. Northwestern University Medical School. Cloth. 50 cents, postpaid. The standard hook on SexualHygiene. "It is the only book of this order which I should care torecommend. It compactly puts the physical facts of male life; adds avery valuable chapter of practical advice on personal hygiene; thenstops, and lets the boy do his own thinking. "--Professor G. WALTER FISKE, Oberlin. ----------------------------------------------------------- Life Questions of High School Boys J. W. JENKS. Cloth, 40 cents; paper, 25 cent. The distinguishedCornell Professor has given here brief discussions of Habit, Cheating, Societies, etc. , in a way that starts the boy thinking in the rightdirection. The boy has the brain and the will, he doesn't need anybody to thinkfor him or to decide for him. He needs to be guided into right ways ofthinking and deciding for himself. This book is such a guide. Itsimply says, Here are two ways--which do you think is right. Verywell, do that. ----------------------------------------------------------- Social Activities for Men and Boys A. M. CHESLEY, Editor. Illustrated, cloth, $1. A book of nearly 300plans and programs for cheerful occasions, gathered from all availablesources. All the material has been successfully used. The book tells how to carry on receptions of different sorts; how toplay interesting and original games, indoors and outdoors, in thewater, as well as on land; how to promote an amateur circus or adramatic entertainment as well as a summer campaign or outing. Considerable attention is given to the organization of clubs of allkinds, civic, educational, and athletic. ----------------------------------------------------------- Complete Catalog Sent on RequestASSOCIATION PRESS124 East 28th Street, New YorkThe five books bound in cloth, postpaid $3. 00 -----------------------------------------------------------{419} More Ponies for Boys Two Blooded Shetlands, each with Cart and Harness made especially tofit the pony, will be given each month to boys who sell The Saturday Evening Post COUNTRY AND CITY BOYS No matter whether your town is a large one or a small one, you have asgood a chance to earn a Pony Outfit as has a boy in any other town orcity. The ways of scoring equalize the opportunities of country andcity boys. Thus, Harry Royster, Yazoo City, Mississippi, earned ourlast Pony Outfit by selling only 555 copies within two months. Start Now To Earn Your Pony. Your pony, guaranteed to be well-broken and safe for you to drive, will yet be full of life and a good traveler. The complete outfit isworth $150. 00. (You can have cash if you prefer. ) If you want a pony, write at once for details and for copies of the weekly. These you cansell at five cents each. Full information will be sent you with theweekly. Write today. Gold watches and other premiums for boys who dogood work. The Curtis Publishing Company, 405 Arch St. , Philadelphia, Pa. -----------------------------------------------------------{420} The New Boy's Leather-Stocking By Ernest Thompson Seton Rolf in The Woods Chief Scout Ernest Thompson Seton Being the Adventure of a Boy Scout with Indian Quonab and Little DogSkookum in the War of 1812. When Rolf Kittering crawled out of the window of his little attic roomthat night to escape his infuriated and brutal uncle, there was norefuge for him to seek except the camp of his chance friend, oldQuonab the Indian. The story of his life outdoors, of the fight withthe monster snapping turtle, of the journey to the great North Woods, and how the boy came to know the intimate life of the wild creatures, will make any boy's, or man's, heart beat faster with admiring envy. The most exciting portion of all is where Rolf comes to put his newknowledge into practice as a daring scout during the War of 1812. Profusely illustrated and with marginal decorations by the author. Fixed price, $1. 50 By the Same Author Two Little Savages. Net $1. 75 (postage 17c. ) Foresters Manual. Cloth. Net, $1. 00 (postage 10c. ) Paper, net, 50c. (postage 5c. ) Manual of Signs and Sign Language (In Preparation. )Cloth, Net, $1. 00 (postage 10c. ) Paper. Net. 50c. (postage 5c. ) By STEWART EDWARD WHITE The Rule of the Game. Fixed price, $1. 40 (postage 15c. ) The Cabin The Forest. Illustrated. Net, $1. 50 (postage 15c. ) The Mountains. Illustrated. Net, $1. 50 (upstage 15c. ) The Pass. Illustrated. Net, $1. 25 (postage 12c. ) Camp and Trail. Illustrated. Net, $1. 25 (postage 12c. ) Garden CityDoubleday, Page & Co. New York -----------------------------------------------------------{421} You Can't Be a Scout unless you learn how to use your hands in useful work: Carpentry, electrical work and so on. You Need a Guide to show you the way, for all these mechanical matters are easy when you know how, but terribly difficult to puzzle out by yourself. There's Only One Set of Books ever published which really does this, so simply and clearly that anybody can understand it. It's called "The Library of Work and Play" and its ten volumes tell you all most people ever need to learn about CarpentryMechanicsElectricityOutdoor WorkMetal WorkGardening and FarmingHome DecorationGames and SportsHousekeepingNeedlecraft Cut off this coupon to-day and mail it to us and we'll send you fullinformation of this most useful and interesting set of books. Doubleday, Page & CO. Garden City, N. Y. -------------------------------------------Doubleday, Page & CO. Garden City, N. Y. Sent me the booklet descriptive of theLibrary of Work and Play, and containingcolored plates, illustrations, etc. Name _____________________________Address _____________________________------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------{422} The Boys' Magazine is unquestionably the finest magazine in the world for boys. Eachissue is filled with fascinating stories and absorbing articles all ofintense interest to every live boy. Also each issue containsdepartments devoted to Electricity, Mechanics, Photography, Carpentry, Stamps and Coins. A big Athletic department, edited by Walter Camp isa regular feature. Every one knows that Mr. Camp is the highestauthority on this subject in the country. This department is of greatvalue to every boy who wishes to excel in Athletic sports. It will be of interest to our Boy Scout friends to know that we haverecently inaugurated a special department devoted entirely to the BOYSCOUTS OF AMERICA. The manuscript and illustrations for thisdepartment are specially prepared for us and forwarded each monthdirect from National Headquarters. A New Handsome Cover in Colors Each Month. Beautifully IllustratedThroughout. A BIG BARGAIN FOR ONLY FIFTY CENTS we will send you THE BOYS' MAGAZINE for sixmonths AND a copy of the cleverest little book you ever read, entitled, "Fifty Ways for Boys to Make Money" AND a "Reach" Base BallFielder's Glove, (This glove is made of fine brown tan leather, feltpadded and leather lined, patent wide hump, web thumb and deeppocket. ) Think of it! All the Above for Only Fifty Cents Don't put this off but send in your subscription to-day. We willrefund your money promptly if you are not more than pleased with yourinvestment. (References as to our Responsibility, Hamlin Bank & TrustCo. , Smethport. Pa. , or Dun or Bradstreet's Mercantile Agencies. ) AddressThe Scott F. Redfield Co. 595 Main Street Smethport, Pa. (THE BOYS' MAGAZINE is on sale for 10c a copy at practically everynews stand in America. Should you prefer to purchase copies each monthrather than subscribe, then your newsdealer will be glad to get ourmagazine for you in case, of course, he does not already handle it. ) ----------------------------------------------------------- {423} All Boy Scouts Should Subscribe for this Best Boys' Magazine in the World! The American Boy PAGES are given to the Boy Scout movement. Its Editor is a member ofthe National Council. Ernest Thompson Seton, the Chief Scout, contributes a page for each issue. And listen to this! You're a bright, up-to-date fellow, you knowwhat's good, and you like the best of everything. But so far, you'vemissed the best reading--the liveliest, truest, most fascinatingreading you ever set eyes on. 500, 000 boys now read it. You're probably used to reading the ordinary magazines that come tothe house, or newspapers or books. They are all good, but why not havea magazine all your own, that comes every month to you, addressed inyour own name, and that is filled from cover to cover with stories andanecdotes, and illustrated talks and latest news on sports, and--oh, hundreds of things you want to know about--all written by the biggestboys' authors in the country. And pictures! Say there are hundreds ofthem! Beats sensational trash all hollow! SUBSCRIBE TODAY!Subscription Price $1. 00 a Year. Address:THE SPRAGUE PUBLISHING CO. No. 128 Majestic Building, DETROIT, MICH. -----------------------------------------------------------{424} For the Boy Scouts of AmericaRemington UMC . 22 RiflesRepeater, Single Shot Quickness Of Eye, Steady Judgment, Self Confidence--these Are TheCharacteristics Of Men And Boys Who Shoot. Buy A Remington-UMC . 22 Single Shot Or Repeater. It Is As Keen A RifleFor Its Size As The Most Highly Developed Military Arm. Remington-UMC--Single Shot Rifles List At $4. 00 And Up, And The Boys'Scout Special At $5. 00--as Shown In The Illustration. It Is EspeciallyBuilt For Drill Use. Remington-UMC--repeating Rifles List At $12. 65 And Up. These Rifles Are Built In The Same Factory By The Same Experts As TheFamous Remington-U. M. C. Big Game Rifles. Send 10c in stamps for a beautifully bound and illustrated history ofthe development of fire arms and ammunition from sling shot to presentday high power repeating rifles. This book contains many intenselyinteresting stories of adventure. Address Boy Scout DepartmentREMINGTON ARMS--UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO. 299 Broadway, New York