BADEN-POWELL by E. E. REYNOLDS

ALTHOUGH it has been convenient to consider B.-P.'s career in the Army separately from his creation of the Boy Scout Movement, it is a mistake to think that there is any clear-cut division between the two. The previous chapters, it may be hoped, have shown how his ideas developed gradually through practice. He was not a theorist, nor was he an academic philosopher or psychologist. He was typically English in the way in which he made idea and practice go hand in hand. His method was always to define his object carefully and then to devise practical steps to achieve it. The combination of imaginative and organizing powers --- so rare as to amount to genius --- made it possible for him to succeed where others failed. To this must be added his readiness to consult, and learn from, others. As the following pages will demonstrate, each fresh development in the Boy Scout Movement was begun cautiously and after much experiment. 'Will it work?' was the question he asked before accepting suggestions.

Many times claimants wrote to point out that they should be given credit for the existence of the Boy Scout Movement. The following note by him was written in reply to one such claimant. It is endorsed, 'NOTE for Office to keep in case of revival of arguments later when I am dead. R. B.-P. 17.12. 13'.

This man is the 4th to claim that he invented Boy Scouts. I have no recollection of his scheme for training boys which he says he sent to me in 1905 --- but he may have sent it and I may have written to express interest in it: It did not in any case make a great impression on me. My idea of training boys in scouting dates from 1897 when I applied it to young soldiers in the 5th Dragoon Guards, having for years previously found the good of developing the man's character before putting upon him the dull routine training then considered necessary for a soldier.

The possibility of putting responsibility on to boys and treating them seriously was brought to the proof in Mafeking with the corps of boys raised by Lord Edward Cecil there in 1899 and led me to go into it further.,

When I came home from the War in 1902 I found my book Aids to Scouting being used in schools and by Boys' Brigade Officers, etc., for teaching boys. As this had been written for soldiers I re-wrote it for boys (after having an experimental camp in 1907). I did not then intend to have a separate organization of Boy Scouts, but hoped that, the B.B. and Y.M.C.A. would utilize the idea. However, such a large number of men and boys outside these organizations took it up, that we were obliged to form a directorate to control it.

The movement grew up of itself. In 1910 I had to give up the Army to take charge of it.

The idea of the dress of the Scouts was taken from a sketch of my own dress in Kashmir 1897, in every detail, including hat, staff, shirt, shorts, neckerchief, belt, knife, rolled coat, etc.

The badge was that which I used for Scouts in the 5th Dragoon Guards (since adopted throughout the Army). It was taken from the sign of the North Point of the compass as shown on maps as guide to their orientation.

He does not do himself full justice in that brief note; he makes no reference to the training he had received at home, with his brothers, at school, and in his early days in India; nor to his practical experience as a scout in Ashanti and Matabeleland. But that is the background against which his achievement must be seen.

All this must be combined with his uncanny knowledge of boy-nature derived not from books or by study, but from his vivid memories of his own boyhood with his brothers and from his delight in the company of children. It may be noted that he never spoke or wrote sentimentally about boys; to him they were not angels in disguise; he preferred them with a touch of the devil. There was nothing Peter Pan-ish about his attitude; he preferred Kim to Peter Pan; he knew that one thing most boys desire is to grow up and be men, and his whole object was to enable them to become sound men in body, mind and spirit. As far as it is possible to analyse in words his appeal to boys, it may be summed up in one sentence: he took them seriously. He was ever ready with a joke, or for fun, but he never assumed that degrading 'talking-down-to' attitude which boys quickly see through and as quickly resent.

Mention has already been made of the numerous letters he received from boys after the relief of Mafeking. When he arrived at Southampton in 1903 from South Africa, he found awaiting him an invitation to take the chair at the annual Albert Hall Demonstration of the Boys' Brigade in May. This was his introduction to boys-in-the-mass, and to William Smith, the founder of the Brigade, and through it of many other parallel movements; it is no exaggeration to say that it was William Smith who, helped B.-P. to find his greatest work.

How fully that debt was recognized is shown in the tribute paid by B.-P. on Sir William Smith's death in May 1914.

Our friends the Boys' Brigade have lost their Founder, Sir William Smith. It is already ten years ago since I accepted his invitation to come and review the B.B. at Glasgow on the twentieth anniversary of their existence. They were then 54,000 strong throughout Great Britain.

There were between 7,000 and 8,000 boys on parade. It was the finest muster of boys that I had ever seen --- all of them keen, alert, clean, and well set-up. I told Sir William that I would willingly change places to be in his shoes and to look upon those splendid lads as my own.

Then, in a chaffing way, I said he ought to have ten times the number, and would get them if he only gave more variety and attraction to the training. He urged me to re-write my 'Soldier's Scout Training' book for the boys.

I did so, and though it was taken up among the companies of the Brigade, it was also seized upon by hundreds of boys outside that organization within the first fortnight of its appearance. These hundreds soon mounted up to thousands, and we had to start an office to administer the Movement, which thus practically grew up of itself and became known as the Boy Scouts.

It was only a very few years later that I held a rally of Boy Scouts in Glasgow, and Sir William was present at it. The numbers on parade were about equal to those of my former review of the Boys' Brigade. The force was too large to address directly, so I assembled the Patrol Leaders that they might hear what I had to say. A grand, splendid lot of boys they were!

I turned to Sir William. His eyes were suffused as he said in a reminding way: 'Do you want to change places with me NOW?'

A smaller man would naturally have resented or been jealous of a rival organization coming up on his original invention and almost overshadowing him in his own sphere. But there was none of that in Sir William's great mind.

He knew the needs of the thousands of boys in our teeming cities; he knew that methods which would appeal to one kind might not appeal to another, and he welcomed ours as an additional way of getting hold of the boys; we were working by different roads but all to the same end. From the first up to the last he was always helpful to me and sympathetic to the Scout Movement, and it was thanks to his large-mindedness in this direction that, instead of the friction which might very well have been expected to arise between the members of the two movements, there has existed a strongly fraternal spirit which I can only hope will grow and fructify.

William Smith was the first to recognize and to seize the eager spirit of the boy, and to handle it in the right way for leading the lad, through his own inclination, to a sense of better things. He had that confidence in his fellow-men that enabled him to raise an army of willing workers to carry out his instructions. From the smallest beginnings he raised this mighty fabric for good which has spread throughout the world.

He discovered by boldly scouting, the amount of good there is underlying the surface in our manhood as well as among the boys; how men will sacrifice their time and pleasures, will submit themselves to discipline, however red-tapey it may seem; will face the difficulties of poor support and unresponsive pupils, till by faithful service and a persistent pluck they bring their efforts through to a grand, successful issue.

To other movements coming after his the work is light. His was the spadework, his was the groping through the dark tangle --- always looking to the light ahead --- his was the inspiration which has brought men and movements speeding after him in the glorious work of clearing dark places and opening up the fair field for an enlightened rising generation for our race.

The first sketch of how scouting could be applied to boy training was sent to William Smith early in 1906. It is of importance in tracing the growth of an idea.

The ulterior object of the following scheme is to develop among Boys a power of sympathizing with others, a spirit of self-sacrifice and patriotism, and generally to prepare them for becoming good citizens.

The method suggested for effecting the above is to make Boys observant of details, and to develop their reasoning powers, and at the same time to inculcate in them the spirit of self-denial and of obedience to duty.

The instructor should read to the would-be scouts a detective tale from Gaboriau or Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes), laying special stress on the clues to the crime, and the deductions therefrom. He should examine the Boys to see that they have grasped the idea of drawing conclusions from small signs.

He should then give instruction in noticing details and remembering them; such as looking in a shop window for one minute and then moving away --- to try and state all the articles in the window; noticing the difference and details of passers-by, and deducing their occupations and characters; points of the compass by the sun, moon, stars, etc.; learning in the country or parks the tracks of people, horses, carriages, etc., their age and meaning; the art of lighting a fire and cooking; judging distance; knowledge of first aid; revival of apparently drowned persons; personal hygiene; ability to swim; writing brief reports, etc.; the place of Great Britain among the nations; the British Colonies; the Union jack and its meaning. Duty to your country and to neighbours to be the first guide in taking any step, your own pleasure or convenience to come second. Need of good citizens. Using your power of noticing details to spot people in everyday life who are wanting help, and to help them in however small a way.

Captains of Companies will doubtless be able to devise many more subjects suited to their local conditions, in which the young scouts might advantageously be educated, but I would suggest that in devising them the object given in my first paragraph above should always be kept in view.

Tests. --- After being instructed as above, the scouts should be tested in a qualifying examination such as the following:

1. Look into five successive shop windows, one minute at each. Then write down the contents of, say, the 2nd and 4th from memory.

2. Look at six passers-by and describe from memory, say, the 2nd, 3rd and 5th, and what you reckon them and their business to be.

3. Remember the numbers of the first two cabs that pass, and presently write them down from memory.

4. Describe the compass-direction of certain streets, landmarks, etc., by the sun; or, if dull weather, 'box the compass'.

5. Read tracks and their meaning---if in the country (or park) send someone out to make a fairly clear track (using walking stick, etc.). Each Boy tracking for a few minutes in turn, or till he fails.

6. The instructor lays a 'paper chase' (in town or country), not with paper but with small signs such as buttons, bits of cloth, card, etc., all of one colour, some on the ground, some on bushes, trees, etc., to make the Boys use their eyes. (Objects all of one colour to be used to prevent confusion with ordinary rubbish.) Boys follow the track, each one being given the lead in turn for four or five minutes or till he fails.

7. Lay two fires and light them, using two matches only.

8. Cook 1 lb. flour and two potatoes without the help of cooking utensils.

9. Draw a sketch of the Union Jack correctly.

10. Scouting race. Instructor stations three individuals or groups, each group differently clothed as far as possible, and carrying different articles (such as stick, bundle, paper, etc.), at distances from 300 to 1,200 yards from starting point. If there are other people about, these groups might be told to kneel on one knee, or take some such attitude to distinguish them from passers-by. He makes out a circular course of three points for the competitors to run, say, about a quarter of a mile, with a few jumps if possible.

The competitors start and run to No. 1 point. Here the umpire tells them the compass-direction of the group they have to report on. Each competitor on seeing this group writes a report showing:

1. How many in the group.

2. How clothed or how distinguishable.

3. Position as regards any landmark near them.

4. Distance from his own position.

He then runs to the next point and repeats the same on another group, and so on; and finally he runs with his report to the winning post.

Marks. --- Full marks, 5 for each correct and complete description of a group ---that is an aggregate of 15 marks for the course. One mark deducted for every ten seconds later than the first Boy handing in his report at the winning post. Marks or half marks deducted for mistakes or omissions in reports.

Soon afterwards he drew up two circulars, one giving the reasons for applying the methods of scouting to boy training, and the other setting out details of the scheme. Two paragraphs from the first circular must be quoted:

The following scheme is offered as a possible aid towards putting on a positive footing the development, moral and physical, of boys of all creeds and classes, by a means which should appeal to them while offending as little as possible the susceptibilities of their elders.

It is intended to be applicable --- and not in opposition --- to any existing organization for boys, such as schools, boys' brigades, messengers, cricket clubs, cadet corps, etc., or it can supply an organization of its own where these do not exist ---for there are one and three-quarter million boys in the country at present outside the range of these good influences, mostly drifting towards hooliganism for want of a helping hand.

The idea was constantly in his mind, and he discussed it with friends and indeed with anyone who would listen to him. One lady recalls how he began explaining the scheme to her at a garden party and when she said that her ideas about scouting were rather vague, he offered to take her straight away to a neighbouring wood to teach her the elements. 'However,' she writes, 'we did not escape the eye of our host who headed us back to talk to other people asked to meet the hero of Mafeking.'

It was during another country visit in 1907 that B.-P. secured the interest of Mr. C. Arthur Pearson, the publisher, and of his Literary Manager, Mr. P. W. Everett. The latter, who was from then onwards to be B.-P.'s right-hand man in the organization, has recorded what took place.

In the early summer of 1907 General B.-P. was staying with Pearson at his country place in Surrey, and was just then looking for a man with the right sort of influence and experience to help him launch his scheme, to interest the great public and to draw into his net the right type of organizers to aid him.

There was a house-party --- the guests were amusing themselves, but the host was preparing to slip away. Baden-Powell strolled up beside his waiting motor-car.

'Where are you off to, Pearson?'

'Oh, I am just running over to see a children's cripple home in which I am interested.'

The car slid off down the drive and B.-P. was left thinking. What he thought was 'Here is my man; a lover of children, a famous organizer, a great newspaper proprietor --- he will know how I should man and launch my ship.

So he discussed his ideas with Pearson, and in consultation with him worked out his plans for bringing Scouting to the notice of the public.

I always look back on that little incident as one of the great landmarks of Scouting in this country; also with much personal pleasure, as it was the direct cause of my joining the Movement in its initial stages and of assisting in the arrangements for giving the scheme to the world through the handbook Scouting for Boys and in the founding of the Scouts' own organ, The Scout, in April 1908.

Meantime B.-P. was studying the methods used in the training of boys .in other parts of the world. The customs of initiation to manhood amongst Zulu and other native tribes supplied some hints; the various codes of chivalry gave others; the open-air gymnasia instituted by F. L. Jahn in Germany attracted his attention; he examined the working of such existing movements as the 'Woodcraft Indians' of Ernest Thompson Seton, and the 'Sons of Daniel Boone' organized by Dan Beard of America. But, as we shall see later, there was little that he gained from these modern experiments.

Far more important than these studies was the camp he held on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour from the 25th July to the 9th August 1907. Here he tried out his methods with a mixed company of twenty boys drawn from many sections of society. He had the help of the Boys' Brigade officials in Bournemouth in finding the site and securing the equipment as well as in finding the boys.

In some respects it was not an ideal site, but it was an island with plenty of woodland, and that made up for other deficiencies.

B.-P.'s nephew, Donald, was present as orderly; Major Kenneth Maclaren --- once his fellow subaltern in the 13th Hussars --- came to help, and Mr. P. W. Everett there saw scouting in action for the first time.

The following is B.-P.'s report on the camp:

The troop of boys was divided up into 'Patrols' of five, the senior boy in each being Patrol Leader. This organization was the secret of our success. Each patrol leader was given full responsibility for the behaviour of his patrol at all times, in camp and in the field. The patrol was the unit for work or play, and each patrol was camped in a separate spot. The boys were put 'on their honour' to carry out orders. Responsibility and competitive rivalry were thus at once established, and a good standard of development was ensured throughout the troop from day to day. The troop was trained progressively in the subjects of scouting. Every night one patrol went on duty as night picket --- that is, drew rations of flour, meat, vegetables, tea, etc., and went out to some indicated spot to bivouac for the night. Each boy had his greatcoat and blankets, cooking pot and matches. On arrival at the spot, fires were lit and suppers cooked, after which sentries were posted and bivouac formed. The picket was scouted by patrol leaders of other patrols and myself, at some time before eleven p.m., after which the sentries were withdrawn and picket settled down for the night.

We found the best way of imparting theoretical instruction was to give it out in short instalments with ample illustrative examples when sitting round the camp fire or otherwise resting, and with demonstrations in the practice hour before breakfast. A formal lecture is apt to bore the boys.

The practice was then carried out in competitions and schemes.

For example, take one detail of the subject, 'Observation'--- namely, tracking.

1. At the camp fire overnight we would tell the boys some interesting instance of the value of being able to track.

2. Next morning we would teach them to read tracks by making foot-marks at different places, and showing how to read them and to deduce their meaning.

3. In the afternoon we would have a game, such as 'deer-stalking', in which one boy went off as the 'deer', with half a dozen tennis balls in his bag. Twenty minutes later four 'hunters' went off after him, following his tracks, each armed with a tennis ball. The deer, after going a mile or two, would hide and endeavour to ambush his hunters, and so get them within range; each hunter struck with his tennis ban was counted gored to death; if, on the other hand, the deer was hit by three of their balls he was killed.

This was our principle for teaching most of the items.

Discipline was very satisfactory indeed. A 'court of honour' was instituted to try any offenders against discipline, but it was never needed. In the first place the boys were put 'on their honour' to do their best; in the second place, the senior boys were made responsible for the behaviour of the boys forming their patrol. And this worked perfectly well.

The camp was roused in the mornings by the koodoo horn which B.-P. had captured in the Matabeleland Campaign.

The camp was not without its amusing incidents. Thus, when B.-P. was stalking a Patrol, he failed to observe one of his own injunctions 'to look up', and he was captured by his own nephew who had concealed himself in a tree. One evening the male members of a house party which the owner of the island, Mr. Van Raalte, was entertaining, decided that they would try to pay the camp a surprise visit. They had not gone far, however, before two of the boys sprang out from cover and 'arrested' them; the prisoners were marched into camp and had to pay a suitable ransom.

Mr. P. W. Everett in after years recalled the fascination of the camp fires when B.-P. held the boys spellbound.

I can see him still as he stands in the flickering light of the fire --- an alert figure, full of the joy of life, now grave, now gay, answering all manner of questions, imitating the call of birds, showing how to stalk a wild animal, flashing out a little story, dancing and singing round the fire, pointing a moral, not in actual words, but in such an elusive and yet convincing way that everyone present, boy or man, was ready to follow him wherever he might lead.

The success of the camp encouraged B.-P. to go forward. The writing of a handbook was the next urgent business; a name for the scheme was necessary, and in September 1907 Mr. Pearson wrote:

I do not think the title 'Imperial Scouts' is a good name. For one thing, I think it would get mixed in the public mind with the Imperial Legion of Frontiersmen. It seems to me we should certainly use the word 'Boy'. I do not think you will improve upon 'Boy Scouts'.

Mr. Pearson provided a one-room office in Goschen Buildings, Henrietta Street; he promised to finance the movement for the first year, and to begin the weekly paper for boys, The Scout. Meanwhile B.-P. undertook to address public meetings to make the idea known, and to get on with the handbook.

Scouting for Boys began to appear in January 1908, and was published. in six fortnightly parts at fourpence a copy.

In order to work in peace at the writing of the book, B.-P. rented a room in the Windmill on Wimbledon Common. Mr. P. W. Everett supervised the publication, and he recalls that B.-P.

was much more businesslike than most authors and artists, partly, perhaps, because he adopted that excellent labour-saving device of returning your own letter with appropriate comments against each paragraph. In this way I could always depend on a quick and satisfactory reply to any queries. Sometimes I would have to wait at Wimbledon while he, finished a chapter. It was fascinating to watch him writing and sketching, now with the right hand, now with the left. He is an omnivorous reader of books and papers, and was quick to find and use any fact or incident which would be helpful. He was also most careful to check any statement made, and I can only remember one instance in which he was misled. He had sent to me the story of a boy who had shown great presence of mind in a case of poisoning. This was being set up for use when I received a characteristic note. 'Please delete the story I sent you for Scouting for Boys of the lad who saved his mother's life from poisoning. Subsequent inquiry shows he half killed her with the wrong remedies! R.S.S.B.-P.'

The magic initials B.-P. on the covers were sufficient to capture the attention of boys all over the country. They began doing the things suggested and playing the games described; soon they formed themselves into Patrols and began worrying any likely men to become Scoutmasters. The appearance of the first issue of The Scout on the 14th April 19o8 helped to add to the numbers of these early Boy Scouts. They began writing to 'the General' (as B.-P. was known in those days) for advice and for badges. The small office --- which was more that of The Scout than of a movement---found it difficult to cope with the many requests, of which the following is an example:

Pleas will you send me a dozen cards which will allow us to go into fields without being persecuted at 4d. a dozen.

Letters such as this also came from harassed adults:

'My DEAR GENERAL,

I was assailed yesterday by two smart boys here for information as to how they and six pals can become one of Gen. B.-P. Boy Scout Patrols. I promised to find out for them. Is the formation possible in this isolated sort of fashion?

Yours very truly, A. B.'

B.-P. tried to persuade his younger brother, Baden, to act as Manager of the office, and on his refusal, got Major Kenneth Maclaren to undertake the work.

The following is typical of what was happening all over the country; it is recorded by one who did great service to the movement for many years.

One day, my friend the Schoolmaster produced a book called Scouting for Boys and gave it to me to read, remarking that he thought it a marvellous effort. I took it, with some mistrust, skimmed through it, did not understand it, mislaid it, found it on a wet day and read it properly. When I returned it, the Schoolmaster asked me if 1 would help him to start a troop.

It is as well that the future is hidden from us, and I little thought that with this request came an entire alteration in my life. Perhaps, could I have looked into the future, I should have shied away from it. Indeed, I am sure I should. However, I said 'Yes'.

I pictured myself as the benevolent patron into whose pocket the Scoutmaster might dip within reason, and I saw myself going occasionally to their meetings, say once a quarter, and with a benevolent smile saying, 'Well, boys, and how are we getting on, eh?' and patting the smallest on the head, if clean enough.

Shortly after these reflections I found myself on a torrid August evening in a small room over my kitchen, in company with the Scoutmaster and eight boys, trying to master the tenderfoot knots.

B.-P. was keeping in touch with the scouting experiments being tried in a number of companies of the Boys' Brigade, and also discussing his ideas with other organizations such as the Y.M.C.A.

The following notes on the early association with the Y.M.C.A. were written by Mr. Charles E. Heald:

It was in the autumn of 1907, following the Brownsea Experimental Camp, that Sir Robert Baden-Powell called at the Y.M.C.A. National Headquarters and interviewed me as the National Secretary for Y.M.C.A. boys' work. In the conversation that followed, the General explained his ideas of how work with boys might be made more attractive and more effective. He said that in his scheme of Scouting for boys he was endeavouring to co-ordinate the many agencies used by workers with boys into a progressive method which would be:

1. Attractive to boys.

2. An aid to men who wanted to help boys but did not know how to begin.

3. Capable of use by older boys themselves.

In the talk that followed there was a valuable exchange of ideas, loan of books, etc. It was quite evident that at that period there was no idea of founding a new organization, but an earnest desire to help all existing organizations as well as individual workers.

By January 1908 the General was ready to give his scheme to the world as quickly and effectively as possible, and with the help of Mr. W. B. Wakefield, the Hon. Secretary of the Boys' Department, I arranged for the General to address a number of Public Meetings to be organized by the Y.M.C.A., to which workers with boys, schoolmasters, clergy and ministers were invited. The very first of these meetings, the first public description of scouting for boys, was held in this Hall (Birkenhead Y.M.C.A.) on January 24th 1908. Meetings followed in Y.M.C.A. centres at Manchester, Nottingham and other places of which I have no definite record. At the same time a letter, was addressed from the National Office to all Associations drawing their attention to the new scheme of scouting for boys, giving them the preliminary leaflets, and advising them that these leaflets would very shortly be supplemented by a series of handbooks containing the working details. Thus was scouting for boys launched in England.

The next phase in the development now began to appear. That was the need for some kind of organization to guide the growing movement, which was catching on like wild-fire.

It is interesting to note how the demand for organization was pressed by the Y.M.C.A. It was voiced at a Y.M.C.A. Scoutmasters Conference held at Nottingham in July 1908 --- probably the very first conference of Scoutmasters ever held. The resolution ran as follows:

In view of the discretionary freedom which General Baden-Powell has given to all organizations, resolved that the National Junior Committee be requested to produce an organization to direct and develop the scout movement within its borders.

The Conference expressed the hope that Mr. W. B. Wakefield would undertake this task.

When this resolution was discussed by the Y.M.C.A. leaders, if my memory and notes serve me rightly, Mr. Wakefield hesitated to act without the General's agreement and appointment. How quickly this was given and how the first two Commissioners, then evidently called Inspectors, were appointed, is recorded in the memorandum of a Committee Breakfast held in October 1908. Speaking at the Breakfast with reference to Boy Scouts and his position, Mr. W. B. Wakefield stated that General Baden-Powell had appointed Mr. Eric Walker, who was present with them, to be Chief Inspector for the South of England, and that he himself had undertaken a similar duty in the North of England; together they hoped to evolve some order out of the present chaos. As it was, boys were going about calling themselves scouts under conditions which were a real danger to the Movement.

Reference has already been made to the Humshaugh camp in Northumberland in August 1908; the boys explored the Roman Wall under B.-P.'s guidance, played scouting games, learnt how to imitate bird calls, and were shown how to do many of the things described in Scouting for Boys. one of the campers recalls that B.-P. was 'the life and soul of the camp, helping the boys in their work and play, always smiling and ready to answer any questions. At the camp fire he was great and kept the pace going with song and story'.

B.-P. was very busy during the later months of 1908 answering letters, addressing meetings, interviewing likely supporters, and attending to many details of organization. A representative letter of the period shows something of his methods.

25.11.08

DEAR EVERETT,

Many thanks for the Circulars.

The pamphlet or leaflet of the 'Scout' will do very well on paper instead of card. I don't like the heading 'Britain's Boy Scouts' --- much best stick to 'Boy Scouts' pure and simple.

On the same page it commences, 'I want every boy' --- but there is nothing to show who 'I' is!

This Circular does not mention the Handbook, and where it can be got.

In the Circulars re organizing committees, etc., they have again used that damnable old die which purports to be my signature. Could you kindly have that die cremated and only the proper one used?

None of these Circulars show what Scouting is ---and that is the question that I am being asked at every turn. People all seem to think 'it has something to do with the Territorial Army' !

I thought we had something more explanatory and that. is why I asked for some circulars. If we have not I think it is most desirable to get something printed for Scoutmasters and others to circulate to potential people in their neighbourhoods and thus spread the movement very effectually. I can write one if necessary.

The Photos might be our very best advertisement; they give the really attractive side of the organization and 'photos cannot lie', and thus bring it home to boys and to parents alike. I don't quite know what is the best way to spread them, whether by post cards or by an extra sheet in the Xmas number with extra copies for distribution, but I am certain that anyone who sees them will take up Scouting! They are the most attractive and telling advertisement we can issue. Would it be very expensive to make large sized post cards of them --- Or could we make a sheet of them for say the Graphic to issue as a 'Scouting Supplement' with one of its numbers?

As regards my contribution to the Xmas number would not my last week's article do --- viz. Personal adventure in scouting in Matabeleland.

I shall be in London about 30th I expect.

Yours sincerely,

R. BADEN-POWELL.

During 1908 numbers increased; the offices became too small; further staff had to be employed. J. A. Kyle was appointed as paid Managing Secretary in February 1909, and a few weeks later new offices were taken in Victoria Street. The Headquarters Gazette (now The Scouter) appeared in July of the same year. This contained the first official list of 'Warrant Scoutmasters' ---numbering 422.

B.-P. was in the meantime having a holiday in South America, and this resulted in the formation of the first foreign Boy Scout organization --- that of Chile.

A third camp was organized, this time at Buckler's Hard, Beaulieu, and on C. B. Fry's training ship, the Mercury. The parties changed over at the end of the first week, and from that time Sea Scouting became part of the scheme. In this B.-P. received great help from his brother Warington who wrote the official handbook Sea Scouting.

Earlier in the year a Patrol of eight Scouts had made a tour in Germany, the first official foreign contact. The boys were practically taken charge of by the German Army. A return visit of the Wandervögel was paid to England in the following July.

In September the first big Rally was held at the Crystal Palace with a Conference of officers. Rain poured down just before the 'March Past' which had to be held indoors; B.-P. made a quick change from Scout to General's uniform to take the salute. Some 10,000 boys attended, as well as a few self-organized 'Girl Scouts' who thus forced attention to the need for 'doing something about them'.

Other helpers had now been persuaded to join the organization; General Sir Edmond Elles was appointed Chief Commissioner, with Colonel Ulick de Burgh as his Deputy. An Advisory Council was also formed, and amongst others B.-P. invited Sir William Smith of the Boys' Brigade. He was unable to accept as he felt that his work as Secretary of the Brigade needed all his energy. B.-P.'s reply to his refusal failed to make him change his mind.

The Castle
Richmond, Yorks
Xmas Day, 1909

DEAR SIR WILLIAM,

I was very distressed at your letter --- and I do sincerely hope, for the sake of the boys, that it is not final.

My object, as you know, in starting this Scout idea was, not to form an additional organization, but to give to the B.B. and C.L.B., etc., an extra attraction and additional character-education to their respective schemes of training. And 1 thought that if it were taken up by both it might prove something of a bond which might eventually bring them into closer co-operation in their work. But so many outsiders took up Scouting that, against my desire, it blossomed into yet another separate organization 'on its own'.

But 1 fully recognize that until all these movements are working on some system of mutual co-operation we are only dealing with the fringe of the boyhood, whereas if leagued as a 'combine' we might tackle the whole mass effectively and really make a nation of good, God-fearing, virile citizens in the next generation.

With this in view 1 want to get the policy of the Boy Scouts directed by the heads of the other organizations so as to fit in with their aims. And in this way --- if the heads are all working together --- the local leaders will follow suit. With these working in co-operation with each other and parcelling out their respective districts, etc., we may hope to get hold of everything there is in the shape of a boy, without any of the present overlapping or gaps, and without local jealousies or frictions.

We all naturally look to you as the leader of the boy movement --- if you decide to help in directing the policy of the Scout Movement, the other heads will follow suit, and I believe that in so doing you will be adding a very big step to the one which you first made for the good of the boys as a whole. The possibilities are then enormous. The Scout movement wants to know where to help the others, but is in the dark. But I see nothing more than very partial results if we are all working as separate organizations taking our own separate lines.

Even if you should prefer this, you may be sure of my earnest desire to work in co-operation with the B.B. at all times, and whenever you like to give me a hint for any special course.

However, I hope very sincerely that you will see your way to coming on our Advisory Council and to thus taking a hand in our policy. It need not demand more of your time than one Meeting a year, nor any subscription, etc. The Prince of Wales is in favour of such amalgamation of aims and would, I believe, become the President of such Council if formed.

Yours very sincerely,

R. BADEN-POWELL.

The Movement was now firmly established, and the following chart shows that 1909 was an important year in its history.

It is therefore not surprising that B.-P. realized that he must face the personal problem of his future --- Army, or Boy Scouts.

The boy who in January 1908 bought the first Part of Scouting for Boys by B.-P. could hardly fail to be captured by the idea of scouting. In its sixty pages he found a varied programme of instruction, yarns, activities and games written by a man who knew how to appeal to the boy's craving for adventure and longing for activity. A grown-up might, at first glance, describe the booklet as scrappy and snippety --- so indeed it is for an adult accustomed to concentrating on a well-developed argument. But boy-minds do not work in that way; a text-book on scouting planned on progressive lines would not have created the Boy Scouts. The book is indeed an excellent example of the 'Softly, softly, catchee monkey' principle.

Part One opens with a few notes for the Instructor --- described as 'any man or lad who takes up the training of either a Patrol (i.e. six to eight boys), or a Troop (i.e. several Patrols joined together)'. Then follow four Camp Fire yarns: the first opens with a talk about the boy cadets of Mafeking, and at once the key-note of the need for preparing oneself for service to the community is struck; a few paragraphs on the work of frontiersmen, explorers and settlers introduce the story of Kim from Kipling's novel. The second yarn explains the kinds of things a Boy Scout learns, and opens with the sentence, 'To become a Boy Scout you join a Patrol belonging to your Cadet Corps, or Boys' Brigade or club. 'If you are not a member of one of these, or if it does not as yet possess a Patrol of Scouts, you can raise a Patrol yourself by getting five other boys to join'. The yarn is interrupted for actual practice, such as 'Play Kim's game', or with a note to the instructor such as 'Make each boy lay a fire in his own way and light it. After failures, show them the right way'. A story of an observant boy who helped to solve a murder mystery ends this section. The third yarn explains all about the various tests and badges. The fourth yarn is devoted entirely to the Scout Law. Then comes a section of scouting games, and this Part ends with a short play, 'Pocahontas'.

From this outline it will be seen how varied was the fare offered to the boy of 1908 who bought Part One of Scouting for Boys; there is a skilled mixing of romance, instruction and activity.

The contents of the next four Parts may be briefly summarized by the titles of the yarns: observation of sign and tracks, spooring, reading 'sign', stalking, animals, plants, pioneering, camping, cooking, life in the open, pathfinding, signalling, how to grow strong, health-giving habits, preventing disease, chivalry, self-discipline, self-improvement, accidents and how to deal with them, aid to the injured, our Empire, citizenship.

Part Six consists of more games and outdoor activities, and 'Notes for Instructors' on general aims and methods.

When the Parts were reprinted in book form, the same general scheme of contents was followed, and in spite of frequent revisions since 1908, Scouting for Boys is substantially the same now as then. It has been translated into most common languages, as well as into a few uncommon ones, and up to B.-P.'s death over half a million copies of the English version had been sold.

It is not difficult to see why boys were fascinated by this book; it encouraged them to do just the kinds of things they longed to do: they were urged to light fires and cook out of doors; to play the detective in reading the meaning of signs and tracks; to take part in scouting games combining the skill of the Red Indian with rough and tumble combats; in short, to rely on themselves with the self-sufficiency of an explorer or frontiersman. Some boys were attracted because the scheme gave meaning to their interest in wild life; others because they needed an outlet for their romantic imaginings; some because they found the usual team games of school life unattractive. The boy 'gang' or the 'secret society' transformed itself into the Patrol and surprisingly found itself praised instead of cursed. Scouting was the answer to a real hunger for adventure which no organization had been able to satisfy.

The Movement, however, meant more than these things, for B.-P. had skilfully linked up the natural desires of the boy in a system of training calculated to develop in the individual qualities of character which would make the boy a good citizen. It has already been pointed out that B.-P. used the term 'character' in a special way; by itself the word simply means the sum of the qualities --- good and bad --- which go to make up a man's nature. To him the word came to have a more specific meaning; when he used it, he implied the character which makes a man a good member of society --- self-sufficient yet always ready and able through training to help others. Nothing could have been more abhorrent to him than the idea of training all boys to the same rigid pattern. To him --- from his earliest army days --- the individual personality was sacred, and he saw that the more a man develops his personal qualities and abilities, the richer is his contribution to society, provided --- and this was the paramount consideration --- he used his gifts for the benefit of his fellows.

Other attempts had been made to encourage outdoor activities amongst boys; one of the most notable was the Woodcraft Indians scheme of Ernest Thompson Seton --- to whom B.-P. always acknowledged his obligations, though in actual fact Scouting owed very little to Seton's ideas. Why did the Woodcraft Indians, and indeed several similar organizations, fail to capture the mass of boys? On the surface, it might have been thought that 'playing Indians' would make an irresistible appeal; so indeed it does for a brief period in some boys' lives, but once the make-believe breaks down all the trappings appear tawdry. B.-P. wisely drew upon a much more varied field of suggestion than this questionable interpretation of the North American Indian preached by Thompson Seton. B.-P. had the considerable advantage of having lived and worked and fought amongst the native tribes of South Africa; his knowledge was not academic but severely practical, nor was he tempted to idealize the 'noble savage'. Yet he was quick to appreciate the natives' good qualities; as we have seen he had been impressed many years previously by the various methods used in some Zulu tribes for testing a youth's fitness for the privileges of manhood: this is but one example of how he drew upon his own observations for suggestions when he came to work out a system of boy-training. The result was a scheme which would appeal not only to a young boy, but one which by its breadth and variety would hold his interest for some years.

An even more important reason for the success of Scouting as compared with the Woodcraft Indians is that B.-P.'s whole scheme was devised as a means --- a very attractive and exciting means --- to a well-defined end; that end was, as has been said, the development of a community of good citizens; the emphasis was not on the individual achievement as a feather in the cap, but as a step towards becoming more useful to others. By contrast the personal achievement was in Seton's Indians literally a feather in the cap, as an elaborate system of 'coups' or 'standards of honourable exploit' permitted the wearing of feathers in the 'war-bonnet'. The tests laid down in this scheme demanded a high standard of skill --- but they led nowhere in particular, the object of the movement being stated as 'the promotion of interests in Out-of-Door Life and Woodcraft, the preservation of Wild Life and Landscape, and the promotion of Good Fellowship among its members'. These are indeed admirable objectives within their set hunts, but B.-P.'s statement of the purpose of Scouting forms an interesting contrast.

The whole object of our scheme is to seize the boy's character in its red-hot stage of enthusiasm, and to weld it into the right shape and to encourage and develop its individuality --- so that the boy may educate himself to become a good man and a valuable citizen for our country in the immediate future.

The emphasis here is on training for service, and, as we shall see, this is stressed from the very beginning; at first sight this may not seem attractive to boys, and yet B.-P. was here showing a far sounder insight into juvenile nature, for the boy ---however shy he may be of saying so --- does like to feel that he is of use in the society in which he lives.

One further example of this insight is shown in a comparison between the Scout Law and the Laws of the Woodcraft Indians as set down in The Birch-Bark Roll of 1908. All the Scout Laws are positive and set up standards of behaviour; they are not prohibitions. The Woodcraft Laws include such provocative injunctions as, 'Don't rebel', 'Don't kindle a wild fire', 'Don't make a dirty camp', 'No smoking', 'No firewater', with a list of punishments to follow.

It may be said in summary that the success of B.-P.'s scheme is largely the result of his accurate reading of boy-nature; this in turn was based on his many years of acute observation of human nature in many countries and under varied conditions.

As we have seen, he did not found the Boy Scouts without previous experience of training youths, for he had given particular attention to this during his regimental career. it should be remembered that the young soldiers of 1880 to 1900 were fairly rough material, many of them hardly literate. To the unimaginative officer the only method of 'licking them into shape' was by drill, drill, drill, and then more drill until the victims were reduced to unthinking automatons. Such methods were repugnant to B.-P. with his own strongly developed individuality; so he set to work to devise attractive methods of giving to each man a personal pride in his own progress.

The basis of the B.-P. method was the giving of responsibility to the individual. To achieve this, drill in the mass was replaced by competition between small groups of half a dozen men under a leader. In the Boy Scouts this is known as the Patrol System, and it is one of B.-P.'s most characteristic contributions to educational method. It is described in his own words in the following passage:

Many Scoutmasters and others did not, at first, recognize the extraordinary value which they could get out of the Patrol system if they liked to use it, but I think that most of them seem to be realizing this more and more. The Patrol system, after all, is merely putting your boys into permanent gangs under the leadership of one of their own number, which is their natural organization whether bent on mischief or for amusement. But to get first-class results from this system you have to give the leader a real free-handed responsibility --- if you only give partial responsibility you will only get partial results. By thus using your Leaders as officers you save yourself an infinite amount of the troublesome detail work. At the same time, the main object is not so much saving the Scoutmaster trouble as to give responsibility to the boy, since this is the very best of all means for developing character. It is generally the boy with the most character who rises to be the leader of a mischief gang. If you apply this natural scheme to your own needs it brings the best results.

It is the business of the Scoutmaster to give the aim, and the several Patrols in a Troop vie with each other in attaining it, and thus the standard of keenness and work is raised all round.

Unless the importance of this Patrol System is realized, it is impossible to understand B.-P.'s contribution to the training of youth.

Giving responsibility does not imply simply investing the boy with the power to order others about; it implies trust. But the boy is not left without guidance; that is supplied in the Scout Law. It needs courage to draw up a code of conduct, but B.-P. never lacked that, though he must have known that he was inviting criticism, and many wrote to him to point out omissions which they offered to supply. As he wrote:

Authorities have come along to improve the Scout Law, and not recognizing the active side of it, have changed it to the reverse --- a series of 'Don'ts'. 'Don't', of course, is the distinguishing feature and motto of the old-fashioned system of repression; and is a red rag to a boy. It is a challenge to him to do wrong.

So he refused to issue edicts against smoking, or gambling, or this, that and the other. Thus on the question of 'strong drink' he wrote to a correspondent:

I have seen as much as, if not more than, most people of the evils resulting from drink --- how they are brought about and how they are corrected. I have realized the failure of the imposition of artificial restrictions from without as compared with the encouragement of the natural resistance through will-power from within.

Thus Pledge Taking and Prohibition are only very partial in their effects and are to some extent responsible for the increase in drug taking and in corruption of police, etc., without much real diminution of alcoholism and crime.

To eradicate an evil you have to supply an effective substitute and in the above cases this principle has been neglected.

Our aim in the Scout Movement is to prevent drinking by employing natural means, namely by strengthening the character (i.e. the moral will-power, self respect, and self control) of the individual and by supplying hobbies and activities that tend to fill a man's life with interests.

The Scout Law sets positive standards of conduct; in its final form it states:

(1) A Scout's honour is to be trusted.

(2) A Scout is loyal to the King, his country, his Scouters, his parents, his employers, and to those under him.

(3) A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others.

(4) A Scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what country, class, or creed, the other may belong.

(5) A Scout is courteous.

(6) A Scout is a friend to animals.

(7) A Scout obeys orders of his parents, Patrol Leader, or Scoutmaster, without question.

(8) A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties.

(9) A Scout is thrifty.

(10) A Scout is clean in thought, word, and deed.

When the boy becomes a Scout he makes the following promise at a simple ceremony of investiture:

On my honour I promise that I will do my best:

To do my duty to God, and the King,

To help other people at all times,

To obey the Scout Law.

To quote again:

The investiture of the Scout is purposely made into something of a ceremony, since a little ritual of that kind, if carried out with strict solemnity, impresses the boy; and considering the grave importance of the occasion, it is only right that he should be impressed as much as possible. Then it is of great importance that the Scout should periodically renew his knowledge of the Law. Boys are apt to be forgetful,, and it should never be allowed that a boy who has made his solemn promise to carry out the Scout Law should, at any time, not be able to say what the Law is.

Once the Scout understands what his honour is, and has, by his initiation, been put upon his honour. the Scoutmaster must entirely trust him to do things. You must show him by your action that you consider him a responsible being. Give him charge of something, whether temporary or permanent, and expect him to carry out his charge faithfully. Don't keep prying to see how he does it. Let him do it his own way, let him come a howler over it if need be, but in any case leave him alone and trust him to do his best.

Giving responsibility is the key to success with boys, especially with the rowdiest and most difficult boys.

The object of the Patrol system is mainly to give real responsibility to as many of the boys as possible with a view to developing their character. If the Scoutmaster gives his Patrol Leader real power, expects a great deal from him, and leaves him a free hand in carrying out his work, he will have done more for that boy's character expansion than any amount of school-training could ever do.

The 'Good Turn' was, as we have seen earlier, an idea which B.-P. had put to boys who wrote to him some years before the Boy Scouts were founded. This is perhaps the best known feature of Scouting, but it is often misinterpreted. B.-P. believed in the importance with boys of linking up idea with practice, and practice with idea; a beginning is made with one good turn a day ---that is, deliberately looking for some way of helping others. The dangers of priggishness have been overrated, and the evidence that this simple practical encouragement has succeeded can now be provided by men who were Boy Scouts.

The practical side of Scouting with its strong emphasis on the out-of-doors is naturally of more immediate importance to the boy than the ultimate purposes: he grows into a realization of the ideals through the activities carried out in company with his fellows, amongst whom there is unquestionably developed a corporate spirit of companionship and helpfulness.

The most important --- and attractive --- of the activities was camping. It is difficult for us to realize that in 1907 there was no popular camping movement; those few who did camp were regarded as eccentrics. it is true that the Boys' Brigade had started camping as far back as 1886, but this type of large, organized camp was little to B.-P.'s mind; he felt that too much was done for the boys and not enough by them. He stated his views in a note to Scoutmasters written in 1910.

As the camping season is now upon us, I may say that one or two of the camps which I have already seen have been unfortunately on wrong lines, though others were very satisfactory. I strongly advise small camps of about half a dozen Patrols; each Patrol in a separate tent and on separate ground (as suggested in Scouting for Boys), so that the Scouts do not feel themselves to be part of a big herd, but members of independent responsible units.

Large camps prevent scout-work and necessitate military training; and one which I visited the other day, though exceedingly well carried out as a bit of Army organization, appealed to me very little, because not only was it entirely on military lines, but the Patrols --- the essence of our system --- were broken up to fit the members into the tents.

Patrols should be kept intact under all circumstances. If more than six or seven Patrols are out at the same time, they should preferably be divided into two camps located at, say, two miles or more apart.

The Badge System was devised by B.-P. as a result of its successful use in the 5th Dragoon Guards. There are two groups of badges: the first is to encourage all-round scouting efficiency; these are the Second and First Class Badges, and the tests as set out in 1910 were as follows:

SECOND CLASS

1. Tie four of the following knots in less than 30 seconds each knot: Bowline, fisherman's bend, reef knot, clove hitch, sheet bend.

2. Track a deer's 'spoor' (made with tracking irons) or a horse's track for a quarter of a mile in not more than fifteen minutes, or, in a town, describe satisfactorily the contents of one shop window out of four observed for one minute each.

3. Go at Scout's Pace for one mile in not more than 13 minutes.

4. Know the Scout's Laws and Signs.

5. Know the composition of the Union Jack and the right way to fly it.

FIRST CLASS

6. Point out the direction of different points of the compass where he stands.

7. Make a journey alone of not less than 15 miles from point to point by walking, riding, boat or bicycle.

8. Describe or show the proper means for saving life in case of one (selected by the Court) of the following accidents: fire, drowning, runaway carriage, sewer-gas, ice-breaking; or bandage an injured patient, or revive apparently drowned persons.

9. Be able to read and write.

10. Have at least sixpence in the savings bank.

11. Show that he has brought a recruit to the Boy Scouts, and has taught him to tie the principal knots.

12. Lay and light a fire, using not more than two matches, and cook a quarter of a pound of flour and two potatoes without cooking utensils.

While details have since changed, the general scheme of these two badges remains unaltered.

The second series of badges, those for proficiency in service subjects and hobbies, has at times been criticized, partly because its purpose has been misunderstood, and partly because some Scouts, especially in the early days, became badge-hunters and gloried in displaying on their sleeves numerous badges which looked like an outbreak of measles. B.-P.'s attitude is best expressed in his own words.

Our aim is merely to help the boys, especially the least scholarly ones, to become personally enthused in subjects that appeal to them individually, and that will be helpful to them.

We do this through the fun and jollity of Scouting; by progressive stages they can then be led on, naturally and unconsciously, to develop for themselves their knowledge.

But if once we make it into a formal scheme of serious instruction for efficiency, we miss the whole point and value of the Scout training, and we trench on the work of the schools without the trained experts for carrying it out.

Our standard for badge earning --- as 1 have frequently said --- is not the attainment of a certain level of quality of work (as in the school), but the AMOUNT OF EFFORT EXERCISED BY THE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE. This brings the most hopeless case on to a footing of equal possibility with his more brilliant or better-off brother.

We want to get them ALL along through cheery self-development from within and not through the imposition of formal instruction from without.

The large number of different badges is intended to ensure that every boy --- however limited his ability --- may find amongst them something to stimulate him to better achievement; the badge is the carrot to lure him on.

At Brownsea Island there had been no set uniform, and it soon became clear that some kind of suitable dress was desirable. It is not necessary to describe the Boy Scout uniform; the adoption of shorts was the most revolutionary feature, and the Boy Scouts have certainly helped to promote the wearing of a freer kind of boys' dress than was considered proper in Edwardian days. B.-P.'s own note on the uniform is of interest.

I knew from experience with boys of all sorts in our first experiments in Scouting that one fellow got his trousers all torn and wet going through a scrub, another wearing a small cap got his face --- very nearly his eyes ---badly scratched by thorns in going through the bush at night, and the rain ran down his neck, others got too hot in their coats and waistcoats, another, going bareheaded, got sunstroke, and so on. So it became necessary to suggest some kind of dress that would suit all phases of Scouting and yet be healthy and inexpensive and comfortable. Then everybody would come to be dressed much the same as his neighbour --- in fact, in uniform. So I thought out what would be the best patterns to adopt. Now --- and here is a useful tip for you --- whenever I went on an expedition of any kind I kept a diary and that diary included a list of the clothing and equipment I took with me, with a note of what I need not have taken and also of what I had omitted to take. All this information came in useful when one was going on another expedition. Also 1 drew a sketch of myself showing what dress I found to be most convenient for the job I happened to be doing. At one time it was in India, another in South Africa, also Scotland, Canada, West Africa, Himalayas, etc. etc.

From these data I compiled what I thought would be a dress applicable to most countries. I had used it to some extent in dressing the South African Constabulary when I formed that Corp

s, and so a good deal of the idea came into the Boy Scout uniform when I devised that. But there was nothing military about it. It was designed to be the most practical, cheap and comfortable dress for camping and hiking, and in no way copied from soldier's kit.

No hard and fast system of training was devised for Scoutmasters to follow. Here B.-P. was true to his own inclinations. He himself found it impossible to work happily to an imposed plan, and he would not therefore ask others to do so. At the beginning of Scouting for Boys he wrote, 'The ideas given here are merely offered as suggestions'. In 1910, when someone proposed a handbook of programmes, he commented, 'My idea in making Scouting for Boys informal is to discourage this infernal creeping in everywhere of formality (drill) and red tape. We want elasticity and not hard and fast rules, nor even the semblance of them. And wherever I go I get evidence that our success with Scoutmasters is largely due to our abstention from red tape'.

One result of this elasticity in those early days was, for example, that Scoutmasters devised their own uniforms. Some looked like North-West Mounted Police and others as if they were members of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Critics could not understand why B.-P. seemed so unperturbed about all this Comic Opera behaviour. He preferred to let such details (to him they were relatively unimportant) settle themselves by example and by suggestion; it was as if he wanted to put off as long as he could the framing of rigid rules. Writing in The Scout in September 1908 he said:

We do not, 1 think, want an expensive uniform ... we want, rather, something that can easily be made up, that gives freedom for work, that gives some sort of uniformity, and at the same time can serve as a pattern to the boys as regards neatness and smartness of turn-out in their own dress. I think if these points are kept in view it is sufficient as 'Dress Regulations' for the officers.

However, in the following year it was felt necessary to he more precise, and the Regulations included the injunction that 'Aigulets, Spurs, Swords, Revolvers, Gauntlets and Riding-Crops must not be used'.

As new needs arose, so details of the scheme were changed, but the essential principles and methods suggested in those six fourpenny Parts of Scouting for Boys remained; the test of experience proved their soundness.

Part Two: Chapter Thirteen

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