Boys' Life 1913-02: Vol 2 Iss 12

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‘*The Fourth Commandment,’’ 3 By John Fleming Wilson EBRUARY 1913 //\\ PRICE 10 CENTS BVews-Stand Edition ~~ a 4 ) 2 ae PUBLISHED BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA ‘“‘The Indian Sign Language,”’ ~ By Ernest Thompson Seton

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ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT oe ee i< caer —f in ” the OFFICIAL BOY SCO SUT AXE

“NOTE | sz THE NAIL NOTCH

» \ “ane HIS Scout Axe is a necessity to campers—and a handy tool for chopping jobs or open- ing boxes at any time. The nail slot is an added feature that makes the axe mighty useful. In camp— where nails are always scarce—you often have to alter tables, benches or do building work— where an old nail is all you can get. The Scout Axe with nail slot draws nails straight and quickly. Save them for future jobs. Oem Cre

PRICE TO SCOUTS Axe with Sheath - - - $1.00 Axe without Sheath - - 29 Manufactured by Fayette R. Plumb, Inc., : Philadelphia, Pa. St. Louis, Mo. . ml ao

Sold by all wide-awake hardware dealers. and National Headquarters, Fifth Avenue Building, N. Y.

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“MAGAZINE 4 VOLUME II FEBRUARY, 1913 NUMBER 12 Hands Across the Sea BOYS’ LIFE Takes the First Step in Introducing the Boy Scouts of All Countries—International Corps of Scout Scribes Being Formed and ‘Letters from All Over the World to Be Published Every Month— Translating to Be Done By,Members ‘of the Boy Scouts of America Who Have Won Merit Badges for Inter- preting—Letters from American Boys to Be Transmitted to Foreign Boy Scout Papers VERY reader of Boys’ Lire surely was much interested in this same page in the January number.: All of you certainly were glad to read that we had secured Mr. John Fleming Wilson as a contributor. Mr. Wilson’s boy scout stories are so real, so genuine, and show so well the best there is in our Boy Scouts of America, that Boys’ LirE wants them to be in its power to prove most emphatically that there are no boundary lines, that the boy scouts of all nationalities all belong to the same great world organization, and their sev- eral national governing bodies represent nothing more than so many departments for the transaction of necessary business and directing the work of the scouts according to national ideas and conditions. The more interchange read all over the world. We want the boy scouts of other countries to know more about what kind of fellows make up the membership of the Boy Scouts of America, and think the “ Tad Sheldon” stories will do much in the way of an introduction. And so, we are doing all .we possibly can to interest foreign pub- lishers in them. Next, to cement the spirit of comradeship among all the new friends across the seas which these stories are bound to stimulate, we are arranging with the leaders of the boy scouts in all countries to put us in touch with their best scout scribes, whom we want to write regularly to the Boy Scouts of America through Boys’ Lire. Their pictures will be published along with their articles, and, of course, those who cannot write in English are to have their letters translated. This is not to be done by professionals here in New York, but by Boy Scouts of America who have earned the first right to do it by winning merit badges for interpreting. SN’T this a fine way of introducing you to the boy scouts of the world? Isn’t it good scouting to help along in this way the fine spirit of international brotherhood that the boy scout movement has established? And finally, isn’t it the very best answer we can find to confute the enemies of the boy scout movement who try to make people believe it is a militarist scheme? The. boy scout movement the world over is founded upon the spirit of service and broth- erhood. Boys’ Lire intends to do everything Copyright, 1913, by Boy Scouts or AMERICA WHO WANTS TO WRITE TO THIS BOY SCOUT IN - LAND? I SCOT- of ideas, the more general will be the under- standing of all the best there is in scouting. And a magazine such as Boys’ Lire, which is unquestionably the leading boy scout periodi- cal in the world, is the best means of carrying forward this work. O we now invite the best scout scribes in this country to communicate to us their desire to become enrolled in this new International Corps of Scout Scribes. Need- less to say, everything that is written about the Boy Scouts of America will have the official endorsement of National Headquarters before being sent abroad for publication, and every- thing that comes to Boys’ Lire from abroad will likewise bear the approval of the scout authorities of the country from which it comes. Although the competition is bound to be keen, we hope a great many American boys will try for an appointment, of which there will be one for each state. Applicants are required to submit a type-written letter of not more than 500 words based upon boy scout activities in the state in which they live, and endorsed by their scout master, with the object in view of its being published in all the foreign boy scout papers. Every such letter must bear the name and address of the sender, and be addressed to the International Corps of Scout Scribes, care of Boy Scouts of America, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York City. To commemorate this announcement, we will give each successful scribe a special print of the cover design of this number, auto- graphed by both Mr. Bull and Mr. Wilson.

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ee ““* tT WAS TWO THOUSAND MILES TO THE NEAREST PORT,’ WAS THE GRIM REPLY ” The Fourth Commandment By JOHN FLEMING WILSON ILLUSTRATED BY JAMES DAUGHERTY Editor's Note.—In this and other stories to follow, Mr. Wilson strikes a new note in fiction for boys which has this magazine's unqualified endorsement. We hope every reader will lend his magazine to at least one other boy, so as many as possible may have the opportunity to become acquainted with Tad Sheldon and his patrol of boy scouts. T was mid-winter along the Oregon coast and the Yaquina Bay boy scouts were gathered about the fire in the old cabin, where they made their headquarters. A chill south- easterly gale was blowing its last, and Culver, who made the Nautical Almanac his constant study and kept a log of the weather, had just stated that by the next morning the wind would have hauled into the nor’west for a three days’ clear breeze. “We can go for a hike then,” said Tad Sheldon, the patrol leader. “We might go down South Beach to Seal Rocks and back.” Bob Spencer, red-headed and always after a lark, chuckled. “We can call on old Hansen on the way. Old beast!” _ “He’s never forgiven us for cutting his mooring-lines and letting his old house-boat blow ashore,” said Carson. “He doesn’t know exactly it was us, but he says he'll shoot anybody that comes round again.” “They say he must have killed a man some time the way he keeps by himself,” put in Tim Culver. “ I-know why he sticks off there in his house-boat,” said Spen- cer. “I found it out by accident from a fellow on the Pelican. He wrecked a ship he was captain of. Disgraceful!” There was a moment’s silence. The boys had been brought up amid seafarers and every one of them knew the penalty one must pay for losing one’s vessel. It was a solemn subject. Car- son squirmed uneasily. “ Didn’t know that,’ he mumbled. “Poor fellow!” added:Culver. “I guess he’s kept it pretty quiet. I never heard it before.” “TI never told anybody,” Spencer put in, shamefacedly. “ Didn’t seem: right to blab.” Tad Sheldon’s voice was sharp. “Quite right, Spencer. I guess we fellows have forgotten the Fourth Law.” Culver strolled over to the card posted on the wall and re- read the law slowly. “Don’t see how anybody could be friendly to him.” “Don’t see any exceptions to the rule, do you?” “Nobody gets along with him.” “ All the more reason why we scouts ought to do the right thing;’ said Tad. “Spencer’s got the idea. We'll start in now being friendly to old Hansen. We won't say a word about his losing his ship.” “We oughtn’t to have played that trick on him,” Carson said tuefully. “How could we know the poor fellow had done that?” “We know it now,” Sheldon responded. “And I want alt us fellows to start in and feel friendly to him. Maybe we can help him some time.” Several days later Spencer announced that he had talked with Hansen for half an hour. “ His old scow was loose again when I was across the bay clamming,” he explained. “I helped him a little and he showed me a sextant. Say, he isn’t so bad. Told me to come again.” “D’ye say anything about what we did?” asked Carson. “ Yes. He was awfully cross at first, but I told him we didn’t mean it.” Spencer, having taken the first steps, grew to look upon the solitary man who never came across to town except for a few provisions as his own discovery. Though he did not inform his mates he had in time found Hansen quite confidential. One afternoon he had listened to a short story of a full-rigged ship ashore on an uncharted reef. At its conclusion the boy nodded. “Tf there had been a tug within reach you’d have saved her.” “Tt was two thousand miles to the nearest port,” was the grim reply.

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February, 1913 For pure compassion’s sake Spencer asked a foolish ques- tion: “ Why don’t you get another ship, captain?” The title brought a flush to the man’s rough cheeks. don’t trust ships to a man who’s lost one already.” “Then you aren’t going to sea any more?” “No, son, I guess not; unless I happen to find some vessel lying around loose and no one looking.” They both laughed at this less serious aspect of the case and Spencer departed. But his mind insisted on working over the problem. If he was to be a real friend to Captain Hansen he ought at least to try some way to get him a ship. Silly as it seemed, he could not stop his imagination from building plans which had to be instantly rejected. But he determined to keep his eyes and ears open, anyway. In the meantime, he carefully abstained from any comment on the scow-man’s habits and answered no questions put to him as to what he had discovered of the man’s history. He knew well that if it once got abroad that Old Hansen had wrecked his ship unfriendly faces would become actually hostile. It was a blowy morning in March when Tad Sheldon stamped into the headquarters cahin and announced that his father, who was Number One in the life saving crew, had just come back and told of the wreck of the steam schooner Evelyn Blue off the Siletz river, thirty miles north. “The old packet sailed from Gray’s Harbor for San Pedro a week ago and got water-logged during the last gale,” he related. “They tried to make the Columbia river and got blown down this way. Dad says they finaily managed to anchor on the outer reef above the Cape, but she'll go ashore next storm. They took off all the crew and abandoned her. She might make a good pick-up for some steamer that could tow her in and get salvage. She’s worth a good many thousand dollars.” “Tf there was a tug in here it would make money,’ son, carelessly. Bob Spencer had listened quietly. Now he asked a few ques- tions and remarked, “Got to mosey along. See you later.” Within an hour he landed from a skiff on the little deck of said Car- BOYS’ “ They LIFE 3 Hansen’s scow, and addressed that worthy through the open window. “I say, captain, now’s your chance!” Hansen took his big hands out of the dish-pan and said, “Chance for what, Bob?” “To get a ship again. I just heard about it.” The man’s eyes blazed a moment. “Honest? Don’t make fun of me.” “Tain’t! The Evelyn Blue is abandoned just above Cape Foul- weather. She’s water-logged and the crew have left her.” Hansen cast a quick glance at the clouds and then looked down at the boy. “Go on!” he said huskily. “She left Gray’s Harbor with lumber and sprung a leak. Say, can’t you go up and get her?” Spencer waited impatiently for the answer. Would Hansen see the chance? His relief was immense when the captain pulled on his jacket and climbed into the skiff. As they landed in town he said gravely, “ Bob, this is the best chance I ever had. Just let me once get my feet on the deck of that vessel! I’m master of her that moment. That’s the law.” “And you can sail her right down in here,” Spencer as- sented. “ Single-handed?” muttered Hansen. “ Nor’wester’ll blow another day, maybe. “T’'ll help you.” “Too risky, son. I’ll take a chance myself.” Bob persisted. “ Anyway, we scouts’ll go up the coast with you. Maybe we can help you some way.. You go ahead and we'll catch up with you before you get to the Cape.” He raced off without waiting for a.reply. - Tad listened to Spencer’s brief statement of what he had done and nodded. “I see. It’s a long chance, but, anyway, we'll hike up with him, just to show we mean to be friends.” The rest were quickly assembled and they overtook the cap- tain just as he was going up the road that led over the crest of the Cape. Tad explained to him that they had come along to do what they could, but he intimated plainly that he considered the venture hopeless. “The surf isn’t high,” he conceded. “But ’ He searched the sky. I might try it!” “4 MOMENT LATER HE HAD DIVED UNDER A BREAKER ”

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4 BOYS’ how are you going to get out to the wreck? There’s no boat up this way, even if we could launch it.” Hansen laid his heavy hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’ve been waiting years for the chance,” he said quietly. “I'll get out to her if she’s still there.” Another hour sufficed to bring them opposite the wreck, which rode stern inshore and about half a mile out. They stared at her a while and then Tad said, “ Too bad! No boat!” But Hansen was already stripping off his clothes. The boys understood his purpose. He was going to try to swim out to the wreck, an attempt so foolhardy that they were silent. They had all been brought up in the knowledge that times arose when life must be risked and, possibly, lost. If this time had come for Hansen, it was not their business to interfere. “When you reach the wreck just signal us,” was all Tad said. “T’ll wigwag,” was the reply. “You know how, don’t you?” Tad nooded. “Just keep my binocu- lars for me, will you?” Hansen said as he prepared to wade out into the surf. A moment later he had dived under a breaker and reappeared beyond it. The boys watched him as he was swept out by the tide. At last Carson drew a long breath. “He can sure swim!” They scrambled back and up on the bluff whence they could see the swim- mer as he pushed out to sea. But when they noticed that an unexpected current was carrying him south to- wards the Cape, Tad shook his head. “He'll never make it.” As their hopes tor the captain’s success grew fainter and fainter boy after boy turned away and busied himself kicking pebbles about or throwing sticks into the water. Spen- cer alone refused to take nis eyes off his friend. When he could no longer see clearly with the naked eye he picked up the binoc- ulars and focussed them carefully on the speck far out. Suddenly he observed that the gap between the swimmer and the wreck was no longer widening. He could see Hansen stretching himself out in that fast, muscle-tearing stroke that the strongest can only use for a short spurt. Could he keep up that terrific pace? Spencer nodded to himself. Then his eyes blurred. Hansen had sud- denly vanished. He was roused by a shout from Tad, who was above him on the bluff. “Bring the glasses! I see him waving!” The boys huddled together while Tad adjusted the lenses on the almost indistinguishable figure that surmounted the after house of the wreck. Presently he spelled out the letters: “W-i-l-1 t-r-y t-o s-a-i-] h-e-r i-n.” “Jiminy!” said Carson. “He’s got a nerve! crew quits, to go and try to get that wreck in!” “There’s one way we can help him,” said Tad capably. “He can’t get those two anchors up by himself,, That means he'll have to cut the cables. She won’t sail in that.water-logged con- dition worth anything, and so he'll have to“trust mostly to the current. That means he'll have to. wait for the flood tide to- night to fetch him clear of the Cape. I'll bet if we are up at day- After all the “THEY ALL SAW A TREMENDOUS SEA HASTING IN TOWARD THEM ”—(SEE PAGE 17) LIFC February, 1913 light we'll see him south of the Cape, and then we can go out in our boat and help him bring her in across the bar. How about the weather, Culver?” : “Moon doesn’t change till afternoon to-morrow. Guess it’ll hold fair till then. Anyway, there’s no sea running; the bar’ll be smooth.” “ All right, fellows. We've done all we can now. Let’s hike for home. And we'll be on hand to-morrow early so’s to help him if we can. Didn’t think he had that much nerve. He’s no coward, if he did lose his ship once.” 5 “No need of telling everybody,” Spencer growled. “No,” Tad assented quickly. “People would talk. He’s got to have a fair show. And if he—if he doesn’t——” “He will!” said Spen- cer stoutly. “Well, if anything hap- pens we can tell the crew and they'll take him off again.” Carson snorted. “If that wreck drifts on the rocks by the Cape there won’t be anybody to take off. You know that.” This was true, and no more was said. When they reached town Tad was strict in his injunctions that they should all be on hand the next morning at six. It was just dawn when they were back at Jumpoff Joe, the big rock, half-way to the Cape. It was very foggy, but a steady breeze promised to lift it soon. Meanwhile, they stared out and tried to see whether the Evelyn Blue had rounded the dangerous point. “The sea’s smooth “ Just a moderate swell,” Culver agreed. “But the barometer is going down. again.” When the fog finally cleared an hour later Spen- cer was the first to discern tne wreck. It was almost opposite the river mouth. Tad brought the glasses to bear. “That’s her all right,” he announced. “She’s headed in for the bar, but 1 reckon the current is set- ting her south.” He looked around at his companions. “Say, he'll never make it!” “That’s right,” Carson agreed sadly. “The schooner is too deep to sail well and Hansen can’t set any more canvas alone. What’s he got up now?” “Foresail, with a lumber-reef in it,” Tad answered. “Tf he could set mainsail and staysail he might work back with this wind.” The boys.looked at each other. Tad read their eagerness. “All right! The bar’s smooth. Let’s hike back, get out the boat and go and help-him.” By the time they had-crossed out it was clear, except on the southern horizon. ‘.An*easy, long swell was running, but Culver shook his head. dicted, m “ More need for haste,” Tad remarked. “ Pull away, fellows, and let’s get out to the wreck as soon.as we can.” Hansén“Seerfied anything“but~delighted to see them. craft may turn turtle any minute,” he called down to them. “Keep off!” (Continued on page 16.) Itll be rough by to-night enough,” Carson remarked. } “Going-to blow up from the southeast,” he pre- ; “ This '

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February, 1913 BOYS’ THE BOY SCOUTS’ MAGAZINE EDWARD CAVE, Editor Editorial Board: Wm, D. iat A, Jameson, George D. Pratt, Frank Presbrey Ten cents a copy, MaDe a year. rs, 75 conte a year. Canadian sub- scriptions, 2: 15. oe Poreien. $1 Published monthly by Ag 4 Scouts of America “4 ED Headquarters th Ave., New York City. Couim H. Lrvisasto Grorce D. Pratt, James E. Chairman Executive Board Treasurer Chief Rader Executive Entered as Second-Class Matter in the Post Office at New York, N. Y. Something About Advertising F course you have noticed this page is distinctive on account of the big type. This prevents our say- ing very much. Also, it sets off what we do say in a manner to attract the eye. Typographically, to use a professional term, this is the best looking page in the magazine. You see, we are taking every advantage to get and hold your attention, just as if this were an ad- vertisement. And it is, in a sense; for we are going to use,this page each month to call to your attention different things. Things which, however, you already have at your command. E are going to talk to you on this page just as an advertising agent talks to the manufacturers for whom he writes advertisements. Perhaps by way of ex- planation we should say that in years gone by advertising agents did little more for their clients than write their advertisements, but now they make a thorough analysis of all their selling problems, much as a lawyer draws up a brief. And they keep digging into those problems all the time. Some advertising men even call them- selves “ commercial engineers.” Advertising, according to Arthur Brisbane, the highest salaried editorial writer in the world, represents the short road to success. As he has been offered $5,000°to write five advertisements for one concern—a phonograph company—he ought to know. And as these “ advertising talks” of ours are really talks on success—your success—they ought at least to interest you. O go back in history, we find King Solomon looms up as a pretty good advertiser. His glory is still resplendent, though the great temple he built has been dust for two thousand five hundred years. For personal advertising, we need no better example, even if it were possible to find one in modern times. With all his vain-glory, King Solomon was a good and useful man. He became famous not only for his power, his wealth and luxury, but for his wisdom. He understood men, which is to say also that he understood himself. And there you have it! . Do you understand yourself? Not many of us do, very well. Good advertising men understand us better than we do ourselves very often, and that is how they “get under our skins ” with their advertisements or other subtleties. It is a great study, this thing of playing ad- vertising man to ourselves and analyzing our own per- LIFE 5 sonal make-up. It doesn’t take. us long to find de- ficiencies that need to be gotten rid of, and hidden good qualities that need bringing to the front. And if we are going to succeed in life, even in, a moderate way, we must apply a few good advertising principles, whether we realize it or not. N the years to come siseeniaine i in all its many phases will have an ever greatly increasing importance in the world. Each year everything will be judged more and more by advertising standards, and these standards will go rapidly higher. Like a snowslide on a mountain- side, the thing we call advertising will pick up almost everything in its path and carry it along. And that path is already a broad one. The average person perhaps never fully realizes. how far-reachjng.the simplest little advertising idea may. become: And so for an example: A certain large, manufacturer of clothing recently brought out something new in a coat for boys—a coat designed to counteract tendency on the part of the wearer to become stoop-shouldered. Now comes the in- teresting part. This coat is not in any sense a straight- jacket. It has not the effect of a shoulder-brace. To use an expression of the clever advertising manager of the firm, it is “ the coat with a conscience.” There is an ad- justable elastic band under the lining in the back, across the shoulder blades. The idea is not to make this band bind the wearer, but merely to touch him—so as to act as a reminder. As long as the body is held erect, he feels nothing but the satisfaction of being well dressed. Yet that adjustable elastic band is ready all the while “to oppose the Imp of Slouch.” Isn’t that good evidence of advanced ideas in mer- chandising? Is it not a fact, also, that even if you never wear one of these suits, the knowledge of their being made and worn, the repeated seeing of advertisements about them, may have a subtle influence upon you? Then think of the influence on the thousands and thousands of other boys. And yet there is at the bottom of it all nothing but a bit of elastic, powerless in itself to add even a fraction of an inch toward straightening a boy’s shoulders. It is an excellent example of “the power of suggestion” utilized from the ground up, in- stead of being hitched on as an afterthought, as might have been done a few years ago. OW the point is, this modern advertising of a mere clothing manufacturer, which at first you might think ridiculous to compare with the building of King Solomon’s wonderful temple, really shows up well in comparison, considered purely as an advertising proposi- tion and its influence for good. And furthermore, it is just as much a fact that any boy today who undertakes to apply carefully and intelligently the elementary prin- ciples of advertising to himself, with the chief object in view of developing his personality and advancing his success, also contributes to the development of person- ality and the advancement of success among other boys he comes in contact with. For at the very least he sets a good example. Finally and best of all, it is a campaign for friends.

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THE DANES ARE GOOD ON A HIKE ‘ With the Boy Scouts In Foreign Lands A Day Afield With the Chief Scout of Denmark and His Best Troops By LUDVIG S. DALE NATIONAL FiELp Scout CoMMISSIONER here; you are to act as an escort for the wagon which leaves here at three o’clock. You go by way of Durna, Bengsi and Elger. At the oasis at Elger you will rest twenty minutes. Look out for attacks any time after leaving Durna.” They listened intently. The orders had arrived sealed, and they knew nothing about the plans. Who were they? A troop of Copenhagen scouts, gathered in one of the many pretty sub- urbs of the capital city for “an interesting afternoon.” And now the scout master had read the orders. A few minutes later everything was in readiness for the start. The wagon was sup- plied with two white flags, the protection patrols and support patrols were arranged and soon we left “the coast town” be- hind us. There had been something in the air all day, but First Lieu- tenant C. Lembcke, chief for all the scouts of Denmark, had not told me anything about what was to happen. Now we were on the way and he told me all about it. “ About half an hour ago, had you been present at a similar gathering of ‘scouts, you would have heard something like the following orders read,” he said. “Italian soldiers have come to steal our homes. They have settled at Oran. Our scouts have reported that this afternoon a wagon containing ammunition and supplies will leave the coast via Durna, Bengsi and Elger, to reach them. We, the true sons of the desert, must make this connection impossible. The trans- port is protected by patrols on all sides. We must harass these as much as possible. The scouts tell us also that strong out- posts are stationed near Elger, and we must therefore gather again to make a final attack before the transport gets there.” By this time you understand that you are to witness a minia- ture skirmish and battle between “Italy and Turkey,” the scouts reproducing an interesting engagement they had read about. That they relish this sort of pastime you will know by looking at them. The “ stage settings” are ideal—good roads for the wagons, wooded hills where the Arabs may hide, flat stretches where no attack is probable, and narrow, ravine-like passages where the transport has to advance slowly, and only upon receiving reports from the patrol ahead. a OE forces have reached Oran, three hours’ march from We were just talking it all over when a “ bike scout” arrived post haste. He jumped off and quickly advanced to the chief. “Otter patrol, left support, attacked,” he said, after giving the salute. “Compelled to retreat. Has joined Beaver patrol, left rear guard. Both are advancing together to protect left side of transport. Arabs twenty in number.” “Hurry on,” said the scout master. “We must’ make the next pass while the two patrols keep the Arabs back.” “Double time” was given, and within ten minutes we were through the pass, and just in time, for when we reached the next stretch of level ground we found that the Arabs had broken through the ranks of the two patrols. Had we proceeded at the speed we had when the scout gave his report we would have been surprised right at the pass. As it was, we had escaped, for the enemy did not dare to attack the transport proper. Again a bike scout arrived, this time from the front. He brought the sad news that one of the forward patrols had been captured by the Arabs, and that evidently they intend to center their attack on the transport half way between Bengsi and Elger. Before he was through with his report a noise was heard on the right, and soon ten Arabs became visible on the top of a hill near by. Rapidly they ran down the hillside and approached the transport. Quickly two of the patrols marched away from the transport to stop them. After a short, sharp “battle” they succeeded, but they lost three men. Each Arab, as well as each Italian, was “armed” with five small potatoes, and these they “shot” at each other up to a distance of eighty feet. Then all shooting must cease. Of course, those who were “shot” must retire from the battle. In this case, “the dead ones” followed the transport. No further attacks were made before we reached the oasis, and as all of the supporting patrols were pulled in here, both to rest as well as to protect the transport, the Arabs did not dare to come very close. We were just about to start when a little bit of a scout came running at full speed with a report. Instead of resting when he reached the oasis he stole away from his comrades for a recon- noiter of his own. And the information he had gained in twenty minutes was astounding. It was so important, too, that the scout master changed the route considerably. The scout had been

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February, 1913 BOYS’ so close to a camp of Arabs that he had heard what their plans were. They had sent out only ten men to harass the supporting patrols, and had gathered their main force a short distance be- yond the oasis. Naturally the little fellow was very happy to think he had rendered such important service, and his comrades showed their appreciation by giving him a number of lusty cheers. It was not long, however, before the “Sons of the Desert” discovered the change of route, and soon scouts arrived to re- port their new movements. Everything went well until we were about two miles from Elger. Here the road ran through a thick copse, but, as we expected no Arabs here, we let the supporting patrols remain out. I followed the left flank patrol, as it was most probable that they would have a hot time of it. We kept going for quite a time, finally reaching the opening in the woods where the wagon was to come through. We waited perhaps twenty minutes. Then we realized that something had hap- pened. Either the Arabs had taken it, or it had been compelled to change route somewhere in the woods. For but one patrol alone to enter the woods would be hazardous, and we therefore determined to continue on our way until we should reach the Oran outposts. We found them near a bridge, anxiously pacing back and forth, waiting for the transport. Now the supporting patrols began to arrive, each one of them believing they would find the transport safe. They had heard no noise of any kind, and were inclined to think that the transport had been delayed by some damage to the wagon. But we were not left in suspense very long. In a turn of the road we saw our brother scouts come running toward us, all in dis- order and without the wagon. How did it happen? The cunning Sons of the Desert had conceived and carried into effect a plan which proved as effec- tive as it was simple. About one hundred yards from a cross- road in the woods they lay hidden. The moment the transport had passed them they jumped out and attacked the rear patrol. These turned to fight off the attack. At the same time six Arabs who had hidden a little nearer to the cross-road charged forth, jumped on the wagon and galloped away with it. The force which had attacked the rear guard now returned to the woods, making a bee line for the transport, and as our men were “ strangers in a strange land” they decided it would be foolish to attempt to follow them. At the end of the woods they had run into an- other Arab force, and it was only by hard running that they had saved their skins. And now the Arabs arrived, singing and cheering, proudly displaying the transport. They had done it, the Sons of the Desert had proven their mettle, and for the time being Italy was down and out. It was not long before the “Italians” joined LIFE 7 in the fun, however. They seemed fully as happy to think that the Arabs had won, and I guess that ’way down in their hearts that was the feeling they had toward the Tripolis affair too. The afternoon’s work was over, and we turned our way to the city. It had been a strenuous afternoon, too, and the return journey seemed terribly long to me. But not to the scouts. One song after another came, sandwiched with lusty cheers for this or that event or person. It didn’t seem to occur to any one of them that it was raining, a bitter, driving, persistent rain, for which a cape was about as much protection as Hooligan’s famous hat. We had to march right against it, too, and as in a short time I got tired of holding my head down or to the side I finally surrendered and let the rain get wherever it wanted to. Wet to the skin does not even describe it, for I had to rub even that when I finally got home, and in the morning I was obliged to stay in bed quite a while longer than usual in order to allow the tailor time to put my “covers” in order. This was my first meeting with Danish boy scouts. Later I was to find out that they are just as much scouts in work as they are in play. Happiness is natural to them. I don’t believe I saw a single one with the sign “ for rent” or “ for sale” hang- ing on his face. They are, on the whole, a good deal smaller than their Norwegian or Swedish brothers, but they are lively and alert and possess much stick-to-it-tiveness. It might be men- tioned, too, though of course it does not cut so much of a figure, that they are the handsomest scouts I have seen so far—skin clear, eyes deep or light blue, features regular, bearing erect. But when they begin to talk you can’t follow them—especially in Copenhagen. They seem to punch their words out, and so quickly that it is impossible for an uninitiated person to catch on. Of course, after a while I could understand ordinary con- versation, but I had to strain every muscle connected with my ears in order not to fall off the track. Scouting came to Denmark quite early, but it was not seized with the avidity it was in Sweden. But the live coals were there and when, late in 1910, “ Scouting for Boys” came out in Danish, translated by First Lieutenant C. Lembcke, who at present is the Chief Scout of Denmark, it was not long before a lusty scout flame was burning in every corner of the country. In a com- paratively short time the first edition was sold- out, and at the present time the second edition is on its last legs. The organization is very much like that in the States, but the patrol leader exercises much more power here. He is entirely responsible for the behavior of each member. He gives points for work done, as well as demerit marks, and his word is law. The scout master has very much the same power within the troop that the leader has over the patrol. He can even expel a scout, although the scout may appeal to the chief of each di- LYING IN AMBUSH WITH POTATOES FOR ““ SNOWBALLS ”

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8 BOYS’ LIFE vision. A division is formed by all the scouts of a town or city or those living within certain political divisions. At the head of each division stands a chief and a council. All divisions are united to form the national “corps,” governed by a council of men chosen from various parts of the country. There are approximately 15,000 boy scouts in Denmark. Co- penhagen and vicinity alone have close to 3,000. As in other Scandinavian countries, the movement is quite generously supported, and everywhere the. work of the leaders is appreciated. King Christian is a warm friend of scouting, and when his two sons, Frederik and Knud, asked if they might join he readily consented. Frederik is the crown prince, and if he lives he will some day be King of the Danes. The King was particularly anxious that his sons should be treated as scouts only when in the service, and this the scout master of the troop to which they belong has rigidly adhered to. Fortunately the boys themselves make the task easy, for they are anxious to pfove in every way possible that they are good scouts. Early last fall General Baden-Powell visited the boy scouts of Gopenhagen, and a splendid program was arranged for his February, 1913 entertainment, as well as to prove to him that the Danish boys had taken hold of scouting in the right manner. A couple of incidents pleased the General very much. Here they are: Before he left his hotel for the exhibition the General was told that a number of the scouts would endeavor to keep track of him along the route without being seen. He kept a sharp lookout, but did not succeed in catching sight of a single scout. But no sooner had he entered the exhibition enclosure, however, than a number of scouts presented themselves to report what they had observed concerning the automobile in which he had been riding, to describe those who were with him, and to give the exact time at which the car had passed them. After the program Chief Scout Lembcke asked the General if he would please tell him if he had a tiny hole in the stocking on his right foot! One of the scouts had reported that he had seen it. Laughingly the General assured him that he was right— though, of course, he had not known about it. Sir Baden-Powell had nothing but kind words for the work of the boy scouts of Denmark, and since that time they have advanced, so that at the present time they rank with the best. a ‘David Livingstone, the Hero-Scout of Africa By B. BURGOYNE CHAPMAN ILLUSTRATIONS BY COURTESY MISSIONARY EDUCATION MovEMENT BOUT the time when Abraham Lincoln was giving his life to end slavery in America, another hero was blazing his scout trail in unknown Africa with the same object. Thirty-one years of almost unceasing work and exploration, he gave to his task and died going forward. SLAVE-KIDNAPPING BY ARABS, WHICH FLOURISHED WHEN LIVING- STONE FIRST WENT TO AFRICA The American Geographical Society honored Livingston dur- ing his life; it was an American newspaper that expressed the feeling of the nation by sending Stanley to find him on his last great trail; and both in life and after death the whole world recognized his greatness. Moreover, his son Robert lies buried at Gettysburg. He was born in a Scottish village on March 19, 1813, so that this is his centenary year. British boy scouts are now joining with many others on both sides of the Atlantic to celebrate his exploits, and it is expected that the Boy Scouts of America will not miss the opportunity of getting to know more of this great scout, or be behindhand in doing honor to his work. David Livingstone was born in one of the poorest and best of homes, and went to work long hours at a cotton mill to earn his living at the age of ten. But part of his first week’s wages went to buy a Latin grammar, and he studied hard in spare moments and till late at night. He used even to fix a book open in front of him when at work in the mill in order to catch a sentence now and then as he passed to and fro tending his machine. At the same time he was the life of his home, and the family circle was always brighter when David’s merry face was at the table or by the fireside. On holidays he would go long scouting rambles with his brothers, searching for new plants and insects by the river bank, bathing, and fishing. Many were the dreams he dreamed at work and play of heroic deeds and knightly adventures in far countries. The dreams became plans, and then he determined to fit himself thoroughly to help peoples less fortunate than his own. He went through his medical course at Glasgow University, pay- ing his way out of his own savings. An African traveler spoke to him of having seen from one hill “the smoke of a thousand villages where no white man had ever been,” and told him of all he could do there. From that time Livingstone knew he had found his task, and that that task was his duty to God. On the maps of Africa he had seen at school the whole of the interior from the Sahara as far south as the Transvaal had been an absolute blank, or marked as a desert inhabited only by wild beasts and a few fierce savages. “T will open up a path into the interior or—perish” was his vow. Even on his first great journey he went farther north than any white man had ever been before, and made valuable discov- eries. It was on this journey that he had his famous fight with a lion that half crippled his left arm for life. He guided his trai? by the stars and by instruments; he was “ jack-of-all-trades ” for himself and for the natives; and indeed each day of all his travel was filled with good turns to others. Next he blazed a great pioneer track from Linyanti, the most

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February, 1913 BOYS’ northerly point he had previously reached, out to Loanda on the west coast. Thus he began to open up to honest trade, to peace, and to civilization the dark and mysterious interior, at that time cursed by the horrors of slave-kidnapping and the slave trade, by constant wars, and by the cruelties and ignorance of the witch doctors. How he conquered those 1500 miles through “the forest perilous,” with hardly any baggage but “brains and pluck,” on ox-back, on foot, by dugout canoe, and wading through marshes, is one of the greatest scouting stories in the world. He was racked again and again by fevers that made every yard of prog- ress torture; dangers from wild beasts were so constant that he took sn¥ll notice of them; and he only escaped murder by savage chiefs through facing them or turning his unprotected back to their uplifted spears and guns, in the calm and abso- lute fearlessness that he always showed. He arrived at Loanda more dead than alive, and was urged to go by the open seaway home for rest, but he had promised his little native party to take them back to their people. Lest he should not live through the journey, he sent home a careful record of his minute observations of all the wonders and discoveries of the way, and plunged back into the forest. Years of heroic journeys and adventure, of constant scout service and fearless protection of the helpless, and of great discoveries passed; the world was ringing with his name. Then ‘there came no further word from him for years. It was no wonder that the New York Herald sent out Stanley to find him. He found him as near despair as a man with Livingstone’s faith in God could ever come, on the shores of Lake Tangany- ika. The old veteran was at bay, surrounded by his worst ene- mies, the Arab slave-hunters, wasted with years of fever and almost unbelievable hardships, his reserve. depot of stores, and, more important, of medicines, stolen, ‘sick with the constant sights of blood and cruelty, his reports of which were to stir the world to action. But still he refused Stanley’s entreaty to return, for he eagerly sought the sources of the Nile. “I will STANLEY FINDS LIVINGSTONE LIVINGSTONE ATTACKED BY A LION not go home till my work is done,” he said, and at that Stanley had to leave him. When “the-white-man-who-would-go-on” could walk no longer his native servants carried him forward, until, on one night in May, 1873, they looked into the hut they had thrown up for him in Chitambo’s village, and found him dead on his knees at the end of his last trail. He had always treated his black brothers honorably and lov- ingly, and these faithful men had learned to love him. They buried his heart there in Africa, and took his body a terrible nine-months’ journey to the coast and so home to the land of his boyhood. The weaver-boy lies buried in Westminster Abbey in Lon- don, amid the kings and the greatest statesmen, heroes and poets of Britain. On his tomb is his appeal, sent by Stanley’s hands, to America and the world to finish the task he began. It is to be hoped that every boy scout troop will make plans to keep his centenary. Special literature has been prepared for the Boy Scouts of America, including a new book, “ Livingstone the Pathfinder,” * which every boy who cares for tales of heroism and adventure should read. This can be obtained from Na- tional Headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America. Name and address of scout master of troop should accompany orders from boy scouts. Fuller biographies are available at all public libra- ries. * See review in the March number by the Chief Scout Librarian.—EpiTor. Fire-Fighting Heads the List Although it is nog officially stated and based upon ‘a careful tabulation of the facts, it is pretty generally understood at Na- tional Headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America that fire- fighting seems to provide the scouts more opportunity for show- ing their courage and efficiency than any other one thing. .

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“TOM FELT HE WAS BEING REFUSED” ae emery Tom Ralston vs. The Mississippi How One Boy Fought Against Odds and Held in Check the Father of Waters By GARRARD HARRIS ILLUSTRATED BY W. F. TAayYLor E are going to catch it good and strong,” declared Captain Worthington of Ivanhoe Plantation. “The river is racing up the gauge nearly a foot a day. We've got to get to work at once and ‘top’ the low places in the levee.” ‘ “Right we have!” cried Major Gordon. “I will wire for fifty thousand sacks, and I’ll telephone the governor and ask him to send a hundred able-bodied convicts from the state farm. I have now a list of the sacks you gentlemen can furnish, and of the help and tools you have. First thing of all, we’ve got to concentrate on the Catfish Bend levee and build it up.” “Well, then, I move we cut this conference short. The river has risen an inch while we've been jawing,” cut in the owner of the Insmore estate. “The next and last thing on the docket is to make arrangements to have this good levee along here patrolled, day and night. There are other things beside crawfish spouts and sand boils to guard against. We've got to remember that there are people on the other side of the river who wouldn’t hesitate to cut our levee to relieve the pressure on their own. We want a good armed guard. And we want sand bags placed all along for use in case a guafd should find a boil or a spout.” “T’ll take care of that,” replied Captain Worthington. “All right, now for a good fight!” from Major Gordon, 6¢ 10 and the group rose. Some immediately mounted horses and went galloping away. Others lingered for a few final words. Major Gordon hurried indoors to the telephone. Tom Ralston, feeling uncomfortably out of place, yet anxious to do his share, waited on the porch for the return of Major Gordon. Because he was only a lad, and a Northerner and city bred at that, he had been accorded small attention at the conference, and his promise to send fifteen men and a thousand sacks was noted without comment. Tom’s father, a manufacturer in the East, had bought Kenil- worth plantation a little over a year before, but just now he had been called back North by the critical illness of his father in Toronto, and Tom was acting as his agent. And as a matter of fact, neither he nor Tom had realized fully the seriousness of the flood menace, which endangered everybody in the district. A long period of excessive rains over the eastern section of the central Mississippi valley before the frost was out of the ground had caused a great flood through all the Ohio water- shed. Now all this excess of water was being held in check by the slower moving waters of the lower Mississippi. Hour by hour the tawny, swirling current of the Father of Waters had climbed hungrily upward. Inch by inch it had ad- vanced beyond the ordinary high water stage, then out of its natural banks and lapped the base of the levees. These great

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February, 1913 were of Fcc on either side of the river, created by the states and the federal government to keep. overflow. waters-from in-. undating the level: farm lands in ee side, were now to per- _ form the duty for which they were-buiit: The people of the delta country daily scanned the govern- ment weather report with anxiety. As it had been an unusually cold and snowy winter in the North, so it was now developing to be an unusually rainy spring. And with the waters of the first flood still on the rise, the melting snows and ice of the watersheds of the mighty river’s many great tributaries and of its own upper reaches were now hurrying seaward, urged on by warm spring rains. The conference that morning on the great pillared front porch at Bear Den plantation had been called by Major Gordon, for the purpose of starting a fight to save the lowlands. Realiz- ing that he could not be of much use on the work of topping the levee, Tom decided to ask to be a guard. With this in mind he joined a group of men who had gathered at the side door as the major came out from the telephone. “T want to do my part,” said Tom, as he came up. “You gentlemen know more about what is to be done at Catfish Bend than I do, but I can take my place and patrol part of the good levee.” “Well, now, that’s the right spirit,” said Major Gordon. “Here’s your first guard, captain.” Captain Worthington stepped aside with Tom, and his face was grave. “Do you realize that it is dangerous work?” he asked. “Levee guards have been shot in the back.” Tom felt he was being refused. Two young fellows who were waiting for Captain Worthington overheard the remark and laughed. _ “Are you sure you would not be afraid?” the captain asked sternly. “Tl take the job. Now, tell me what are those things I have to watch out for? What is a ‘sand boil’?” “ All right. As for sand boils—have you ever looked down in a spring and seen the water boiling up through the sand?” Tom nodded. “ Sure, there’s a spring on Kenilworth that does that.” “ There must be pressure from somewhere to make the water boil up in the spring, eh?” “Of course.” “Very well; on the river side of the levee is a flood of-water, say, twenty feet above the level of the ground inside. Consider the tremendous pressure of that much water, and remember that it is seeking the easiest place of escape. If there is a weak place anywhere, it i$ going through, the same as the water from a standpipe will burst 3 rotten hose.” “T understand, sir.” “On the inside of the levee there may ‘ a streak of sand where years ago there was a spring, or where a root or a log has decayed in the ground. The pressure of the water is going to start through there as the wealdiee place. It first starts as a trickle, but soon it is spouting inside like a miniature geyser. The current thus formed quickly eats a larger channel for it- self. Soon the levee is undermined, and it falls into the great hole that has been made under its base, and we have a ‘ crevasse’ that widens hundreds of feet in a very few seconds.” “ Whew!” said Tom, his eyes opening wide. “ What must I do when I find a sand boil?” “Tf you see a boil developing, grab a sack of dirt—we’ll leave some at points a few hundred feet apart—put it right over the spout; pile on more as fast as you can and blow your horn for” help, and keep blowing. We will get there and attend to it.” “T’ve got that all right. What about crawfish spouts?” “Just a variation of the sand boil where the water comes through a crawfish hole.” “Then there is the other and greater danger,” said Captain Worthington. “If the water gets up very near to the level of the crown of the levee, it would be possible to take a walking ‘stick, and with it cause a crevasse, which in five minutes no earthly power could stop.” “How could that be done?” inquired Tom. “You probably have noticed that the levees are covered with a mat of Bermuda grass?” “ Yes; sir.” “That grass is carefully transplanted onto the levees for the purpose of binding the dirt and keeping it from washing. The water can come right up to the top-of the levee and even run over BOYS’ LIFE 11 a bit, but the Bermuda grass will prevent it from eating away the soft dirt underneath. “Now, suppose the water on the river side were flush with the crown of the levee, and some force were to scratch a trench across the narrow strip, breaking the Bermuda and letting the water run across the soft, unprotected dirt.” Tom nodded his head. “That is why the levee guards are armed, and why it is dan- gerous, sometimes, to be a guard. We don’t allow a strange boat to approach the levee when the situation becomes critical. But we will not make you shoulder that responsibility. We don’t want a boy to have to do any work of that kind. Leave your gun at home, don’t carry even a revolver. We will leave the gun carrying to older hands, and you will have one of the least dan- gerous places to guard. : Now, go home and get your raincoat, your hunting horn, and a lantern. We will give you a mile to patrol. The planters above and below are making the same arrangements as we are, and every foot of the levee will be watched. Your meals will be sent to you.” That afternoon Tom was taken to the levee a mile and a half from the Worthington house. His horse was left at the plan- tation stables. No horses were allowed on the levee, for even a . hoof track at a critical point might start a break. His post was marked with a white flag stuck in the ground at each end, a mile apart. He was to remain on duty till mid- night; then he would be relieved by a man who would serve till noon the next day, when Tom would resume. The man who instructed him shook his hand, and then left him on his path of duty, guardian for a mile of the levee, and— so it seemed to Tom—of more lives, more property, more wealth, and more responsibility than one boy had ever been entrusted with before. It was a curious sensation. He felt a sort of gone and sink- ing feeling as the last thud and, hoofbeat died away on the water-soaked ground. He knew that he was utterly alone until midnight, save when at the end of his beat, north and south, he might chance upon the sentinels on the adjoining sections. Tom climbed to the top of the levee and looked across the dark waters. There raced a gigantic tree cut from some overhang- ing bank by the swift current. Close behind it came a cotton shed, then a negro shanty with three or four chickens main- taining an unsteady perch upon its roof as the structure swayed and whirled, bobbed and dipped in the rushing flood. Above the fringe of willows and cottonwoods marking the normal banks of the river, some twelve hundred yards distant ffom the levee, he could look across to-the other side of the tor- rent, neatly two miles wide now, a vast swirling waste of yellow wateét which had risen so that the tips of these trees were barely visible. Quantities of dead wood, trash eyo and some house- hold plunder and pieces of fencing drifted b Tom began the patrol of his lonely pte and before night had made two trips over it, carefully looking for sand boils and other evidences of weakness. But nothing happened that day, nor that night, except that the water crawled gradually upward, averaging an inch an hour. It was the same the next two days and nights following. On the fourth day, however, the water took an alarming spurt up- ward. More and more shanties, cotton houses and debris of all sorts was being brought down by the current. The carcasses of drowned: Horses and cattle began to drift by. The water was approaching sencintedy near the crown of the levee. Judge Harrington, the old gentleman on the post next above “Tom’s, said there was no danger of sand boils—the ground “upon which the levee was built was solid “buckshot,” and the levee was too far from the river’s normal channel for muskrat or crawfish holes to be a menace. The only danger at Tom’s point, therefore, was that the great wall of dirt might not with- stand the pressure of the water, or that something might cause a breach across the top through which the inrushing flood would quickly eat to the base and cause the structure to collapse. The Judge had his rifle with him, and spent much of his time look- ing across the river with a field-glass. The fifth day, when he went to his post, Tom was told that his relief man would not show up that night. “Tf the water keeps rising it will be within an inch or so of the crown shortly after midnight,” said the red-eyed, mud- spattered planter, who brought news from Captain Worthington. “We can’t get a man to relieve you, for everybody who can handle a shovel or lift a sack of dirt is at the Catfish Bend

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12 BOYS’ levee below here. This is no time to take chances. We believe that this is the crest of the fidod, and in twenty-four hours the water will begin to fall. Will you try to stick it out?” “Yes, I’ll stay on,” said Tom. There was nothing else to do, though it meant twenty-four hours of strained nerves, without sleep or rest. As Tom made his last trip before dark, something was vaguely worrying him. Then all of a sudden the truth of what it was flashed through his mind. There was not a single sand bag on that stretch of the levee! The situation had developed so alarmingly fast at Catfish Bend that the planters had not been able to supply the neces- saries for emergency helps along the good levee. Every day the sand bags had been expected. In case of a break, there was not a sack nor a shovel along the whole stretch that he could use. On one side, twenty feet below him, stretched the lowlands; on the other, only a couple of inches below the level of his heels, the river, two miles wide. His heart sank. The danger point was midway of his post. He was a full half mile away from either Judge Harrington or the man on the post below. The big force of men were five miles down stream at Catfish Bend. Night came on clear and starlit. There was an uncanny silence on the woods, and the voice of the onrushing water in the river sounded like the approach of some great windstorm. Far out on the wild waste a dog barked and howled—some poor creature marooned on a floating log or house-top. Tom made his trips regularly, until midnight, then as the water lacked scarcely an inch of being at the top of the levee at the lowest point of his post he went to the place where the current set against it from the opposite shore and waited. What he would do in an emergency he did not know. He had his hunt- ing horn with him, and he would blow that, but with slight chance of being heard. He turned up his lantern and patrolled the four-hundred-yard stretch constantly, although he realized that if the levee should give way he would very likely be caught and drowned instantly. Well, suppose he was—he might give “HE HAD BEEN DIGGING! DIGGING THE LEVEE. . . LIFE February, 1913 the alarm and save others. He was glad that his mother and two sisters had gone to Vicksburg. It must have been about three o’clock when he realized that the water was subsiding a little. But he also noticed that the current was racing against the levee with the speed of an ex- press train, due, no doubt, to the fact that the river had cut a deeper channel. Suddenly Tom thought he felt a vibration of the slender crown of the levee. It came from his rear, and he turned and ran quickly, but as lightly as possible in that direc- tion. In the gloom he saw a long, black object a hundred yards distant, projecting into the water, one end against the levee. A boat ! He stopped, and his heart stood still. No, it was a tree, brought there by the current. He hurried forward again, to push the tree away, if possible, so the current would carry it off. Tom set his lantern down. And then as he looked up—a man! A big, burly negro, with a shovel. He had come on the tree, from the Louisiana shore, knowing that he would not dare to come in a boat. He had been digging! Digging the levee! There was a trickling of water. Lucky negro, that the guard at this point was little, unarmed Tom Ralston. With an angry shout, Tom sprang forward. The negro, momentarily paralyzed with the fear of being:shot, brought up his shovel. There was a quick scuffle, a heavy blow. Then with the human black snake it had brought again clinging low in its branches, half in the water, the tree sidled out into the current and drifted away into the night. Stunned by the blow, and thrown into the river, his lantern kicked to smithereens—what of little Tom Ralston? Luckily the shovel had struck his head a glancing blow, and he had good power of recuperation. The cold water revived him instantly, and he got a glimpse of the lantern before his as- sailant kicked it over, which gave him his bearings. A good swimmer, he had dived almost instantly, and was safely cling- ing to the levee before the negro pushed out his tree. (Continued on page 23.) WITH AN ANGRY SHOUT, TOM SPRANG FORWARD ”

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ALL OUT FOR THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT Los Angeles Boy Aeroplane Builders By C. L. EDHOLM O N a certain Saturday during the “ kite season” every year, the schoolboys of Los Angeles, Cal., meet at one of the city parks to hold a great kite tournament and juvenile aviation meet. In the first of these annual events the kite flying was the principal attraction, but with the rapid progress in aviation, the flying of model monoplanes, biplanes, helicopters and other aircraft has become the main feature. This is explained by the fact that Los Angeles has been the scene of four great interna- tional aviation meets, at which world’s rec- ords have been broken and by the presence about the city of various factories and schools where different types of flyers are made and pupils are taught to operate them. It is not strange that the schoolboys of that city are much interested in the new science, and the teachers do everything pos- sible to encourage them. In the High Schools that teach manual training the boys are taught the principles of airship con- struction and are allowed to build models of the successful flyers and also to develop ideas of their own. Not only miniature models are built and flown in these contests but even gliders capable of carrying a youthful aviator have been featured, and of course it is from such young enthusiastic amateurs that the best professional aviators will be developed in the course of a few years. Some of the interesting types are shown in the accompanying..photographs, taken at the meets or on the school grounds. All of them are made by schoolboys and most of them are highly successful. Probably the flyer showing the highest finish is the model of a Bleriot monoplane, somewhat modified in its lines but of the general plan of this first aircraft to cross the Eng- lish Channel. It is about three feet from tip to tip-and is equipped with a small com- pressed-air engine which drives the pro- peller. The air is compressed in a small prestolite tank about ten inches long, which is secured to the frame back of the engine. The propeller is built very accurately and scientifically and the little aircraft will fly fifteen minutes or more on a single charge of air. The eight-foot glider designed to carry a fourteen-year-old boy is built on the lines of a Curtis biplane and is brought into the air by towing behind a motorcycle. One of the main difficulties in building a satisfactory machine of this size is the expense of securing the proper material; specially seasoned wood, both tough and light; highest quality covering for the wings and exceptionally strong wires for the rudder controls, etc. Of course most of the attempts are not so ambitious as the two just described, the average contestant being satisfied to submit a small model operated by twisted rubber bands or steel springs. Among the most interesting spring- operated devices is the helicopter, with four planes that resemble Japanese parasols, under each of which is a three-bladed pro- peller somewhat like a windmill. These propellers are placed horizontally so that AN OCTOPLANE, BUILT BY A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT when they revolve the machine is driven straight up, while another upright propeller is used to supply the forward motion. This type is designed to poise, if desired; re- maining motionless in the air, while the standard types of planes depend upon their swift movement to keep them aloft. Besides these self-propelled devices, there are numerous varieties of small gliders ranging from the commonest bird-like models to such complicated designs as the octoplane, which has a general resemblance to a number of box kites set side by side on the frame and skids of a biplane. In these contests, the committee of teachers, who have made scientific study of the new art, award prizes for models of the different classes, basing their deci- sions upon stability, altitude, endurance and general excellence of finish. In the matter of kite-building, the Chinese and Japanese students excel, as they cam get expert advice at home. It is well known that the flying of kites is considered a sport for grown men in the Orient, and some of the models that are flown are little masterpieces of kite-building. The designs. are usually fantastic; birds, butterflies, twin fish, intertwined Japanese and Ameri- can flags ;. all have been featured as steadi- ly flying kites, but perhaps the most inter- esting of all is the dragon kite. This con- sists of about twenty disks of silk paper on circular bamboo frames, the parts being set one behind the other to form the body of a twenty-foot dragon. They are held together at intervals of about a foot by a rigging of silk threads and on either side of each disk is a balancing device in the form of a peacock feather. The upper half of each disk is painted red and the lower half white, while the head is a terrible creation with a beard, a projecting tongue and eyes set on pivots that revolve in the wind. MODEL BLERIOT MONOPLANE, OPERATED BY COMPRESSED AIR A HELICOPTER, DESIGNED TO DEFY “ AIR HOLES”

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The Indian: Sign Language for Boy Scouts Part [.—Introduction; Some Signs of Primary Importance | ish were boy scout, every camper, every hunter and every traveler in the wilds should have some knowledge of the sign language. Although first developed among the Indians of the plains, and the deaf, it is proving its usefulness in other communi- ties and in very different regions. My attention was first directed to. this mode of talking in 1882 when I went to live among the Indians of the Northwest. I learned very soon that though there were many Indian languages and dialects, all who used them could meet and freely ex- change ideas by the convenient and pic- turesque sign language of the plains. More than thirty different tribes, some. 130,000 persons, used this simple and expressive eye talk; it is, or was, the speech of West- ern trade and diplomacy, and has been, .as far back as the records shed light. One of the best sign-talkers I ever met CUT I.—SINGLE-HANDED DEAF ALPHABET By ERNEST THOMPSON SETON Cuter Scout, Boy Scouts or AMERICA (Copyright, 1913, by E. T. Seton) was the Crow Indian White Swan, who had been one of Custer’s scouts. He was badly wounded by the Sioux, clubbed on the head and left for dead. He recovered, and escaped, but ever after was deaf and in time became dumb. However, sign talk was familiar to all his people, and he was at little disadvantage in day-time. From him I received many lessons in sign language and thus in 1897 began to study it seriously. In later years, I found that the sign language had grown up and become estab- lished among the deaf, because of. its great superiority over finger spelling, being so much faster, simpler and more elegant. I was next interested to learn that the Trappist monks and the “silent sisters” have adopted the sign language, and suffer but slight inconvenience from their self- imposed abandonment of speech. Last, and it was with a lit- tle shame at my slowness, I realized that in every nation, especially among the young, the sign language is more-or less used, and one might log- ically claim that this was the earliest, as it is the widest spread mode of communica- tion among mankind. In making observation among school boys and girls, I had this uniform experi- ence—all denied any knowl- edgé of the sign language, at first, but were themselves surprised on discovering how much of it they had in estab- - lished use. One very shy little girl—so shy that she dared not speak —furnished a good illustra- tion: “Do you use the sign lan- guage in your school?” I asked. : She shook her head. “Do you learn any lan- guage but English?” She nodded. “ What is the use of learn- ing any other than English?” She raised her right shoul- der in the faintest possible shrug, and at the same time turned her right palm slightly up. “Now,” was my reply, “don’t you see you have al- ready given me three signs of the sign language which you said you did not use?” 14 Following the subject I said, “ What does this mean?” and held up my right hand with the first and second fingers crossed. “ Pax,” she whispered; and then, after further trials, I learned, that at least thirty signs were in daily use in the local school. This was in England. In America the sign “pax” or “king’s cross” is called “king’s X,” “fines” or “fends,” “bars up” or “truce,” meaning always “I claim immunity.” This is a very ancient sign and seems to refer to the right of sanctuary. The name “king’s cross” used occasionally in Eng- land refers to the sanctuary in the King’s palace. Many of these gestures date from remote antiquity, and every scholar will recall the signs for “grant. mercy” and “kill him” as used in the arena. In general I found about 130 in estab- lished use among American schoolboys. As examples you will surely find that you know the signs for you, me, come, go, hurry, gently, applause, pay me, bribe, crazy, etc. The reasons for the study are numerous, but are here omitted for want of space. The pictograph is the written form of the sign language, and in many cases I have added the pictograph in one corner of the illustration. THE GRAMMAR OF THE SIGN LANGUAGE Its grammar is simple since there are neither inflections, conjugations nor cases, excepting such as are constructed out’ of additional modifying signs. General Rule: The first rule is put the qualification after the idea, except when emphasis is desired. Thus it should be “a horse black,” “he ran swiftly,” or “he ate food little.” Nouns: The number of a noun is indi- cated by the signs, 1, 2, 3, etc, “many” or “few,” etc. The case of nouns is in- dicated only by the context. Verbs: The number of a verb is indicated by context; the tense by addition of the signs for “ past,” “ ended,” “now,” or “ fu- ture,” when the sense would otherwise be not clear. Note: ferred to my principal authori by initials or abbreviations, as . P. Clark of the Sign Language Dictionary (C). Garrick Mal- lery of Gesture-signs (M). J. Schuyler Long of the Si Language used by the Deaf (D), Col. Hugh L. ‘Scott, U. S. A., who has helped me much in correspondence, (Scott). r interpreter for Crow _Nation W. C. Roe (Roe), Thomas. Frosted, a Sioux (T.F.), Chasing Bear, a Santee (C.B.), White Swan, a Crow Scout (W.S.) and Sheeaka, a Sioux Indian (Sheeaka). In proie usage everywhere (Pop). In most cases the sign is endorsed by several authorities, and in many by all.—E. T. S. In preparing these pages I have re- in each case

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February, 1913 Adjectives and Adverbs: The comparison of adjectives and adverbs is made by add- ing “more,” and “most,” or “high,” and “higher.” They are further modified by adding such signs as “strong,” “heap strong,” “ little,” etc. ‘ (As a constructive rule, remember tha all movements must be graceful and all grimacing eliminated.) THE MANUAL ALPHABET Although not at all Indian, it is exceed- ingly helpful to know the single-handed deaf alphabet as given in Cut 1; partly be- cause it must sometimes be used for giving proper names and also because it saves time if we say for example “ position A or B,” instead of describing each hand all over again for each new sign. Similarly one often uses the words “5” hand, etc., meaning the hand as in Fig. V, Cut 2, etc. THe NuMERALS Fingers and numerals are nearly synony- mous the world round when we are making signs. The Indian code, the popular code and the deaf code are nearly alike in this, but we find that the deaf have carried the idea farther and it is well to use their method. The illustrations set them forth sufficiently. THE ORDINALS For ordinals make the figure sign, then without changing the position of hand or arm, give the hand a twisting jerk from CUTS 3 (TOP) AND 4 the wrist: that-one.” meaning “ number-so-and-so, Some Sicns oF Primary IMPORTANCE (N.B. “A” hand, “G” hand, 5 hand, etc., mean the hand held in the position CUT 5—QUESTION 15 BOYS’ LIFE for “ A,” “ G,” it 5” etc., as shown in the cuts of alphabet and numbers. Two other positions need to be named, the flat hand (Cut 3) and the compressed hand (Cut 4). By far the most used of all the In- dian signs are the ones for Question, yes and no, so I shall give them first with their variants: Question, Query, Interrogation, I am asking you a ques- tion, I want to know (I am grop- ing, wavering or uncertain). Hold up the ‘right hand to- ‘ wards the person, \ palm forward, fin- gers and thumb . open, spread but Nine curved, swing the hand from side to side a little by wrist motion. It is used before and sometimes af- ter all questions. If you are very near, merely raise the eyebrows. If the One Hundred person is quite dis- tant, hold the hand higher, more spread and wave it several times to right and left. For long distance raise both hands high cuT 6—How? like Y with hands flat and wave a little. (LaF.) How? (How does it present itself.) First question; then hold curved “5” hand near mouth palm in. (Sheeaka.) CuT 8—AFTER “QUESTION,” COMPLETES INQUIRY “ WHAT!” CUT 2—DEAF NUMERALS How many or How much? First the ques- tion sign, then hold the left hand open curved palm up, fingers spread, then with right index quickly tap each finger on left in succession closing it back towards the left palm beginning with the little finger: (C.) Cut 7. How much? Same as How many? What? What are you doing? What do you want? What is it? (What shape or object?) First give question, then hold right hand palm under, fingers slightly bent and separated, and pointing forward, throw it about a foot from right to left several times, describing an arc upward. (C.) Cut 8. When? If seeking a definite answer as to length of time make signs for question, how much, and then specify time by sign for hours, days, etc. (C.) CUT 7—HOW MANY?

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16 When? tension and a fixed point on it). (A line. representing indefinite ex- Question “ QUESTION,” CUT Q—AFTER “WHEN?” COMPLETES and “A” hand held out with index nearly straight crossed by straight thumb. (Sheeaka.) Cut 9. Whence? Sign from and where. Where? (What direction.) Question, then with forefinger sweep the horizon in a succession of bounds, a slight pause at the bottom of each; the head and eyes fol- lowing the finger. (Sheeaka.) Where? (In an abstract sense.) Extend the open hands, palm up, from the side ¢ i - CUT IO—AFTER “wHICH?” ’ a Ss COMPLETES “ QUESTION,” out to the front and swing them from side to side, with a look of inquiry on the face. ( Pop.) Which? Question, then hold left hand in front of you, with palm toward you, fingers pointing to right and held apart; place the end of the right forefinger on that of left forefinger, and then draw it down across the other fingers. (D.) Or hold left “V” hand out back up and tap the two fingers in succession with right index. (LaF.) This latter is also used for or. Cut 10. Fr, we. CUT “ QUESTION,” COMPLETES II—AFTER “wHo?” Who? (What visage.) Question, and then describe with the “G” hand a six-inch circle six inches in front of the mouth. (D.) Cut 11. BOYS’ LIFE Why? Make the sign for question, then repeat it very slowly. (C.) Yes. If near, simply nod. If far, close the right hand except thumb and first _ finger forming a beak, hold back toward shoulder; move the hand slightly forward and bend the fingers a little downward, that is bow, or snap index and thumb together, then resume the first pose. (Bowing of head and body.) (Roe.) No. For very short range shake the head; CUT I2—BOY SCOUT this is simple and universal. It is so natural that babies do it when offered bit- ter medicine. But for distance hold the extended right hand, back up in front of body, fingers pointing to left and front; move the hand to right and front, at same time turning hand, thumb up, so that the back of hand will be to right and downward; the hand is swept into its position on a curve. (C.) That is, throw it away or refuse it. This is a little like bad, but in the latter the palm is down. CUT I3—TROOP OR TRIBE Very Much or Heap Strong. Hold out the left fist back forward and strike down past the knuckles with the right fist. (C.) Scout, that is Boy Scout. Hold up the right hand with little finger and thumb forming a ring, other three fingers straight up. (Pop.) Cut 12. Troop or Tribe. (Over, band.) Hold all fingers and thumb of left hand in a point and circle them with fingers and thumb of right (for band) then move right index in an arch over tips of left hand. (Sheeaka.) Illustration. To ask “Are you a boy scout?” you give the question sign, point to the person addressed, then hold up the right hand as in Cut 12. (To be continued) February, 1913 The Fourth Commandment (Continued from page 4) “ Throw us a heaving’ line!” Tad bawled back. “ We’re coming aboard to help you get some sail on her!” They argued the question for a moment, but the captain found it useless to say more. So he threw them a line and helped them on board. Carson made the skiff fast to the after rail, where it could tow behind. “Tf you insist on risking your lives it'll be my business to see that you don’t waste any time,’ Hansen said, grimly surveying them. The change in his manner was mar- velous. Inside of two minutes every boy was working his hardest under his swift commands. The Evelyn Blue was a fairly large ves- sel, with an immense foredeck piled high with lumber. It was apparent that her old crew had tried to jettison this and relieve the strain it made on her, but they had suc- ceeded only in loosening the chain lashings enough to let the whole mass work back and forth as she rolled. This had made it impossible for Hansen to set the whole foresail single-handed. The mainsail was entirely too heavy to be handled by one man. With the boys’ help he now took the reef out of the foresail, set a forestaysail and then set the mainsail. Though the breeze was light this gave the water-logged hulk steerage way and Hansen put Milligan and Carson at the wheel, with directions to keep her headed for the whistling buoy just outside the bar. “Tt’s the start of the flood tide,” he ex- plained to Tad. “This old tub draws at least twenty-five feet in her present condi- tion. How much water is there on the bar?” Tad shook his head. “ Barely twenty-six on the top of the flood. High tide isn’t till mid-afternoon.” “Then we'll anchor outside and you boys. will row in and dicker with a couple of launchmen. They can get her in, I think.” “Tt’ll be rough before afternoon,” Culver remarked, pointing to the south. As if to give point to his prophecy, the Evelyn Blue rose slowly on a huge swell and dived until the water brimmed over the forecastlehead. “You're right,” the captain agreed gloomily. “ That’s the first warning. That swell will break on the bar.” The great hill of water traveled on, lifted the whistling buoy, sped onward, seemed’ to mount up until it hid all view of the bar, and at last exploded into a long ridge of white. The thunder of its breaking reached’ their ears. “T’ll just hoist the distress signal again,” Hansen said curtly. “The crew will come out and take you fellows in.” “You'll abandon the ship, then?” Culver suggested. “Who? I?” snorted Hansen. “Son, I shan’t quit this deck until it quits me. This. is my ship and here I stay.” Tad nodded understandingly. “I tell you what, captain,” he said, earnestly. “Carson and I both know this bar pretty well. There’s depth enough in the north channel if we can only get over an ugly shoal at the entrance.” “Nobody ever takes that channel now,” Culver said. “It’s too dangerous.”

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February, 1913 “Tt’s the only chance,” Tad responded. “One wave would fetch us over the shal- low place.” “Tf it struck us right,” Culver snorted. “Tf it hit us wrong Po Hansen glanced from one to the other. “TI see what you mean,” he said, slowly. “T don’t know this bar, I’m sorry to ‘Say. But if you boys think there’s a chance, we'll take it. In another hour we'll be on that bar whether we like it or not, for the tide is running in strongly.” He pointed to the whistling buoy tugging at its moorings in the current. They saw that the Evelyn was being carried in at a good rate. A second big swell rolled in and in due time broke clear across the entrance. Tad picked up the hand lead and climbed into the railed platform on the port side to get a cast. Hansen watched him shrewdly. “Six fathoms,” Tad reported. “We're right in the channel.” “How much is there on that shoal we’ve got to cross?” demanded the captain. “Maybe eighteen feet at this stage of the tide, sir.” “She'll strike and hang there,” groaned Hansen. “And the next sea will finish things.” “Tt’s our only chance,” Tad said, soberly. “Tf you'll handle the ship Ill pilot you.” “T hope the life savers will be in time,” Hansen muttered, as he took the wheel himself. Under Tad’s directions the schooner swung slowly up for the north jetty. The breeze was growing lighter and she barely answered her helm, while the stvells from seaward were steadily increasing in height and the bar was now sheeted with fields of foam. For ten minutes nothing was said. Then Tad called in a low tone, “We're almost to that shoal, captain. If you can let her swing just as the next swell comes in it may fetch her over.” “Get up into the rigging, you boys!” Hansen said, sharply. “Tad, climb up and be careful.” The boys understood and were quickly perched on the ratlines. Tad swung him- self up on the main boom. They all saw a tremendous sea hasting in toward them. Then it slowly heaved the wreck upwards. At Tad’s shout Hansen put all his strength on the whéel. But the wallowing hulk did not answer. Instead, she threw her bows deeply downward just as her stern lifted. A terrific thump told them she had hit bot- tom. Then the-sea broke wildly over, fill- ing the bunt of the foresail and staysail and tearing them away like paper. The schooner settled down in the hollow, helpless at last, but groaning and straining as if she knew her fate. Hansen looked despairingly seaward and winced. Another sea was coming to complete the work of destruction. But the force of the tide had prevented the schooner from really settling, and as she slowly swung, the onrushing mountain of water lifted her in a tremendous flurry of spray and drove her on a hundred feet. Hansen heard Tad’s wild yell, “ We’re over . it!” But their position was still full of peril. On every side the breakers roared cease- lessly, and even in the deep channel, where they were the different eddies and currents seemed fairly to pick the old wreck into LIFE BOYS’ 17 WHICH HAS THE ADVANTAGE? ; The Puzzle Corner Bors’ LIFE for February goes to press too early to include announcement of the winners in the January competitions, which close on the last day of the month. The March number will tell. Meantime, we are wrestling with some new puzzles for you. pieces. She was awash from the fore- castlehead to the afterdeck and tumbled miserably, beyond any control. A moment later she struck heavily again, hung for a moment and then rolled sullenly over on her beam ends. As if wearied of its flurry the bar sud- denly grew smooth, only rising and falling blankets of foam showing what had been. Hansen scrambled up the tilted deck to- wards the boys, who were clinging in the shrouds, grabbed Tad on his way and said huskily, “ Hang on there, boys. The crew will soon be here!” Culver spoke first, in a tone so cool that Hansen stared at him. “ There’s a whoop- ing big fellow coming in now, captain. The crew is still a good distance away.” Tad, who had swung up beside Culver, looked astern and then down at Hansen. “The way we're lying that sea ought to fetch us clear in.” Hansen dropped down to the wheel again, shaking the brine out of his eyés. “ All right, son,” he said, easily. “ Here’s where we either make or break.” With a bellow the sea was upon them. For an instant the wreck seemed to be rolling clean over. Then it yielded to the vast might of the wave and was swept inward, righted with a jerk that almost dislodged the boys from their perches and proceeded broadside on to the smooth cur- rent inside the bar. The life boat surged up alongside and the keeper stared into Hansen’s face. “Well,” he said, slowly, “ Of all the insane people ever I, heard of!” Hansen grinned. “The boys thought we ought to bring her in, seeing ‘she’s val- uable.” The captain of the life savers stared up at the scouts and shook his head. “ Lucky you took the North Channel,” he growled. “You'd never have made it any other way.” “T had first-class pilots,” was the re- sponse. When the Evelyn Blue was anchored at last off the town Captain Hansen said sim- ply, “ You boys got me back a ship. Yow understand, this vessel and cargo will bring in a lot of money. You'll get your shares.” Then Spencer spoke up. “No, you'd have managed somehow without us. We— we just came along for friendship.” “That’s right,” Tad agreed. “We wouldn’t take anything.” The boys stuck to this decision even when Captain Hansen formally called on the parents of each and tried to join his thanks, with substantial shares in the sal- vage money. He desisted only when Bob: Spencer made a special trip over to the scow one afternoon and explained the Fourth Law. From that hour Captain Hansen said no more. But the day after he was gone to take command of a ship which he had bought, Tad read his fare- well letter to his companions. It ran: “Dear Frrenps.—I have fixed up the house-boat complete. You will find a new boat there to take the place of the skiff lost while crossing the bar. Please accept the scow and the boat from your grateful friend, O. HaNsEN.” They went over in a body to take posses- sion. The first thing they saw when they opened the door was a big locker, with a card on it. “For My Frienps, THE Boy Scouts.” Inside was the sextant, a ship’s compass, a complete set of charts and a big chronom- eter, together with books on navigation, and a new log-book, with the inscription on its cover, Log of the Ship “ Friends.” Bob Spencer spoke for the crowd. “I'd rather Old Hansen was back with us!”

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i = igre asi: 8 a FOREIGN BOY SCOUTS OF SHANGHAI, CHINA; TEN DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED Boy Scouts in China The Boy Scouts in Shanghai, China, have now been formed two years. We have five troops here, in which nine dif- ferent nationalities are represented. Just lately we have had an increase in the num- ber of American boys, and as I should like to carry on their training as much as possi- ble on the American lines, I should feel extremely grateful if a few scout masters in America will write to me letting me know what the training is like over on your side. Most of the American boys with us now are sons of missionaries and will be com- ing back to you in one, two or three years and personally I should like them to feel that we can transfer them from here to you. Although we are international scouts, each boy is taught to look up to his own flag as the best, and I can assure you that there is no pleasanter sight than to see all these boys scouting together. In conclusion, we wish to express to all the Boy Scouts of America our best wishes and tell them that, although we are a long way off, and far from our home land, we are always pleased to hear of our brother scouts doing their “good turns,” and hope that their organization will. continue to prosper. J. RR. WEtcH. Chiéf Scout Master Shanghai Boy Scouts. Boy Scouts’ Anniversary Week The second week of this month will be celebrated as the anniversary week of the Boy Scouts of America, February 8 being the third birthday of the scout. movement in this country. Greetings will be sent to every scout master, and in addition it is suggested by National Headquarters that the boys center their attention on two days in the week, February 8, and February 12, the former, as stated, the birthday of the organization, and the latter of course, Lincoln’s birthday. % On February 8 it is planned -to have demonstrations of scouting activities in all the big towns throughout the country. The 12th will be the day for hikes, and in the evening of that day, promptly at nine o’clock, it is intended that all troops which are. assembled shall stand at attention im- mediately as the clock strikes, and give the scout salute, at the same time repeat- ing the scout oath and the motto, “Be Prepared.” During this week, of course, the officers of the National Organization will hold their annual meeting, at which reports from scout masters and scout commissioners throughout the country will be received, and decisions made concerning important questions dealing with the welfare of the movement. vskieemnentmigitin piety A Name to Remember One day last September there walked into my Office a rather poorly dressed, tired-look- ing little fellow a little over twelve years of age, and inquired whether I was “the scout man.” Being assured that I was just the fellow he was looking for, he said he wanted to be made a scout, and had heard that I could tell him how. This I pro- ceeded to do, and he left. I wondered if I should ever hear from him again, and rather doubted it; but he surprised me last night by walking in again; this time at my home, while I sat at supper, about 6.30. He announced that he was ready for the test. In answer to questions I asked him, I found that he had had no supper, so we made room for him at the table, and invited him to eat with us., At first he declined, saying he was not fit, as his hands were quite black from walnut stain. He had gathered black walnuts, hulled them and sold them after school hours in order to get money with which to buy his scout handbook. We ex- cused his hands, and he sat down. He was hungry, but while he ate we got his story: His parents had separated long ago. His mother married again, and he went to live with his grandfather, a poor old man, who lived at Valley Falls, Kan., twenty-five miles away. He had walked that twenty- five miles alone since 10 o'clock, with no dinner, and only one apple to eat, which he had picked up on the way down. After he had eaten his fill the boy took the tenderfoot test, which he passed with great credit. He stood up, gave the scout sign and salute, and then repeated without hesitation or error the scout oath and the scout law; gave the significance of the scout badge and a good history of the flag, and tied six of the more difficult knots with the readiness of a born sailor. After investing him with his badge, and giving him his well earned certificate, I said, “ Now, my boy, you are a tenderfoot.” “Yes,” he replied, as he looked down at his dusty shoes, “I’ve got two of ’em.” His name is Thomas Martin Ferguson and—don’t you forget it! Joun H. Fazet. Scout Commissioner, Topeka, Kan. The dictaphone is a business phonograph which takes the place of stenography. The dictagraph is a wonderfully sensitive “ single-action” telephone, (a transmitter at one end and a receiver at the other), and is used for eavesdropping by detectives. BOY SCOUTS OF GERMANY BIVOUACKED IN A PARK

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Merit Badge Tests and How to Pass Them I.—Astronomy By SAMUEL A. MOFFAT Nationa Fietp Scout CoMMISSIONER (Editor’s Note.—The next contribution to this department, edited by Mr. Moffat, will be on Ornithology, by B. S. Bowdish.) A= every boy is familiar with the “Big Dipper.” Many boys can even point out the “Little Dipper,” the Pole star, the Pointers and the Pleiades. If you are not familiar with these, ask someone who knows the stars to point them out to you. It is safe to say that you will never forget them. In fact, they become friends for life and are constant companions wher- ever you are. Even though you travel alone over unknown seas and in foreign lands you may be sure their companion- ship will dispel any sense of loneliness. In order that every scout may by the easiest possible method gain a personal ac- quaintance with the stars, I am going to make your introduction such that you will be able without difficulty to recognize them whenever you see them again. The difficulty which you find as a star scout in learning the names and location of the principal stars and their relation to each other will be easily overcome by com- mitting to memory the poem published herewith. These lines have never been published before and are printed here for the first time.. They were given the writer by a trans-Atlantic sea captain during a sea voyage which is full of happy memories owing to the wonderful opportunity af- forded to become better acquainted with the stars. These verses contain the princi- pal stars of the first and second magnitude in the Northern hemisphere, giving their approximate relation to each other. PrincipaAL Stars AND CONSTELLATIONS OF THE NortTHERN. HEMISPHERE. (Copyright, 1913, by S. A. Moffat) Pleiades and the Great Bear, The Pointers and the Polar Star, Are objects which are easily known By those to whom they once are shown. Southeast by east from Pleiades Is Aldabaren, eighteen degrees; Then if you but carry this line on, You'll come to Bellatrix in Orion. Then if east you go, you may with ease See a brighter star, named Betelguese; Southwest of him just cast your eye And the belt of Orion you will decry, North star of which is said to shine Near the great equinoctial line. Through the middle star from Betelguese Is Rigel, just eighteen degrees, d then from him southeast inclining, You'll see the brilliant Sirius shining. ‘Twenty-eight degrees of northwest motion From this latter star will point out Procyon. Sirius, Procyon and Betelguese united Form an equilateral triangle equally divided. Through Procyon from the belt south star Regulus in Leonis is seen afar, And if you but onward sail You'll come to Denabola in Leonis’ tail. If from the Pole you southward sail, And Ursa Major’s tail pass by, This line goes rear but will insure us Of a certain way to find Arcturus. Through Ursa’s tail, last star but one, A line would from the Pole star thrown Pass through Spica in Virgo fair, That constellation’s brightest star. And with it Arcturus and Denabola make A triangle, whose center takes A little -star in Virgo famed And Vendematrix always named. From Regulus through Pains just as far as Sixty-three degrees is Red Antares; Between these two a line you stretch, North of which will be Zebelritch, And a double star northwest of him, Zebelell, shines with equal gleam. Altair, Aquila’s brightest star, : Is northeast by east from Red Antair, Its distance forty degrees at least; Between two smaller ones is placed, To shine in the Almighty’s order, On the Milky Way’s most southern border. East-northeast from Altair go About fourteen degrees or so, _ And in Delphinnis faintly gleaming Are four smaller stars, a diamond seeming. Through these four stars from Altair’s seat, Twenty-seven degrees will point out Scheat. Then easterly Algenib, then southerly Alpherat, And then from him due west or nearly And south of Scheat shines Marcab clearly. These are from their positions there Termed Pegasus or Horse’s mquere A line from Scheat through Marcab brought Twenty-seven degrees finds Fomalhaut. The mastery of these verses will prove a decided advantage as you begin your study of the stars in nature. You will find it unnecessary to refer constantly to a book or star map as you seek to locate the stars. As soon as you have made a be- ginning you will appreciate how compara- tively easy it is to trace one from the other. With this as a basis, then, let us take up in their order the requirements for a merit badge: 1. “Have a general knowledge of the nature and movements of the stars.” The stars which we see in the heavens on any clear night are either known as fixed stars or planets. Fixed Stars. The majority of stars may be classified as fixed stars. This term is applied to them because they do not change their position in relation to the other stars in the same group about them, but appear as if they are painted on a revolving can- vas which, as it moves across the heavens, carries all fixed stars with it. Planets. This term means “ wanderer” and implies that-these particular stars wan- der across the heavens among the stars from one-group or constellation to another. Like the earth, they receive their light from the sun. They may be distinguished from the fixed stars by their motion and by the steady light which they give. They do not twinkle or scintillate as do fixed stars. The principal planets, named in the order of their distance from the sun, are as follows: 19 Name. Average Distance—Miles. ps AER PEPER 36,000,000 WOMB SSK 5 Vien dc tiuwee de 67,000,000 ee ar deccheae 93,000,000 MOM ign cip.n sp stores bc3 141,000,000 PRE a5 5 5556s Sade 483,000,000 pS Se eye ee 886,000,000 po REGEN R RA OF: 1,781,000,000 PRONG ica swe 2,791,000,000 The planets make a periodical revolution around the sun. The periods of such rev- olutions increase in length with the dis- tance of the planet from the sun. They are as follows: Name. Circuits the sun in. Mercury ..... MORO WOME 5 sskensrarwire 225 days MI ib oi acicidaes ook 365% days BOR? Biss nino, daeip pcan va 687 days ee OUR Oe ee war Oe 12 years RURETE. a5. wn dk epik oka sie als 20% years OEE Ome 84 years PHONES 55645 xss's02,0ks 165 years There are two movements of the stars which should be observed, the daily and the yearly revolutions, known as the diurnal and the annual motions respectively. These motions can best be learned by observing nature itself. Should the scout begin ob- servation of the Polar Constellation, i. e., the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper, both of which can be seen in the latitude of the United States on any clear night, he will soon observe that during a period of twenty-four hours these constellations make one complete circle around the North Star. When you first locate these groups make a drawing of them as they appear at that moment. An hour later their positions should again be noted and a new drawing made. You will immediately observe that they have changed their positions some- what. Should you continue your observa- tions at intervals of an hour or two apart during the night, it will soon become ap- parent to you that these constellations have moved about one-half of a circle, and that if similar observations could be made dur- ing the daytime, when the stars are ob- scured by the light of the sun, at the end of twenty-four hours the circle would be complete. At the same hour the next evening if you look again you will notice that these constellations occupy the same relative positions that they did when you made your first drawing the night before. In addition to this you should observe the daily motion of some other star group rising in the east after sunset. Observa- tions made two or three hours apart will demonstrate the daily motion of this star group as it gradually moves from its first position across the meridian above you and

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w finally descends below the western horizon. You will soon conclude that this group moving at the same uniform rate of speed during the daytime while it is beneath us will again appear just above our eastern horizon at the same hour the following evening. This motion which is repeated every twenty-four hours is the diurnal mo- tion of the stars. However, this motion is apparent rather than real. Instead of the stars moving on a canopy across the sky from east to west, the earth upon which we stand is moving from west to east. But as we are not conscious of the motion of the earth, the stars above appear to be moving in the opposite direction. Their motion is not real, but apparent, due entirely to the earth’s revolution upon its axis. Annual Revolution. We have just stated that these groups observed at the same hour on succeeding nights would appear in the same position as the night before. This is only relatively true. The fact is, that any difference in position can hardly be de- tected from night to night. But, if you were to observe the constellations at the same hour of the night at intervals of three or four weeks apart you would observe that there was some difference in their positions. This difference continued throughout the year amounts to one complete revolution, known as the annual revolution. Constellations. The fixed stars we have noted move across the heavens in groups called constellations. These constellations were named after mythological persons and animals by the early astronomers, and these names are in use to-day. In addition to these group names, many of the most striking stars in these groups have individ- ual names. The rest of the stars in the group are known by some letter in the Greek alphabet, which indicates their posi- tion in the group. The Greek alphabet should be learned by every scout astrono- mer. It is as follows: a Alpha 7» Eta vy Nu rt Tau B Beta 6 Theta ¢ Xi v Upsilon + Gamma , Iota o Omicron ¢ Phi & Delta « Kappa 7 Pi x Chi e Epsilon , Lambda p Rho y Psi ¢ Zeta yp Mu o Sigma w Omega Magnitudes. Fixed stars are classified according to their size or brilliancy and are known as stars of the first magnitude, second magnitude, third magnitude, etc. It is claimed that anyone with good eye- sight can see stars up to the sixth magni- tude with the naked eye. The following fourteen stars of the first magnitude can be seen in all parts of the United States: Pollux in Gemini Procyon in Canis Arcturus in Bodtees Antares in Scorpio Altair in Aquila Minor Aldebaran in Taurus Sirius in Canis Betelguese in Orion Major Spica in Virgo Regulus in Leo Vega in Lyra Rigel in Orion Fomalhaut in Piscis Australis Capella in Auriga Canopus may be seen in latitudes south of Tennessee. 2. “Point out and name six principal constellations; find the north by means of other stars than the Pole star in case of that star being obscured by clouds.” BOYS’ LIFE If our scout astronomer has followed di- rections closely thus far, and has com- mitted to memory the star poem in the in- troduction, he will experience little difficulty in becoming acquainted with the pringi- pal constellations that are visible during any month. The six principal constella- tions mentioned here will be found without much trouble. Incidentally some of them furnish direction lines to the north. Ursa Major. This constellation is other- wise called the Great Bear. It contains the group which we know as the Big Dip- per. It is our most important guide in locating the North Star. A line drawn between 6 a in the outer bow! of the Big Dipper and extended five times its own length will reach the Pole. FIG. I-—-THE TWO DIPPERS Ursa Minor. The North Star or Polaris is the bright star in the handle of the Little Dipper, and is to be found in the constel- lation of Ursa Minor. The outline of the Little Dipper is not always clear, but the North Star and the two outer stars in the bowl of the Little Dipper are usually bright. These two outer stars are known as the “ Guardians of the Pole.” In look- ing for the North Star, you will not go far wrong if you locate the Guardians of the Pole, as they are the only two bright stars at this relative position from the Pole. When these and the Pole have been dis- covered you will have no difficulty in trac- ing the outline of the Little Dipper. Note the difference between this and the Big Dipper. The handle of the Little Dipper is bent backward. Cassiopeia. On the opposite side of the Pole star from the Big Dipper and about an equal distance from it will be found a bright constellation known as Cassiopeia, sometimes called Cassiopeia’s Chair. It is formed, as shown in the diagram, by six stars; five of these are bright enough to be seen on any clear night. These five stars take the shape of an irregular W. The sixth star when seen completes the seat of the chair. When the Big Dipper is ob- scured a line bisecting the angle a (see illustration) of the triangle a B y will locate the North Star. Taurus. During the winter months, in the early evening, just after sunset, this con- stellation can be seen rising in the east. Directly in advance of it a little group of February, 1913 FIG. II—CASSIOPEIA, OPPOSITE THE NORTH STAR FROM THE BIG DIPPER stars having the appearance of a very small dipper may be seen. This group is known as the Pleiades. The six stars composing it are all brilliant gems. Seen through an opera glass the Pleiades is one of the most attractive clusters in the heavens. Directly following this group will appear the con- stellation known as Taurus, the Bull. A first magnitude star known as “ Aldebaran” may be seen. It is sometimes called The Follower, because it appears in the wake of the Pleiades. The Bull is the apparent ob- ject of Orion’s attack. Orion. The most wonderful combination of stars in the heavens is known as Orion. There are several brilliant stars in this con- stellation. In the left shoulder is Bella- trix, in the right shoulder Betelguese, the left foot Rigel. Orion’s belt contains three stars in a straight line, which are some- times spoken of as the Three Diamonds. From his belt hangs a short sword. Orion’s head points directly to the north. The sword in his belt points to the South Pole. Canis Minor and Canis Major. Directly following Orion in the evening sky the two Dogs, Canis Minor and Canis Major, will be seen. The brilliant stars of these two constellations are Procyon and Sirius. These are the hunting dogs of Orion. FIG. IlII—THE PLEIADES, TAURUS, AND ORION, IN ORDER OF PROCESSION

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February, 1913 Sirius is by far the most brilliant star in the heavens. On a clear night it shines with the brilliancy of a perfect diamond. You can readily appreciate how wonder- fully brilliant it is when you realize that Sirius is 50,000,000,000 miles away from us, and, although light travels at the rate of 186,000 miles a second, it takes eight years for the light of this star to penetrate space so that we can see it. 3. “Have a general knowledge of the positions and movements of the earth, sun and moon, eclipses, meteors, comets and planets.” Motion of the Earth. During qur obser- vations of the stars they have appeared to tevolve from east to west. Polaris ap- pears as the center of motion and does not move at all. All of the other groups seem to travel in a circle around it. The sun has apparently the same form of revo- lution, but as before stated this motion is apparent and is due entirely to the fact that we seem stationary on the earth. It is much the same sensation that you some- times feel aboard a train which is moving slowly out of the station. If there is no jarring of the train you conclude that it is stationary, and that the train on the other track is moving in the opposite direction, while, as a matter of fact, conditions are reversed. This is just what happens when we observe the stars at night. The earth tevolves on an axis, which if extended at the North Pole, would reach a point in the heavens near the North Star. If you can think of this axis being held stationary from the North Star and the earth turned around upon it from west to east, you will have the real motion of the earth in its relations to the heavens. From your posi- tion on the earth as you approach the east, mew groups of stars will gradually be seen. This is the daily axial motion. During its year of 365 days the earth makes one complete revolution around the sun. It travels in a circle called the Ecliptic. This circle passes through twelve constellations. A zone of eight degrees each side of the Ecliptic is called the Zodiac. As the apparent motions of the sun and the moon seem to follow this circle, every stu- dent of astronomy should learn the signs of the Zodiac. Signs of the Zodiac. Name. Symbol. SCAR eee Ram. gi PE ae woe Bull. Cpe sos 5 0 Twins NS Pee. Crab SGI Lion Wisse ck case Virgin BME jie os scan Scales oe ee . Scorpion. Sagittarius....... Archer. Capricornus...... Goat. Aquarius........ Water Carrier. Pa a i's bn 0c Fishes. They can easily be memorized in the following verse and their positions traced by observations of the heavens at night: The Ram, the Bull, the Heavenly Twins, And next the Crab the Lion shines, The Virgin and the Scales. The Scorpion, Archer and the Goat, The man that holds the Watering Pot, And Fish with glittering tails. Motion of the Sun, The daily movement BOYS’ LIFE of the sun across the heavens from east to west is also due to the movement of the earth from west to east. In addition to this motion the scout should observe the an- nual motion of the sun. This can best be seen by watching the sun as it goes below the western horizon at sunset. On March 21 the sun sets at a point due west from the observer. From this date on the sun will set a little to the north of this point each evening until June 22, when it reaches its most northern point. It apparently re- mains stationary there for two or three days, and then gradually retraces its path until September 21, when it is again due west. From September 21 it gradually ap- FIG. IV—-THE HUNTING DOGS OF ORION proaches the south, reaching its most south- ern point on December 22. Here it ap- parently makes a stop for a day or two, then gradually returns to its position in the west again by March 21. This is called the sun’s annual revolution. The position March 21 and September 21 is known as the vernal and autumnal equinoxes and the position December 22 and June 22 as the winter and summer solstices. The urfequal length of our days and nights is also due to this motion. On June 22, when the sun is at its highest point in the heavens, the days are longest and the nights shortest. As it moves south the days gradually grow shorter and be- come about equal September 21. On De- cember 22 we have our shortest day and longest night. From this point on as the sun travels north our days gradually be- come longer. Our changes of: temperature are also due to this motion of the sun. As is natu- rally expected, when the sun is most di- rectly overhead and the days are long our weather is warmest. As the sun travels south its rays become oblique and the days become short, consequently we experience colder weather. Motion of the Moon. There are two mo- tions of the moon which should be noted— one is the apparent and the other the real or proper motion. The apparent motion is that motion of the moon which we observe when we see the full moon rising in the east, crossing the meridian and sinking in the west. The scout will at once under- stand that this is due to the motion of our earth moving eastward. The real motion 21 of the moon can best be understood by making observations as near the time of new moon as possible. Two or three nights after “new moon” the moon will be seen as a slender crescent in the western sky just after sunset. If you look again with- in an hour you will note that the moon has disappeared. It has gone below the west- ern horizon. If you should see the moon again at the same hour the next night it would be higher in the western sky than it was the night before, and consequently a much longer time would elapse before it would disappear. A very few nights after- wards the moon would be seen at this same hour directly overhead. It is evident that the moon has been traveling in the same direction as the earth. This motion east- ward continued for a period of one month completes the moon’s trip around the earth . and is its real revolution. The moon’s phases during this period of revolution should be observed. At new moon it is a slender crescent. Seven days after new moon it is directly overhead as a half moon. This is known as the moon’s second quarter. Fifteen days after new moon it will be seen in the east at sun- set as a full moon. This is its third quar- ter. The fourth quarter begins twenty-one days after new moon, when it becomes a half moon again. As the moon travels east in the opposite direction to the apparent motion of the sun, the two must pass each other some time during the month. When they do, this is called “conjunction.” At another point during the revolution the sun and the moon will be 180 degrees apart, or directly opposite each other. When they occupy this position the earth is almost directly between them. This is known as “ opposition.” Eclipses. These are of two kinds, Solar and Lunar. The eclipse of the sun is caused by the position of the moon between the earth and the sun at conjunction. In FIG, VI—ECLIPSE OF THE MOON Fig. V, E represents the earth, S the sun and M the moon. The circle A B is the moon’s orbit around the earth. It is, therefore, easy to see that if the moon comes directly between the earth and the sun, the sun’s light will be cut off. It might be naturally inferred, therefore, that as the moon makes a complete circle once a month and must occupy this position at some time during this circuit, we would have an eclipse every month. That this is not so is due to the fact that the earth, the moon and the sun do not pass each other in exactly a straight line, but at an angle of about 5 degrees. An eclipse only (Continued on page 23)

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22 BOYS’ LIFE | | wh \u mee) RAY 7 YOU'RE NEXT! Boys of To-day—Men of To-morrow By DANIEL CARTER BEARD NATIONAL Scout CoMMISSIONER, Boy Scouts oF AMERICA ELLOW scouts: According to our buckskin calendar it is the Lincoln and Washington moon, the raccoon month of the Indians, all three good American mames. Before any of you were born, before I was born, the raccoon used to figure in the campaign song back in the time of “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.” Tippecanoe, you know, was Wm. Henry Harrison, General Harrison. You see I know old Tippecanoe very well, although he died before I was born. That sounds funny, but still it is true. Old General Harrison the Indian fighter and pioneer farmer was a personal friend of my father, and father painted his portrait. One of those portraits used to hang in the Cor- coran gallery at Washington, one I be- lieve in the public library at Cincinnati, and one is hanging on the wall at home, looking at me as I write. It was during that campaign that they used to sing, “*The raccoon’s tail is ringed round and round, The possum’s tail is bare, The rabbit’s tail sticks up behind, A tuft of snow-white hair.” You see they had totems in those days just as we scouts do now, but to get back to the Lincoln and Washington moon from which I wandered—February is a great month. Of course we Americans do not own up that any month is greater than July, because Independence Day comes on the Fourth of July; but February comes next in greatness and fame because Feb- ruary produced both Lincoln and Wash- ington, the two greatest scouts in the history of the world. Neither of these was born with a title, they were not the favorites of any king or monarch, they were just good, husky, healthy boys like you feliows, and like you scouts they de- termined to be useful men. And the more useful you are, the greater you are. Washington was not a poor boy. but he simply forgot that fact and went to work like any honest lad. He was a land surveyor; he was a buckskin scout and ended by being the Father of our Country. He was upright, truthful, honest, gener- ous and industrious, and he was as brave as the bravest. He was a good all around scout. He broke the record for the broad jump, he was a wonderful rifle shot, he could ride a wild untamed horse like a cowboy, he could tramp the forest trail like an Indian, he could cook his own meals, make his own fire and, fellow scouts, he had no matches with which to light his fires; matches were not yet in- vented. But with a piece of broken stone, a horn of punk and the back of*the blade of his knife, Washington could light his fire; if he had not been able to make a fire in this manner, theré were many times when he would have had to eat his food raw and shiver in the cold. Abe Lincoln came along later; you see Washington was born on February 22, 1732, and Abe Lincoln on February 12, 1809. But Abe Lincoln was a very poor boy. He was born on Nolan creek in Harding County, Ky., while lingering bands of Indians still prowled around the neigh- borhood and the solitary mountains, hills and dales were blanketed with great solemn forests inhabited by deer and bear, wild cats, wolves and panthers, wild turkeys, and millions of wild pigeons. But Abe determined to be a useful man, and that made him a very great man. He had neither wealth nor title, nor pull to help him, but he got there all the same! Which brings us down to our cartoon. Yes, fellow scouts; this cartoon may be grim or even terrible, but that is not my fault; honest now, is it? You see it is the picture of a whole row of chairs. They are empty chairs, and standing at one end is a veiled figure, representing “ To- February, 1913 morrow.” She is veiled because no one has ever seen her face; no one knows To-morrow, she is always a day ahead of us. I have drawn this row of chairs with- out occupants but in reality they are all occupied to-day by some of us men, the boys of Yesterday. To-morrow—ahem! ahem! Well we won’t be here, that’s all, and when we go we leave these chairs for you! You’re next! You’re the boys of to-day, and will be the men of to-morrow. Some of the boys of to-day will occupy all these chairs vacated by the men of to-day, that is, va- cated by the boys of yesterday. Some chairs bring honor, distinction and fame, but there is one chair in that row that means “ de- spair, disgrace and -death.” Thank good- ness it will never be occupied by a scout. A scout’s training will steer him clear of that terrible chair. But some boy of to- day will find a seat there to-morrow; that is, unless you scouts see to it that every boy in the United States becomes a Boy Scout of America. How do I know this? Well, ever since the world began, there have always been men to fill the positions of honor, trust and fame, and also, sad to relate, others to fill the jails and to end on the scaffold. It may be that they have deserved what they got, but the terrible part of all this is, that these criminals were not born full- grown wicked men, they were once nice, roly-poly pink little babies, and after that, they were boys just like you. They had parents, mothers, fathers, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters. But they did not start out in life with the ambition to be useful. Useful men do not become criminals. So cheer up, scouts, there is a bright side to this cartoon, because of the fact that although all these chairs will soon be empty, you, like Washington and Lincoln, are free to choose the one you wish to occupy. I, being the senior scout of the whole bunch, have had longer experience than the rest of you, and I can say positively that you can have anything in this world that is worth having, provided that you make up your mind to win it and then, WORK FOR IT! Discoveries and Re-Discoveries (Uf you have made a Discovery of some practical wrinkle that has proven valuable to you, write your knowledge out for pub- lication in this depariment of Boys’ LtFe.) Tell Time by the Cat Here is another way of telling time, al- though it is not an original Discovery with me and will not be of much value except as a stunt. The shape of the pupil of a cat’s eye is normally round in the early morning—as it is all night. As the day advances it gradually narrows, becoming oval, and finally at noon a narrow streak. At mid-afternoon it is again a perfect oval, and finally at sundown it is once more nor- mally circular. STANLEY SNow.

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February, 1913 To Count the Drops All boy scouts should keep themselves in good health, but they may have to drop medicine from a bottle. Or it may be some photo chemical or other liquid. To pre- vent too much coming out at a time, first the cork should be wet by turning the bot- tle upside down. Then remove the cork, and hold it just touching the mouth of the bottle. Drop the liquid onto the cork, and from the cork into the glass or graduate. PENN. W. W. KEEN FREEMAN. Gold or Fool’s Gold ? Not many boy scouts go prospecting, but nevertheless some try it when on vaca- tion trips in our Western states in regions where gold has been found. To avoid the sad mistake so many inexperienced pros- pectors have made, of believing iron pyrites to be gold, they should first of all know there is such a thing as “fool’s gold” (iron pyrites), and, secondly, that it is harder and more brittle than the real thing. Real virgin gold, before it has been hardened with alloy, is almost ag soft as lead, whereas iron pyrites, a very common mineral, is very hard. CoLo. E. F. W. Merit Badge Tests (Continued from page 21) occurs as before stated, when the earth, moon and sun are on the same line. An eclipse of the moon is of quite a dif- ferent nature. The earth casts a shadow in space. When the moon enters this shadow at opposition, that is, when it is in the east and the sun is in the west, with the earth between them, and the three are in line, an eclipse of the moon takes place. . In the Fig. VI. E represents the earth, M the moon and S the sun. A B, the moon’s orbit around the earth. This time the moon is on the opposite side of the earth, and its eclipse is due to the fact that the earth is directly between it and the sun. For the reason before stated, we have only occasional total eclipses of the moon. Meteors. Every scout has seen a “ shoot- ing star.” Occasionally very brilliant bodies may be seen shooting across the sky. Sometimes they explode with a loud noise. These are commonly called meteors. Comets. These are supposed to come from somewhere~in the heavens beyond’ the solar system and to be drawn thither by the sun’s attraction. They consist of three parts, the nucleus, which is very like a bright star; a coma, a cloudy, hazy en- velope which surrounds the star, and a tail. All of these parts are developed as the comet approaches the sun. It is thought that the nucleus consists of a mass of meteoroids. It is hoped that the information presented in this article will prove of some help to the scout astronomer in his desire to gain a knowledge of the heavens. In fact this is all that has been intended in making these suggestions. As a matter of fact, the student of astronomy will never know these things for himself until he has seen with his own eyes these objects of the heavens, and has patiently observed their movement on successive nights. BOYS’ LIFE Tom Ralston vs. The Mississippi (Continued from page 12) Crawling out of the water as soon as he dared, Tom hurried to the trench which the negro had started to dig in the levee. With his hands he pawed the sods back in place to stop the water running through. But he could not find enough of them. In the few minutes he had been in the water, from a shallow unfinished ditch made by the big negro’s two or three hurried scoops in the dark, the breach had been widened and deepened till it was now almost ten inches wide and perhaps eight deep. Frantic, Tom knew not what to do. The cut must be stopped at once. He tried to find the negro’s shovel, but without suc- cess. He blew his horn with all his might. Something must be done. Oh, for just one sack of dirt to lay in the terrible little ditch! In fifteen minutes it would be five feet deep, and the tremen- dous full force of the current would then burst through. If it could be stopped— if! The levee, the lives of. the sleeping women and children, the property for sev- enty-five miles around could be saved. Tom thought but a moment longer, then acted. He sat himself down in that wicked, purring little trench so quick and so hard that he jarred the breath out of himself. But he had turned the trick. He had the good broad back of Tom Ralston to use as a stop gap, and it was enough! A little water trickled around his hips and under him. He jerked off his coat, and stuffed it around him. Then he blew his horn, and blew it, and blew it, until his efforts made him dizzy. No answer. Had the other guards, en- couraged by finding the water subsiding, gone to sleep? Wow! but wasn’t the water cold and wet! And what a whale of a bump that was on the side of his head where the shovel had landed! But what was more important—how long could he keep the old Mississippi where it be- longed? He took his cap and wadded it down in the water behind him where there was a leak he could not sit tight enough to stop. Tom blew his horn again, loud and long. He could feel the water trickling around him, slowly but surely getting the best of him. How long could he hold it back? He remembered the boy named Peter who saved the people of Holland from a flood by holding his hand over a hole in the dyke. And he thought to himself that he would give anything if he only had as easy a job as that boy had. Again he blew his hunting horn, and it rang out across the still night, so clear and loud that he wondered why on earth no- body heard it. Only the echoes came back to him. How long could he stand it? Tom did not know, but he intended to stay right there till help came or the Mississippi washed him away. A wild wish that he might swell from being wet gave him an idea, and he tried to think of everything that swelled in water. He pulled off his shoes and stockings, to stuff around him and keep the water back. He was now numb with the cold, chilled to the very marrow of his bones. But—the Every Stroke a Clean Cut ‘ You can work faster, easier and better with Keen Kutter tools be- cause the edges cut clean and every tool has the correct “bal- ance” and “hang” ra x Ns Ne Na . KEEN: ‘7 iV i ‘ 2 KUTTER Quality Tools are perfectly adjusted. Blades, pointsand handles are shaped and secured to fit the particular work each tool must perform. This, combined with Keen Kut- ter quality, makes these tools the most serviceable and cheapest. **The Recollection of Quality Remains Long After the Price is Forgotten.’’ Trade Mark Registered. — E. C. SIMMONS. If not at your dealer's, write us. SIMMONS HARDWARE CO., Inc.

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24 BOYS’ LIFE Do Y ouKnow the 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 descriptions consider Peter’s Chocolate the regulation food for camp or trail. It is absolutely the most sustaining; has the most deli- cious taste that always makes you want more, and does not create thirst. Don’t you go camping this summer without a liberal supply. You can get the nut chocolate or the plain chocolate as you prefer, but be sure to ask 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 I Want Bright big, powerful, wireless outfit, whic will send 8 to 15 miles and Bape to —— — up to 600 ates. Better Chapple t “NATIONAL NEWS ae ane Rene LETTER” : : In Your Own Towa le: cats on sight 3: 2 cents a copy. Covers. Everybody buys it. Youcan make big money after school hours. TEN COPIES FREE February, 1913 water was subsiding; he remembered that. Now, would it eat the earth away under him faster than it went down? He found he no longer had the strength to blow his horn. Was he going to keel over from exhaustion and lose the fight? He braced himself with his hands on the levee at each side and looked at the stars. Then he started to say a prayer—— What was that? Lights! Voices! He tried to cry out, but could not. Would they never, never come? It was getting dark—dark. He felt himself slip- ping down, down, and wondered vaguely if he would drown there in that little ditch. If he only had something behind his back to lean against-—— He was down. The dark yellow water was over his brave brown head, and in a minute or two would wreak its vengeance jon the youngster who had dared think his back could hold in check the Father of Waters. But Thomas Ralston, Sr., was to be reckoned with. He had come back from Toronto. And to-night with a strange fear in his heart he was hunting his boy. He found him none too soon. Quickly they lifted the apparently life- less boy out of the trench where his faith- ful body had been all that stood between the country and ruin and death.- A man took his place, while others ran to bring the tardy sacks of earth from the wagon on the road below the levee. When they revived Tom he was too weak to talk. But by the light of their lanterns the men had found the footprints of the big negro, the smashed lantern, and the evidence that a shovel had been used to open the cut in the levee. They wrapped Tom in their coats, bun- dled him into the wagon, and hurried him to the Ivanhoe plantation. Captain Worth- ington himself received him, having just arrived from Catfish Bend, where the dan- ger was over. “Come in!” cried that gentleman. “I’ve just heard the news. It’s simply great! Tom, my boy,” and he wrung Tom’s hand. “We all expected to play host to the Mis- sissippi river to-night. Thanks to you and a kind Providence, instead I now enjoy the honor of having for my guest the bravest boy in the Delta. I am sorry Mrs. Worth- ington is not here. If we old fellows are good for anything, though, you shall not lack anything to keep your welcome warm.” “Thank you, sir,” answered Tom. “I only did my part. But,” and he turned to his father, “ before I turn in, Daddy, how about Grandpa?” “ Better, Tom,” said Mr. Ralston. “ He'll be down here to go fishing with you on your birthday next month.” “A birthday! Bully!” cried Major Gor- don, as he burst into the room, “ we'll all go fishing together—but we'll none of us ever make a ‘catch’ as big as Tom did to- night.” Wear good woollen socks that fit your feet, on hikes, and you will suffer little from blisters. Carry an extra pair on all- day trips and change at the half-way point. Learn to shave with an “ old-fashioned ” Just send your name and address on a postal Mose: card and I’ its start you. Everybody knows meas . about your wireless the publisher of the National Magazine. outfits, and how I can get them without a cent of cost.” | Add JOE S. CHAPPLE, ‘ Ss ress Boston, Mass Address ATKINSON, 292 W. ——— razor, and you will never use a “ safety.” .| If you don’t believe it, ask a barber why | he uses the former.

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February, 1913 News from Scout Scribes (Correspondence concerning matters of more than local interest is invited. Here- after the names of Troop Scribes should be signed to all communications.) WasuinctTon, D. C.—Almost everybody in Washington had heard of the boy scouts. Comparatively few, however, had an inside knowledge of the work done by the individ- ual boys, and for the very good reason that most of the activities are confined to the hikes and the realm beyond the city. For this reason “ Boy Scout Week” at Chase’s Theater, beginning December 16, was an event of inestimable educational and in- structional value. Every person who at- tended now has a very fair conception of the vast scope and meaning of the movement. During the week twelve performances were given, and over 20,000 people witnessed the various demonstrations, which covered al- most every phase of boy scout work, includ- ing camping, signaling, cooking, and first aid, fire-lighting by friction. The latter at- tracted much attention. The two scouts who were doing this attempted at each perform- ance to break the record. The quickest time made previously in Washington was 47 sec- onds, and the record was held by Fred Reed of Troop 17. The best record known of any scouts in the United States was 391-5 sec- onds—made by Austin Norton, of Ypsilanti, Mich. The Washington record was broken early in the week by both boys, Fred Reed and Walter Allison, of Troop 17, and the 39 1-5 seconds record was broken at the Sat | urday matinee before a capacity house of 2,000 people, when Fred succeeded in making a blaze at his first trial in 31 seconds. E. S. Martin. GEORGETOWN, CaL.—We gave a social De- cember 14, the proceeds of which went to pay the doctor’s bill for Scout Case, who hurt his leg and was laid up for several weeks. R. H. ALien. Topeka, Kan.—An unusual instance of heroism on the part of a scout is that of Leigh Elmer Garver, of Topeka, nineteen years old, who voluntarily risked his life to save that of his uncle, Cyrus Collier, by submitting to the removal of about fifty inches of epidermis from his limbs. The operation is reported as successful, and Scout Garver has recovered. CLEVELAND, O.—A good turn that resulted in the addition to the troop of about half a dozen new members was the luck of Troop 41 of this city. One afternoon last August word came that a child was missing from her home. The scout master issued a call for the patrol leaders, who summoned their patrols and assigned the boys to different districts covering’ the city. Within fifteen minutes word came to headquarters that the child was found, and this when other searchers had been hunting the greater part of the afternoon. Newport, R. I.—On December 29, in the greatest conflagration that Newport has ever had, the scouts aided the firemen, citizens whose property was lost. and others whose homes were endangered. They worked sin- gly and in groups, most of them turning their backs to the scene of excitement and devot- ing their attention to putting out incipient blazes started by embers carried from the big fire by the high wind. Many of them went on the roofs of buildings, and with chemical extinguishers, brooms, wet blankets, and bucket lines. One scout had his home destroyed by the fire. Before the fire the scouts had received no special order about what to do in case of a serious fire, in helping the firemen, if needed, and under Scout Commissioner Gatzenmeier they worked in small parties. Now plans have been made for the scouts to follow, if such an occasion occurs again. BOYS’ LIFE 25 Appetites Sharpened for Supper After a hard, strenuous day young men must have the right food to build up nerve and muscle again. Camping is a vigorous business. Your prowess is always being tested. You grow strong on two things — exercise and nourishment. The best nourishment is wheat— SHREDDED WHEAT Contains more real strength- giving goodness than meat. Heat to make crisp. Serve with milk or cream. Sugar to taste. Also delicious with ber- ries. The handiest food in the world for camp. Lightest to carry. No cooking required. | Athletes eat Shredded Wheat ) all the year round. THE SHREDDED WHEAT COMPANY Niagara Falls, N. Y. One of the Largest Publishing Houses in the World Wants to Enlist Your Services We have a plan by which boys of energy, industry and integrity can build up a profitable little business of their own in representing us among their friends. The work which we propose is light, cc jal and h ble, and identifies you as the local representative of a i very successful publication. To start you in your work, we will give you 50 cents worth of i} magazines absolutely free. If you will send in a post-card with your name and address, we will immediately send you a “Cavalier Legion” pin, whether you become our representative or not. An Opportunity to Start in Business for Yourself Scow Masters interested in starting boys on profitable careers or in securing for them a training in t salesmanship, should write at once for particulars of a plan by which each Scout Master can secure a trial subscription to THE CAVALIER in exchange for a few minutes’ work. * THE CAVALIER, Desk BL, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York City

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BOYS’ LIFE Good athletes ood students, good fellows who win success and popularity—all know the importance of good teeth Good ual sweet and fresh. hard and healthy. What Dr. Lyon's does not do only your dentist is com- petent to do. Sold Everywhere looks, advantages of abundant health, have a vital — teeth. Don't n eep them sound an by visiting your dentist at least twice a year—and by the habit- night and morning use of Or.lyo PERFECT Tooth Powder Prepared for almost half a century by a Doctor of Dental Surgery It keeps the teeth absolutely clean by polishing them. The best way—the safe way. Dr. Lyon's is a smooth gritless powder that makes brushing a delight and leaves the mouth and breath The gums are benefited—made Use it night and morning—adove a//, at night. all the stamina, connection with — them. attractive The Brush Never "=z louches * & This Can Become An Aviator We send = ee Catalog B to any one in- terested in Aeronaut! “rma 0 ON REQUEST a complete new stock of MODEL AEROPLANES All supplies, standard fittings, miniature rubber tired wheels. Rubber strand and all sizes of model wood, also 3-foot scale models. Nieuport, Wright, Curtis Hydro, Bleriot, An- , Langley and White Racer, 1000 foot Flyer. THE WHITE AEROPLANE COMPANY Wading River, L. I., N. Y. Official ‘oy Sc0ut Postcards thority of Nati 1 Headquarters A as mo rn Scout Postcards, one for each bmg hand- somely illustrated in fourcolors - - . per set Larger size, 7x11 inches, for wall Qusintion. 5c. each Send order with cash or stamps to +... 200 Fifth A Boy Scouts of America, 390 Fifth Avenue. = Aine ee a ral gg of Amateur Sketches, Monologs, Min- Re wy oy ees etc., especially peepred te boys’ clubs. DICK & FI GERALD. 12 St., New York. February, 1913 PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Troop 46 believes it holds the record for the city for fire lighting without matches, as eight of their members can perform the feat. The troop has a gym- nasium, with a noted wrestler in charge. Last summer, they camped for two weeks on an island in the Delaware river, with thirty- three boys in attendance. The first general hike of the Philadelphia boy scouts was held early in December, and in spite of the gloomy prognostications of some people, it proved to be the ideal time for a hike. The troops left Independence Hall by special trolley, marched through Frankfort in fine style, with a platoon of mounted police at their head, and the band, Troop 21, playing lustily. When they reached the open country, a scouts’ pace race was started, first a mile, and then another for a half mile. Troop 85 won the first and Troop 103 won the second race. The climax of the trip was the evening gathering, to cook supper over thirty- six different fires. A great council fire fol- lowed, and all sorts of yarns were in order. Scoutmaster Rolston of Troop 112 told stories, and Mr. Romanes, a visiting com- missioner of Denver, who had seen scouts all over America and abroad, narrated some of his experiences in strange cities where the scout badge or handshake had made him many friends. After these stories, the boys needed no urging to sing “ America” with a right good will. Finally, a tramp by torch- light did much to counteract their regret that the long anticipated general hike was almost over. Hartan, Ky.—Twenty-three members of the local troop of boy scouts, made a trip recently from Harlan to Cumberland Gap. They investigated King Solomon’s Cave, going into it for more than a mile. A visit to the Lincoln Memorial University at Harregate, Tenn., resulted in President Hubbell giving them a splendid address on the boy scout motto. A troop of scouts at Harregate was assisted in perfecting its organization, and then the party moved on for a stop at the Pinnacle above the Cumber- land Gap and returned to Harlan the next day. Jersey City, N. JE. Spence, one of our scouts, footed it forty miles to the camp at Fox Hill lakes, Denville, N. Y. When he arrived, after some adventures on the way, at “ Welikeitt,” he was roundly cheered for his pluck in making the long hike alone. Warren, N. H.—Early this winter Ralph Burrill saved his own life by being prepared for an emergency. He was skating alone on a pond, when the ice broke, plunging him into ten feet of water. He managed to get out by keeping his head and applying prin- ciples his scouting drill had taught him. SEATTLE, WasH.—Under the charge of Scout Commissioner Ingraham, a Thanksgiv- ing hike and scout demonstration was held at Swan lake, five miles beyond Renton. The boys were there over night, and slept in the open. Their program included scoutcraft, first aid, signaling, wrestling, knot-tying and campcraft and ended with a stereopticon lec- ture by Mr. Best of the Seattle Mountaineers’ club. Pato Ato, Cat.—California boys habit- ually live out of doors and are naturally self- reliant, but they need scout training for steadfastness of purpose and natural, whole- some development as much as their eastern brothers. The scouts in this city organized in the spring of 1911 with twenty members. By 1912 the number had increased to 125 boys, divided into six troops. They now have a big hall all to themselves, and it is equipped with reading room, shower baths, and a large gymnasium. When the hall was opened in the fall, the scouts held a big entertainment. Dr. David Starr Jordan,

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February, 1913 one of the vice-presidents of the Boy Scouts of America, took part in the program. In addition to their daily good turns, the scouts have resolved in a body to do at least one good turn for the public every month. They invite suggestions from other organizations as to the good turns boys can do. Witrorp E. Tarsert. CoaTSVILLE, Pa.—Eleven boy scouts of Coatesville who have won merit badges for first aid work are permitted by the police ' of this city to go through the police lines at fires. This privilege was granted to the boys because of the first aid work they had already done. CROTHERSVILLE, INp.—Since its organiza- tion in October, 1911, our troop has been remarkably flourishing. We rent a hall by the month and hold regular meetings, per- fecting ourselves in scoutcraft by systematic study. In order to raise money to supply their suits, the boys conducted a “ country store” from which they realized $20. Other entertainments helped the funds, and finally they had enough to outfit the entire troop, just in time to start for the Boy Scout Carnival in Louisville, Ky. During the winter months, the churches of the city held special services which the boys attended, hearing splendid sermons especially prepared for them. In the summer they hiked to the river outside the town and devoted their en- ergies to learning to swim. By next summer they expect to be fully equipped with shelter tents for camping. The troop ‘took an active part in the Decoration Day services, attract- ing a great deal of favorable comment for their appearance and behavior. Each boy has been presented with a fire bucket, donated by the business men of the town, and when the alarm of fire is given each scout goes at double time to the scene of the fire. The troop mascot is a fine liver-and- white pointer, named Jim. Jim knows the bugle call of “assembly” and is as happy as the boys to start off on a hike. CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.—Seven of our scouts took advantage of “ teacher’s institute week” and made a four-day tramp over the hills, covering about seventy-five miles. It cost each scout not more than a dollar and sev- enty-five cents for food and one night’s lodg- ing in a hotel. McConnellsburg was the turning point, and several scouts of that city gave the visitors a warm welcome. Groton, Conn.—A number of young men from nineteen to twenty-five years of age and all interested in the scout movement have formed an engineers corps of the Groton Heights boy scouts. They plan to furnish barracks for themselves and the other scouts. SpaRTANBURG, S. C.—On December 20, three weeks after being organized, the local troop of boy scouts signaled a wig-wag mes- sage across the city, from the top of an apartment house to the top of a hotel. The condition of the atmosphere was very un- favorable, the day being cloudy, but in spite of this the message was sent and received successfully. R. C. Lipscoms. Moscow, IpaHo.—The camp conducted dur- ing the summer by the newly organized local troop of boy scouts made such a hit with some business men of the city who visited it, that they promised to donate a complete camping equipment and to start a subscrip- tion for the purchase of a permanent camp- ing site for the scouts. The boys built a rock-filled dam across the creek, thereby furnishing themselves with a fine swimming pool. In building the city tennis courts, six- teen boys gave their services for two days, and at the county fair they wore their uni- forms and served as guides, escorts and mes- sengers for the visitors. The management BOYS’ LIFE ' Loyalty, Helpfulness, Cheerfulness, etc. Decorate Your Room Have a real Boy Scout Room. Get a set of 11 beautiful Boy Scout pictures, 12 inches high, in full natural colors, depicting Scout Life and Activities in camp, on hikes and at home; the proper use of Scout equipment ; how to Set Up Fires, Signaling, First Aid, Cooking, Stalking, Become a Better Scout These pictures are absolutely correct in every detail, having all been a upon by the National Scout Headquarters. They will suggest to you many ways to develop the true Scout Spin, and will be a delight to you every time you'enter your room. How to Use the Pictures These pictures are beautifully lithographed in brilliant natural colors on a fine grade of paper, 4 x 12 inches, and are intended to be cut out and pasted upon a border of ain tinted paper running around your room ; or they may inne upon heavy cardboard which has been cov- ered with a tinted plain paper. There are many good ways to use them, which you will readily be able to de- cide for yourself when you see these attractive pictures. Each set accompanied by a set of recipes for cooking on hikes at camp. How to Get Them Send to Borden’s Evaporated Milk, ei Reales, pd mn Pong or Sines Eoont, Scout Pres boys, and get the labels and send ther in soon. pictures are just what you have been looking for. BORDEN’S CONDENSED MILK CO. ** Leaders of Quality ’’ New York City Est. 1857 Boy Scouts Don’t Mind the Rain They can’t let the weather interfere with Scout duty. They go prepared. Their walking boots are waterproofed with LE KEEPS (OT THE FEET ORY a liquid, rubber dressing for shoes, boots or anything leather, made with a base of pure rubber; it soaks into the pores, seams and stitches and thoroughly waterproofs the leather—makes it soft and pliable—lengthens its life. Will not discolor tan shoes. Use it on your school shoes, too. Tell Mother about Leakanot—a better protection against wet feet than rubbers and lots more comfortable. Buy of sporting goods stores, dru; shoe stores, grocers, or send us 25c for a 3 oz. can. National Rubber Company, 1 co Bidg., St. Louis, Mo.

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They're the to resist puncturing. No others are so good. get them gO, 1004 Ree v.5s. PAT OFF **Say,, but these are corking tires! the fellows sit up and take noticel’’ PENNSYLVANIA VACUUM CUP TIRES through pienty of rough use, and that cannot be affected by oil. The best roads and pavements are now oiled for motor traffic, and oil rots rubber. Ordi- nary tires don’t last. But Pennsylvania Tires have specially prepared rubber in the tread. Oil makes no difference to them, and the rubber is tough enough You can tell Pennsylvania Tires half a mile off. The tread is red. A couple of these on your wheel make it look different. We guarantee these tires for one whole season. They’! last far longer. Ask to have them put on your wheel. town hasn’t got Pennsylvania Tires, write us ‘direct. THE PENNSYLVANIA RUBBER CO., Jeannette, Pa. Reorganized February]}1, r910 Pittsburgh, 505 Liberty Ave Cleveland, 1837 Eucli Detroit, 254 Jefferson Ave. Chica Michigan Ave. PENNSYLVANIA RUBBER CO. OF NEW YORK? New York City, 1700 Broadway PENNSYLVANIA RUBBER CO. OF CALIFORNIA San Francisco, 512-14 Mission St. BOYS’ LIFE Watch if you're expecting to get a wheel soon, be sure it has Red Tread—Oilproof kind that don’t skid, that last If the tire dealer in your home We'll see that you Minneapolis, 34 S. Eighth St. Kansas City, a +» 514 E.rs5thSt. Omaha, ate S. 2 Dallas, 411 S. 4-4 Ste! ! Seattle, Armour Bidg. Ave. Boston, 149 Berkeley St. Los Angeles, 930 S. Main St. An Independent Company with An Independent Selling Policy. ee —g on ge Spero “ YA "et NT A using the bicycle 10 days. NOT BUY 3 ioriscrandone oor nd marvelous 1 bd CENT ie all it will cost you to write a postal and every thing will be sent you return mail. | ain get much valuable in- formation. not wait, write it now TIRES, Coaste e rear wheels, lamps, sundries ** prices, ‘Mead Cycle Co. Dert.S-273 Bhicaga We send you 3 parlor Mag ic Tricks : catalogue for ten g ne tricks and our illustrat- GORDON & HALL, Box 112, Cambridgeport, Mass. THE BOY SCOUT WIRELESS TELEGRAPH si B. g5 Price BR ong Boy ecto in America should own and operate Sends messages 8 to 15 miles. Receives 600 to 800 miles. Guaranteed 1-inch coil condensers. 8 detector 1000 4 mounted on oak base, size 84x16 inches. Weighs only 9 Ibs. Order yours today. Send at once for circular B and wireless codes. It’s Free. HUNT & McCREE, 92 Murray St., New York The House of Wonderful Values February, 1913 gave them a special headquarters, and edi- torials in the local newspapers commended their services warmly. During Christmas week, the troops delivered Christmas presents for the people of Moscow free of charge. This winter they have organized a ski patroP which is proving a record breaker for good times. Buritincton, N. J.—The scouts of this town made a trip to Washington last summer, and became so fired with patrictic enthusiasm that they haven’t stopped talking about it yet. More than that, they conceived the plan of a national scout memorial of some sort to be placed with the other tablets in the Washington Monument. Their idea is a bronze or stone reproduction of the first-class scout badge, and to prove that they can do more than talk they agreed that they would start the contributions. Estimating that if the 300,000 boy scouts in the country gave a cent apiece there would be ample funds for the project. They have collected, and for- warded to National Headquarters twenty-six cents, representing their contribution. Rocuester, N. Y.—Troop to has become particularly interested in hospital visiting. After two trips with flowers and fruit, the boys decided that they wanted to go every week, but they finally decided to make 2 trip a month. On New Year’s Day they made special visits. Recently the troop came upon a grass fire which threatened to become serious, and after some difficulty they suc- ceeded in extinguishing it. This attracted considerable attention, and the boys were complimented in the columns of the daily papers. They have organized a drum, trumpet and fife corps, and are now working to earn their instruments. W. G. Farrier. Paterson, N. J.—Troop 21 has the unique distinction of being, so far as is known, the only American troop composed entirely of grandsons of Civil War veterans. The troop has grown steadily and now has over fifty members enrolled. It is attached to Hugh C. Irish, Camp 8, C. W. W. EDWARDSVILLE, ILt.—Christmas cheer was brought by the scouts to the poor and needy of Edwardsville in assistance to the Humane Society. The boys of the first patrol accom- panied each wagon, and others investigated cases and gave a great deal of personal as- sistance. The troop devoted especial atten- tion to doing Christmas good turns for children. Yazoo City, Miss.—The Yazoo City boy scouts had an outing last August that chal- lenges the good times of troops all over the country. They hiked to their camp near Crystal Springs, often making from twenty to thirty miles a day. Seven of them also hiked home again, a distance of ninety miles, over rough roads. The Mississippi Chatauqua was. within a short distance of the camp and the boys profited by the lectures and entertain- ments, helping to entertain the other listeners at the conferences by giving a Scout Day performance themselves. They acquired many loyal friends and have the memory of record ice cream parties and motor boat rides to think over this winter. Along the way home, other troops turned out to give them a good time. They are now rejoicing that the first few rainy days and the doleful prognostica- tions of some well-intentioned friends did not deter them from carrying out their original plan. Winston-Satem, N. C.—Four patrols have been organized here, and at the last Con- federate Soldiers’ Reunion the scouts served ice water and lemonade from small tents at every corner of the Public Square. Accord- ing to the accounts in the local papers, their action was widely appreciated.

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February, 1913 BOYS’ LIFE ARCHIE AND WALTER ECKLUND WAYNE TIFFT The Honor Roll By A. R. FORBUSH SECRETARY NATIONAL Court oF Honor, Boy Scouts oF AMERICA HREE more Eagle Scouts this month, Two brothers, Walter and Archie Ecklund of Coatesville, Pa., have won the coveted honors, Archie being the sixteenth Eagle Scout and Walter the seventeenth. Each qualified for the necessary twenty-one merit badges. Notice the Red Cross arm bands which these boys wear. Besides the merit badges they have won, both have qualified in the advanced test of the American Red Cross Society and hold medallions for the same. Both have been boy scouts in good stand- ing since November 1, 1910. When you think that they have been plugging away for over two years, you will realize that both have the quality of “ stick-to-it-ive- ness,” which every good scout must have. I told you last month that you had bet- ter keep your eyes on the scouts of Troy, N. Y. You may remember that scout Ben- nett of that city won his eagle badge last month, and now Wayne Tifft has won his eagle badge. It was some time ago that he qualified for his first six badges, and dur- ing the past month he took examinations for the other fifteen. He did not pick out the easiest badges, as seen when you real- ize the different subjects in which he qual- HOWARD C. SPENCER ROBT. G. ANDREWS ified. Among the harder badges that he won are those for Machinery, First Aid to Animals, Civics, Pathfinding, Bee Farm- ing, Masonry, Poultry Farming, Horse- manship, and Interpreting. Gordon Andrews of Elmira, N. Y., has been awarded a bronze honor medal for saving a brother scout from drowning, ana letters of commendation were written to Hobart Garwood, Charles Showell, Arthur Fischer, and Porter Caldwell. These four scouts had shown great bravery in at- tempting to save the life of their com- rade, but Andrews was the only one who actually risked his own life. Silver honor medals for saving life at great risk of their own were awarded to scouts Spencer and Witlock of Richmond, Va. The following paragraph is an ex- cerpt from the testimony that was sub- mitted to the National Court of Honor: “Scout Master Sledd was taken with cramps while crossing the swimming hole the fourth day in camp, and undoubtedly would have drowned if it had not been for two of the boys: Howard Spencer and Coleman Witlock. Witlock first saw Mr. Sledd’s extremity and was first to reach him. He was being held under water in COLEMAN WHITLOCK 29 Look at This Car! For a Boy! The Lad’s Car A Real Car for a Real Boy A practical car because any boy can build it. Send 20 cents in coin for handsome illustrated bcok telling how to build this wonderful little car. Complete guar msaness with diagrams and price list of parts SPECIAL INDUCEMENTS TO FIRST BOY H TOWN This ae en Gasolene "motor car is equipped with a 5 horse power single cylinder engine; it will carry a passenger farther and cheaper on a gallon of iene than any other machine in the world. e Lad’s Car was planned and built by a boy—a real tore live boy—and today we have hundreds building, buying the parts they cannot make from us! The book tells how. Send 20 cents for this handsome illustrated bcoklet today. NIAGARA MOTOR CAR CORPORATION Dept. H. NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. Boy Scouts! This Big Two-Foot Bleriot Monoplane Free Guaranteed to fly or money refunded. This model has never been sold by cone for less then $2.00 but for a limited time onl. ih we will send it prepaid absolutely Re. = a trial subscription to MODERN TRICS, THE AUTHORITY ON WIRE. LESS. Every live boy should take at least one semi-technical electrical magazine and keep up-to-date on the new wonders and advances in electricity; Modern Electrics illustrates and describes these subjects in a style that can be read and understood by you. It is nearly five years old and con- tains from 112 to 144 pages monthly. 15¢c. per copy $1.50 per year. Tells you how to make things at home; contains an experi- mental department and answers your ques- tions free. Send $1.50 today in cash, stamps, or M. O.and get Modern Electrics for one year and we will send you the Bleriot prepaid Absolutely Free. Modern Electrics 273 Fulton St., New York, N. Y. This genuine Pierce aeroplane really flies. It is guaranteed for 800 feet, and will fly 1000. Made for me by Percy Pierce, American record holder. BOYS don’t waste time with “scale models” or store toys. They look seat. but THEY WON'T FLY. a postal today; say “Tell me all about your Pierce aeroplanes and how I can get them without a cent of cost.” Address me this way: on Square, ATKINSON, 7°? - Miainae phia

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30 BOYS’ LIFE

BUILT FOR YOUR FEET These are not just shoes. They are shoes for Boy Scouts. Shoes for boys who do things. Shoes for boys with brains enough to take care of their feet. These shoes are built for you and for every Boy Scout. Thousands of Scouts are already wearing them. The lasts on which Herman’s Boy Scout shoes are made are ex- act copies in smaller proportion of lasts designed by army surgeons for regular army wear. Joseph M. Herman & Co. of Boston make these shoes and know how to fill them chock full of good looks and comfortableness and satisfaction because they have made more than 2,000,000 pairs of government standard shoes for the U. S. Army and Navy De- artments and the tate Militia men.

The material and the workmanship in these shoes are of such l high quality as to make a ‘Pair a splendid bargain ae of $2. 50 Herman’s Boy Scout Shoes are made of Shrewsbury{Russet Leather with double sole of Solid Oak Leather reinforced so that it cannot{break away. The _ has a cool lining and is soft{and pliable. The grace- ful, “‘snappy”’ lines of the shoe are seen in the illustration. The wear is there because the leather is the very best that science can se- lect for the kind of shoe ai Boy Scout warnits. If your uniform dealer doesn’t carry this shoe you can easily get fitted by mail. Simply send you s hoe size and $2.50. If you are not oe mp Le — can return the shoes and get your money ba right away. You will be DELIGHTED can) all your hopes. Orders filled promptly by BOTTOM STAMP Hk ERMANS US ARMY SHOE a FOR BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA T. E. ODONNELL INSPECTOR Sigmund Eisner, Red Bank, N. J. National Outfitter Boy Scouts of America ov Hele 440

‘ HERE; YOU ARE,' BOYS! A medallion pin of Foxy Grandpa. Every one will notice it on the lapel of your coat an try to get a closer look at it. All you have to do is to press the bulb—Foxy Grandpa will finish the job by squirting a fine stream of water over the inquisitive one. Will squirt 20 feet. Greatest joke out. Order one to- day and fool your Price 15c. Foxy Grandpa and Hooligan both for 25c. 5 for 50c or 1 doz. for $1.00. A beautiful ‘fountain pen free with every $1.00order. AMERICAN SUPPLY €O., 911 Union St., St. Paul; Minn. BULL MOOSE BULLET WATCH FOB Every Progressive and his son should wear one. The boy of today is the voter of tomorrow. PROGRESSIVE PARTY PRINCIPLES shovfld be kept alive in his mind. Phe T.R.BULLET FOB hn

is the CHARM that will BIND PROGRESSIVES together. inished in gold or silver, and mailed to ms address upon receipt of 30c To every boy who will Big Entertainer 2afediies ‘Gomnde Monologues, £3 Funny Men All 10c. postpaid. Dorn, 70? So. ‘Dearborn St., Dept. 30, Chicago, Ill. “ $3 Parlor Games and a: Fricke with Cards, 73 Toasts Recitations, 3 Monologues

sell 15 fobs and remit $4.50 we will send him I5 of the fobs for deliver a will ent to scouts < COMPASS WATCH so useful to BOY SCOUTS, HUNTERS, FISHERMEN, AUTOMOBILISTS ete. The BOY SCOUTS COMPASS WATCH gives CORRECT TIME AND DIRECTION. HALL & CO., 108 FULTON ST., NEW YORK. Remit by money order, stamps or coin

UIZER[ FREE Si supee aad CATALOG BAND INSTRUMENTS 282 Pages. 788 Illustrations. 67 Color Plates. 2°61 Articles described. Every Musical Instrument. Free Trial. Superb Quality. Lowest Prices. Pay- ments. Mention you are i d in. THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO. 139 E. 4th Ave., Cincinnati. 343 S, Webash Ave., Chicago.

February, 1913

CLARENCE EMERSON Mr. Sledd’s grasp when Spencer reached them. Both would have been drowned if it had not been for Spencer, who was held under repeatedly. It was with much diffi- culty that he freed himself, but he immedi- ately renewed his efforts.” This is one of the most heroic cases that has been passed upon by the National Court of Honor. It certainly takes nerve to go to the aid of a person who is drown- ing, especially when one considers the pos- sibility of their being seized by the drown- ing person and held under the water. But Spencer did more than this. Reid Rowan of Shawneetown, IIl, seems to have the habit of saving. people from drowning. Several times before he became enrolled as a scout he rescued peo- ple from the ‘Ohio river, which flows past his home, and now he has been awarded the much prized silver medal, for saving Gilbert Strock from the same river. He was crossing on a ferry and saw Gilbert struggling in the water. He plunged over after him. The current was rapidly carry- ing Strock down stream, and at last he disappeared entirely. But Rowan dived down and pulled him to the surface, hold- ing him there until a boat from shore came to their assistance. Scout Clarence Emerson of Buffalo, N. Y., certainly has proved that he is pre- pared. This is the story as told by one of the witnesses : “T was looking out of my window and I noticed an electric car running south along the avenue. I saw a little girl run di- rectly in front of the rushing car, and it seemed to me that there was no escape for Young Emerson was coming up the her.

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February, 1913 GOOD SCOUTS ARE PREPARED The new diary tells you just what to do in EMERGENCY A pocket edition of the hand- book and more. Cloth, single copies, 12c. each, postpaid. 25 copies, 10c. each, carriage prepaid. Leather, Gold edges, 50c. per copy. BOY SCOUT CERTIFICATE For all classes of Scouts Pocket size Just what you’ve been wait- ing for 5 cents each Scout Master must sign your order. Order from the NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 200 Fifth Ave., N. Y. Learn To Entertain A WORLD-FAMOUS TRICK Multiplying Billiard Balls— Solid ball produced at tip of fingers, multiplies to four, the four vanish, one at a time. Pocket Size, Post Free, 25 Cents ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, Post FREE BAILEY-TRIPP CO. Cambridge 410A,Boston, Mass. The Trumpeters’ Manual By NATHAN C. LOMBARD This is the book that Uncle Sam buys for trumpeters and buglers in the Army and Navy. If you are a Scout Bugler why not get one for yourself? Sent postpaid on receipt of price, $1.50, by THE LOMBARD COMPANY 4 Post Office Square, Boston, Mass. BOYS’ LIFE street on roller skates, his arms filled with newspapers. He threw the newspapers aside, grabbed the child, and both rolled over on the pavement out of harm’s way. The car ran by under such headway that to stop in time to save the little girl was absolutely impossible.” And now for his gallant act Emerson is wearing the bronze honor medal. Baltimore heads: the Honor Roll this month with fifty-two merit badges won, and Coatesville, Pa., comes next with forty-six. Forsyth, Ga., makes its first appearance by qualifying four scouts for nine badges, and Detroit, Mich., also makes its initial bow, having three scouts with a total of six badges. Scouts in twenty-four other cities have won altogether 171 badges, making a total of 278 for the month. Summary of merit badges awarded December 5 to January 6: Po ae rrr re rior Ter Public Health NN NOE OCIS Fete te re Craftsmanship Firemanship ivics Handicraft Gardening FRR Re Fs ee Pioneering First Ai Cees eres eeerseeeseee Carpentry Chemistry Music oe ay sis snbeskbsn Sinker dsce a ncamnss Interpreting Electricity Peete e eee rere eeeeeweeeeesee Torre eee eee eee eee ee ee 2 | eee eee eee eee eee ee eee eee eee) Pathfinding Conservation Forestry Bee Farming Bugling Surveying Athletics Machinery Poultry Farming. ......:..ccccccccccccce Aviation Again Personal Health heads the list! Isn’t that evidence enough that the mem- bers of the Boy Scouts of America are a healthy crowd, a clean crowd—the right kind of a crowd to travel with? Next comes Public Health, the same as last month. Something more to be proud of. And Swimming comes third! I spoke about this last month, swimming being in fifth place. Of course, as I said then, we must remember that these merit badge ap- plications are based on tests passed dur- ing the summer months, and in the year’s aggregate swimming may be lower on ‘the list. But look at the number of honor medals awarded for rescues from drown- ing. Firemanship..also is ’way up on the list, as last month. But Athletics—wow! Remember what I said last month, and just take a peek at this month’s summary. Ac- cording to the complete summary of the last two months, we have over three merit badge ‘cooks to every athlete. What's’ the matter, scouts? ; Terre eee ee eee eee eee eee) DUCKR’S Will .be mailed to on your first pu se of $1. CAT. Instruments for commercial and experimental use,with heley sutdin toni aster Reason Victrola pis ou ves, rolas, m THE J. J. DUCK BIG 325-PAGE ELECTRICAL AND WIRELESS ou upon ee > of 6c, stamps or coin, which you may deduct n your reat cost of catalog and low prices distribution et to those really interested. VE ON ANDARD GOODS. CATALOG prohibit Most elaborate catalog in its line. 'ALOG CONTAINS OVER 100 PP. . etc., ISpp.T: a aoa nrg ammeters, automob: 7 accessories, Ohio pes, ys, and electrical and mechanical books. St. Clair St., Toledo, 31 The Brooklyn Rally The Brooklyn (N. Y.) Local Council of the Boy Scouts of America held a big rally in the 23rd Regiment armory in Brooklyn, on December 28. This fact alone may not be especially interesting to readers in Oregon, or Texas, or Florida. But figures are always interesting, and so for some- thing along that line: There were 2,075 boy scouts on the floor all at one time, a total of 117 troops being represented. Of these, seventy-two troops were from Brooklyn, numbering altogether 1,495 scouts. The remainder were from the Borough of Manhattan (New York city proper) and surrounding towns. It was “some rally,” to quote some of the visiting scouts. The competitions were very keen. Brooklyn would have had de- cidedly the best of it, not only in numbers but in efficiency, had it not been for the fact that there is a scout master up in Mt. Vernon, a suburban town on the eastern mainland outskirts of New York city, who is more than ordinarily well qualified. Troops 25 and 27 of Brooklyn each made a magnificent showing. But troop No. 2 of Mt. Vernon stacked up better than either one of them. The Mt. Vernon troop is a really crack troop. Not a bunch of big boys either, just the average boy scout troop. If they are as efficient in the other phases of scouting as they are in exhibition drills, the people of their city certainly must be very proud of them. They are not an extra big troop in num- bers either, only forty-five boys on the roll. But there were thirty-two of them at the Brooklyn rally. The Mt. Vernon troop has not in any way any advantage over the average boy scout troop in the average small city. Boys’ Lire expects to publish a special article about them in an early number, tell- ing in detail their history, activities, and capabilities—especially their reputation among the other boys of their city. Scouting in the Dictionary After I learned to read I got interested in my father’s big dictionary, and learned a great many things out of it. Not long ago I found out that Abraham Lincoln spent many an hour studying a dictionary when he was a boy, and when he became a man said he got much of his education out of the dictionary. That gave me re- newed interest. And so, I am getting a lot of good out of a book that most boys only refer to when they have to. One of the most interesting things I have found late- ly is a cut on page 5271 of Volume VI. of the Century Dictionary, showing fifteen consecutive .positions of a galloping horse. These drawings are copied from a series of..instantaneous photographs, and show clearly that when galloping a horse alights on his hind feet first after each jump. First one hind foot, then the other, comes down; next one front foot, then the other. Naturally, the last foot to alight is the last to leave the ground in the next leap. I never knew this before, and I believe not one boy in a hundred knows it. But any one can prove it to his satisfaction. Now, what I want some boy to tell us is, whether a running rabbit alights first on its hind feet or its front feet. Iowa. Teppy See.

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32 CLASSIFIED JADVERTISING _ Stamps, Coins Etc. RARE COINS. Ancient Roman coin, or U. 8. cent over 100 years old, sent free with 23 pp. retail list of coins, paper —, ye curios, etc. for 6c stamps. Premium list of Eagle cent or war cent 5c. Thomas L. Elder, See r 52 East 23rd Street, New York City. STAMPS, 108 all different. Transvaal, Servia, Brasil, Peru, Cape G. H., Mexico, Natal, Java, ete., andalbumi0c. 1000 Finely Mixed 20c. 65 ed, 50per cent. List Free. MAN, P5951 $1 Cote Brilliante Av., St. Louis, Mo. Miscellaneous ” FREE! Five hundred stamps for the names of five col- tectors. ROY C. FAIRCHILD, Stratford, Conn. ATTENTION | Illustrated Stamp Album, 560 spaces. * 250 hinges and 100 varieties, 5c. With 250 varieties, 10c. Approvals, 60%. A. Wright, 37 Norton St., Dorchester, Mass. ACTIVE BOY, to represent us, CASH PAY, EASY WORK, SPARE TIME. Particulars ONE DIME Ss NOVELTY SUPPLY CO. Department A, Station . Toledo, Ohio. No ink needed for the new INKLESS FOUNTAIN PEN. It makes itsown! Never leaks. Lasts for years. if ect in ev wa, 4 d names F addresses of ten friends and roc. for sample by return mail. d for agents’ terms. Furley Co. .» 359 Washington St., Dorchester, Mass. ~ STAMP COLLECTORS Outfit No. 1 contains Continental Album, 200 var. foreign postage stamps, Turkey, India, etc. 1000 hinges. Price 25 cts. post paid. Other outfits up to $10.00 in our 1913 price list free. New 20th Century Album just o. Send reference for approvals. Free sample copy of N. E Stamp Monthly containing serial of The Commemorative Stamps of the World. New England Stamp Company, 73 Washington Bldg. oston, Mass. STAMPS. . 1000 mixed stamps, No, 0% to agents. Pavn STAMP CO., 138 WELLINGTON St.. Los ANGELES. CAL. ; 100 varieties used stamps, Packet of 202, Album, nag and List, all for 1 packet stamp hinges, ALL 1 a eeiak stamp album, 1 set Venezuela, 2 varieties, FOR Cc 1 set Ecuador, 2 varieties, 10 varieties unused stamps, LAKE VIEW STAMP CO., 2602 Eleventh Ave., Oakland, Calif. “*‘DANDY’’ Big List, and $1.15 COUPON ALL FREE for name, address two Collectors, 2c postage. PACKET SEND TO-DAY. 100 Var. U.S. Depts. Postal Savings, etc., 50c. STAMPS 100 “ French Cols. Congo, Gabon, ete., 95¢. FREE i a 100 Unused, b U.T. K. STAMP CO. Utiea, N.Y: ST A MPS'° 100 ~~ ame ye me ge bengms, -— 1260, stamps, 60c. 20. diferent —b— coins, 25c. Wet buy and coins. Buying lists, 10c.ea. Toledo Stamp Co., Toledo. VENTRILOQUISM Almost anyone can learn it at home. Pa cost. today 2-cent stamp for particulars an 0. A. 8MITH, Room 1676 823 Bigelow 6 PEORIA.ILL AN EFFICIENT TROOP Made possible by the use of our forms developt and designed by experienced scout masters. Individual Record Cards, printed both sides, with spaces for checking all work done up to First Class Scout, 30 sent postpaid for 3oc. Catalog and samples 6c. “Printed Helps for Scout Masters,” 223 Reid Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. FREE WHOOP HER * UP BOYS! Give me: a lit- tle of your = and get your ay of the best and most popular of Cowboy, Rough Rider, Scoul, i Basebal! or Indian Suit Given absolutely FREE for selling {7 only 24 of our fine Mexican drawn- work Handkerchiefs at only ten cents each. Your friends will gladly buy each. No money required. We trust you. R, W. ELDRIDGE 186 Eldridge Bidg., Orleans, Vt. BOYS’ LIFE February, 1913 “1 CAN GET 25 MILES AN HOUR OUT OF IT ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT A Motor Bob, and How Made By Siwney Strotz HE accompanying photograph shows my motor bob, which I assembled. That means, I bought the different parts and with them built the complete bob. As it is a complete success, I think other read- ers of Boys’ Lire will be interested in it. I bought the body and the chassis, in- cluding the steering apparatus, but minus the engine, from a concern which manu- factures these machines complete. The reason I didn’t get the engine from them was, I wanted a 5 h. p., and theirs is 3 h. p. Besides, I knew the engine I picked out would deliver the goods, and had a good look at it before buying. I got my father’s chauffeur to help me, and together we fastened the engine down on the frame. It is a 4-cycle, air-cooled, jump-spark ignition from battery. The steering is by rack and pinion steer- ing control, same as in large machines, with aluminum spider and wood rim steer- ing wheel. Controls are spark and throttle on steer- ing column, same as automobile, the speeds changing by friction lever control- ing idler pulley on left-hand side. Springs are the best grade full elliptic, 1% inches wide. Axles are “I” beam malleable steel. Wheels are artillery type, 22 inches, solid rubber tires. Body is made of the best grade of wood, screwed together. The total cost of my bob was about $90, including all the extras, such as the tank and piping. I can get 25 miles an hour out of it on smooth pavement, but, of course, do not drive it fast when the going is rough. I believe in giving a ma- chine good care and careful use, and it has repaid me, for as yet I have never had any trouble with my engine. Any boy who has a little mechanical skill can build a similar machine. The parts manufacturer furnishes an_ instruction book that tells how to assemble the entire machine, and the rest is comparatively easy. But you want to remember, just the same, that any automobile or motorcycle is a complicated machine, and unless you THE WILLIAMS PRINTING COMPANY, NEW YORE . have a bent for machinery, the ownership of even a completely built, ready made machine may eventually prove a rather expensive investment. Bouquets To Boy Scouts oF THE WorLD The soldiers of the future, Win not by bloody deeds; But in kindly ministration, Make war on other’s needs— They’re the friends of all the helpless They’re the foes of all that’s mean, , The strongest or the weakest May on their valour lean— So here’s to the Scout The cheerful boy in brown Who by his very presence Makes a happier home, and town. They are working for the Kingdom, For which our Fathers prayed, So the earth like unto heaven, May not be long delayed. Just wait until you’ve tried them For then you'll surely see What the Golden Rule in practise Can really mean, and be— So here’s to the Scout The faithful boy in brown Who by the grace of God Works wonders in the town. And here’s to every Master Who turns their thoughts from war Excepting against evil For there they always score— Who gives his time to help them And makes them really see What a power in the future A loyal Scout may be. So here’s to the Scout The healthy boy in brown Who by his very presence Makes a better home, and town. —C. S. Spencer. TuHeE Scout True as steel to his Trust, He’s the picture of Health ; Eyes keen as an Eagle’s, Smart at tracking by Stealth,’ Cool whene’er in a Corner, Orders he can Obey; Upright, manly and Useful, That’s the modern Scout’s Trait. From Tue Scout, of England.

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FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY _ By special arrangement direct with the publishers, BOYS’ LIFE is able to offer its friends the very lowest prices on clubs of all the best standard magazines. All subscriptions are for one full year, and magazines may be received at one or separate addresses. Renewals will be extended one year from date of expiration, but you must mark “Renewal” after the name of such magazine in sending in your order. Canadian or Foreign sub- scriptions require extra postage on all magazines listed. If you know the amount, add it; otherwise write us. IN CLUBS OF THREE Regular Regular Regular Price Price Price BOYS’ LIFE.......... $1.00) Allthree BOYS’ LIFE..........$1.00°) am three BOYS’ LIFE..........$1.00) All three Ladies World.......... .50 $2: Everybody’s........... 1.50 5 Pearson's Magazine..... 1.50 $3-% American Magazine.... 1.50 Woman’s Home Com- $2: Outdoor World......... 3.00 BOYS’ LIFE... Ye ‘$1 .00 } All > 30 panion cece sesecccese 1.50 BOYS’ LIFE $1.00 All three ildren’s Magazine.. 00 is a ie gets AON ap é Little Folks (new Subs). on $2 BOYS’ LIFE.......... $1.00 ) All three a NO Literature. .... 3.00 | $3-% BOYS’ LIFE $1 pa pa Popular Electricity. 1.50 $2:% NG 0's &p.3-04-4.s 0 apo Re I -50 McCall’s........ 2.0... 50 } 8 Soe sanrabi ea aM: 2 - 36 5: Har gnats so) Metropolitan........... 1.50 $ BOYS’ LIFE.... $:.co.) SR ieee ee n- “es $4.20 BOYS’ LIFE..........$1.00) All three Woman’s Magazine..... 73} 3-50 lentifc ‘American. .... 3-00 Designer. . S553. } $20 Outing Magazine....... 3.00 ty ge 8: ee $1.00 ) All three Field and Stream...... 1.50 BOYS’ LIFE $ All three Scribner’s Magazine.... 3.00 $4-25 BOVS’ Live... >... $1 00 All three am! os nae 50 Se ES ae Pe 1.50 Good Housekeeping... 1.50 } $2:70 Senn Mansitiek “, 3.00 $3: BOYS’ LIFE.......... $1.00) All three Pictorial Review....... tO) See ee ie es : Independent........... 3.00 | $459 BOWS’ LICG. 5... $1.00) All three BOYS’ LIFE..........$1.00) All three [ippincott’s............ 3.00 Modern Priscilla....... 1.00 } $2:70 Garden Magazine...... 1.50 $3-60 BOYS’ LIFE.......... $1.00 WOMMIOIR So nit, Bhea hs Gas 1.50 World’s Work.......... 3.00 Cosmopolitan.......... 1.50 an BOYS’ LIFE..........$1.00 All three BOYS’ LIGk. .. 2 ee All three McClure’s. . pace ee ce ese 1.50 95 Cosmopolitan.......... 1.50 95 Dress 3.00 60 Everybody’s........... 1.50 Woman’s Home Com- $2: St Ghetien se. 50 $3: Pearson’s............-- 1.50 nn cig OE RE 1.50 we pe ae 1.50 BOYS’ LIFE..........$1.00) Allthree BOYS’ LIFE.......... $1.00) All three BOYS’ LIFE..........$1.00) All three Cosmopolitan.......... 1.50 } $2:% Technical World....... 1.50 $3-75 Century. . 4.00 $7.60 Delineator............. 1.§0 Travel Magazine.,..... 3-00 Country Life in America. 4.00 te eo , Se $1.00) Allthree BOYS’ LIFE..........$1.00) All three BOYS’ LIFE.. ae .00 ) All three Everybody’s........... I ‘0 | $2: Review of Reviews..... 3.00 $3-75 Harper's Magazine. . 4.00 7: jo eee ee 1.50 Hearst’s Magazine...... 1.50 Harper’s Weekly. . . 4.00 IN CLUBS OF TWO Our price Our price Our price BOYS’ LIFE MAGAZINE for both BOYS’ LIFE MAGAZINE for both BOYS’ LIFE MAGAZINE for both With Adventure. . Ee EE With Weer a TE ars ono 5 ai 5a Ry cree $1.85 With Overland Monthly.. ey Ainslee’s Magazine................ 2.15 Harper’s Magazine. . See SS) eee eee 2.20 American Boy...........-.scceses 1.70 “Harper's Weekly. . bs as le a “* Pearson’s eee. Fee a. AF 1.85 American Magazine.. vreeeee 195 ‘““ _Hearst’s Magazine. . nibts-o:3es-s eaatoe 1.95 “Philistine. . <s¥ec Se C apne ae American Poultry Journal......... 1,65 “ Bowes Mes. os. .5 iss veces 3.25 “Pictorial Review. . ian Sea ihe Stee 2 House and Garden................ 3.25 “* ~ Popular Electricity. Cantuet.. SEED ER ©: GUE 5.035 68008 se Findon “Red Book. SERA Christian Herald pine: A ere AL en a See 1.95 OO do aiiis ives eke xentge “Review of Reviews Country Life in America.......... 4.25 th Ladies’ World é Scientific American Current Literature................ 3.00 = Lippincott’s........ -00 16: iis «kp dS £00 00's 55 cakon ds Cosmopolitan. . i o.ies adele mae ( « (RP Eee crecnsecisevasiniae J ae CR et ree Children’s Magazine. Sy ee 1.65 wees NRE ee ore | -30 OI is ic ie 6S ao as EK es tb tive Delineator. . doalpr oie ime 008: Ot Fda an as dp Nac aciens even - oe |, er 3 p OER ree 1.55 wee re ° “* Southern Ruralist..............066 ks 5:08 G.tex © o 9.3 cia 2 hls bide 3.00 ** Modern Electrics - we: | lm ee er Sy ace alt ith kiwa.d 0 ae ben baw 1.95 re Pics kat ateedvce yp cbnewste & gi Re fre A el ee Everybody's Magazine............ 1.95 fi I ii iGs A ios) Cove da bad eed “ re Travel Magazine. . ere BO See 1.95 ¥ Mothers’ Magazine............... 1.50 “Uncle Remus’ Magazine. aa oth os 1.50 Forest and Stream................ 3.00 re May Manton Fashion Book....... 1.30 ee | ten aa ey 4.00 Farm Journal (5 yom. pina tadteeee 1.50 “National ae. iis Nowra veh ce 1.90 ‘Woman's Home Companion....... 2.00 Garden Magazine. . ea 6 o5-arou oe aa SC ”tst~CS~S:é« 1.70 “* Woman’s Magazine............... 1.50 Good Housekeeping. . Sess, “National eckaes. and Farmer.... 1.50 *: SIRI TEN 6 5. i's. wet Sileoe who 1.13 Good Health Magazine. Dinan Cue ceed 1.65 SF Ga ti bas Sake Enea aa 8g a 3.00 00: SIGIR MES 6 ba o's oath « osama ee <5 2.7 Green's Fruit Grower............. 1.25 “ Outdoor World and Recreation... .. 2.50 ‘“* Youth’s Companion (new sub.).... 2.85 We will quote prices on any other combination, on request, so do not lay this aside if you do not find just what you want. We can save you time, trouble and considerable money, and insure prompt and regular delivery of your magazines. Put it all in one remittance and one letter, and save worry, stamps, etc. Don’t forget to mark your renewals—it prevents any possibility of confusion. And don’t forget that there is extra postage on Canadian and Foreign subscriptions. Address your letter and make remittance payable to 9 BOYS’ LIFE MAGAZINE Clubbing Bureau 200 Fifth Avenue, New York City

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1 sie OS Re ES ; _BOY SCOUTS °* AMERICA OFFICIAL NATIONAL OUTFITTER oa 6 SIGMUND EISNER, RED BANK.N.J. | YA IF THERE IS NO AGENCY IN YOUR CITY, WRITE DIRECT TO SIGMUND EISNER OFFICIAL OUTFITTER BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Manufacturer of U. S. Army and National Guard Uniforms N York Sal 3 ‘ 103 FIFTH AVENUE Red Bank, New Jersey

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