THE CHIEF’S COLUMN.
Woodcraft in Town.
Why the Dog Behaved That Way.
We were walking along a main street im town; our dog, a big Newfoundland, was trotting along when on turning a corner, we suddenly faced another good-sized dog, a collie. This new one sunk down on the grass and gazed at our dog until we came quite near, then suddenly he rose to his full height, cocked his ears and raised his tail slightly, waving it. Our dog walked up, smelled the collie, waved his tail and presently went on.
This is a very little incident, one that each and all of us have seen many times, but it is full of Woodcraft history.
Long ago men found it necessary to wear labels or distinguishing marks or gestures so that friend or foe could know who they were and how to act. This is shown by the emblems of the army and navy and the secret signs of many tribes.
Every animal has some distinguishing marks that are the uniform or its national flag. Many of them have scent bags that they use for letting off little smell signals, for animal noses are so much keener than ours that a nose is as good as an eye anytime.
When the dog was a wild animal — jackal really (with some other blood mixed in today) — these were his national colors or uniform: A light spot over each eye, a white tip to his tail, and on the top of his tail near the base a black spot, under which was a musker or gland that made a peculiar strong smelling musk. This was the uniform adopted then and still in use. For every dog, except those pure black or pure white, has traces of the light spot on each eye. Every dog that has any white on him at all, is sure to have at least a few white hairs in the end of his tail, unless his tail is cut off short, and every dog has the tail musker.
Now supposing an Indian or primitive warrior sees a strange man approaching. He himself hides to get a good outlook. When the second man is near and the first one sees by his tribal marks that he is one of his own people he must announce himself and make clear who he is, or else be mistaken and maybe get a quick shot from the gun or bow of the stranger. And this he does by standing up plainly and displaying his tribal signs.
This was really what the dog was doing. When he crouched in the grass, first, he hid from a stranger who might be a foe, then recognized him as an acquaintance; he himself stood up high, so the newcomer might see his eye spots, and at the same time he waved his tail aloft like a wig-wag sign, made more certain by the little white flag or bunch of hairs on the end.
Some over-bred dogs, like pugs or bulldogs, are often without these marks. and having lost the control of the tail, can neither musk nor wig-wag, but the great majority of dogs, however long they have dwelt in town, still show the marks of their wilderness beginnings.
Whet One Woodcraft Girls’ Tribe Has Done.
In one of the large settlements on the East Side, a small but earnest Band of Woodcraft Girls decided that WOODCRAFT was too good a thing to be enjoyed by a few. They felt they wanted the whole world to know about it (their world, at least), so they proceeded to interest their friends by inviting not only girls of their own age, but adults who might become guides, to their Councils.
Result — two new Bands formed with Guides, Officers, etc. and duly initiated into the Tribe; other Groups, both boys and girls, clamoring to be taken in and acquainted with the wonders of Woodcraft; the interest of three adults, two in the Settlement and one in a suburb of New York.
They have really turned their Councils into Training Councils, for to their Grand Councils they have invited groups of boys and girls and allowed them to take part as far as possible in the programme.
During the past month, they have held two Grand Councils in their own Council Lodge, initiating many new members; one Grand Council in Van Cortlandt Park followed by a supper cooked over their own fire, and a ten-mile “hike” through the woods with only the stars to light their way; have attended two Grand Councils at Headquarters Lodge, taking part in the programme of each, and awarded Coups of City Hunter and Peace Messenger, also Degree of Dancer, by Chief Black Wolf.
In addition to these things, they have made arrangements with the Manager of one of the Swimming Pools for the use of the pool for members of their Tribe one night a week, thus giving them an opportunity to win some of the swimming coups.
They are also working on Bird Houses, one very good specimen having been completed. Plans for a Tribe Theatre Party and the week-end of April 23rd in the country, have been formulated — thus making the past month not only “joyful” but most profitable.
A New Plan for the Ranks.
The Woodcraft League has just taken a step which will mean increased interest and activity on the part of every Tribe.
Acting on the recommendation of the Committee on Honors, the Council of Guides has decided to change the plan for the Pathfinder Rank, so that as soon as a member has qualified as a Wayseeker, they may immediately begin to work for coups.
The following is the motion adopted:
The Woodcraft League lays emphasis on using the interests and instincts of children to build character. The plan of the League is to make full use of the instinct to achieve.
Recognition of achievement is given in accordance with a system of honors (coups and degrees). The system recognizes achievement along certain lines by coups and degrees; in the requirements for Pathfinder and Sagamore, it emphasizes the importance of achievement over a wide field of endeavor. The system works out as follows:
In order to become a member of the League, one must be over twelve, must know, the twelve laws, must be acceptable to the Group or Tribe, and must pass an initiation test.
Wayseeker.
Having been received into membership, the member becomes a Wayseeker, and immediately begins to work for coups. In general they should be urged to work for coups along lines which interest them most. (In the case of a boy, this might be some athletic coup; in the case of a girl, it might be a sewing coup.) This plan provides for the immediate use of the desire to accomplish, and furnishes the guide with an immediate program. The guide can give the members of the Tribe special instructions on certain coups at appropriate times, or can arrange special lectures. (For instance, the bird coup would be especially interesting in the Spring, as would flowers. The stars, handicraft, sign talk, etc., would be good for the winter months.)
Pathfinder.
To begin with, any coup may be selected which will arouse the interest of the members and start them working. After a beginning is made, the attention of the members should be called to the fact that the ideal of the League is all-round achievement in every line possible to the individual, and not simply the gaining of a number of coups. This idea is the basis of the rank of Pathfinder. Pathfinder, the member must gain twelve coups, three each from
- Athletics (Class I)
- Campercraft (Class II)
- Nature Study (Class III)
- Crafts (Class IV)
The Committee unanimously recommends the elimination of the ranks of Minisino and Winyan, and that the requirements for the rank Sagamore stand as always.
