Head Quarters Gazette, 1912 March (article)

Chief Leaders of the Boy Scout Movement.

III. — Mr. ERNEST THOMPSON SETON (America's Chief Scout).

Mr. THOMPSON SETON. Chief Scout of Americas like our own Chief, is a great believer in the possibility of learning by making mistakes.

He laughingly admits that in his first burst of enthusiasm he was inclined to do too much for the boys; but be came to learn that the value we place upon anything, in this world, is in proportion to the amount of trouble we take in obtaining it.

Thus his camps gradually earned a name for the self-reliance and initiative of the boys themselves. Mr. Seton tells a story of two lads who tramped thirty miles in order to join one camp. When they presented themselves before the Chief, who, by the way, is known as the “Black Wolf,” he asked them if they had any money, No, they had none. “Can you work!” was the next question. “Certainly.” And by-and-by they were introduced to a gardener, who found employment for them for two hours each day at the current rate of wages, and the boys were told that with this money they must buy their own food and cook it like proper Scouts.

In Mr. Seton's system sentiment and the power of personality are kept in the foreground. Dry doctrine, be says, will inspire no one, but when behind it there are picturesque ceremonials, and, better still, a strong personality, the doctrine becomes attractive, and adherents will spring up round it. Thus Mr. Seton has resuscitated some of the old Indian songs and dances, and the Troop or Camp Councils are held round the camp fire, with quaint ceremonies, which impress the boys with a due sense of solemnity.

The American Scout himself is such a delightful raconteur that, as he talks, his eyes are expressive of the things he describes, and one can almost see the sinuous form of the Redskin, as he makes his way through the grass, with his tomahawk, ready for action!

The Indians were proud of their nicknames, and strove to perform some noble action which would entitle them to this distinction, and the American Boy Scouts are encouraged to emulate their great prototypes.

Thus a boy, who is a clever and swift runner, will be known is his Troop as “Deerfoot,” but if a newcomer can beat his records he can win his nickname also. Another, keen-sighted and vigilant, will be named “Hawk-Eye,” and Mr. Seton tells of a singular incident where two boys possessed the gift of sight to such a remarkable degree and so equally that a compromise was struck by calling one “Eagle-Eye” and the other “Hawk-Eye.”

On the other hand, there are derogatory names, and woe to the American Boy Scout who earns an unfavourable sobriquet, for it will stick to him until some worthy deed entitles him to change it. The change is then effected with solemn ceremony. The Council gathers round the camp fire, and the Chief takes a piece of birch bark, on which the unworthy nickname is written; then the Council, having agreed that the fault has been expiated, the Chief places the birch bark on the fire, and the memory of the fault is dispersed in the smoke, and no true Scout would ever reproach his re-admitted comrade with his fault again.

It is interesting to know that Mr. Seton altogether deprecates military drill for Boy Scouts. He thinks it altogether unnecessary, but at the same time he is a keen advocate of physical training.

He regards the Boy Scout Movement as o powerful lever for peace, which will assume international importance as the Scouts of different nationalities find opportunities for fraternising, and when the boys themselves have grown up to take their places as citizens in their representative countries.

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Message from Mr. Thompson Seton to the Boy Scouts of the British Empire.

Some weeks ago in America we had a turn out of thousands of Boy Scouts to extend public greetings to Sir Robert Baden-Powell.

A week ago at Plymouth, and later at Paddingon, members of Boy Scouts were arrayed to welcome me as the American representative of Scouting.

Not long ago I had cordial letters from strange Scouts in Italy and Sweden, and all this kindness and good feeling was the direct result of the great Scout Movement.

This is indeed one of our prime objects in organising.

Prepared always to greet as brothers the Scouts of other lands, we are the Junior Peace League of the world.

It is related that a stranger entered the room where Goldsmith and Johnson were seated. Goldsmith said: “I hate that man.” Johnson replied: “ Why, you do not even know him.” “That's troe,” said Goldsmith reflectively. “Perhaps, if I knew him, I should find him a very good fellow and learn to love him.”

Therein is the trouble of most of the world's misunderstandings. We do not know the other fellow, or we might love him, and this is one great difficulty that the Scout brotherhood is intended to meet. By getting acquainted we are taking the first step towards friendship.

As long as I live I shall have a happy remembrance of those Scouts, drawn up at Plymouth and Paddington — erect, alert, clear-eyed, manly, self-respecting, friendly — perceptively different from an equal number of the same boys gathered together a few years ago.

I think I may say I looked at every one of them, and the unspoken word that came up again and again to my lips was an Indian word that means “A new spirit within.” It was a spirit of manhood and kindness. It is indeed a splendid and inspiring experience going about meeting boys of other countries.

Each fresh meeting lends new strength to the comrade feeling, and at each new place we help each other, if only by the simple fact of swopping experiences.

I am not without hope that my visit here, with its consequent presentation of American ideas, may be productive of good among the boys and directly helpful to the Scoutmasters who may be in need of new methods; and I am very sure of this, I shall go back to your brothers in America laden with new thoughts, equipped with many judicious comparisons, re-inspired with enthusiasm for this our great man-making scheme, as well as bearing hearty national greetings that evidence our upward trend and our progress toward the brotherhood of the race.

Let me, for your American kinsmen, here return hearty thanks for your greetings and for the goodwill you have shown me as their representative.

May these international visits become more and more frequent, and may each one bring the nations closer together. — I am, yours fraternally,

February 22nd, 1912 Ernest Thompson Seton. (Chief, Boy Scouts of America.)