Girl Scout

“ Now what we hope the Girl Scout organization will do, is to make interest more general.
“Of the remaining four girls on the swimming team, only one stands high enough in her lessons to be selected as a candidate. That girl is Ruth Henry!” ”

“ The girl-scout organization encourages thrifty habits and economy in buying in all of its activities. The scout troops are self-supporting, and are expected to earn most of their equipment by means of rallies, pageants, plays, as well as by individual effort. One of the 10 scout laws is that “A girl scout is thrifty.”
Health.—The girl scout learns that “a cheerful scout, a clean scout, a helpful scout is a well scout. She is the only scout that really is prepared.” ”

“ This told of a young girl claiming to be a girl scout, running off with a lot of ticket money, the funds she had obtained by pretending to assist an entertainment being conducted for the benefit of the Violet Circle of Shut-ins.
That a girl scout should rob cripples! And that a clue should lead back to Flosston, inferring the culprit might belong in that town! Instantly Rose knew the mystery meant Tessie, and that the purloined badge had served as her scout credential! ”

“ She had changed utterly; suffering, responsibility, kindness, work, and the influence of the Girl Scout principles in her life had all helped to accomplish it.
"I want you to come back and meet the members of our troop," she said, taking Frieda's hand. "They are waiting—but they won't wait long."
She found the girls gathered around Miss Phillips, intoxicated with their success, but impatient of [Pg 251] the delay that kept them from joining their friends in the audience.
"Captain! Girls!" interrupted Marjorie, out of breath from her haste and excitement. ”

“ A Girl Scout Is a Friend to All, and a Sister to Every Other Girl Scout.
Thus if a Scout meets another Scout, even though a stranger to her, she may speak to her, and help her in any way she can, either to carry out the duty she is then doing or by giving her food, or as far as possible anything she may want. Like Kim a Scout should be a "Little friend to all the world." ”

“ Miss White and Miss Phillips would both have to know the story—and perhaps224 even Miss Allen and some of the scouts. Ruth had not treated her as a scout should treat anyone, let alone a former friend; but that would not excuse Marjorie, if she disregarded the other girl’s feelings. She thought of the scout slogan that Miss Phillips had just been speaking about—“Do a good turn daily.” “And if I start my career as a Girl Scout by disregarding that law, it would be to begin all wrong. Better stay out of the troop forever,” she reflected. ”

“ Then they sang one stanza of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” standing at attention. After this, led by Miss Phillips, they took the Scout oath. With their right hands raised to their foreheads, they repeated:
“On my honor I will try
To be true to God and my country.
To help others at all times.
To obey the Scout laws.”
Their hands dropped to their sides.
“Patrol Leader Wright,” commanded Miss Phillips, “lead in the Scout Laws.”
Frances stepped in front of the group, saluted the Captain, and the girls repeated with her:
“A Girl Scout’s honor is to be trusted. ”

“ Miss Allen and Miss Phillips spent the evening in going over the handbook. They were delighted with97 its contents; the Girl Scout movement seemed to be just the thing the school needed.
“It is my idea,” said Miss Phillips, “to start the troop with only such girls as have 80% or over in their lessons, and are at the same time members or substitutes on one of the school teams. This will give the organization a high standard at the outset, and besides, I think it will make both lessons and athletics more popular. ”

“ When they attain success after facing difficulties, then they feel really happy and triumphant. It is a big satisfaction to them to have succeeded and [51] to have made other people succeed also. That is what the Girl Scouts want to do, just like the mountaineer guides do among the mountains.
Then, too, a woman who can do things is looked up to by others, both men and women, and they are always ready to follow her advice and example, so there she becomes a Scout too. And later on if she has children of her own, or if she becomes a teacher of children, she can be a really good Scout to them. ”

“ Girls, I wish you could have heard that darling baby voice reciting our promise! She was so sweetly solemn about it. 'On my honor I will twy,' she said, and all the rest of it. Mrs. Pain says she does everything as nearly right as she can, because she is so proud of being a Girl Scout. And cunning? Indeed she was! Just imagine a funny, dimply, blonde Kewpie dressed in Scout uniform, and there you will have little Mabel Pain. ”

“ Don’t you owe it to yourself as a Girl Scout to do something that will show you are making progress in character?”
“You talk as if you were a captain of a troop yourself.”
“I’m not, but I have friends who are and I know that good times are not all you girls must look for. [122] The big thing is the training of yourselves into such women as the country can be proud of. ”

“ I want to arrange about our cabin party with the Boy Scouts. School reopens April fifteenth, which is on Wednesday; so all the Girl Scouts are to come back here on Tuesday morning. Get here before twelve o’clock. The housekeeper, Mrs. Rock, is going to give us a light lunch, and we are to change into our scout uniforms, take a trolley to Bear’s Hill and hike to the cabin. Each girl is to bring her own mess-kit, and wear warm clothes; the Boy Scouts prepare the rest.”
Ruth’s eyes danced. “How many Boy Scouts are there?” ”

“ You are too pretty, that's all's the matter with you. But just wait. Hush! There's that crowd of nifty-nice, preachy, snippy scout girls. Duck, or they'll be on our trail," and she dragged her companion around the corner of the high fence, where, in the shadow of its bill-posted height they crouched, until the laughing, happy girls of True Tred Troop, just out from their early evening meeting at Sunset Hall, over the post-office, had passed down into Elm Street.
"I think they saw us," whispered Dagmar, "I heard one girl say some one was hiding by the signboard." ”

“ It is not intended that Girl Scouts should necessarily form a new club separated from all others. Girls who belong to any kind of existing organization, such as school clubs or Y. W. C. A.'s may also undertake, in addition to their other work or play, the Girl Scouts' training and games, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.
It is not meant that girls should play or work on Sunday, but that they may take walks where they can carry on a study of plants and animals.
Groups or bands of girls not already belonging to any club may be organized directly as a Girl Scout Patrol or Troop. ”

“ Mountain climbing is the final test of a Girl Scout's perseverance in following a trail, in endurance, courage and woodcraftmanship. Nature reserves her choicest beauties and secrets for those who know how to conquer all difficulties. No Girl Scout's education is complete until she has seen mountain peaks like waves of the sea flashing with white snow foam, piercing the blue sky as far as the eye can reach; clouds forming below her feet ”

“ It was indeed a fitting time for Miss Allen to inform157 the lucky candidates of their election to the Girl Scout troop.
“Before I announce the names of the new candidates,” she said, “let me tell you that Miss Martin’s school is watching our Girl Scout troop carefully, and from our success will decide whether or not to start one of their own next year! It is a big responsibility, girls! I would like every student in my school to be a scout, if she would try to live up to the pledge and laws ”

“ The activities of the Girl Scouts may be grouped under five headings corresponding to five phases of women's life today:
I. Woman's most ancient way of service—the home-maker, the nurse, and the mother. The program provides incentives for practicing woman's world-old arts by requiring an elementary proficiency in cooking, housekeeping, first aid, and the rules of healthful living for any Girl Scout passing beyond the Tenderfoot stage. ”

“ She first ranks as Tenderfoot or third-class Girl Scout, then, after one month, she becomes, after passing certain tests, a second-class Girl Scout, and finally attains the rank of first-class Girl Scout.
After she has reached the age of eighteen, a girl can become a lieutenant, and when she is twenty-one years old she may become a captain if she has passed the first-class examinations. Girl Scouts' patrols in Europe are sometimes formed by grown-up women, who wish to carry out the Girl Scout program of preparedness, and these are called Senior Scouts. ”

“ Proficiency badges.—After a girl scout has attained to first class there are still other worlds to conquer, as the badges she has earned on the way are only a few of the many to be worked toward. There are no less than 47 subjects in which a scout may achieve, and more are being added. Just to mention a few: A girl scout may be an artist, a beekeeper, a business woman, a craftsman, or a dancer; an electrician, a farmer, a flower finder, a horsewoman, an interpreter, a motorist ”

“ As we practice the Scout laws they become a part of us.
Modesty
Girl Scouts have often been complimented for their modest bearing. One does not hear them talk about what they have done, or what they are going to do. They just do the thing and say nothing about it. They go about their business or pleasure quietly and gently, and never draw attention to themselves unnecessarily by behaving noisily and talking or laughing loudly in public. They should be particularly careful of this when in the company of boys or men. ”

“ At a table fashioned from an upside-down packing case, with real hand carved legs where the boards were knocked out and the hatchet braces left standing, sat three of the Chickadees, discussing the new Girl Scout stories.
“I just love the first,” insisted Thistle whose name was as Scotch as the emblem. “I liked the mill story and I just loved that wild, exciting time the girls had trying to win back—was it Dagmar?”
“Oh, yes, I remember,” chimed in Betta. ”

“ There are plenty of things in it for older girls.”
“We like the uniform,” continued Queenie, “and we’re crazy about goin’ camping sometime. And that’s about all there is to it, isn’t it? Except of course meetin’ here once a week—and we could do as we please at our own meetin’s.”
“I’m sorry,” said Marjorie, kindly, but firmly, “but you couldn’t. Once you’re scouts, you have to follow the scout law, and do the scout work. And it is work, too, though it’s mighty interesting work. If you want to win the honors, the merit-badges and the medals, you have to go in for it hard. ”

“ The Girl Scout finds a special comrade in every other Girl Scout, it goes without saying, and knows how to make her feel that she need never be without a friend, or a meal, or a helping hand, as long as there is another Girl Scout in the world. ”

“ It is not necessary that every Scout should be proficient in all things suggested for practice. All should be able to drill and know the signs—secret and open—for the use of the organization. They should practice the precepts laid down for their guidance and be above all things "the little friend to all" that makes such a distinctive feature in the work and training of every day's meeting of Scouts. Consider it a paramount duty to attend all meetings and get the most out of the opportunities offered you in the American Band of Girl Scouts. ”

“ Richards. “They’d do more for a man than for a woman.”
Marjorie was started now; her brain was working with its old-time rapidity. Somehow when Jack entered into the scheme and Lily, everything became clearer. Vaguely she wished that she might win John over to this new cause.
“And then—and then,” she cried, “start a Girl Scout League, and admit only scouts in good standing—and—and make our troop win the championship!” Her eyes fairly shone with fire. “Then on to something serious!”
“You have it, Miss Wilkinson! Go ahead, and you’ll win!” ”

“ The glory of the orchids, with their delightful colors and their rarest of perfumes, permeates the story, while the vague, subtle influence of queer foreigners lends sufficient clouds to bring out the real beauties of the tale. The Girl Scout Series is intended to furnish the best sort of good reading in an attractive style, suited at once to the needs of the girl's mind, and her natural enjoyment of the story, while it will stand the most critical censorship of parents and caretakers of the plastic minds of young girls. ”

“ Claire frowned. She was faced with terrific difficulties, while a frightful calamity, like a black cloud, darkened all her future. What did loyalty to her father mean in her case? She read on: "A Girl Scout is cheerful under all circumstances." Claire thought of her wild ravings the night before, and frowned. She skipped down the page to a short paragraph that her eyes seemed unable to avoid.
"Kipling in Kim says that there are two kinds of women,—one kind that builds men up, and the other that pulls men down; and there is no doubt as to where a Girl Scout should stand." ”

“ A Girl Scout likes to hike and camp. She learns to know the stars, and becomes acquainted with the plants and animals about her. She gains independence from her ability to help herself, and health and strength from exercise in the sunshine and fresh air.
These are the good things of camping. The bad things are catching cold from damp ground, or insufficient bedding, uncomfortable nights, and weary feet. But a wise Scout does not rough it. She knows how to make herself comfortable by a hundred little dodges. The aim of camping is to make things simpler for the Camper. ”