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38 gets rotten, or slips out of place, it begins to throw an undue strain on others, cracks appear, and the wall totters.

Woodcraft includes, besides being able to see the tracks of animals and other small signs, the power to read their meaning, such as at what pace the animal was going; whether he was frightened or unsuspicious and so on. It enables the hunter also to find his way in the woods or desert; it teaches him which are the best wild fruits, roots, etc., for his own food, or which are favorite food for animals, and therefore, likely to attract them.

The Boston Council of the Boy Scouts of America was organized February 6, at a meeting held at the Boston City club. A membership of one hundred business and professional men who are interested in helping boys was organized and committees elected to take charge of the local work. Headquarters will be continued in the Old South building.

Major Henry L. Higginson was elected president of the Boston council of the scouts; vice-presidents, Dr. David D. Scannell, Frank L. Locke, Louis A. Crossett, David A. Ellis; secretary, Frank S. Mason; treasurer, Charles C. Jackson; executive committee, Joseph Lee, J. J. Phelan, Arthur A. Carey, Carl Dreyfus, Mitchell Freiman and Harold Peabody.

James E. West, executive secretary of the national organization, who came on from Washington to attend the gathering, said the movement now has about three hundred thousand boys affiliated with its work in the United States, the Hawaiian Islands and Porto Rico, with two thousand commissioned scout masters in direct charge.

Mr. West, who is a Washington lawyer, took up his duties with the Boy Scouts of America about two months ago, largely because of his interest in the playgrounds movement and his concern over the proper development of outdoor recreation for boys.

Mr. West emphasized the fact that the Boy Scouts of America desires to be considered entirely independent and non-sectarian. He said that it aims to treat with the boys of Protestant and Roman Catholic religious beliefs, the Unitarians, Jews and all others, that there is no distinction of race or creed.

In speaking of the meeting of the National council, which comprises a membership of 150 men known throughout the country, Mr. West said that it will be the first one of that council and that it is to be held in Washington on February 14 and 15. One of the meetings is to be held in the East Room of the White House, by invitation of President Taft, who is honorary president, and who desires to show his interest in the movement.

In the town of Brookline is the banner troop (75) New England Boy Scouts, under Scout Master J. V. Bandy.

This troop is progressive A No. 1, as to discipline and deportment, they are the champions of New England.

Other troops will have to work very hard to win their laurels away from them. This troop is just the one for you to study and follow, for they are in earnest.

Every Scout straight as an arrow, neat, tasty, polite, and maintains strict silence while in ranks.

That is the secret of their advancement, all this accomplished since they became Scouts, not quite three months ago.

Brookline has every reason to be proud of her fine troop of Boy Scouts.

Scout Master Sidney Cliffe has over 150 American Boy Scouts, and has today requested that fifty more application blanks be sent special delivery.

The boys in the University city are very enthusiastic and recruits are coming in very fast. Many of the boys are uniformed and are in fine shape.

The Dorchester troops of the New England Boy Scouts are planning on a ball to be held in April. Mayor Fitzgerald of Boston and many other prominent men have signified their intention of being present.

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