Page:Scouting for girls, adapted from Girl guiding.djvu/244

230 are interested may the more easily take up the work of guiding girls in this happy sisterhood.

The Need

That nation comes to the fore which has the most character in its citizens. It deserves its supremacy only when that character is a good character. The character of a nation is not merely that of a few leaders but of the majority of the people. Character is largely a matter of environment and training, and, later on, of experience. Undoubtedly the mother's influence gives as a rule the first impetus to character. A mother cannot give that which she does not possess herself. Therefore it is all-important that the mothers of our country should possess character of a high quality in order to inculcate it in their children. Hitherto the girls, some of the future mothers of our race, have had little character training as a direct part of their education. Character includes self-reliance, self-discipline, cheerfulness, consideration for others, sense of duty, patriotism, and other such moral qualities. But there are other things besides character needed to make a citizen, especially


 * Skill in handicraft or other work.
 * Sense of duty and service for others.
 * Physical health and knowledge.

It is on these four lines therefore that the training of the Girl Scouts is carried out, through games and practices which appeal to the girls.