How Girls Can Help Their Country Part 4

~A Tenderfoot~ (Badge, a Brooch) must be ten years old.

Before making the Scout Promise, she must know:

How to tie four of the following knots: reef, sheet-bend, clove hitch, bowline, fisherman's, and sheep-shank (see p. 68).

The name of the Governor of the State and of the Mayor of the city.

The History of the Flag, and how to fly it (see p. 135).

The ten Scout Laws.

~A Second-Cla.s.s Girl Scout~ (Badge, worn on left arm) must have had one month's service as Third-Cla.s.s Scout. She must pa.s.s the following tests:

Must have made a drawing of, or cut out and made in cloth or on paper, the Flag of the United States.

Know how to cook one simple dish, such as potatoes or a quarter of a pound of meat.

Lay a fire in stove, or light a fire in the open with two matches.

Make a bed properly, and know how to make an invalid's bed.

Know her own measurements (see cards at Headquarters for details of measurement).

Must know the eight points of the compa.s.s (see compa.s.s, p. 71).

Must know what to do in case of fire (see p. 125).

Must know remedy for poison ivy and what to do to prevent frost-bite (see pp. 134 and 135).

Must know health habits (page 96).

Must know how to work a b.u.t.ton-hole, or knit or crochet, sew a seam and hem a garment.

Must know Morse alphabet or semaph.o.r.e alphabet.

~A First-Cla.s.s Scout~ (Badge, sewn on left sleeve above elbow, which ent.i.tles the wearer to go in for all-round cords) must have gained a Second-Cla.s.s Badge.

Must know how to set a table properly for breakfast, dinner, and supper.

Bring a shirt-waist or skirt sewn by herself or equivalent needlework.

Be able to describe how to get a specified place and walk one mile in twenty minutes.

Must be able to dress and bathe a child two years old or younger (see p.

122).

Be able to pa.s.s an examination upon the first three chapters of the woman's edition of the American Red Cross Abridged Text-Book in First Aid.

Must have knowledge of signaling and of semaph.o.r.e code or International alphabet (p. 75), writing 32 letters per minute.

Must have 50 cents in savings bank earned by herself.

Must produce a girl trained by herself in tests, Tenderfoot Cla.s.s.

Know how to distinguish and name ten trees, ten wild flowers, ten wild animals, ten wild birds.

Must know simple laws of sanitation, health and ventilation (pp. 111 to 115).

Swim fifty yards in her clothes or show a list of twelve satisfactory good turns.

Show points of compa.s.s without a compa.s.s.

Must give correctly the Scouts' secret pa.s.swords.

The subjects for proficiency badges may be undertaken after a girl becomes a Second-Cla.s.s Girl Scout, and the interest in her work is thus continuous. The badges for proficiency are registered and are issued only by Headquarters.

ENROLLMENT

Ceremony of Invest.i.ture of Scouts

The ceremonial for a Tenderfoot to be invested as a Scout should be a serious and earnest function. The captain calls "Fall in." The patrol is formed in a horseshoe, with captain and lieutenant in the gap, and the American flag spread out. The Tenderfoot, with her patrol leader (who will already have taught her tests and knots), stands just inside the circle, opposite the captain. "Salute." All salute her. The lieutenant holds the staff and hat, shoulder-knot and badge, and neckerchief of the Tenderfoot. When ordered to come forward by the captain, the patrol leader brings the Tenderfoot to the center. The captain then asks: "Do you know what your honor means?"

The Tenderfoot replies: "Yes, it means that I can be trusted to be truthful and honest"--(or words to that effect).

Captain: "Can I trust you on your honor to be loyal to G.o.d and the country, to help other people at all times, and to obey the Scout Law?"

The Tenderfoot then makes the half salute, and so do the whole company, whilst she says: "I promise, on my honor to be loyal to G.o.d and my country, to help other people at all times, and to obey the Scout Law."

The captain then says: "I trust you, on your honor, to keep this promise."

Whilst the recruit is making her promises aloud, all the Scouts remember their own promises, and vow anew to keep them.

The captain orders: "Invest."

The patrol leader then steps out, gives the Tenderfoot her staff, and puts her hat, neckerchief, and knot on her.

She then marches up the line to the captain, who pins on her trefoil badge, and explains that it is her Scout's "life." If, for misbehavior, her trefoil or life has to be taken from her, she becomes a dead Scout for the time the captain orders--a day or a week--and is in disgrace.

The badge may be worn at all times, but the uniform is worn only when the patrol meets.

The new Scout is then initiated into the mysteries of secret pa.s.swords Be Prepared (said backwards). The captain orders: "To your patrol--quick march."

The whole patrol salute and shoulder staves; the new Scout and her patrol leader march back to their places.