Page:Boy Scouts and What They Do.djvu/11

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The Inner Side of the Scouts Exhibition at Birmingham.

"There doesn't seem to be a ——— thing that these boys can't do," was the expression used by a working man visiting the Boy Scouts Exhibition at Birmingham in July, 1913.

And his statement only put into so many words the feeling of men of all kinds who saw the remarkable show. It was, in fact, at once an eye-opener and an inspiration.

To the public it showed generally what the Scout training means; that it is not a form of military instruction, nor is it a Sunday school. It is a school for developing the qualities of manliness, industry, unselfishness, and those many other points which go to make good citizens. It therefore attracted a general sympathy and closer interest.

In regard to us who are working in the movement, it exceeded all our expectations in showing what boys are capable of doing if only they are given the ambition.

It was therefore an enormous encouragement to us all to continue and increase our effort.

To the boys themselves it revealed the fact that they are now not only members of a numerous brotherhood, but also of a band of clever handicrafts

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