Measurement of the Boy.
It is of paramount importance to teach the young citizen to assume responsibility for his own development and health.
Physical drill is all very well as a disciplinary means of development, but it does not give the lad any responsibility in the matter.
It is therefore deemed preferable to tell each boy, according to his age, what ought to be his height, weight, and various measurements (such as chest, waist, arm, leg, etc.). He is then measured, and learns in which points he fails to come up to the standard. He can then be shown which exercises to practise for himself in order to develop those particular points. Encouragement must afterwards be given by periodical measurements, say every three months or so.
Cards can be obtained from the "Boy Scouts" Office, Henrietta Street, London, W.C., which, besides giving the standard measurements for the various ages, give columns to be filled in periodically showing the boy's re-measurements and progress in development. If each boy has his card it is a great incentive to him to develope himself at odd times when he has a few minutes to spare.
Teach how to make camp tooth brushes out of sticks. "Dragon-root" sticks for cleaning teeth can be got at chemists' shops as samples.
GAMES TO DEVELOP STRENGTH.
Boxing, wrestling, rowing, skipping, cock-fighting, are all valuable health aids to developing strength.
Old Spotty-face (To develop eyesight).—Prepare squares of cardboard divided into about a dozen small squares. Each scout should take one, and should have a pencil and go off a few hundred yards, or, if indoors, as far as space will allow. The umpire then takes a large sheet of cardboard, with twelve squares ruled on it of about three inch sides if in the open, or one and a half to two inches if indoors. The umpire has a number of black paper discs (half an inch diameter) and pins ready, and sticks about half a dozen on to his card, dotted about where he likes. He holds up his card so that it can be seen by the scouts. They then gradually approach, and as they get within sight they mark their cards with the same pattern of spots. The one who does so at the farthest distance from the umpire wins. Give five points for every spot correctly shown, deduct one point for every two inches nearer than the furthest man. This teaches long sight.
