One Hundred Scouts
Of any one hundred boys who become Scouts, it must be confessed that thirty
will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure,
but in later life all of these will remember that had been Scouts and will speak
well of the program.
Of the one hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court
judge. Twelve of the one hundred will be from families that belong to no church.
Through Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be brought into
contact with a church and will continue to be active all their lives. Six of the
one hundred will become pastors.
Each of the one hundred will learn something from Scouting. Almost all will
develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives.
Approximately one-half will serve in the military, and in varying degrees profit
from their Scout training. At least one will use it to save another person's
life and many will credit it with saving their own.
Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later
say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree. Many will find their
future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the
one hundred boys will later become Scout leaders and will give leadership to
thousands of additional boys.
Only one in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to
know that of the leaders in this nation in business, religion and politics,
three out of four were Scouts.
This story will never end. Like the "Golden Pebble" of service
dropped into the human sea it will continue to radiate in ever-widening circles,
influencing the characters of men down through unending time.
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