RUSSIAN BOY SCOUTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1885, 20 October 1913, Page 8

RUSSIAN BOY SCOUTS.

o- ' ] The friends of the Boy Scout idea will < be glad to hear that it has begun to take root in Russia. For some years past the Emperor lias bold an annual 1 review of what are known as "Play ' Troops," or regiments of boy soldiers. These troops liavo differed from the 1 English Boy Scouts in a vital particu- j lar: tbe aini has been, not to strengthen and improve* tho individual boy, but to ! sink individuality in the mass. This 1 year" the annual review has been coun- 1 termanded, and an impetus has been ; given to tho formation and development 1 of those boy corps whoso principles.are ! to a great extent tho principles of our own Boy Scouts, and whose titles aro a clumsy translation of the ICnelisli ( term. The Emperor has transferred bis patronago from tho "Play Troops" to the development of physical drill and E athletic sports. Throughout Russia, we c are told, outdoor games are the order of £ the day, and football in particular has a ouile captured tho Russian boy's mind, v The athletic awakening of young Russia ® cannot but be regarded as a, most pro- '' mising mark of saner progress. ® ============= fl A gas-cooking demonstration will be e riven by Hiss Rennie. of the Wellington a Technical School, at tlie Wellington Gas n Co.'b lecture room on Wednesday, October 8 .23, beginning at 9 p.m. j,