RECORD-BREAKERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 528, 11 May 1933, Page 7

RECORD-BREAKERS

CANDID CRITICISM CHIEF SCOUT DENOUNCES HUNTERS OF NOTORIETY. STRONG GRITICISM. Notoriety-hunting was attacked1 by Lord Baden-Powell in the course of his Alfred Fripp lectnre at University College, London, recently, states the Daily Telegraph. "We see in these days," he deelared, "the feverish endeavour going on among men and women to beat records, and so to gain fame-and notoriety. "Before attaining it they seem to think that this means success. When they have won it they find that it does not bring happiness but only leads to further restless, unsatisfied hunting for more. "There is," he said, "a craze in the nation from top to bottom to get rich and to get rich quickly, if possible, through a lucky chance in the sweepstakes or tote club or Stock Exchange." Why work when by a lucky win you may make thousands? is the notion." He defended the youth of to-day against the charge that they are unwilling to learn from their elders."Quite the contrary/' he said. "They appeal to one, of their own initiative, antl are grateful for such advice as one is able to give them." Arguing that health is not essential to happiness, he said, "I have seen crippled Sconts content with their lot and positively happy because , they were able to make toys to 'happify' children less well off than themselves." Lord Baden-Powell further explained how he came to travel. He once had a dream in which he arrived ;at the gate of Heaven, and was asked by St. Peter how he liked Jap'an. At the reply that he had never been there, St. Peter said to him, "My dear fellow, what were you doing with your opportunities? You were put in that earth full of beauties and wonders for your enjoyment, and you seem to h'ave wasted your time sitting still and neglecting them. Go back quickly and have another try." So he awoke, took a ticket to Japan, and got to realise what a wonderful world it was when one mixed with one's fellow-men.