In 1921 there were 350,000 Boy Scouts in the British Empire, and
approximately a million and a half throughout the world.
(R. B.-P.)
United Stales. Early in 1910 the idea of introducing into the United States the Boy Scout movement, with methods similar to those of the English Boy Scouts, which had been in- stituted in 1908 and developed under the personal supervision of Lt.-Gen. Sir Robert Baden-Powell, was first proposed by Mr. W. D. Boyce of Chicago. Before this time a number of troops had been started in various parts of the country by men who had been impressed with the possibilities of the scheme through reading Sir Robert's English handbook, " Scouting for Boys." It is significant that Mr. Boyce's interest was aroused by a service rendered him in true scout spirit by a London Boy Scout who, because of his obligation to do a good turn daily and the rule against the acceptance of gratuities, greatly astonished and impressed Mr. Boyce. After a conference with Sir Robert he secured the cooperation of friends in Washington, D.C., and on February 8 1910 incorporated an organization of the Boy Scouts of America under the laws of the District of Columbia. With the cooperation of other agencies interested in boys, the plans for the organization were developed, and the administration was undertaken by a national council working through an ex- ecutive board and through local councils and scout officials throughout the country. In 1910 a small office was opened in New York and in 1911 headquarters were established at 200 Fifth Ave. in that city. Federal incorporation was granted by Act of Congress in June 1916.
Boy Scouts are organized in patrols, 8 boys to a patrol, 2 to 4 patrols to a troop. Each troop is under the charge of a scoutmaster, who must be an adult American citizen, and one or more assistant scoutmasters. Troops are organized in connexion with schools, churches and other institutions, or under the auspices of a group of representative citizens. For each troop there is a supervising group of adults known as a troop committee. Where there are two or more troops in a community their activities are directed and supervised by local councils.
The national council is made up of representatives from these local councils and other distinguished men from every state in the union. This body meets annually in New York City, where the Council has its administrative and executive headquarters. The president of the Boy Scouts of America in 1921 was Mr. Colin H. Livingstone of Washington, D.C.; its honorary president, the President of the United States, and its chief scout executive, James E. West.
The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America as stated in its consti- tution is " to promote through organization, and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in scout-craft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods which are now in common use by Boy Scouts, by placing emphasis upon the Scout Oath and Law for character development, citizenship training and physical fitness." The movement is non-sectarian and non-partisan. The motto of the organization is: " Be prepared."
The membership in Sept. 1921 was 410,676 registered scouts, 119,283 scout officials, 17,738 troops, 607 local councils. (J. E. W.)
Girl Scouts. In March 1912 Mrs. Juliette Low organized in Savannah, Ga., a group of Girl Guides, patterned after and bear- ing the same name as the organization developed in England by Lt.-Gen. Sir Robert Baden-Powell and Lady Baden-Powell. In both cases the purpose was to offer girls activities similar to those open to Boy Scouts. The movement spread rapidly and on June 10 1915 the organization was incorporated and its name changed to Girl Scouts. At first the national headquarters were in Washington, D.C., but later removed to New York City. In Oct. 1921 the number of registered Girl Scouts was about 120,- ooo, and applications for membership were being received at the rate of 3,000 per month. The purpose is to instill patriotism, to arouse the spirit of helpfulness, and to develop character, largely through outdoor group activity. The motto is " Be prgpared "; and the slogan, " Do a good turn daily." Each member promises: " On my honour, I will try to do my duty to God and my country, to help others at all times, to obey the Scout laws."
These laws, ten in number, require a Girl Scout to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind to animals, obedient, cheer- ful, thrifty, and clean in thought, word, and deed. Originally the age limit was fixed from 10 to 18 years, and this central group continued to be the largest; but later a separate division was formed for little girls, known as Brownies or Junior Scouts, and another division for
mature girls, known as Citizen Scouts. The unit is a patrol of eight girls, who choose from their number a leader. One or more patrols form a troop, whose captain must be at least 21 years old and ap- proved by the national headquarters. A captain may have one or more lieutenants, at least 1 8 years old and approved by the national headquarters. The official magazine is The American Girl, a monthly publication. (X.)
Camp Fire Girls. Another organization, wholly distinct, repre- senting the scout movement in the United States is the Camp Fire Girls, for girls over twelve. It was founded in 1912 to promote the ideals of the " home, health and citizenship." The training stimulates love of being out of doors and an interest in simple handicrafts like block-printing and weaving. The organization accomplishes its work by recognizing the doing of small tasks well and by awarding " honour-beads " in the seven Camp Fire " crafts " of " home, nature, health, hand, camp, business, and patriotism or citizenship." The slogan is " Give Service," and the watchword " Wohelo " (work, health, love). There were 130,000 members in 1921, living in every state of the United States and in 18 foreign countries. An allied junior organization is the Blue Birds. The official organ is Everygirl's Magazine. The headquarters of the Camp Fire Girls are in New York City.
BRACQUEMOND, FELIX (1833-1914), French painter (see 4.369), died in Paris Oct. 29 1914.
BRADBURY, SIR JOHN SWANWICK (1872- ), English civil servant, was born at Winsford, Cheshire, Sept. 23 1872 and educated at the Manchester grammar school and Brasenose College, Oxford. He entered the civil service in 1896. Begin- ning in the Colonial Office, he was soon transferred to the Treasury. In 1911 he was appointed a member of the National Health Insurance Commission, but in 1913 returned to the Treasury as joint permanent secretary. In that capacity it fell to his lot to sign the currency notes issued by the Government when gold was withdrawn from circulation on the outbreak of the World War. Hence their first popular name of " Brad- burys." He was made K.C.B. in 1913, and in 1919 was appointed chief British representative on the Reparations Com- mission. In 1920 he was given the G.C.B.
BRADDON, MARY ELIZABETH [MRS. JOHN MAXWELL] (1837-1915), English novelist (see 4.369), died at Richmond, Surrey, Feb. 4 1915. Among her latest novels were The Green Curtain (1911) and Miranda (1913).
Her son WILLIAM BABINGTON MAXWELL (1866- ), born June 4 1866, became known as a novelist and newspaper cor- respondent. His novels include Vivien (1905); The Guarded Flame (1906); Mrs. Thompson (1911); The Mirror and the Lamp (1918); A Man and his Lesson (1919) and A Remedy against Sin (1920). He served with the Royal Fusiliers during the World War (1915-7) and attained the rank of captain.
BRAGG, SIR WILLIAM HENRY (1862- ), British physicist, was born at Wigton, Cumb., on July 2 1862 and was educated at King William's College, Isle of Man. He subsequently entered Trinity College, Cambridge, being elected to a major scholarship in 1882. He was third wrangler in 1884 and in the following year obtained a first class in part III. of the mathematical tripos. In 1886 he was appointed professor of mathematics and physics in the university of Adelaide, S. Australia, where he carried out his earlier researches upon ra- dioactivity. He took an active interest in the development of scientific enterprise in Australia, was a member of the council of the Adelaide University from 1893 to 1908, of the council of the South Australian School of Mines and Industries from 1895 to 1908 and president of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, Brisbane, 1909. In 1909 he was appointed Cavendish professor at Leeds University, where he remained until his election in 1915 to the Quain professorship of physics in the university of London. His researches upon various radioactive phenomena and his power of lucid exposition brought recognition from scientific bodies both at home and abroad; in 1906 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society; in 1915 he received the Nobel Prize for Physics and the Barnard gold medal (Columbia University), both of which distinctions he shared with his son William John Bragg (b. 1890), who in 1919 became
