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by Ernest Thompson Seton
The following competition in Medley Scouting took place at one of my camps. A prize was offered for the highest points in the following:
At the word, "Go," bring a leaf of sugar-maple; and tell how it differs from other maples.
Tell a short story or give a recitation.
Bring a leaf of poison ivy (wrapped in a thick paper, to avoid touching it), and describe the-poison, and mode of counteracting it.
Mark off on a stick your idea of a yard.
Bring a leaf of witch hazel, and tell what it is good for.
Bring a leaf of beech, and tell how it differs from those most like it.
Dance a step; any-English, Irish, Scotch, or Indian.
Strike a match and light a lamp; both of them imaginary.
Boil a quart of water, as in the Water-Boiling Contest.
Make a map of North America from memory in ten minutes.
Give an imitation of some animal, actions or sounds.
Play the part of an Indian woman finding her warrior dead.
For each of the first 20 competitors, points were given; the prize adjudged by the total.
Some of these stunts may seem trivial, but there was a purpose in each, and that purpose was served. In the Indian widow, for example, we wished to select the best actor for play. Most of the boys failed. Two were good, but one, nearly the smallest in camp, was so fine that he brought tears into the eyes of many.
The selection of the various leaves impressed these kinds on all, especially those who failed to bring the right ones.
The animal imitation and dance was introduced to cultivate the spirit of going fearlessly in and doing one's best, however poor it might be. The imitations of monkey, lynx, cat, panther, moose, etc., developed a keen observation and a lot of good natural history that was intensely interesting as well as amusing.
The water-boiling was particularly instructive and was tried twice. The first time the winner took 14 minutes, and the second best 20. The last time, the winner's time was 8 minutes, and the second one's 10.
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