THE NECESSARY NECKERCHIEF
The Neckerchief a Heritage from Scouts of Old
The smart and necessary neckerchief is the only spot, apart from the badges
and insignia, in which the practical, earth-hued uniform of the Scout flowers
into color. Like the painted sails of the boats of Venice, the age-old fez of
Cairo's bazaars, and the paint box sweaters of a college campus, the
Neckerchief, "a heritage from the Scouts of old, the pioneer and the
plainsman," gives life to the sober dress of the Boy Scout. And that touch
of color is the one thing needed to catch the eye and to stir the enthusiasm of
the spectators when the parade swings down the avenue and horn and drum and
cymbal stir the soul.
The Neckerchief is a passport for the Scout. Scouting says that at Santa
Barbara following the earthquake, and in Illinois and Indiana during the tornado
disaster, the Scouts' Neckerchief was a passport for any Scout through the
police and hospital lines.
The Scout Troop which is uniformly and colorfully neckerchiefed stands out as
a beautiful unit in a crowded hall, on parade, and in the summer audience in
shady woods. The adoption of a Troop Neckerchief makes it easy for a Scout to
find his own crowd, for the Neckerchief both identifies and promotes Scouting.
When help is needed in a hurry, the Scout with his colored Neckerchief is
quickly recognized, and his Good Turn is done with grateful swiftness.
The Neckerchief is the thing by which Scouting is most quickly recognized the
world over.
Emergencies call loudest to the Scout for the Neckerchief, for life itself
may depend upon it. In a moment it is a bandage, a smoke mask, or
a lifeline.
THE TESTED NECKERCHIEF
So much depends upon the Neckerchief that it is subjected regularly to
careful tests and inspections before it can qualify as the Official Scout
Neckerchief.
The Tested Neckerchief
The complete Scout Uniform requires it, and requires it worn correctly: not
under the collar; not rolled and worn half way down on the chest; but flat,
according to Scout regulations, over the collar of the shirt and held in place
with the quickly available and necessary slide or "woggle."
Out of his
rich and pictured experience Daniel Carter Beard, the National Scout
Commissioner, speaks with his usual aptness when he declares that "the
Neckerchief is first and last a necessity."
THE PROPERLY FOLDED NECKERCHIEF
The following standard for folding the Neckerchief has been adopted upon
advice from plainsmen, cowboys, out of doors men, and experienced Scouts
throughout the country.
Folding the Neckerchief
First, fold the Neckerchief once to get the triangle. According to the size
of the boy, turn the long edge over about three inches smoothly, once or twice,
or even three times, to insure the Neckerchief's lying smoothly at the back and
hanging correctly in front. Place around the neck over the collar of the shirt,
insert the slide, or woggle, up over the ends to the point where the knot would
be if tied as a four in hand necktie. Then tic the two loose ends in an overhand
knot, as if it were one piece of material. This lower knot is a constant
reminder to do your Daily Good Turn.
THE SLIDES FOR THE NECKERCHIEF
The Woggle
Always wear the slide, or woggle, with the Scout Neckerchief. The advantages
of the slide are that in hot weather and on the hike the Neckerchief can be
loosened around the throat, while in a cold wind or snowstorm it can be drawn up
closer to serve as a muffler. When necessary to use the Neckerchief in
emergencies, the slide can be drawn down instantly, permitting the Neckerchief
to be whipped off over the head. When the slide is not used, a knot must be
tied, and as it is seldom tied twice alike or at the same position at the
throat, a very untidy appearance results. The slide is an immense convenience
and adds distinctly to the appearance of the Neckerchief.
The Neckerchief Slides are made in this pleasing variety of colors: white,
khaki, gold, royal blue, brown, black, gray, green, orange, purple, yellow, red, and a combination of red, white and blue.
Each Troop should adopt a color to be worn by all its members with the
Neckerchief of harmonizing color which has been adopted for the Troop, District
or Council.
THE COLORS OF THE NECKERCHIEF
Neckerchiefs Growing Like Flowers
in an Old Fashioned Garden
The Scout Neckerchief grows like the flowers in the old-fashioned garden,
"Out at Old Aunt Mary's. "
The single color Neckerchiefs grow in these shades: plum; red; maroon;
orange; lemon; tea green; moss green; dark green; navy blue; royal blue; violet;
khaki; dark brown; gray; black; sky blue; gold.
The double color Neckerchiefs grow in these shades: red, gold border; gold,
navy border; green, red border; gray, green border; sky blue, maroon border;
navy blue, gold border; red, black border; gold, red border; orange, black
border; purple, orange border; royal blue, sky blue border; black, red border ,
lemon, navy blue border and maroon, gray border.
THE USES OF THE NECKERCHIEF
"Be Prepared" tells the Scout never to be without his Neckerchief
and therefore to be ready for any emergency. There are fifty six practical uses
among many others for the Necessary Neckerchief.
Some Uses of the Neckerchief
SQUARE NECKERCHIEF USES
GENERAL
- Rope for tying animals
- Mosquito covering for head
- Sweat-band for games
- Identification for teams in games
- Tie for three-legged races
- Swatters for running the gauntlet
- Red kerchief on projecting poles in transit
- Padding for carrying load on head
- Repairing harness
- Substitute for hat or cap.
SCOUTING
- Signal flag by attaching to stick (Morse) (1)
- Signal flag (no sticks)
(Semaphore) (2)
- Life line (Troop)
- Rope ladder (Troop)
- Bag (hobo style) (1)
- Lashing for canvas or bundles
- Caulking for boat
- Sail for boat (4)
- Covering for food
- Belt emergency (1)
- Knot tying practice
- Substitute for clothing (4)
- Trunks for bathing (1)
- Apron for kitchen police
- Troop or District identification
- Good Turn reminder (1)
- Guard rope (Troop)
- Emergency sock (1)
- Distress signal (1)
- Smoke signals (1)
- Flare (1)
- Torn strips, trail
marker
- Bathing cap to denote classes of swimmers; red, beginners; blue, fair
swimmers; white, life savers.
TRIANGULAR NECKERCHIEF USES
- Pressure on armpit artery
- Arm sling (10)
- Collar bone fracture (3)
- Ankle sprain dressing
- Fractured hip (7 to 9)
- Kerchief stretcher (5)
- Padding for splints (several)
- Chest carry (1)
- Tump line carry (1) (pack strap)
- Hand bandages (1)
- Head bandages (1)
-
Foot bandages (1)
- Support for sprained wrist
- Tourniquet uses (1)
- Trench bandages (1)
- Compress
- Smoke mask
for fires or gas
- Fireman's drag-- free wrists
- Tied hands carry (1)
- Tied hands across over turned canoe
- Tying good ankle as splint to broken one (4)
- Guide rope to find way out of smoky room (Troop)
- Sun shelter for injured people (one for each person)