eet every day.
They interest the community to watch and experts are always ready and
interested to judge them. But nobody is interested in examination
papers, and school children and especially captains should not be taxed
with more than the absolute necessity of proving a candidate's fair
grasp of the subject.

In this connection great latitude should be allowed for the captain's
knowledge of her girls and their real ability and attitude. The girls
are also good judges of each other. Remember that the girl with the best
examination paper is not necessarily the best Scout.

_The Council._ The Patrol System, under the captain, is the vital
_inside_ of Scouting: in order to tie the organization closely to the
community, the council must be well selected, strong and active. An
ideal council should represent the best homes in the community, the
church and the school. Some leading woman, whose acquaintance is wide,
should most certainly be on it, in order to help the captain out with a
list of people qualified to judge the merit badges, for instance.
Interested women who will help in camps, hikes, sales, moving picture
benefits, rallies are most necessary, and the captain should feel no
hesitation in asking advice or help from her council. At least one
member whose daughter is in the local troop should be a practical link
between the home and the troop, but all members should make a point of
understanding the principles and distinctive methods of Scouting and see
that they are carried out in their locality.

"_Be Prepared_"

[Illustration: Emblem]

Officers, National Headquarters Girl Scouts, Inc.

_Honorary President_
MRS. WOODROW WILSON

_President_
MRS. JULIETTE LOW

_First Vice-President_
MRS. ARTHUR O. CHOATE

_Second Vice-President_
MRS. HERBERT HOOVER

_Treasurer_
DUNLEVY MILBANK

_Chairman, Executive Board_
MRS. V. EVERIT MACY

_Director_
MRS. JANE DEETER RIPPIN

_Executive Board_
MRS. SELDEN BACON
MRS. NICHOLAS F. BRADY
MISS ELLEN M. CASSATT
MRS. ARTHUR O. CHOATE
MR. FRANCIS P. DODGE
MISS EMMA R. HALL
MRS. JULIETTE LOW
MRS. V. EVERIT MACY
MRS. SNOWDEN MARSHALL
MRS. ROBERT G. MEAD
MR. DUNLEVY MILBANK
MISS LLEWELLYN PARSONS
MRS. HAROLD I. PRATT
MRS. THEODORE H. PRICE
MRS. W. N. ROTHSCHILD
DR. JAMES E. RUSSELL
MRS. GEORGE W. STEVENS
MRS. JAMES J. STORROW
MRS. PERCY WILLIAMS

[Illustration: Emblem]

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl Scouts Their Histor