Law 8. A SCOUT SMILES AND WHISTLES UNDER ALL DIFFICULTIES.
_When he gets an order, he should obey it cheerily and readily, not
in a slow_, hang-dog _sort of way.
Scouts never grouse at hardships nor whine at each other, nor_
swear _when put out, but go on whistling and smiling. When you just
miss a train, or someone treads on your favourite corn--not that
Scouts should have such things as corns--or in any annoying
circumstances, you should force yourself to smile at once, and then
whistle a tune, and you will be all right.
The punishment for swearing or using bad language is for each offence,
a_ mug of _cold water to be poured down the offender's _sleeve
by the other Scouts. It was the punishment invented by the old British
scout, Captain John Smith, three hundred years ago_.
When I was encamped with my troop of Scouts at Humshaugh,
Northumberland, a gentleman living in the neighbourhood invited us to
come and visit the castle in which he lived. It was a beautiful old
tower left much in the state in which it was when it formed one of the
Border defences against Scotland. On the top was the fighting platform
from which the archers fired their bolts and arrows, and the gunners
fired their culverins. On the storey below were the rooms in which the
family lived, and below these again were the guardrooms of the
men-at-arms. On the ground-floor was the cattle stable into which the
herds were driven for security when the enemy were around. The
portcullis which closed the gateway was still in existence, hauled up
and down by means of ropes over pulleys of which the levers were
worked on the floor above.
In later and more peaceful times, that is in the reign of James I, a
house was built on to the tower to give more room to the inhabitants.
In the hall of this house was a noble fireplace above which there was
an elaborate overmantel of carved oak illustrating the seven Christian
virtues. There were little statues representing Fortitude,
Benevolence, Faith, etc., etc., all the qualities which a good
Christian should possess and carry into practice. But I felt, after
looking at them all, that there was still one virtue missing, and I
suggested to the boys that you might carry out all these seven good
qualities of a Christian without doing it to the best effect. You
might carry it out as an order to be kind, to be helpful, to be
chivalrous, and so on, but if you only did it because it was an order,
and therefore did it grumpily, half its value was lost.
The important point is that when you know what is the right thing to
do, you should jump to it and do it cheerily with a smile. Therefore I
thought that we Scouts might add one more to these seven Christian
virtues--namely Cheerfulness.
Then there is another good reason for being cheerful.
Have you ever noticed as you walk along the street how very few people
look really happy? They are going along often with downcast eyes, and
nearly always with dejected, serious countenances; if one comes along
who looks at you smilingly it is a great relief, and makes you feel a
bit happier yourself. And _there_ is a reason why a Scout should
go about with a smile on, because it makes other people happy. You may
not always feel cheerful yourself, but you should not show this, as it
will make other people feel glum, too. If you make yourself look
cheerful, you will gradually find that you are becoming brighter.
If you are troubled or anxious, or in pain, force yourself to smile.
It will be difficult at first; still, force yourself to do it, and you
will find to your surprise that your trouble is not so great as you
thought it was.
I have known men in action getting very anxious when great danger
overshadowed them. But if one began to laugh and to talk cheerily, or
to whistle, the cloud passed by and everybody bucked up and was ready
to face the situation.
That is what makes our men so formidable in the war just now. In spite
of heavy losses, in spite of overwhelming attacks against them, they
have always kept up their spirits and therefore their pluck. It has
often been the secret of their being able to hold their own, and it
will be the secret of their coming out victorious in the end.
Remember this--and I have found it come true in hundreds of different
kinds of cases:
"A difficulty ceases to be a difficulty directly you smile at it and
tackle it."
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