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"Boy Scouts, 1913." Our thrifty Scouts again, with the postmistress seen here yesterday. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
Fast forward five years, and this could be Camp Travis, Texas or any other World War I training camp in the country. Amazing how military the early BSA uniforms were.
As a former Scoutmaster I am intrigued by the Scout wearing a necktie. Everything about his appearance says "I'm different!" His field hat is of higher quality than the other Scouts; the open collar of his tunic and the necktie suggests upperclass; he has leather boots while the others have canvas leggings (more leggings!); and I think the insignia on his tunic pocket is actually for the Army's Coast Artillery...crossed cannons with an artillery shell overlaid. Plus, he's the one with a pencil, so he's in charge. I wonder if he is actually the scoutmaster, though a very young one.
Maybe the caption of this one should be "Waiting at the Post office for the arrival of the Proper Wearing of the Scout Uniform Manual".
Apparently, the hat was multiple choice as they are all different, ranging from the Indiana Jones style of the front row right, to the Smiley Burnett style of the front row left.
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