42 
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
Details in the Country. — If you are in the country, you should 
notice landmarks — that is, objects which help you to find your 
way to prevent your getting lost — such as distant hills and church 
towers; and nearer objects, such as peculiar buildings, trees, 
gates, rocks, etc. 
And remember in noticing such landmarks that you may want 
to use your knowledge of them some day for telling some one 
else how to find his way, so you must notice them pretty closely 
so as to be able to describe them unmistakably and in their proper 
order. You must notice and remember every by-road and foot- 
path. 
Remembrance of these things will help you to find your way by 
night or in fog when other people are losing themselves. 
Using your Eyes. — Let nothing be too small for your notice — 
a button, a match, a hair, a cigar ash, a feather, or a leaf might 
be of great importance, even a finger-print which is almost in- 
visible to the naked eye has often been the means of detecting a 
crime. 
With a little practice in observation you can tell pretty 
accurately a man’s character from his dress. 
How would you recognize that a gentleman was fond of 
fishing? If you see his left cuff with little tufts of cloth sticking 
up, you may be sure he fishes. When he takes his flies off the 
line he will either stick them into his cap to dry, or hook them 
into his sleeve. When dry he pulls them out, which often tears 
a thread or two of the cloth. 
Remember how “Sherlock Holmes” met a stranger, and noticed 
that he was looking fairly well-to-do, in new clothes with a 
mourning band on his sleeve, with a soldierly bearing and a 
sailor’s way of walking, sunburns, with tattoo marks on his 
hands, and he was carrying some children’s toys in has hand. 
What would you have supposed that man to be? Well, Sherlock 
Holmes guessed correctly that he had lately retired from the 
Royal Marines as a sergeant, that his wife had died, and that he 
had some small children at home. 
Practice in Observation. — Instructor can take the finger- 
marks of each girl. Lightly rub the thumb on blacklead or on 
paper that is blacked with pencil, then press the thumb on paper 
and examine u'ith magni flying glass. Show that no two peoples' 
prints are alike. 
In Town. — Practice your girls first in walking down a street to 
notice the different kinds of shops as they pass, and to remember 
them in their proper sequence at the end. 
Then to notice and remember the names on the shops. 
Then to notice and remember the contents of a shop window 
after two minutes’ gaze. Finally, to notice the contents of several 
shop windows in succession zmih half a minute at each. Give 
marks for the fullest list. 
