SCOUTING GOR GIRLS 
475 
from the end of your nose, when your head is turned 
sharply to one side, to the end of your thumb when your 
arm is stretched straight out from the shoulder in the 
opposite direction. Measure and find out this distance 
for yourself by holding the very end of a ribbon, tape or 
rope with the left hand to the end of the nose, head 
turned to the left, and with the right hand run the fingers 
along the edge of the ribbon until it is stretched to arm’s 
length. Marking the ribbon with a pin where the right 
thumb and forefinger have held it, measure the distance 
with a yard measure or rule from the end of the ribbon 
to the pin. This length will be about the same as the 
standard unit of length used in this country. When meas- 
uring a long length of goods, use the point held by the 
right hand as the starting point to be held by left hand. 
If you know the distance between the end of your little 
finger and the end of your thumb when they are stretched 
apart, the palm of the hand being held flat, you can meas- 
ure a distance such as the length of a table, shelf, pole, 
etc. When judging the height of a person, remember that 
the distance from the top of the head to the chin is about 
one-ninth of the height of the body. The distance be- 
tween the middle fingers when the arms are stretched 
straight out from the shoulders is about equal to the 
height of the body. 
Another personal measure that is of value is the length 
of one’s average pace or stride ; that is, the distance from 
the toe of one boot to the toe of the other when walking 
a natural gait. It is also useful to know the average 
number of paces taken in walking a given distance, such 
as a mile, and the time required to make them. All of 
this information can be obtained in a very simple way. 
Measure off as accurately as possible 220 yards, which is 
one-eighth of a mile, or take a known distance, and pace 
it back and forth at least eight times, but not all in one 
