By Dan Beard
This kind of work needs more than one boy's labor, and is best built by a club
of boys like a Fort of the Sons of Daniel Boone. Such a club must have a
constitution, and the reader will find one here suited to his needs as an
outdoor lad or a Buckskin boy of America.
Constitution
of the
Sons of Daniel Boone
ARTICLE I--NAME
The name of this Association is THE SONS OF DANIEL BOONE.
The name of this
Fort is ..................................
(I) The motto of our Society is the
famous one of Davy Crockett:
I leave this rule for others when I'm dead,
Be always sure you're right, then
go ahead.
(2) The S. D. B. call is the same as that of the old pioneers:
Who -- -- -- ah! Who -- -- -- ahl
(3) The S. D. B. yell is:
Wow! wow! wow!
Rowl row! row!
Gosh--all--hemlocks!
Buckskin and leather socks!
Waugh! waugh! waugh!
Rah! rah! rah!
(Cut a notch,
Cut a notch,
Cut--a notch--soon!
For we are the SONS OF DANIEL BOONE.)
(Tiger--long drawn out)
WE--WANT--NO--MOLLYCODDLES!
or for the Boy Pioneers:
Take a scalp,
Take a scalp,
And give three cheers!
For we are the Boy PIONEERS.)
(4) The colors of the Fort are the same as those of the autumn woods: turkey
red, buff, and dark green.
(5) The flag is that given in Dan Beard's book,
The Boy Pioneers, Sons of Daniel Boone.
ARTICLE II--OBJECT
The object of the SONS OF DANIEL BOONE is to teach the boys how to form clubs
for the purpose of enjoying outdoor fun in a healthy, wholesome, boyish manner;
also for the purpose of preserving American traditions, plants, and animals, of
encouraging American boys to emulate all that was best in the lives of their
pioneer ancestors, and advocating and supporting the laws prohibiting the sale
of game.
ARTICLE III--THE OFFICERS
The officers of this Fort shall be a President, with the title of Daniel
Boone; a Secretary, with the title of Davy Crockett; a Treasurer, with the title
of Kit Carson; a Librarian, with the title of Audubon; The Keeper of the
Tally-Gun, with the title of Simon Kenton; Painter of Totems, with the title of
Catlin; and a Forester, with the title of Appleseed Johnny.
All the officers shall be elected by ballot, for a term of three months, six
months, or a year, as the Fort may decide on election day. The candidates
receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected.
ARTICLE IV--DUTIES
The duties of Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Kit Carson shall be those
usual to the offices of President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Daniel Boone.--Daniel Boone will preside at all Councils of the Fort and
attend to the other duties usual to the office of President.
Davy Crockett.--Davy Crockett must write all official letters and keep the
minutes of the meetings of the Council.
Kit Carson.--Kit Carson will keep the funds of the Fort, accounting to the
President and Council for all moneys received and paid, and perform the other
duties usual to a Treasurer.
Simon Kenton.--It shall be the duty of Simon Kenton to keep the Fort's Tally--Gun, and to make the notches in its stock in the presence of the Council
when so directed by Daniel Boone.
Appleseed Johnny.--It shall be the duty of Appleseed Johnny to act as
pacifier and peacemaker, to settle fairly all disputes among members on the
playground, in camp, or on the athletic field. Appleseed Johnny is also master
of ceremonies on Arbor Day.
Catlin.--It shall be the duty of Catlin to design and paint the totem boards,
etc., of the Fort.
ARTICLE V.--MEMBERS AND HONORARY MEMBERS
Any boy under twenty-one years of age, of good moral character, may become an
active member. Any "boy" over twenty-one may be elected an honorary
member, but can take no part in the business of the Society except as an
adviser; and an honorary member's advice or suggestions must be received with
respect and attention, but it may or may not be acted upon, as the Fort decides.
ARTICLE VI.--BALLOT
The ballot for membership shall be secret . .... black--balls shall be
necessary to debar a candidate from becoming a member of the Fort.
ARTICLE IX.--PLEDGE
Each member must sign the following pledge:
(1) I will not take life
needlessly.
(2) I will give all creatures a fair show for life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness.
(3) I will not kill more game than can be rightfully used, and I will not
countenance nor assist in the destruction of game out of season or at any time
in quantities greater than are sportsmanlike.
(4) In making camp-fires I will not cut standing green timber, but use dead
or imperfect trees, and will do my best to preserve the forests. I realize that,
besides being of immense value to my country, they are the retreat of all
forest-loving beasts and birds.
(5) I know that a good woodsman is careful with fire, and I will never
carelessly permit fire to run in the woods, and will carefully put out my fire
when I break camp.
(6) I will never allow a firearm, even though it be unloaded, to point at
any person, nor will I allow it to point at any animal I do not wish to kill.
(7) I undertake to abide by the game laws wherever I may happen to be.
(8) In all my conduct I will remember that I am a loyal SON OF DANIEL BOONE,
and will never willingly bring discredit on the organization.
This shall be considered the official Charter of Fort ............ of the
SONS OF DANIEL BOONE, when signed and sealed by the charter members.
Dated..............................
NOTE.--Fill in the blanks with the name of Fort, the number of
black-balls
(votes against a candidate) necessary to exclude a candidate. Each Fort decides
for itself the number of black-balls necessary to defeat a candidate for
membership, also what dues, if any, are required to run the Fort.
For a constitution of the Boy Pioneers substitute the latter name wherever
the Sons of Daniel Boone are mentioned and change the yell as indicated.
The Boy Pioneers