Chapter 10 - On Being Prepared
At every turn, when doing my journeys, I am reminded of the aptness of our motto, and the need for adhering to it !
I have to Be Prepared for anything that may arise, and the less work I expect to have thrust upon me and the fewer events I anticipate, the more seem to turn up !
You don't expect for instance, going along in an ordinary train and without being fore-wamed, to be serenaded repeatedly at stations on route. But that happened to me, as I sped eastwards from Paris, during my wonderful tour in 1945, just—and only just—before the end of the war in Europe.
At the small station of Bar - le - Duc, which was so famous in the 1914-1918 war, a group of Scouts and Guides and Cubs came to greet me with flags and flowers, whilst my train pulled up for a few minutes only, a cheery and very tiny Scout made me a long speech in English, and they gave me a charming drawing, done by one of their number, to express their good wishes.
Then the same thing happened again at Toul, in pouring rain, and that friendly little lot gave me a unique booklet, with a map of the District, and did their best to sing me a song, which was most rudely interrupted by the departure of my train in the middle of it!
Nancy and Metz gave me a most stirring welcome, with big crowds and organised parades, bands, colours and speeches. These are big handsome towns, with quite beautiful buildings, and wonderful historical associations.
The programme of the day at Nancy included a big Guiders' parrty, a Scouters' meeting, an impressive enrolment ceremony, a
supper party, which was described as being simple and intime,' but
at which about thirty people were present, and then the tour de force was a Camp Fire which, owing to bad weather, had to be held in - it took place in a small loft-like room up some winding stairs
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with a low ceiling, absolutely stuffed as full as a sardine tin, with Scouts and Guides, Jeannettes and Petites Ailes, and Louveteaux.
The noise was terrific, and so also was the smell, when about a dozen Rovers came in holding great flaming torches with burning sacking dipped in grease and paraffin.
They gave a very exciting display, and we were all feeling rather relieved when it was over without mishap. But suddenly, from the other side of the wall, came the most fearful bang and a sort of explosive noise and an ominous red glare appeared at the end of the room.
It was a frightful moment ! I sat as still as I could, saying to myself that whatever happened there must be no panic. But I had a sick feeling of anxiety inside as to how the smaller little people would re-act to this obvious alarm of fire, and wondered who might shriek and go rushing down the narrow stairs. I tried my best to trust that the discipline of Scouting and Guiding would stand us in good stead at the crucial moment.
And it did ! There was noise till the whistle blew, and then, amidst relieved murmurings, we found that it was a try on ! The Rovers were having a joke, to see if they could frighten us or not !
The good discipline of that lot of Scouts and Guides was shown again the next day, for after the official parade on the Show Ground before the higher officials of the town, they were all told they could play round, and for a time everyone seemed to go wild As I walked away, the Jeannettes and Petites Ailes formed a chain and wove themselves into a long sort of snake-like moving escort, dancing along, swirling in and out, dodging this way and that, holding hands and shouting with glee—Scouts and Guides doing the same in a sort of outer circle.
So we advanced through the Park, in a singing, excited, enthusiastic crowd, until I began to feel rather like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, as with them all following me, I moved towards the high wrought iron Park Gates.
With about a thousand excited children all milling round, I was afraid of what might happen when we approached the bottle-neck of the Park entrance. But I need have had no fears, for when we stopped, and they were told to hang back and let me go and disperse in quiet order, they obeyed at.once, while I heaved a sigh of relief that no accident had occurred from a small person tripping up and getting trodden on, which is a very wearing fear that assails me when I am seen off rather over enthusiastically from Rallies and Camp Fires.
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