New Releases by Daniel Carter Beard

Ernest Crosby''s "Captain Jinks, Hero" is a sharp and insightful work of 19th-century political fiction. This satirical novel offers a biting social commentary on American history and the nature of heroism. With its roots firmly planted in historical fiction, "Captain Jinks, Hero" remains a relevant and thought-provoking exploration of power, patriotism, and the individual''s role in society. Crosby''s work serves as a timeless reminder of the enduring questions surrounding political ambition and the cost of war. Readers interested in satire, social commentary, and the historical context of political maneuvering will find this meticulously prepared print republication to be a compelling and engaging read. Explore the timeless themes within this classic work and discover why "Captain Jinks, Hero" continues to resonate with readers today. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

In "New Ideas for American Boys; The Jack of All Trades," Daniel Carter Beard presents a pioneering work that fuses patriotism and practicality with a vibrant literary style emblematic of the early 20th century. This influential text serves as both an instructional manual and a philosophical treatise, instilling in young readers a sense of adventure while advocating for self-reliance, craftsmanship, and outdoor skills. Beard''Äôs thoughtful integration of educational principles within the context of the burgeoning American progressive movement reflects a desire to mold boys into well-rounded citizens capable of contributing to society in diverse ways. Daniel Carter Beard, a notable figure in the Boy Scouts movement and a celebrated illustrator, drew upon his own experiences with nature, craftsmanship, and communal living when penning this book. His background as an advocate for youth development and his commitment to fostering outdoor skills were critical in shaping his vision of an ideal American boy. Beard''s artistic talents further enhance the text, making it visually appealing and engaging for its readers. "New Ideas for American Boys; The Jack of All Trades" is highly recommended for educators, parents, and young readers seeking enriching perspectives on creativity and practical skills. Beard''Äôs timeless insights resonate today, encouraging a generation to embrace exploration, ingenuity, and the sheer joy of lifelong learning.

There is a widespread notion that all wood will float on water, and this idea often leads to laughable errors. I know a lot of young backwoods farmers who launched a raft of green oak logs, and were as much astonished to see their craft settle quietly to the bottom of the lake as they would have been to see the leaden sinkers of their fish-lines dance lightly on the surface of the waves. The young fellows used a day''s time to discover what they might have learned in a few moments by watching the chips sink when they struck the water as they flew from the skilful blows of their axes. The stream which cuts your trail is not always provided with bridges of fallen trees. It may be a river too deep to ford and too wide to be bridged by a chance log. Of course it is a simple matter to swim, but the weather may be cold and the water still colder; besides this, you will probably be encumbered with a lot of camp equipageÑyour gun, rod, and cameraÑnone of which will be improved by a plunge in the water. Or it may so happen that you are on the shores of a lake unsupplied with boats, and you have good reasons for supposing that big fish lurk in some particular spot out of reach from the shore. A thousand and one emergencies may arise when a craft of some kind will be not only a great convenience, but almost a necessity. Under these circumstances a Logomaran may be constructed in a very short time which can bear you and your pack safely to the desired goal. In the Rocky, Cascade, and Selkirk Mountains, the lakes and streams have their shores plentifully supplied with "whim sticks," logs of fine dry timber, which the freshets have brought down from the mountain sides and which the rocks and surging torrents have denuded of bark. These whim sticks are of all sizes, and as sound and perfect as kiln-dried logs. Even in the mountains of Pennsylvania, where the lumberman''s axe years ago laid waste the primeval forest, where the saw-mills have devoured the second growth, the tie-hunter the third growth, the excelsior-mills and birch-beer factories the saplings, I still find good sound white pine-log whim sticks strewn along the shores of the lakes and streams, timber which is suitable for temporary rafts and logomarans. In the North Woods, where in many localities the original forest is untouched by the devouring pulp-mills, suitable timber is not difficult to find; so let the green wood stand and select a log of dry wood from the shore where the floods or ice have deposited it. Cut it into a convenient length, and with a lever made of a good stout sapling, and a fulcrum of a stone or chunk of wood, pry the log from its resting-place and roll it into the shallow water.

It is now over thirty years since the writer was first initiated into the delights of a boys’ club-house in the tree-tops, and it happened in this way: The war of the Rebellion was over; for four years the fathers, big brothers, teachers, and policemen of the border States had had so much serious fighting on their own hands that little or no attention was paid to the growing generation of boys, and they were left to fight their own battles in their own way. For four eventful years these boys were under practically no other restraint than the little their poor half-distracted mothers could enforce. The boys, however, did not appear to miss the discipline, nor desire it, and, as far as their physical health was concerned, they throve and developed into lusty lads, though many of them recognized no law but that of physical force. Gangs of young toughs, under the leadership of local bullies, frequented the play-grounds and roamed along the river-fronts, where they hunted down, pillaged, and beat every unprotected lad they could catch out of sight of his own home. In spite of the fact that the river-fronts were the favorite resorts of the lawless element, those places presented so many attractions to the juvenile mind that they were the popular play-grounds of all the boys living within reach of their muddy banks and turbid waters. About this time three boys of a Kentucky town, who were devoted to boating and bathing, put their curly heads together to devise a plan by which they might enjoy their favorite pastimes, and at the same time secure a safe place of refuge where they could hide when the enemy approached in numbers too strong for the three boys to resist. After many conferences, and references to “Robinson Crusoe,” “Swiss Family Robinson,” “The Coral Islands,” and other undoubted authorities, they decided to build an underground house, and armed with spades and shovels, they immediately began work right in the heart of the enemy’s country. They worked, as only boys can when they think their work is fun, and soon excavated a great hole in the river-bank. Not far off were the remains of a flat-boat, and to the heavy pieces of timber the boys harnessed themselves and hauled the lumber over the top of their cave to serve for a roof. With spade and shovel they carefully concealed the timber by a thick layer of earth, leaving only a square hole with a trap-door as an entrance and exit. The dirt was then smoothed down, and drift-wood, dried weeds, and other rubbish scattered over in such a manner that no one, without careful inspection, would suspect that the bank had been tampered with. But the enemy was alert, and spies had been stealthily watching the work progress, and patiently waiting the completion of the secret hiding-place. No sooner was the last handful of rubbish strewn over the roof than, with wild yells and whoops of delight, the “River Rats” charged upon the surprised workers. “Big Red” Resmere in the lead, with “Squinty” Quinn and “Spotty,” the freckled-face, close behind, while the rear was brought up with a rabble of less noted characters, who more than made up for their own lack of courage by their terror-inspiring yells. It was too formidable a crowd for the three cave-diggers to parley with, so they ingloriously fled up the bank, leaving the product of their hard work in the hands of the despoilers.

Daniel Carter "Uncle Dan" Beard (June 21, 1850 - June 11, 1941) was an American illustrator, author, youth leader, and social reformer who founded the Sons of Daniel Boone in 1905, which Beard later merged with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

Provides a huge number of ideas for fun and instructional projects for young boys.

"A book of animals...made up of the Author''s personal notes and sketches made in the fields and forest for his own amusement" as well as "a few short camp-fire stories and legends."--p. i.

A manual of past times, which includes instructions for making kites, fishing poles, a blow gun, boats, and theatrical costumes, and for raising dogs, stuffing animals, stocking an aquarium, and camping. Contains small sections on recreational mind-reading and fortune-telling.