The Chicago Tribune has an article about the daring rescue by 17-year-old Benjamin Groeper of a man who had fallen off the subway platform as a train was coming into the station.

According to the article as other people just stood on the platform and waited for the fire department to arrive, Benjamin realized that a train was coming into the station and jumped onto the tracks to retrieve the man. Benjamin later recounted that, “Everyone was talking about it but not doing anything.”

Benjamin credits his actions to the values he learned as a longtime Boy Scout. Benjamin told the reporter from the Chicago Tribune, “You have to always be prepared. It was the trigger that made me jump down there and do it quickly and efficiently and get it done without anyone getting hurt.”

The Boy Scouts of America – which your Mandarin was a member of from the age of 8 to 17 – is an organization that has been the recipient of blistering attacks from Progressive and liberal groups that take umbrage to values that the BSA espouses and adheres to. Scouting teaches young men to be self reliant, respect their country, and also reinforces religious values – things that the Progressive movement has been trying to eliminate for the last 100 years. Thankfully for the last 100 years we have had the Boy Scouts of America to counter-act the Progressive programming of our youth and instill the values into our young men that help them be better and more productive members of society.

In closing your Mandarin commands you to read the following and whether you are/were/or never have been a Boy Scout to try to incorporate these values and ideals into your lives:

Scout Oath

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To Help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

The Mandarin

The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.

The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.

The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.