The Man In The Glass

I'm not sure if this is still done at Island Park Scout Camp, but when I was a staff member for 97' - 98', each Thursday night was honor trail for the scouts.  At the end of the honor trail, the staff member assigned to that station, would pull out his Boy Scout signal mirror and recite the poem, "The Man In The Glass" as you faced the mirror towards the scouts in order for them to see their reflections. We were to have this poem memorized in the event that we were assigned to the last station that night. But, just in case, the words were printed and placed on the back of the mirror if we needed a little help. Pictured is my personal IPSC Staff signal mirror.

The Man In The Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And think you're a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he’s with you clear up to the end
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass. 

--- Dale Wimbrow (1934)