Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-03-25
ROLLER SKATING Kinks.
Proper Safeguards Necessary for Pop
ular Places of Amusement.

IEOptI OhleR uaIuo NeCtbodiy ioE IOp-
ular Places Of Amusement.
New YORK March 10.--A matron
OF ~ years called on Superintendent
T.. Fellows jenkins of the Society for
tue Prevention Of Cruelty to Children
yesterday. aud said that her son,
Thomas Phillips, 10 years old, had
strained himself 80 severely in the
Madison Square roller skating race
that ne was injured for life. About s
o'clock last evening your correspond
ent climbed the stairs to the Phillips
fiat, at No 425 West Eighteenth street,
and asked pretty little miss where
Thomas Phillips was. She replied that
he was out somewhere. Eldridge T.
Gerry, president Of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children, after speaking IF this case,
said: 81 do not object TO roller skating
as q recreation. 1t is n healthful and
pleasing exercise, but IL must he en-
yed moderately Running and
jumping, swimming and all such gym
a-tic exercises are good IN their place,
but can he overdone / relieve that
in giving public exhibitions with
children here Is a desire to outrival
others which is likely TO cause per-
manent injuries, especially to young
people. They strain themselves be-
cause of the wish to do
BETTER THAN ANY ONE ELSE.
The applause urges them on, and
when IL IL too late we learn that the
child is very badly hurt
"IIave you taken any steps to regu-
late the Kinks as well M the people
who exhibit in them?" Mr.. Gerry was
asked
Z" a bill has been drafted by Senator
Murphy and will be presented to the
legislature very soon II Is intended
to so regulate the Kinks that they will
cease 10 be places where children may
be led astray. We want to prevent
children from running away from
school for the sole purpose of going to
II rink, and when they do 90, we want
them properly looked after by rela.
tives and. friends. We will prohibit
the use of liquor, because men on skates,
with liquor in them, are likely To cause
falls, and il women Sre thrown down
on the hard wood loors. they may re-
ceive fatal injuries. BY this bil,n
continued Mr.. Gerry, I'VE only place
such restrictions on the Kinks as are
already on the theaters But a
rink needs IL more, because the gath
erings are very promiscuous, No
introduction Is considered necessary
by the people who attend. and they
are thrown more together than at the
theater. The objection as TO young
girls being allowed TO be present In the
evening without their protectors Is a
very serious one. Many OF these Kinks
are
FREQUENTED ny SPORTING MEN
and others, who are always ready to
form the acquaintance OF young e iris.
The children of hard working, indus
trious persons have formed rcquaint.
ances at these Kinks without tho for
mality OF an Introduction, and have
been lured into the downward path, to
the amazement of the parents, who
are ignorant Of the Surroundings "
Superintendent Jenkins said: 1--WE
now have five cases of lost girls who
disappeared after attending the skat-
ing Kinks. On Monday last Mary
Miles of No q Cottage place went to
the roller rink and abe met Nellie
Leonard Of l64 Dow ing street. They
stayed there until evening, and, bel
afraid to so home, they went to the
house OF Mrs. josephine Hughes of
No IL Jones street and stayed all
night. 1t seems that the Leonard girl
was acquainted there. On TUE day
they went to rink and returned AT
night to Mrs. Hughes house in Jones
street. Wednesday morning Mrs.
Hughes saw by the papers that Mary
Miles had been reported by the police
rs missing, and Mrs. Hughes sent her
home. This case is a sample OF the
others, Two girls went to Bowery
rink Tuesday and have not since been
seen. They are only about Is years
| old Another case on which we are
working is that of
A GIRL WHO WAS RESCUED
by us six months ago. We dtd not tell
her parents, and she got work and
was doing nicely. A few days ago
she disappeared and we have traced
her to n skating rink. Beyond that
we know nothing at present.
Are you opposed to skating.rinks,
Mr. Jenkins?"
mot In the least, My son goes regu.
larly. Mr. Gerry allows all his chill
dren to go, but they have governess
! TO look after them. All we want to
do Is to put proper safeguards about
the Kinks that they may be safe places
Of