The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-05-10


..of such is the Kingdom ut Heaven"
The afternn"n Of Monday, May eth, was
made ii notable time in Baltimore's history AS
progressive city, by the formal opening and
dedication of the First Public Play Ground
for Children. The Use of an acre and ;;-haif
of ground, bounded by Riverside, johnson,
Heath and Light streets, and near the terni-
nus of the City Passenger Railway was given
by Col. Franklin, president of that company,
of whose courtesy and generosity enough can
not be said.
On Monday afternoon the place. graded
fenced and made thoroughly habitable and ell
joyable, was the scene of bound!ess enthu-
siasm and delight, not only among the four
hundred and more children crowding into the
enclosure, hut Plumbers OF workers ana sym
pathiZers from more favored parts OF the city.
The programme for the day was most happy,
and rounds of applause greeted the different
participants 4 portion of scripture, pray
er and Il short address by Rev kinley McMil-
Ian opened the exercises. The band played
The Star Spanged Banner and the national
hymn, while the stars aud stripes We're raised
over the pavilion. The mayor not only con-
scented to speak but, with Mr.. John D. Holt
man, gave hundred loads of sand for the use
of the small army of mud pie makers who
would take possession of the place the next
day. Col Love was particularly happy i'll his
address in which he expressed the hope that
the city, noting the good influence of this
bright precedent would follow the example OF
New York, Boston, Providence and other
places in the north, and speedily create and
conduct as many of these public Fairgrounds
as the needs of the population demanded:
also that in the appropriation Tor music III the
older places of recreation and amusement.
this would not be forgotten. Several children
gave Rotations and cornet and violin solos
varied the programme.
Rev. Walter Vrooman spoke particularly to
| the children present, i'll which role he Is al
WAYS at home and thoroughly delightful, as
was demonstrated again and again by deafen-
| ing hurrahs, and a sea of waving caps with
\ here and there limp bonnet raised to the
breeze. Then the ''Play Ground Flag" in
Lord Baltimore's colo s. was raised by three
Young ladies who had designed and completed
| it, while Maryland my Maryland burst
| from the band Several sacks of peanuts had
| been donated for distribution, and the chill
| dren were formed in great ring, while men
| took off their hats and young girls and elder
| " ladies made handk erchiefs, fans, umbrellas,
every thing, serve as receptacles, from which to
| dispense the nuts After the formal exercises
| visitors scattered among the throngs OF chill
| dren, turning ropes, pushing swings, playing
| 'sring'' and telling stories, and the day, a
| most happy and memorable one for all con-
| cerned, closed all too soon for the eager
| crowd, that little by little turned reluctantly
| from the gates.
| ANA now WOTu as 10 IHe eEoluilOu Vi IulS
| scheme that this week was 50 si%nally crown
| ed with success. Some little time ago 81 n
| ion for Public Good" of which Mr.. Charles j..
| Bonaparte is president, was organized in
this city, one branch of which denominated
| the '.Play-Giround Department" came into be-
| ing through the heroic efforts of three Young
| ladies' Miss Ball, Miss Moore and Miss Mon
| tell, aided by the Revs. Walter and Hiram
| Vrooman, both of whom were originatorS of
| OF the reform movement here and elsewhere,
| which resulted in the National Union for
| Practical Progress. now represented in almost
every city of any size in the United States and
proving itself powerful factor in the organi-
cation and direction of the moral forces of our
| land. These five workers soon interested a
number of friends, among the most earnest
and perseverng of whom were Mr.. and Mrs. q.
| Ii. DobSon, of this city, and Mrs. j. ID. Wat
| tiers, of Hartford. Mrs. Dobson set on foot a
simple little subscription scheme which, how
ever, with the aid of friends, soon realized
several hundred dollars-almost a quar-
| ter of which was raised through the sole
efforts of Mrs. Walters, whose untiring inter
| est and sympathy have been given to the work
from the first With this amount, all too lit
| tie compared with the work to be done, the
openlot, for yearsused as a dumphas been trans
| formed into place Of recreation for any chill
dren that choose to enter it. a dozen swings
and as many see-saws have already been put in
| operation, while merry go-round and other
| Things Oh the SOfs. Win DdIS anu Ddlls, elc,
will be added before long. Riverside and
other parks are not far from this locality it is
| true, but in all such places keep off the
grass, ''signS-''pay" swings, etc. put decisive
| limit to children's enjoyment-such children
as have homes in that far southern portion of
the city. This playground, however, is
| wholly in the possession OF the children where
they will have as much right to play and be
| happy as they have to breathe the air, and by
| the same authority and on the same terms.
| The ground has mau director of play who
| is present from eight in the morning till six
in the evening, besides corps of volunteer
| workers. young women, who, working alQRg
kindergarten lines, will snhstitute eIlltle,
4 healthfpl plsyssfofst he efae3 aud enIg fts
!, induged In fhfouRli <oi1f4 81 Tia er60<led
courts and ALLEYS u he lower parts ttsf our
city. Certainty through tue Shiidten; q ths
method 81 Siildlse n 81 failure Ill zsssslip
ton in Siss. tsSaiins lib "a fsad and cipher,
by no dieAts places him on the high road to
honest citizenship. But ten hours daily Of
intelligently directed, healthful play, wisely
| guided activity, the gain of temporary free
| dom from vicious surroundings, with the add
ed school training-all too little, will lay the
| foundation for character which cannot fail to
| be manifested in the next twenty years of our
| city's life
1t is for these ends that this playground has
been established, and much honor is due to
| the pioneers in the movement who, like all
who volunteer to do picket duty for new
and generous ideas, have had much to contend
with and many discouragements to overcome.
| 1t is sincerely hoped that new friends will he
enlisted and will, even if at distance, join
our number and work by proxy if not person
ally. The undertaking is only begun. The
most difficult and trying time is yet before us
in the long, hot summer.
| In closing this brief sketch our society de-
| sires to acknowledge most gratefully the as
sistance ard sympathy given by friends in
Bel Air and throughout the county, and to
| extend q most cordial invitation to visitors to
come and see the good they have helped ac-
complish. A. l.. II.
Baltimore, May Z.