The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-31
WHAT ABOUT THE BOYS?
TIE URGENT NEED or ATHLETIC
GROUNDS A OMITTED By ALL.
Al Present There Exists No Play Ground
within the City Luits-Wbst IL to be
Done for Those In tie City.

what will we do with our boys?" is a
question that is being asked quite often
of late by parents in this city. when their
sons come home complaining that they
have no place TO play bail, or any other
| outdoor game. Only a few DAYS ago the
same subject was discussed at some
length In the Police Court, where three
! boys were hauled up for throwing all
| sorts of missiles in the street The faith
/ er of one of the boys. who was present,
vainly asked the Court Tor information
He did not, for moment, doubt the guilt
! Of the accused, but he thought the best
| plan OF preventing boys from doing mis-
chief would be in occupying their minds
! in some other direction. While II was
| conceded, OF course, that citizens had
| their rights, he thought the boys also
were entitled TO some consideration, and
! IL would certainly not be asking too much
/ that the boys be given an opportunity
| Of healthful recreation, provided that they
| Gid not interfere In any way with other
citizens. The Police Justice fully agreed
with him. and advised him TO confer with
| Mayor Taylor on the subject, who he
thought. would readily give his permis-
| sion 10 boys to play wherever they might
secure the consent Of the property own
! ers and neighbors.
PLEADING FOR ADVICE.
Hardly a day passes by Of late on
which some boys do not apply to Mr..
! George f. Tibbitts. at the Young Mems
| Christian Association, for advice as TO
| where they might go TO play. They Woe
| fully tell their sIories-now they are
driven from place to place since the city
! authorities have decided TO strictly en-
| force the law, which prohibits the con-
| gregating of more tnan three persons in
| any place Mr.. Tibbitts whose big heart
] beats in full accord with the boys, whom
| 1. Irnf no 90
| provided they 20 about it in an orderly
manner and refrain from annoying other
people, has, for the past few days, to-
| gether with others whose minds are run
| ming in similar channels, beer on the
! lookout for the establishing OF play
| ground as centrally located as possible,
where boys might play ball, lawn tennis
and other games. and where track for
| bicycle riders might be constructed. If
| only SPOT can be found sufficiently
| large 10 Law out diamond for bail play
ing with sufficient room around II FOR a
! coed track, there would be no difnculty
| In securing the necessary number OF per
sons. who would be willing to contribute
their share Of the cost 20 fix up the place,
| building a fence around II, and. in that
manner form nucleus for athletc
grounds.
II is a well-known fact that quite
| number Of boys have been compelled re-
| Gently to walk beyond the Exposition
| Grounds, in order 10 find a place where
| they might indulge In a game OF balt'
| ono nrominent citizen, when spoken 10
| on the subject yesterday, thought IT "ould
! be a most excellent idea, II enough space
could he cut out I'm the centre Of Monroe
| Park for a good-sized play ground lcaV-
| ing the trees on the OUTSKIRTS stdhdlhb
| for protection against the balls flying be
yond their limits In advocating sucn
plan. the gentleman in question was APP
narentlv guided by the custom prevailing
IN other cities. where public play grounfs
are furnished TO the rising generdIioh
| by the municipal authorizes.
VIEWS OF MAYOR TAYLOR.
Ntavor Richard NJ. Taylor. when seen
IN the subject yesterday, was very out
| enolsen in his views that boys ought 10
| have some rights, and that there ought
| 10 be some lots in the different sectlOls
of the city, where they might 20 10 pay
ball or other games. He sald that hs
would readily give his permission 10 ooys
! playing on lots, where they had seTuIe'
| tbo consent of the owner, provided now
cor that thew behaved themselves, ana
| did NOT become a nuisance to the nelsh-
| bors bv using profane language etc
Nr William +. Fox, superintendent oil
| Public instruction, had not gwen .ro
| s,,hiect sufficient consideration as 10 war
him 10 venture tii'
oDinion. lie thought. however, that 'nelo
| sbouId he some place where boys hi'sn
90 IN indulge in harmless ana orucIS
| games of bail, or other pasuHie9; .ho
Colcucl John Bell Bigger clerk oI III
! House of Delegates, VINO Always ieu,
hers with great pleasure MS po' Iioot
days and who has always SHOWN d So So
fondness for the gems BOY eApIe' 80
himself in the toilo"lhs Ihaii'0'
subject Yesterday:
"f}ovs must have sport and exercise 10
dovolop their fast expanding muscular
rrcportions, as well as books from VIM"
%,o brain can be stored with useful learn
ing Boys will be boys.
NOT PROMPTED By VICIOUS NATURE
.1t Is true they often engage in reck-
less disregard of discretion anu PIo-
priety in what they call fun' but such 10
not always prompted by a vicious ma
turc or wicked heart The NNacity
which fills the system OF the neahhy
how unrestrained at home Icy indulScnt
parents. breaks out In wild galore OF
ten resulting in ruthless destruction OF
pr1r6rty and hurt 10 persons, yet not
done with malice aforethought.
'The Times has called attention to the
| unreasonable pranks and misehief-mak-
ing of boys which has caused a cessa-
tion OF their exercises. Now, the ques-
boys, who after school hours and on
SATURDAYS have idle brains-"work-
shops of the devil" so II is said-some
play grounds and some gymnasuc eXer-
cises, and a hurrah time generally II
some one or more gentlemen OF wealth
and philanthropy along with IL, would
secure large grounds and have them
enclosed. and within these enclosures
have all sorts OF games Of exercise and
give the boys free access 10 the same
under good rules and regulations. how
soft as downy feathers would their pill
lows be. when a multitude of grateful
boys would evidence their appreciation
OF such kindness.
Boys will soon be men, government.
order of society, civilization itself will be
in their hands. We old folks are drop
ping off like leaves in wintry weather;
let us encourage the boys TO play and
romp within reasonable limits and point
them the way to God and humanity"
WHAT THE CHIEF OF POLICE SAYS.
Major John Poe, chief Of police, when
approached on the subject yesterday first
spoke of the great many causes OF trou-
bic brought on by them. He stated that
only on the previous evening a lot of
boys had broken the glass IN every win
dow Of certain building on Laurel street.
lie cited another instance where COM
plant had reached him that boys had
taken down on an evening recently, about
dozen layers OF brick from a wall put
up by the Old Dominion Building and
Loan Association, In front OF one OF /
their houses, now In course of cnnstruc-
tion on Grove avenue, just near the city |
limits. He mentioned the complaint OF a |