The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-07
WHAT ABOUT THE BOYS.
PHYSICAL EXERCISE A NECESSITY
FOR THEIR WELFARE.
The Views Exprssfed OF Former ocea'
sion he With Approvsi-Whst some
Ministers In a 1 on the subject.

| and talked to them on the SuDJ-ct. ihey
al agree that something ought TO De
! done for the boys, but what this some
| thing" should be is the great proDiehh.
/ There seems TO be Jnanimity OF opinion
| that the boys should be given an oppoI-
| tunity for bodily exercise and that tnls
! would be the only way &c keep tnem OUT
| OF mischief Whether the city shouii
! take the necessary steps in browning ap-
pftpriate play-groInd5 or whether .his
should be done by private enterprise 70
| a matter of dispute. quite NUMBER 0.
| people believing that the latter method
! would. after all, only benefit comparative
/ ~ few ard would not reach the MASSES
| In the meantime, those who have tle
] interests of the boys at heart, nave CON
| tinued their good work, and wnlle TO
! definite result has been achieved during
| tho past week, 1t is safe TO say that
/ some progress has been made ana tnat
there seems to DC well founded hope; that
| before summer sets In the ichsme VIII
| have taken tangible shape ana that at
| least one spot will have been secured
whore boys may, in a lawful manner,
enjoy all sorts OF athletic sports. with
| out fear of being disturbed and driven
| away by the city authorities.
In order TO sound public sentiment
still more on the subject, The Times pub
fishes this morning the views Of prom-
nent ministers Of the various denomina-
tons on the subject.
Ilv J. X. MAsos's vuws.
| Rev. John X. Mason, rector of st.
! James Protestant Episcopal church, v'aen
seen on the subject yesterday. expressed
| himself in the following manner:
while / have not given the matter
| very much consideration. yet | think
| there ought TO be some public play
grounds in this city. where boys could
go i'm their leisure time and ind the
necessary recreation. On the other hand,
/ think the difficulty would be greatly
| diminished II a better control was eX-
| ercsed over the boys at their homes, and
| trouble seems 10 be at present that faith
| ers stay too little at home, and, there
| fore. do not exercise the much-needed
| good influence over their boys.
"As TO allowing boys TO go outside OF
| the city limits in order 10 find play
grounds. | am opposed to 1t for the rea-
son that the crowds that gamer there
are of too mixed character. | have,
for instance, forbidden my boy 70 go
out into the lots near the Lee mOnu-
ment, because | have been Informed that
some very tough fellows assemble
there, who even do not hesitate to carry
pistols with them"
Rev. J. Y Fair pastor of Grace-Street
Presbyterian church, admitted that the
question, What SHOULD be done with the
boys" was ;ather a new one to him.
He thought, however that they ought
TO have an outlet for III" effervescence
Of their natural buoyancy. When asked
whether he agreed that boys should be
kept away from the streets, Mr.. Fair
became at once interested in the sub
Ject, and said:
Il see no objection TO the playing Of
boys on the sire Its, provided they are
not disorderly an do not interrupt pass
ersby In fact, like to see them there,
having a good time. to hear their shouts
and see their bright little faces. They
mus. have some place 10 play and my
judgment is, it is better for them 10
play in the street. under the eyes OF
their parents or Of some watchful frienfs
than to be sent off by themselves out
into the country.
II think a large group Of boys sent
of in that manner to some distant play
ground are far more liable TO get into
mischief than they would be If they
should play somewhere, where ttey could
be watched. There are always some bad
boys TO be found In a big crowd, who
are endeavoring to exercise their influence
over the others. and for that reason l
would be in favor of having the boys
play in little detached groups in the
streets, near their homes
Rev. William T. Hatcher. pastor OF
Grace-Street Baptist church. is known TO
be a great friend of boys. and whoever
has attended any of the meetings of
the Boys Society in his church can testi-
~ to the sincere manner in which he
is loved and the high regard in which
he is held by all OF its members 1
therefore. decided to visit him next, and
ask him for his views. / found DR..
In, 10 tftax in he Of he
church, ready 10 give me any information
desired, provided he was able TO do so.
When / acquainted him with the object
of my call, however, his countenance be-
came rather serious and with the re-
mark, THAT is very perplexing ques-
ton" he went into a deep meditation.
But ID was only a few moments when he
had overcome the situation and at once
started out In his usual affable and frank
manner. to explain his views in the fol-
lowing manner:
IL have unfcigned sympathy Win the
city boy. II is true. that he is not always
regariful Of ;he rights Of others and by
entering into combinations he may be-
come a terror 10 any community as a
window-breaker. fence-destroyer and an
annoying force. and in that manner he
is likely TO lose the good will of the pub
lie But | deeply feel for him, for / see
he must have an on the waste re-
sources of life, which are in him. He
needs a place for exercise as much as
he needs a place to eat or to sleep. If
this can be given TO him, he will cease
TO be a disturbing element in the COM
munity, at least to a great extent.
"Richmond has no places within its
limits really fitted for boys sports. The
little unoccupied spots TO which the boys
in their desperation resort, are not sat
isfactory. Almost any game which they
attempt in such places endangers prop
erty and annoys housekeepers. But what
can be done? I would venture to say
that the boys will have 10 go into the
suburbs to find Fairgrounds, but even
then they will be in danger of trespass-
ing upon the rights of others.
OUTLAY OF MONEY NECESSARY.
mo satisfactory arrangement can be
made without the outlay OF some money.
AS the city would hardly feel at liberty
TO tackle this problem. and as the
schools lose control over the boys after
o'clock in the afternoon. | see no way
of meeting the case except by parents
combining together and hiring play
grounds for their boys. This would be
treating their boys in a noble way. 1t
would show an interest in their athletic
exercises, ii would protest them from
the temptations of trespass' and also from
dlsordcrly contests over disputed grounds.
Along the line of our street railroads
or near TO them are open grounds, which
/ doubt not. could be rented for a small
fee and those fathers who would like
10 /rcelfiata the amusenents of their