The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-05
CHILDREN In THE PARKS.
MIR. George Merritt's Address Before
the Local Council.


The regular meeting of the Local Council
of Women was held yesterday afternoon
with the president, Mrs. Wulschner, in the
chair, and the new secretary, Mrs Rose
Coleman, the platform. Mrs. Rachel
Swain, president of the Society of Hygiene
introduced circular making an appeal for
the Introduction of household science in the
public schools below high-school grade. The
appeal was Endorsed by the council Mrs
M. M. Finch, president of the Overtime
Teacups Club, read a resolution in memory
of Mrs. Josephine r. Nichols, ex-president
of the Local Council, who has died since the
last meeting. The Boys Club and Employ
ment Agency was accepted to membership
in the council.
Mrs. Wulschner appointed Mrs. Fred
Knef1er, representing the German Literary
Club; Mrs j. r. Woods, temperance; Miss
Julia II. Moore, the Flower Mission; Mrs
E. j. Foster, philanthropy, and Mrs. Hard
ing, the Woman's Relief Corps, as a COM
mittee to nominate other committees,
The address of the afternoon was made
by Mr.. George Merritt on THE Care Of
Children in Parks and Public Play
Grounds" The speaker contended that
education is not all in the schools that
wherever children are they are being edu-
Gated. They are great imitators. Mr. Mer-
rift gave a review of the condition of
Military Park, in the vicinity OF which he
mas llVed Tor many years and over which
he has from time TO time had a direct in
fiuence, and it has been his pleasure as
well as his duty to preserve a moral at
mosphere about the park and in this work
he has found the children efficient helpers
One of the regulations at the park has been
the curteW bell, on the top of the rustic
Toulouse. This has been rung each night
at 10 o'clock, when all the children would
leave the park Tor their homes. The rule
Merritt was away from Indianapolis and
on his return he found that the atmosphere
of the park was not SO sweet as when he
left, that the evil element was in the ma
Jo11ty and the park, which had been a
blessing, had become a ground for vice. He
found that custodianS had been appointed
by political preference and that there had
been good, indifferent and bad men in
charge In 1892 Mr.. Merritt decided to try
what woman could 90 in the park, and he
secured Miss Mary Dixon. He gave her
no instructions, but told her to do what
she could in her own way. For TWO weeks
she was a visitor and observer whose OBJ
ject was unknown. She frequently consult
ed Mr.. and Mrs. Merritt and later began
her work. She became acquainted with the
children, assisted them in their games. She
insisted that they should be clean and
should respect the rights of each other and
play fair. The children formed little
clubs saved pennies and bought games
which they not only used themselves but
with which they frequently showed hos
clubs The children We're left perfectly free
to choose their own games and plays, and
Miss Dixon was the director. Women are
needed wherever there are children" said
the speaker, and to-day there is no safer.
place for them in this city than In Military
Park.
The idea which has been carried out in
the park is one which Mr.. Merritt would
like to see copied in the school yards of
the city during the summer vacations 1t
is what is being done in Boston and PhiIa-
delphia under the name of Public PLAY
grounds for children" The girls in the
homes are provided for, but the boys, even
OF the rich, are too often neglected. Mr.
Merritt believes that every boy should have
a room where he can do as he pleases and
he should have a place in the yard that
he can call his own. In this way children
can be kept off the streets and away from
evil associates if the parents will have an
appreciation and oversight Il have no
sympathy with the double standard for
boys and girls" said he. After the paper
there was general conversation and
members of the Flower Mission, Boys Club
and other societies related incidents of the
love Of children for the playground of Mill
tary Park. The next meeting, June l. viii
be the last for this season. and DR.. Rachel
Swain will read a paper on Household
Economics -