The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-08

It has been my pleasant task to superin-
tend and direct the physical Improvement
of Military Park, and 1t was my pleasure,
when able TO do So to take active inter
est in preserving a healthful moral atmos-
phere for it, especially for the children.
endeavored from the start to have the chill
dren feel a responsibility for the care of the
park and for the proper conduct of all chill
dren who played there and found efficient
helpers among them. In 1889 and 1890 1 was
surprised to find that the character of the
park was entirely changed. The evil ele-
ment was in the majority. and very few
good children came to the park. and these
seldom came the second time unless attract
ed by the evil and came to learn it's ways.
Thus that which was intended and should
be blessing to all the people became a
school of vice. In 1892 I concluded to try
what a woman could do to restore the park
20 its original usefulness. feeling that I'M
less its educational influences could be
brought into line with the better elements
Of society the fewer parks we had the bet
ter. For this important work in hand was
fortunate In securing the services of Miss
Mary =. Dickson. In the beginning, the
first fact that had to be recognized was
that the park was free to all, both good and
bad; second, that for the children 1t was a
playground, in which healthful, innocent
play was TO be encouraged. Miss Dickson
made herself so helpful to the children in
eistance Then she was ready to name con-
ditions: First, they must be clean in per-
son and in speech or she could not play
with them. In time, when she became bet
Ter acquainted with them and they had
learned to appreciate her helpfulness, she
was able to name the second: They must
respect the rights of each other; they must
play fair. When these two points are eStab-
iished in a child'S habits without compul-
sion. but from his own choice, he is well
dren were encouraged to form little clubs
for specific objects, which involved the pay
meDt of a small sum of money weekly TO be
spent by the matron for games to he kept
and use I'm the park. These clubs were
not expensive, children not members were
use, thus giving club members the pleasure
of entertaining casual visitors. Our eX-
periences lead us to encourage the children
an self-reliance, and not to depend on the
park matron for direction or control in their
pleasures. We encourage them TO play
alone. We try TO stimulate a respect for
the park, a love for its beauties; to interest
them in its improvement and cleanly APP
.pearance We try to have them feel that
as they are a part of ''the people they have
sense il is theirs, and that they are respon-
eible for its condition, During the last three
years the work has been under the care of
Miss Orinda Williams, and last summer
few ladies Of Plymouth Church started a
similar work on the grounds of School No.
50 during the summer vacation. and I am
told that Ii was a success. The example
might and should he followed in every
school yard I'm the city. The effect would be
40 draw many children from the streets into
better environments. where they could have
more enjoyment and fewer temptations to
pviI GEORGE MERRITT.