The record-union., 1899-10-01
PUBLIC PLAY GROUNDS.


ing given to the being of youth
than in any past days. We are more
concerned about our schools, academies,
colleges and universities than ever be-
fore. We are giving far more money
to the education of the children of the
land than did our fathers; indeed could
they speak, from their old standpoints,
they might declare US extravagant and
too liberal in employing multitudinous
methods. With our kindergartens,
archaeological schools, manual train
ing schools, and art and mechanical
schools. our common and our higher
schools, we are giving the child Of the
generation opportunities our prede-
cessors never fancied in their most
fervid imaginings.
But more than this, through prevent
i've medicine, sanitary science and 9TH
er scientific agencies we provide safe
guards for our children and ourselves
not even dreamed of by the most ad-
vanced thought at the beginning of the
| century. In physical training, the vir-
tues of outdoor living, the robust build
Ing Of the frame and the development
of physical power through we'll applied
means of exercise and by the aid of
gymnasiums and athletic agencies, we
being Of the present and the oncom-
ing generations than perhaps we our
selves realize.
So, along the whole line we are look
ing to the interests of youth. Even the
dependents and unfortunates do not go
amiss Of attention. Humane societies
and benevolent institutions, public,
private and those conserved or directly
maintained by the State, are largely
caring for dependent, helpless and un-
fortunate childhood, while those who
need special training under aff1iction,
find the means publicly provided, or
where they are wanting, many benevo-
lent organizations and institutes stand
ready to aid. Along almost all lines
there is general and great aid for chill
dren and the betterment of the gener-
ations of youth as they come on.
We fail, however, in providing suffi-
cient means and sufficient activity to
prevent the drift Of childhood into vice.
crime and degradation. As our benefic-
ence has expanded, so have the wolves s
1x-f,7
piled. On every side the path of the
child is beset with temptations; his way
fianked by designs directed against him
and his we'll being. In the preventive
direction we must do better: in pro-
tecting the exposed childhood Of the aga
we must make Improvement. Cases
repeatedly come to our knowledge of
wrecked childhood, life corrupted at
the fountain, human beings in childish
form sent whirling into the abyss of
misery and crime from which rescue is
difficult-all due to the failure of or
ganized society to throw about chill
dren the safeguards that in society's
own interest should be provided.
The Record Union the other day,
referring to knowledge that comes to
1t weekly through the officers of the So
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children, warned parents and guar
dians to keep, closer watch over their
little ones who play upon the walks and
streets in the evenings cool or the
mornings calm. We then said that
the depth and extent of moral de-
praVity operative among and directed
against childhood in our own city is
known only to those who are deyoting
themselves to rescue work. 1t is pit
liable that it is so, but it is true that
what is needed is displacement of most
of such work by prevention of the gem
esis of it's need.
one thing that every city needs. and
it is a means in part to the end OF
which we treat, is public playground;
one or more for children of the COM
munity who otherwise must be housed
In or turned into the streets. For this
is essentially day and age of outdoor
exercise and living alike for a child
and adult. 1T is all very we'll" re-
marked parent the other day "to say,
keep your little girl off of the street
IN the cleaning. But shall | deprive
ner or the only opportunity, time and
temperature provide for enjoyment of
outer air, and the exercise of her young
limbs in bounding play? l have
neither lawn nor yard for my children.
The best l can do is to give them
some freedom on the peoples highway.
They ought to be safe there from phys
ical harm or moral contamination if
things were as they should be-
Quite true. The only response that
can be made to that mother is: "As
things are what you find them to be,
you must go upon the peoples high
way with your girls, or keep them un-
der your eye close to the home, for
there are those ever abroad to devour
your little ones, or, worse. poison their
minds, pollute their bodies and return
them to you objects of loathing and
sorrow
What every fair-sized city and town
should provide at public expense, if
private wealth will not endow, is n
childrens play ground, or several of
them. Sacramento ought to. have at