The San Francisco call., 1901-11-17

Don't you Vlv1oly remember
~ your own childhood and the Incl
dents, small in themselves, that
made a day q crown Of glory or a total
eclipse.
Have you ever made journey out of
the world of dollars and housekeeping, OF
dressmakers and butcher boys, into the
fairyland Of childhood, where all is light
and laughter and sunshine; where happi-
ness is king and mirth is queen and care
turns back ashamed.
If you have not, then take a trip
through the loo1ing-glass into the chill
dren's playground at the park.
The parks Of the world are many and
large. yet it has been left to San Fran
cisco and its men of untiring energy to
produce beauties of nature. green hills
and greener turf, beautiful flowers, lakes
and waterfalls from shifting sands.
There came a time when great man
dice and left a sum to be expended for
children's playground. Rich men had died
and left funds for hospitals. churches and
cathedrals. but this man, loving them as
be lived, he blessed and remembered them
when he died and left his memory to be
kept green by troops Of shouting children
. ideas Of the originator are being carried
out.
To-day as you enter the main building.
where the children and the grown-ups sit
and have ices and cakes and coffee and
bread and butter. you are met with the
sight OF fower-laden tables and spotless
floors and an air Of breeding that lends
itself to the whole building and that tells
YOU that it is Unborn in the one who is IN
charge. this knowledge of the correctness
Of things
And presently you meet her, for wo-
man only could have so regulated things,
who holds sway over the children's hve
acres.
Mrs. Hickok takes you in hand at once,
makes YOU feel delightfully."- at home and
still more. in touch with her and her work
Immediately.
In the first place, the main building has
been secured from cellar to garret and
entirely repainted. 1t needed 1t.
The main room and anteroom are as
pretty and sweet smelling as hot
house, and the kitchen is something for
all young wives to gaze at.
Mrs. Hickok draws your attention to
the porcelain tubs. 20 the spotless sauce
mans and, above all, her pride, the gas
range the largest in California, where the
roasting of a turkey is as easy as that Of
& reed bird.
Formerly the good San Franciscans
Who came out a-picnicking to the park
we're provided with their coffee or their
ohoco1a+e in the main room. Very soon,
however. the floor below, which was
vsed for a store room, will be ready to
.,nnIv the wants Of every one who de-
sires his coffee and chocolate and Mrs.
I5ickok hopes eventually to duplicate the
room upstairs by the one below and con-
vert it into a garden Of palms and flowers
and small tete-a-tete tables.
It is wonderful how this little woman
With the serious face and sweet smile
thinks of her children; for they are all
her children, from the youngest to the
eldest.
1--WE use our utmost care in protecting
+benn from all harm, and we are fortunate
sn having had only a few accidents. And,
IF course" she continues, trivial acci-
dents viii occur, although we try hard
70 avoid them" And her voice trembled
ever so slightly, and you read the wo-
mans heart behind it all.
1.-The sewerage system" presently con-
tinues the quiet voice, was in a very bad
condition but now we have the newest
plumbing and everything Of the very
hest. and more to follow very soon."
The new candy booth is going to be
great success over the old one. 1t is a
small building, cedar finish inside and Of
pretty architecture.
You know Mrs. Hickok says, that
the flies have been pest in the old candy
booth. and then the girls have felt the
cold and draught so much; and when it
rains it is very hard on them. So l am
so pleased that we have been able to
build this new one"
A duty becomes q pleasure when one
has such thoughts for other people. AS
one looks at the children in the swings,
or on the 'merry-go-round," singing,
smiling. cooing, laughing, the babies in
the goat carts, shrieking with delight,
the elder ones on donlzeys sedately jog
ging, one is seized with that inexpressi-
bic something that plays on the heart
strings and brings all nature and its
product nearer home. The children's