Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-30
PLAYING IN THE STREET.
Recreation of Children in Cities a Seri-
GUS Question

while it is admitted that our children
must play somewhere, the recent sad death
or an elderly resident at the Emergency
Hospital from injuries caused by being
Knocked down by two little boys playing
with go-cart on the sidewalk, would sug-
gest an inquiry into the very important
question of the recreation Of the little
ones, remarked a public spirited citizen
this morning.
The case in point was, of course what
is termed a -regrettable accident Just as
it is when the fellow who is going upstairs
ahead of you with his umbrella or cane
under his arm stops, the ferrule pokes your
eye out, and blinds you for life, to saw
nothing of the disagreement to the features.
In the instance | refer to the unfortunate
lady's advanced age prevented her broken
knee from uniting, and her death was
caused directly by the fracture, as was
stated at the time by the attending physi-
cians But for the accident, she might
have lived for years.
THE children who ran into her who
were unknown, cannot perhaps be con-
sidered morally culpable, as their act was
unintentional, but the result to the unfortu-
nate victim was the same. I do not know
whether there is an ordinance which pro-
hibits the riding of children's tricycles and
go-carts upon the sidewalks, but If there
is, it should be enforced. 1t is possible for
the youthful and the agile to step to one
SIDE, and give these vehicles room as they
coIfle tearing dlOnS- out with elderly per-
sons, espo clally ladies, il is not. Children
cannot be expected to exercise the judg-
ment and discretion of adults, and my own
shins have been bruised frequently as L
have played hop-scotch with myself to
dodge the youngsters and their carts and
tricycles.
AT best, the pedestrian has few rights
which others respect. Drivers of wagons
at the crossing take fendish delight in
seeing how close they can miss you and
II they happen to run you down and either
MAIN or kill you, they seem always to
succeed in going free from punishment If
bucket of water is spilled upon your head
from a third-story window, or a shovelfuI
OF snow is playfully tossed upon your new
winter hat from a roof an awning YOU
get the laugh instead of the apology and
the new wearing apparel you ought to
have received. Even the proud mother or
the absent minded nurse will wheel the
babys carriage into you with naughty dis
dain, for does not it contain the baby of
the earth, and are you not a miserable
worm to dare to express your Indignation,
or your warm words, if your tender corn Is
run over?
THE question of recreation for children
in cities, is, however, a most serious one.
They cannot be expected to play in the
street, yet they ought not to be allowed 10
play upon the sidewalk il such play incon-
veniences or endangers pedestrians. 1t is
unquestioned that the adult has the SUI
perior right over the child except i'm n
parents eyes. but these 'regrettable accI-
dents to which L refer have OF late be-
come so frequent in Washington that It
would appear that this right has been SUBJ
ordinated to childish caprice Many of us
who have elderly parents live in constant
fear that they may be knocked down and
injured in the manner described for we all
know that the results. if not fatal, are last
ing and never recovered from"