The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-13

playground, the father of which is Jo-
siah Quincy, ex-mayor of Boston. He
interested the legislature, and bill
was passed providing that a sum not
greater than 100000 be expended on
small Fairgrounds in different parts of
the city at rate not greater than
$200,OO0 year. AS result there are
twenty-five local Fairgrounds, 40
acres in all. By spending the money
In the suburbs where property is still
cheap, but which are rapidly filling UP,
a much greater acreage was secured.
Some of the slum districts are still in
need of relief, but special bills are be-
ing planned to care for them.
Some provision will have to be made
for proper supervision of the public
Fairgrounds, for Boston has demon
strated that full value cannot be re-
ceived from them without direction.
The Massachusetts Civic league has
taken charge of several of the play
grounds for boys, and the Emergency
and HYGIENE association has carried
on regular works at others. 1t is from
these Fairgrounds directors that re-
porter obtained many interesting side
lights on the usefulness of play
grounds.
Among the young men who have
been in charge. of Boston Fairgrounds
supervising the games of the older boys
and 1nstllling the principles of organi-
cation into the minds of the younger
ones, is A. Dana Browne, a graduate of
the Providence School of Physical Gull
ture. In charge of the Hancock school,
yard playground, he had interesting
experiences making peace between the
Italians and JewS-always deadly enc
mics in boyhood-and Turing them into
friendly baseball matches, which he
courageously umpired. He worked out
a system Of prizes which were very
satisfactory. considering their price.
The one most in demand was a base
ball shirt, with the insignia of the
corps worked on the front in colors. It
cost just IL cents, but like the Har-
ward II" 1T was of incalculable value,
because one had to attain certain de-
gree of excellence in athletics before
being allowed to wear it.
Mr.. Browne had to leave the play
ground before it was closed, and out of
that fact grew a humorous incident.
The matrons feared that the boys
would be too much for them without
some masculine supervision, and as
there were 456 children who frequented
the yard, the fear was well grounded
Cleared Out the Big Boys.
You boys are too large for sand
garden" the matrons announced to
those who came to the gate the morn
ing after his departure.
They argued the case, persisting that
they were very small. Thinking TO
settle the point and make a definite
distinction, the matrons replied:
Only boys small enough to wear
knickerbockers. can come in for the
rest of the year."
There was no appeal from this YER
dict. and they moved away reluctant
ly. The next morning the gate was
surrounded by one of the oldest as
sortment OF boys in knickerbockers
that have ever been seen in Boston.
Now we gets in, don't WEEP they
demanded.
NO." declared the firm women, you
are too big"
Say, you'se amt treatin' us fair"
declared one of the boys, pointing in
side the Enclosure. "There's Bill in
there. He's as big as u.s.
Well, Billy has baby sister to care
Tor" said the matrons. mo big boys
gets in unless he has a baby in charge. /"
The crowd melted, but in half an
hour it gathered again. Before the
puzzled matrons stood the boys, each
one holding aloft in his arms a baby.
one of them an infant only two months
old, all borrowed for the occasion.
This plea was unanswerable and they
were Admitted, 10 stay just as long as
they held the babies in their arms.
Naturally the babies were soon re-
turned to their mothers. Sense of hu-
NOR possibly prevented the young
sters from causing any more trouble.
The expense of sand gardens open
for ten weeks in the summer is esti-
mated at 81 a child If the management
is economical. The programme of play
differs with different districts, but the
Emergency and Hygienic association
which has charge of a number of gar
dens insists that they shall be opened
and closed promptly, which lends an
air of seriousness and Importance, for
children enjoy and respect a certain
amount of discipline.
1t is not well TO have enough of any
thing to go around. What everybody
can have nobody wants" is a discipline
In the boy girl world. Take the scis-
sors with which paper figures are cut
out, for instance. There are, perhaps.
seven or eight pairs In q yard, each
pair hung upon red string to hang
over the neck Of the child using 1t.