The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-25
CHILDREN OWN SEWARD PARK
YOUNGSTERS HAVE THEIR TURN
AT THE DEDICATION.

Cheer Wilcox When He Says He's Not
Going u Speak-(hOrus Of $500
Little Ones Sing National Airs-Ex-
hibitiOns by Big and Little Athletes.
The children OF the East Side took pos
session OF Seward Park with whoop yes-
terday. A week ago tho dedication cere-
monies were started with speeches by Mayor
Low and other city officials, but the chill
dren's part in the programme was declared
of on account OF rain.
Yesterday the children had their day.
The police estimated that there were be-
tween $1,000 and 1900 persons In and
around the park and OF these, at least two
thirds were boys and girls.
The children just swept over the park.
When Park Commissioner Wilcox stood
up to tell them that the playground was
theirs, they were lined around the ratings
| and massed in front OF the pavilion on
which the speakers stand had been erected.
Two hundred policemen, in charge OF In
spector Schinittberger, Capt. Shaw of the
Madison street station and four sergeants.
kept the children in good order. but they
couldn't control their voices and when
Commissioner Wilcox started to speak
there was a shout that could have been
heard block.
Il did not come here for the purpose Of
making a - began Commissioner Will
cox.
-Hurrahi" shreked tho children and for
two minutes Mr.. Wilcox waited good
naturedly while they chsered. Then he
said that there would be no curling OF the
young blood. nd he turned to the older
folks in the stand.
all these years Seward Park Ii at last COM
pleted. 1t belongs to the children. This
is their day and their voices ought to be
heard.
"Whoo-oop!' came from the children.
No one believed that they had heard Mr..
Willcox's words, but they seemed to have
guessed the right moment.
When Commissioner Wilcox could hear
his own voice again, he said that he would
always remember as the pleasantest feature
Of his administration that his first request
OF the city authorities was for funds with
, which TO build Seward Park. Charles B.
Slower, who has devoted his time and in
terests to the completion of Seward Park,
was the next speaker. Every child there
seemed to have personal acquaintance
with Mr.. Slower and they united in chorus
Of Hello, MIR. Stover!' He said:
| propose to address my remarks to the
children inasmuch as Mayor Low spoke to
appropriate for me to address the children.
IT was the children who laid the foundation
The police tell inc that when this was vacant
On ono OCCASION. p ises: dfty-,hres Children
Market police court for playing here.
1t was the children Of the East Side who
first contributed fo5 this playground, and not
the city. he children OF he East Side con.
,ributed $500 Of their own pennies, and, there
fore. ! say, it is appropriate that this should
be children's day.
When Mr.. Slower said that old fogy Office
holders believed that the children were M I
entitled to special privileges, Tut thr t
Commissioner Wilcox was not Of Il at type,
the Commissioner was loudly oheered.
The most impressive part Of the cere-
monies was the singing Of national airs
by the children. 1t was announced thu {
$500 children from eleven public schools
in the neighborhood of the rk would
America" All the school children were
there officially and about twenty-five hum
bred more sang, too.
The singing was followed by gymnastic
exhibition in charge of j. +. Sullivan and
Evert j. nsen Wendell. This interested
the Chi cEen more than anything else
John Bissinger all around gymnastic
rion on the parallel bars. and teams from
the ST. Bartholomew A. c.. Xavier A. A..
Anchor A. c., Mohawk A. c., New Polo
Association, New York A c., Brooklyn
Y. NJ c. A., and other athletic clubs gave
exh itions
exhif itions end gymnostic work by teams
from Seward Park, Hamilton Fish Park
Tompkns Park and Dewitt Clinton Tark
There WIS intense rivalry between the To ms
from the different perks, and the chi. dren
became gre tly excited. No prizes we're
avn rded end no decisions were made.
H rv Cohen. a lite shaver. described
as 4Seward Parks tiriest gymnast,' then
performed fee Ia that We're the envy Of many
Of his older and strrdier brothers