Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-08
WORK OF FAIRGROUNDS
DISCUSSED BY DIRECTORS AT
MEETING YESTERDAY.

The directors and assistant directors OF
the various Fairgrounds of Washington
held a joint meeting last evening at the or
fee of the Associated Charities, I'll u
street northwest. Henry 8. Curtis, super
visor of Fairgrounds. made an interesting
talk on the work 1t is proposed to do dur
ing the second period which Is just COM
mencing, and incidentally touched upon the
plan for greater athletic features and the
Inauguration of a weekly athletic exhibit
ton. There is need for 5000 more before
the work of the committee can be accom-
plished.
An interesting demonstration was offered
by Miss Harrington of Baltimore. an en-
thusiast in the playground movement, who
went through several processes in spinning
wool on miniature looms. Caps and nit
tens be made in this way, she said.
and that the children may have a chance
to make these articles some fifty forms for
each pattern have been placed on each OF
the grounds The children will also be
instructed in the manufacture of different
kinds of wicker work. Ten pounds OF ma
terial was sent out to each of the grounds
yesterday and today the boys will be en-
gagged in making baskets, chains and braids
According to the plans of the committee
other equipment will be later furnished the
children for the making of useful articles
Supervisor Curtis said that he believed
games to be the most healthful and bene-
fetal form of exercise at the Fairgrounds
He said that the children have been taught
to play most of the outdoor games and
they enjoy that form of amusement more
than any other He also thought the
teachers could get better control of the
children by romping and playing with them
Every Saturday afternoon hereafter the
athletic events by the children will be a
feature of the Fairgrounds, and the par
ents of these children see for them
selves what progress is being made in the
n too, % i,,o .;,,rr }1@ nf no
little ones At the Saturday afternoon con-
tests %, GO and 1Oo-yard dashes will be rum
together with many other events, including
the high and broad jumping. Songs will
be sung, kindergarten games will be played
and potato races will be rum
Some Other Games.
[ In the program of amusements for this
special day there win also be basket ball
and base ball games. The records of each
boy and girl taking part in the contests will
be carefully kept and any Improvement he
may make will be shown in his percentage.
These marks will be placed upon the black
boards, and perhaps published in the daily
newspapers of Washington The boys will
be devided into teams and the work OF
each day will be subdivided.
The attendance at the Fairgrounds aver
ages 200 children each day. The largest
attendance recorded is possibly at the
southeast grounds, North Capitol grounds
and on the Fairgrounds of Georgetown:
each of which rarely has an attendance of
less than Ave hundred. A strenuous EFFORT
is being made by the officers Of the play
grounds to get in hand all the necessary
funds to complete the work mapped out
for the rest of the summer and 1t is not
believed that a serious obstacle will be en-
countered in that direction.
Following the meeting Supervisor Curtis
talked to the women teachers of the diff
ferent Fairgrounds. He gave clear instruc-
lions as to what should be done and the
best method of getting it accomplished.