The Washington times., 1905-07-15
PLAYGROUND BUSY
At CURTIS SCHOOL
Heat No Deterrent of Active
Children
LOAD OF SAND PROVIDES FUN
Miss Carr, in Charge, Finds Favor
With the Little Fclk-Much
IN Demand.
LOAD OF SAND PROVIDES FUN

If anyone can doubt the good which
public Fairgrounds are doing in Wash
iEgton a visit 10 one or more of them
will be proof sufficient that many little
hearts are made happier. by these in
stitutions.
One might think that during these hot
afternoons the children. as well as
grown folks. would seek out the coolest
place they could And and remain quiet
In order TO keep cool Not So In the
Fairgrounds. both In those on vacant
lots about Washington and in the
school yards, { number of children may
be found each day enjoying themselves
as much as if old Sol were not IN ex-
istence
A reporter fer The Times visited the
Fairgrounds of the Curtis School in
Georgetown recently. and on first
glance thought no provision had
been made for the children But after
walking up the long side yard of the
school 10 the shady end of the yard
this impression was quickly dismissed
Fun in Sand Heap.
A cart loaded with sand was backed
up into the yard and the children
swarmed about 1t like bees. Miss Carr.
who is in charge of the Curtis School
grounds for six weeks, was the central
figure OF the group and apparently as
much interested in the dumping of the
sand as the smallest tot in the ground
The sand had been brought 20 fill a
large trough, about fifteen or twenty
feet iong-an improvised playground for
the little ones. and one in which TIE
older children viii not be permitted to
interfere. Some of the little tots who
will spend many a happy hour in this
I1ne sand pile were about the grounds
but in order 10 have q hand in the
thing some way the older boys had the
time of their lives hcining the driver to
dunn the sand. When II was all out a
heelbarrow was quickly brought and
the boys went TO work with vengeance
carrying the sand TO the big box
Delay in Completion.
The Fairgrounds at the Curtis School
have not been completed. Some things
have been very late In arriving. Holes
for the swings and various apparatus
which viii be installed have been dug.
In spite of the fact that few things
are there for the children to enjoy, the
attendance every day averages between
~ ana 100 children They come TO play
games and to hear the stories which
Miss Carr tells them every day She
has fund OF fairy stories and. FOR
the Older children. she tells of histori-
cal Incidents. clothed in story form
The children enjoy this so much that
when the hour for closing comes they
are ioath to leave. Miss Carr goes TO
the school at $3.50 and remains until IL
clock. and she is back again at $3.50
10 stay until o'clock Several of the
children pleaded with her yesterday
Please. Miss Carr. come at O'Clock
instead of half-past."
"The Little Mother
just as everything was going beauti-
fully yesterday z wall was heard. and
around the corner of the building came
Il little barefoot tot of two years. crv-
tng like her heart would break Miss
Carr went Immediately to soothe the
baby, but she had no eyes or wish for
anyone but her fve-year-oid sister.
known as the little mother
When she reached her the little tot
put her arms around the older ones. neck
and walled She had hurt her finger.
took only a pat from the little
hur; was forgotten.
Ihese TWO children are veritable beau
ne. re older one recently won u
prize for beauty. offered by The Times.
Among the boys ard girls who Were
paying about the yard yesterday was q
girl about ten years old who hobbled
about on cfutCIeS- but apparently was
enjoying herself as much as anyone
Nhen she vas two years old she was
run over by a street car, and one of her
legs had TO be amputated
Jumps With Her Crutch.
Every once in while yesterday she
would put down one crutch, take up !;
long-handle brush. and hop about tn.
yard sweeping up the dirt as clipper a.
II she had never been manned. Mis-.
Carr said when. the children jumped
rope this little girl could hop in witt
her crutch and jump as good as the mex
one
The children are apparently much at
tached 10 Miss Carr. who has the schoo
for six weeks. and will then be re-
Heyed by another teacher
Miss Carr is especially well adapted
10 look after the children, for she is {
kindergarten teacher In the public
schools. and last year had a class q
fifty pupils She teaches the children
kindergarten games. and has the happ,
faculty of keeping them amused during
1.-THE entire time they are on the grounds
When II vas too hot TO play yester
day morning the children ali look ,
hand in helping Miss Carr dig OUT tn,
weeds which were fast making headwa,
among the attractive flower gardei