Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-09
THE YOUNG ATHLETES
CONCLUDING EVENTS AT THE
COLISEUM TODAY
Public Approval Of Movement in Be-
half Of Public Fairgrounds
Plans for Future.

The final meet in field-day sports of the
white children from the public Fairgrounds
opened today a little after O'Clock. Com
missioner West was selected by Mr.. Cuno
Rudolph. chairman of the executive COM
mittee. to make the presentation speeches.
delivering to the successful contestants BAN
ners. buttons and medals.
The kindergarten games and preliminary
events were run off at 80 O'Clock. the pro-
gram being the same as those engaged in
by the colored children yesterday large
crowd greeted the little people from five
Fairgrounds.
For the two days tournament ninety
eight prizes were provided, of first, second
and third rank. In addition to the cham
pionship buttons given to all children, as
described in The Star yesterday. who had
made a certain standard of all-round de-
velopment tested by certain exercises,
two gold medals were given out each day
TO the child making the first and second
highest individual score.
DR.. Henry Curtis says that printed rec
ords of the events, giving the names OF the
winners. will be made In order that next
year at every playground the boys and
girls In training may have them in view.
DIR. Curtis believes this project will stimu-
late the children TO train carefully in order
to break the records.
Mr.. Bernard j. Wefers, the former
worlds champion sprinter. In the 100 yards
and 30 yards. respectively, who has been
actively engaged in bringing up the stan
dard of physical excellence at the play
grounds during the summer. said. after the
meet OF yesterday, that II had been a great
success and that some of the work done
showed that there was good material
among the colored boys and that they had
been carefully trained. Today the same
condition was shown TO be characteristic OF
the work done by the white children, all
the events being closely contested and the
scores reading very much alike
Approval Of the Work
Many members of the executive and
finance committees and the chairmen OF
special committees attended the games yes
terday and expressed themselves as pleased
with the work.
Mrs Ellen Spencer Mussey. who Is chair
man of the women's clubs committee and
also member OF the executive committee
of the Fairgrounds association, believes
the greatest gain In the movement for play
grounds this year has been the increase of
public sentiment In It's favor.
This sentiment will be of great help In
succeeding years" she says. Not only Is
the public now informed to the nature OF
the work. but a strong feeling of sympathy
has been established which will aid in Sc
curing land for permanent Fairgrounds
with no danger OF being driven off by the
owners. / want to say that the spirit OF
the newspapers has been source of graft
ncation to us"
DIR. Custis. as supervisor of the work. said
he was especially gratliied at the showing
OF the tournaments. IJe felt that such an
exhibition would be sure to win many
friends to the movement, and make the
plans and suggestions now, in contempla-
ton for the coming year certain of being
carried out.
Commissioner Vests statement he
said. that he believed in public play
grounds and was glad to see evidence OF
30 much progress. ought to set an example
Of interest In those who can do much TO
make the pplay grounds OF the future in
washington pride and Joy to the boys
end girls and an attraction to the visitor"
Winners in Events.
Ths events and winners of yesterday s
games we're:
25-yard dash for girls under ten--won by
Martha Anderson of LIST and P; second.
Marie Allen OF LIST and p; third, Margaret
Hall OF Phillips.
2S-yard dash for boys under ten-won by