Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-19
TIE GA$S.M PARALLEL BARS

two with which to buy a cake or two or
some fruit for lunch; it is left to take care
of itself in the streets all morning, and In
the afternoon it makes Its way to the play
ground. Little instruction 1t receives in
Its home at night; the parents are either
too tired or are needless of the child's well
fare.
Tussle With Toughs.
The rest period is the only quiet time that
the principal has. When he starts to put
the older boys through a course of
sprouts" on the gymnasium frame right
after, he observes a half dozen of them try
ing to sneak out of the playground. He
catches them just as they are about to
effect their escape and brings them back.
after stationins one of his two attendance
officers at the entrance, who is soon called
upon to act promptly in the of two
boys who try to get away when the officers
back is turned for a moment.
Somersaults off the bars are being done
nicely by the class when the principal hears
yeIls or trouble in the direction of the water
tank. Rushing there, he discovers that
two large boys are holding a small bows
head under the flow of cool water No
sooner does he secure the latters release
than a ruction arises over by the swings.
This proves to be the most serious dis
turbince of the day.
Confronting the principal when he reaches
the swings are three of the recognized
toughs of the neighborhood Each tough
has his hands and pockets filed with rocks,
and the earnest manner in which several of
the boys rubbing themselves tells the
principal better than wo-ds that the
toughs have been finding malicious pleas
ure in stonng the boys
For the only time during the afternoon
the principal shows his temper.
You toughs get right out of hereI' he
commands, sternly. Didn't l tell you the
other day not TO show yourselves In here
again?"
"Aw, wat tell!' responds one of the
toughs, all standing their ground.
With that the principal reaches for the
biggest of the trio, grabs him by the scrufr
of the neck and begins hustling him to the
gate. Stones fly about him as he accom-
plishes his object; stones fly at him as he
runs for the other two; but before he quite
reaches them their bravado oozes and they
take to their heels, calling out dire threats
on the principals head as they make good
their escape by flying leaps over the fence.
The principal mops his brow and walks
over to the aspiring gymnasts
Now. boys, well go to work again on
those somersaults," he says.
On the Girls Side.
In the meantime the assistant in charge
of the girls is not having time lag on her
hands From l to o'clock there Is free
play. The next hour kindergarten games
are played under her direction and the eyes
of her monitors. and at 3 o'clock those girls
basketry and sewing. All the time. too, the
swings are going those for girls fully able
to take care of themselves and the ham
hook swings for the use of very small girls
and boys and babies brought to the play
ground by older sisters-"little mothers"
Just about the time that the principal is
putting the toughs to flight the assistant
principal is having her hands full to
straighten out a quarrel that has arisen
over game of authors A little later
slip of a girl who has been constant at
tendant of the playground since the year
previous, when she had conceived great
love for 1.-The fine lady" starts in to tell
confldentially all that has happened in her
family since last she saw teacher. Among
other things. she confides that a new baby
has arrived; that her father was out OF
work for three months once. and that her
mother called him a lazy old brute all the
time: that her big sister has new beau
and that she herself has new hat with
great big beautiful red flower right on the
top and a great big bunch OF ribbon on
the side.
'The girls-the little gossips-tell me
everything they know says the assistant
principal, land it's part OF my work to take
II all Inland then let it pass out the other
ear, unless through some child's prattle !
learn of some case of real want. Then
notify the charity people. I've discovered
several needy families In this way"
The hour of 5 is at hand: for some time
both boys and girls have been engaged in
free play. Now the principals whistle Is
brought INTO pay once Iiore
Lime up against the fence for dismissal"
he cries.
They do so with alacrity. They have en-
toyed the afternoon; there has been little
or no apparent restraint on them: yet chill
dren like constant change; and as soon as
the word is given they go a-scurrying into
the street
School-Roof Garden.
Dismissal ends the day of the assistant
principal Not so for the principal The
evening finds him in charge Of a school-roof
playground in the most crowded foreign
colony of the city. In the middle of the
roof is the raised band stand. In one cor
ner is a quiet corner" with tables for
games and racks of books and magazines
The rest of the space is roped off into sec
lions Into one section the big boys and
girls who care to dance; into another still
younger children; while the youngest are
permitted to bob up and down In the two
steps in the aisles
An hour after the beginning of the fun,
during which time he has settled al many