New-York tribune., 1905-06-25

began to talk very strongly Of purchasing the pay
5Sv d apd + B 70 there 5e @ Wy ana In July
of preliminary skirmishng to be done before the
b 3or tbe % P Cqtv To r,5n Il q n aSeS @ 1ecqed to
the city's promise to maintain it. My bill author
ized the Park Commissioner to preserve and main
tain the playground and day nursery and to se-
Iect staff to consist Of a director in chief two
kindergartners and a matron TO IT, II it should
ever become necessary to move the playground tina
city binds itself to transfer II without alteration
to a suitable spot
GAS soon as the bill had been signed the public
spirited citizens referred to bought it and made it
over to city. and it is permanent mu-
nicipaI institution"
The playground and day nursery which the CITY
of st. Louis has thus entered into possession OF
plot of ground $50 by $50 feet in Forest Park Mrs
to supeEintend the grading the sodding the stalking
bvefene practicai eficiency and beauty was % abi ~
to Introduce lot of original ideas, which ST. Louis
is now reapng the benefit OF.
piano, for instance, is an enormous help IN
an open playground, because Of the apparent I'M
tecting hers with Tubber cloth and heaPyy es1- g5D
vas case to draw down over it at night, Mrs.
tune. although it stood in the open air play
Again. the little St LouIsites will be able to
roll about ad lbitum on the grass; because Mrs
Hirshfeld believes that Grass and babies are not
A large open space is left for running. and
for baby hammocks there is sand white and
deep making the softest of beds for careless
youngster or topheavy baby 10 fall into; but with
these exceptions all the playground is sodded
Twenty thousand children used the playground
during the months the exposition Open and
yet when the great fair closed it's gates December
/, the sod showed little sign Of wear. much 10
the surprise of park authorities and playground
experts.
All around the wire fence which incIoses the
playground line of shrUbbery, which deepens
into thcket in one corner. affording opportunities
for unlimited puss-in-th -the-corner. Another assem-
Slage of greenery is placed line of swings.
as to give the children the pleasure Of swinging
into the shrubbery. This shrubbery represents
one of the happiest departures of the playground.
at 10 all made up of common woodland things"
said Mrs. Hirshfeld. like and elderberry
1t be enjoyed and used without cOmpunction
and replaced easily and cheaply"
The main building is open air kindergarten
playground, 35 by Is feet, equipped with kinder
garten tables and chairs the piano already re-
40 feet. has eight showers. two tubs and fourteen
dressing rooms. 4 nursery for babies, with ten
foot veranda running all around it. inclosed with
wire mesh. and the pergola for twenty-five ham
mocks, afford recreation and rest for the tots.
Then there two large sand boxes, ten feet
square, rooted over. with seats all along the in
side; a diet kitchen for the preparation Of tbs
babies bottles; a playhouse where the children
teach school and play house, and, lastly. ths
big outdoor gymnasium. 40 by so feet As all the
buildings of stained clapbOards with window
boxes overfowing with runners and gay blossoms.
and they embowered by clumps of shrub
berry the effect is altogether charming. -
"And 1t is all as practical as it is pretty, SAID
Mrs. Hirshfeld.