The Washington times., 1906-07-14
LONDON HELPED
BY CURTIS IDEA
Fairgrounds Supervisor S
Article Inspired New
Parks.
MRS. HUMPHREY WARD PATRON
Read his Contribution to Magazine
and Began Successful
Agitation.

Henry s. Curtis, Supervisor Of Play
grounds. contributes to Charities and
the Commons a brief review OF the
work OF the central games committee Of
Germany, which, with characteristic
thoroughness, has worked up athletic
play in the schools 10 a regular graded
course. including both games ana gym
nastics. covering a series Of years, with
local and general contests and eXhioi-
tions. a training school for teachers, and
u special periodical literature.
Before Dr. Curtis became supervisor
of Fairgrounds in Washington he held
Il similar position IN New York. An ar
ticle on his work appeared in a maga-
zine at the time that Lady Roses
Daughter was running as serial The
author, Mrs. Humphry Ward. read It
and started an agitation which resulted
+ in the opening Of Fairgrounds and recre-
, alton eenters IN London.
The article carries photographs illus
trattve or the different kinds of parks
mentioned. ana OF their varied actiyi-
ties
Play as Landscape" IS the title
chosen by Joseph Lee. prime mover In
. every park project in Boston, for a Wig
. OlOu6 HlE AtAtAA aEtAAAA@L NAAF ANNSk-SAA
the-grass signs" Play for men, women
and children, is the essential element OF
"a park, he holds. He finds nothing in
compatible between ehndren's play and
landscape art. Baseball cannot be al
lowed on your favorite lawn. or where
IL win endanger lives" and there are
other limitations. but the beauty OF a
city park viii never be the beauty of
solitude
Crowds Come to See Crowds.
The attraction which It will actually
possess viii be OF the opposite sort The
crowd. not only in the Tuilieries Gar
dens. but in every city park. comes
largely to see the crowd. Children are
far more interesting than any geological
garden-a kid is more fun than goat
O. or even a cage Of monkeys"
Mr.. Lee specifies some things that
can be permitted without harm. prece-
dent TO the contrary. Little children do
no harm to the grass, IL it is allowed a
breathing spell now and then. Neither
Is there danger in their digging IN the
paths. The paths can be repaired.
Broad paths can be used for hOp-scOtch
and the like. Individual gardens for
children IN charge OF a teacher viii
grow flowers almost as beautiful as
. those in the park gardeners cherished
beds. Sand boxes and swings and sad
died dOnkeys are almost primary neces-
stiles.
Games for the Crown Ups.
For grown-up3 there should be tennis
and golf and baseball: a lot of people
cannot afford time or money for coun-
try club. Cossting and tobOgganing,
Boston has proved, don't hurt the grass
a bit There should be boats on every
stream and pond.
1t has been we'll said that children
were left out OF the planning OF our
cities It does not seem to me that they
ought to be left out of the planning OF
our parks" concludes Mr.. Lee. Chill
dren are not necessarily a nuisance
Parks that are Of so delicate q cOnsti-
tuition that they are seriously injured
BY children's play are too delicate Tor
this world. If they are not fitted for
. those mem bers Of the race IN whom the
instinct OF play still controls, they DO
not seem TO me 70 be peculiarly adapted
20 their purpose. 1 know that there are
officials and esthetes who take the
Enti-Children view Of al esthetic mat
+ ters. They remind me or the worthy
officials OF the War Department who
said 70 Mr.. Mckinley at tGS beginning
O. oF the Spanish war. This department
was running ali right until you brought
your war along
Keeping on the Grass.
The old idea that a park is a park
. and nothing else-an eXpanse OF beau
tifuIly kept lawns inteTspersed with
shrubs and trees and back-breaking
. iron benches and "Keep-on-the- grass
+ signs, has had its day. The demand
now Is for utility as we'll as beauty,
! adaptation 70 the needs Of the surround
ing population, an incalculabie asset
z fn q city's S means for promoting health
and happiness and rational living. Not
what a park is. but what measure and
+ kinds Of service IL renders. Is tne
modern test
Archibald A. Hiu, secretary Of the
} Metropolitan Parks Association OF
New York city, has just edited spe-
. cial issue of Charities and the COm-
: mons on this very subject. Mr. Hilfs
summary OF the thing lies in one SEN
. tence: 1t Is the spirit or studying
how to increase the value Of the parks
20 the people that IS now demanded OF
park managers"
Summing up the whole business of
parks, Secretary Hin says:
rs IL not time then that American
cities and towns in spending more
money for parks should inquire into
the needs OF the people these parks
are to serve, the possibilities OF the
surrounding country to meet these
needs, and the best methods Of max
ing these parks OF service 70 the great
est number Of people?
The standard to be set is not acres,
. but human need not plant culture
( but human culture. Parks are to be
made for man and not man for parks "
AGED WOMAN INJURED
IM EEfI EnnHE Tnnf ~