The Washington times., 1906-07-16
JUDGE BELIEVES
IN FAIRGROUNDS
So He's Going to Have One
Established Near
His Court.
FOR GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN
Novel Reformatory Plan Suggested by
Judge De Lacey, Of the Juvenile
Court.

InestimabIe good has been done in
Washington by Fairgrounds. accofd.og
20 Judge William De Lacey. Of the Ju-
venile Court. So much impressed with
the backgrounds idea is Judge De Lacey
that he will within the neXS few weeks
establish one IN the rear of the court
house at 1915 + street north west. ard
later change the entrance srOm + street
10 Z street. where the playRTOunds be-
gin.
The Juvenile Court IS located In the
old Macfarland homestead. formerly the
residence Of Commissioner Hanvv B. F.
Macfarland. In the rear OF il Is q spa
Cious lawn. around which there Is a
perfect bower Of multi-colorcd holly
hooks. and the famous blood orange
trumpet flower, OF which the Southern
poets have so often sung. In addition
TO these there are many locust trees.
rose bushes, and other fragrant bios
SONS. Tire lawn Is about 100 feet wide
and 200 feet long. Tall grass covers the
= entire space,
Ideal Site for Fairgrounds.
This is considered by Judge De Lacey
10 be an ideal site for a playground. He
has made arrangements with the play
, a number Of swings, trapezes, horizon
tai bars, sand boxes, unG Other play
ground paraphernalia on the lawn as
soon as possible Within a short time
the Judge viii have a driveway made OF
crushed blue stone run through the lawn
from the z street entrance Of the
grounds TO the rear OF the building
where the sessions Of court are now
held. When this IS done the House OF
Detention van will have only a few RODS
10 go from that institution 10 the count
house. This will keep the little onehCe:s
out of the sight of the curious persons
who crowd around the front door every
day.
Play Would Be Harmless.
The children do a lot of harmless
innocent things on the public play
..ounds which would doubtless be called
a nuisance If seen on the streets, said
the juGEc Horses and persons are
frightened by ball playing and bean bag
throwing on the street When the boys
play kick the stick on the streets the
sharp stick Is likely to strike somebody
in the face and hurt them. There are
any number of games played by the
bows and girls which make the partici-
pavement and street. but are absolutely
harmless and healthfu when indulged
Ia on the Fairgrounds. For that reason
/ say the Fairgrounds have done in
estimabIe good for the younger element
IN WashinLyon and the records kept by
Chief Probation officer COpp show that
there has been a marked and most no
tfceabIe decrease in crimes Of the more
serious nature, such as larceny. house
breaking, annoying persons, the deStruc-
ti0n of and depreciation upon private
property. / cannot too highly commend
the Fairgrounds and their good Work,
and Intend TO establish one in the rear
OF the Juvenile court in short time
Free for All Children.
Judge De Lacey stated that the play
grounds back Of the court house would
be open TO the children in the neighbOT-
hood except during the hours that the
little men and women detained for an
investigation Of their cases were there
This viii be about an hour or two each
day. from ] until or 3 o'clock in the
afternoon. With the exception Of this
brief period the grounds will be free
and open for all the children who might
wish to go there This idea was flTst
suggested by Mrs. Dubois wife OF Sen
atOr Dubois, who IS much interested In
The welfare of Washington and the bet
terment of local conditions. As soon as
the matter was brought 10 the attention
F. OF Judge De Lacey he appreciated that
( n was a capital idea and forthwith set
about TO have the large yard converted
: into a public Fairgrounds.