The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-28

are disposed 10 shrink from every pass
er-by as though they were expecting to
receive blows. In many cities the news
boys comprise the sole visible portion
OF the population known as the rising
/ generation"
There are only two possible explana-
lions for this state OF affairs: the one
being that the children are kept close
ly housed. without the advantages OF
any open air exercise in the case Of
the wealthy. and that the children OF
the slums and poor districts are being
reared in squalor and the foul air OF
the inner courts. The second eXplana-
ton possible is that the population is
decreasing. The former is the only
feasible solution. as statistics refute the
other. Those who have gone into the
slum districts have had the first expla-
nation amply verified in the most dis
couraging manner.
The average citizen OF Washington
does not appreciate how different this
city is from others for the reason that
| he takes the conditions here as a mat
ter OF course, as so many OF us accept
the blessings OF life. never appreciating
them until they are gone forever. or
else until we see how others suffer
Here the child is TO be seen everywhere.
The small squares TO which some have
pointed in derision as the waste space
of our city are filled with children after
school hours, and their childish prattle
and care-free peals OF ] aughter are
sweeter music, to those who realize
that their children are getting the
pleasures of open-air life even in the
city, than are the strains OF the grand
est orchestra.
Extremes Not Apparent.
Another noticeable iaet is the differ
ence in the general character and ap-
pearance Of the children to be found
in our city parks and OF those in other
cities. As n rule, the children here rep
resent parents OF moderate means
rather than the two extremes of pow
ertv and pampered wealth. They are
the children of fathers who do not live
In idleness. yet who are not forced by
bitter circumstances to turn away from
all he pleasurable things of life The
fathers of Washington's children have
something for which to strive They
have not reached the sordid 'ultimath-
ule" of many millions. and so they are
net of that class for whom the world
and life in general have lest zest They
are still growing mentally and NOR
ally because they are exercising their
minds and their bodies. The children
in our parks reflect all this in their
every movement and In all their child
Isl glee. They epitomize the great bulk
or Washington's population that Gold
smith spoke of as that part of a ma
tion's people which is its pride and
which when once destroyed could never
be supplied.
The happiness of Washington's chill
dren reflects the general tendency of
the home. AS little as many realize
II. there is a subtle spell of silent sor-
row that is cast over the child reaisd
IN a home where there is constant dis
cord and misunderstanding between the
parents. The fact that the health con-
ditiOns are excellent here, the labor
conditions are unusually favorable and
the open-air opportunities for the chill
dren are great, all have a vast infiu-
enee over the homes of Washington.
These influences are not merely direct
but they are cumulative, each adding
10 the force of the other For this rea-
son il is not amiss to say that not
merely on account of its physical sur
roundings. economic conditions and for
its public utilities, is Washington the
great home city of America. but from
an ethical standpoint. and on account of
the general air of harmony that seems
to pervade the home of the average
Washingtonian is this city a model and
an ideal.
The idea Of the sacredness and eauty