Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-25
RIGHTS OF CHILDHOOD
NEEDS AND NATURE OF PUBLIC
FAIRGROUNDS.

1.-The inalienable rights of childhood are
seldom understood" said Miss Mary Nc
Dowell yesterday while speaking to Star
reporter of the needs and nature OF properly
equipped Fairgrounds.
Miss Mcdowell is the head resident of the
University of Chicago Settlement, and, as
she says, has for years been in Intimate
association with the little ones, and knows
what playground may mean.
THE inalienable rights of children" she
says, "are both to work and to play. Both
work and play must be developing. and not
stunning. I shall try to explain In my talk
at the First Congregational Church tomor-
row evening, at which shall speak of the
Fairgrounds of the city OF Chicago, just
what may be done with the public play
grounds a social center. not for the child
merely, but for the whole family.
Have you ever thought of the case of the
rich who in their early childhood, because
of the deprivation Of all natural wholesome
work, are In some measure in the same
condition, far proper development
goes. as the poor who are cut off of all
chances for play. The attitude Of the rich
to wholesome activities is about as hopeless
as the attitude forced upon the poor with
regard to play. Both classes of children
need their defenders"
Asked whether work for the young Is not
questionable blessing. Miss Mcdowell in
sisted on her Limitation that childs work
must be developing.
The Chicago Settlement.
The University of Chicago Settlement is
located In the immediate vicinity of the
Union stock yards. There, twelve years or
more ago, Miss Mcdowell after period of
social service at Hull House, began a small
playground upon borrowed plot of ground.
Much discussion and study of the posi-
bilities for playground development was car
ried on before the small beginnings in Chi
cago at Hull House and the university set
Element. Finally special park commits
sion, some five years ago, was appointed by
Mayor Harrison to map out the city and
determine the best sites for grounds
Think what we finally gained in the
South Park system. Eleven splendid parks,
and on each a club house or field house as
1T is called. And all this supported by the
public tax. The people pay for them.
MY own ground, bounded as ii is by rail-
road tracks and stock yards, a dank low
prairie site of ten acres, was difficult to OBJ
tain. 1t was not considered a suitable place
and the people themselves, not understand
ing, protested against any extra tax But
where else should q playground be than
just where 1t is available to the poor by the
trains. where the emigrants may find il at
once?
A Convincing Argument.
Last summer. said Miss Mcdowell, IAN
old German woman who had lived in the
neighborhood and had objected to the ex-
pense visited the park and / took her all
around. When we were finally In the field
house and she had coffee with me-and | as
sure you the field house helps to solve the
saloon problem-she sat looking over the
playground with content
This is the most beautiful thing / have
seen since the worlds fair she said Why,
the 81 1 pay in tax Is nothing to what we
get here
Think said Miss Mcdowell "of the ten
millions who made use of our swimming
pools! One who has not watched the effect
upon a community OF properly equipped
Fairgrounds can form no idea of their
value"
Miss Mcdowell in her lecture tonight will
show lantern pictures of the work done In
Chicago, and by way of contrast the condi-
ton OF the Fairgrounds in this city