New-York tribune., 1907-09-02
At a PLAYGROUND.
Evenings Devoted to Dancing, Which Girls
Enjoy Thoroughly.

II was the last night of the season saturday on
the roof playground at Public SchooI u Whicn
stands in the most crowded part Of Mott street
The women and girls of that section-Italians
chie7y-were making the most Of it Inc play
ground opened at o'clock p. m. and before $50
o'clock the street in front Of the gates was HIleu
with A dark-eyed. chattering crowd All or the
women and many Of the girls. no matter how Htte
carried babies. The minute the gates were opened
the throng poured through. up the steps and past
the policeman at the entrance The women hedded
for the seats that line the rim of the inclosure
Bows are not allowed there-''They are too rude,
one small girl explained 10 the Tribune reporter
but occasionally a woman would wrap her apron
around her boys head and smuggle him il' ana
If he small boy those in charge OF the play
ground affected notice the curious appar'-
ton OF a pair Of overalled legs ornamentlng the
side of a wonan's skirt The band sTuch up
and the girls, marshaled by the director and ms
assistant and the tall young woman VINO taught
them folk dances formed three abreast into line
that stretched all around the great playground
danced Show my new shoes" Then the me
broke up into couples. the band played d "ai'"
and the evening fairly begun
Tiritors TO the Mott street playground were in
no danger Of feeling neglected. One woman during
tions dance from as many small girls = eacne'
to their young minds every grown visitor IN
good dresS is ''Teacher'-"please dance with me
But I don't know how 20 dance
"Oh. teacher. this is easy dance. The lanceTs
IS easy: Wen show you how
When il proved that the visitor determined
10 sit on a bench and look on, numerous small
girls stood around and entered into conversation.
MY big sistel' = going TO marry plumber" one
said proudly. Plumbers make good money. tie
gave my sister Iocket with his pitcher in it, and
he had her pitcher took. too. She isn't my right
sister said the mite My father was married
before, and my mother was married betore, dhu
my father had a child, and my mother had two
children Then my father married this woman that
had TWO children. and then they bought me So my
big sister has got a right father, and my big
brothers have got right mother, and 1 We a right
father and a right mother
They cannot understand having relatives.
You haven't got any brothers or sisters?" they
said to one visitor who confessed 10 a lonely
Nor any father mother? You live alone? Ia
be 'fraid And YOU haven't any babies? Why
don't you buy a babyZ'
While few children talked hundreds danced
They danced the Iancers and the Virginia reel and
folk dances-the ace or diamonds, the mountain
dance and the ribbon dance. pretty done
with coored ribbons All the girls wanted to dance
with their teacher, the young woman who taught
them dancing. If she waltZed with one dozen
others followed at her heels, each holding up d
Meantime the babies slept Lying the hard
benches in the lap Of mother or sister. they
slept away there in the midst of the music and
talking and dancing
Many Of the girls though they come from poor
homes. come really quite prettily dressed one
small girl proudly Informed visitor that she made
the dress she had en-made it herself at the sewing
class of the vacation school
Some of the little girls came looking much neg
lected in ragged dresses funny garments not con-
structed for them SiL none OF the better dressed
made fun Of them. Nor did any laugh at one poor
child who was evidently half-witted she hasn I
got ali her sense one little girl explained 10 d
visitor. tapping her forehead Significantly
They know about Lougfellow and whittier 90
these italian children with the dancing feet
Teacher. are you q teacher2' one inquisiti"e
little girl asked visitor You amt? DO you go
10 work? What do you dor'
Well I write things. sometimes
DO you write pomes2' very eagerly. VIII 20"
bring me a pome some time kno" some pohleS
lrrou, .parefoot Pov' and The Arrow and tho
Song I can say The barefoot Boy '-shyly bu'
insinratngIy.
.'Will you say II for me-
The small face lighted at tho notion OF SHOW
ING off her one accomplishment Sure she sald
and while three hundred girls danced tle VII
80 j., tho middle of the floor she said her little
'pon1e" and said II very well