Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-06
PLAY SAVES
YOUNG BOYS
PUBLIC RECREATION GROUNDS
PAY CITIES MANY FOLD
THREE CITY CLUB SPEAKERS
DISCUSS PROBLEM
Reduce Mortality Among Children
Make Grimes Fewer and Prolong
LIfe--What the East Has
Learned

three speakers Delore tne OiIy Slup yes
terday.
President Lee Gates inadvertently said
the topic of the day would be ''reclama-
ton work" and in calling attention to 1t
afterward he said that after all he was
not so far wrong in the choice of terms.
Edgar B. Gordon, head worker Of the
Los Angeles College Settlement, 42s Alpine
street, spoke first.
!. cat first thought" said Mr.. Gordon,
..it may seem to some of you gentlemen
that in presenting the recreation problem
a bid is being made for your interest
In something wholly without the province
OF this club.
Some little reflection on the subject,
however, believe will reveal close re-
lation to many of the objects dear to the
heart of this organization.
IT doubt very much whether we can
find subject for consideration that
comes more closely into our personal
lives than does the ione before us today.
Not All Work
"The old saying that all work and no
play makes Jack a dull boy we all ad-
init to be true Indeed, when an indivi-
dual refuses to admit 1t he Is actually
regarded as curiosity and fit subject
for newspaper paragrapher.
"Our late lamented friend Uncle Russell
Sage probably got as much noteriety out
VI tue ldCl LudL u6 WVdi0 hSNSA SohA0s y
vacation as he did from his other eccen-
tricities
The recreation problem comes home to
us both as individuals and as citizens.
You family men find 1t continually per-
picking you when the questions Of asso-
citation and amusement for your children
are considered.
"Tll venture to assert that there was
never a father of real live boy-espe-
cially of the adolescent age-who has
not been put to it to know how to give
the, boy the proper kind of recreational
life.
''Then, too, IL you are an employer OF
labor you have the question of recreation
confronting you. This time 1t Is Of
actual economical Importance.
"The Morning After"
eve all know the effect Of a Sunday
or holiday given to vicious recreation
upon the skill and efficiency OF en-
ployes.
Coming to us as this does into our
intimate family life-we who can choose
our residence in the more favorable sec
tions-I ask you to consider the dinicul-
ties that beset the families who from
economic necessity have to find homes in
..Ae least favored neighborhoods Of our
great cities
'.It is probably no exaggeration to say
that aIler all it is the manner in which
one occupies his leisure hours that de-
termines the upward or downward trend
of the individual.
Graham Tayler. one of Chicago's most
public-spirited citizens, says that he re-
CARDS the leisure problem of as serious
moment as the labor problem.
Hence Social Settlements
ut was recognition of this tremendous
1,ct which was responsible in large
measure for the so-calied social settle
ment' movement.
"Persons of exalted ideal and superior
educational advantages here and there
came to the conclusion that the greatest
social service that they could render
their fellow man would be to carry to
some of, those upon when the great in
dustrial conflict bore hardest the en-
nobling influences of wholesome, con-
structive, recreational life ana renewed
educational opportunity.
$50 they went down into the densely
crowded districts and lived their lives
of simple neighborship and friendly
helpfulness.
.sFrom these small beginnings great
neighborhood centers have developed un-
til now some of them have whole blocks
on buildings, affording recreational and
educational opportunity of wide diver
sity.
unon a dense and cosmopolitan population
cannot be estimated.
Work in Los nAgeles
..I,et me call your attention to the
work of the College Settlement Of Los
Angeles.
80 modest and quietly have the ladies'
of the College Settlement Association
worked that | imagine there are many
/ of YOU gentlemen who have not known
of such a work in SonOratoWn.
.You are all aware, however, that you
bava Juvenile court, district nursing
svstem. the beginnings of playground
system and modern housing law.
when I tell you that come OIL tnese
things are the direct result OF the work
of tnis association and that others nave
baen very materially aided by members
of it who have or are now serving on
committees and commissions ! am but
stating the exact truth.
although this settlement has been
particularly conspicuous In lts CIVIC
work it has been emiently sucesslui III ils
neighborhood activities.
For Italians and Slavs
"Until recently the population over
there has been predomlnantly MeAican.
Now they are in the minority ana ltahans
and slavs are in the ascendancy,
EVERY week brings added foreign popu-
latio. to this neighborhood.
..Where the social work to be done
was not very largely among families We
have the unattached man by the hun
dreds with whom to deal,
"I can show you whole rows OF frame
dwelling houses that are now occupied
by Italians and slavonian men In living
comparatively. -.
size things which will appeal to men
and boys. We offer to them social oppor-
Saturday Night Parties
.srhe parties which we give Saturday
nights frequently are very gay indeed.
sThose men and boys who are musical
are rallied into orchestra, mandolin and
glee clubs. nx,
hovs give evidence of strong artistic tai
enf These fellows meet once a week
nnder one of the best instructors in de-
sign in the city.
.The work they have done has given
ne reason to believe that great many
Of them will become valuable workmen
In the skilled trades.
..rr,-t. i,et xyeeS I received q call from