The Washington herald., 1907-02-21

.of physical trainers. DR.. GuIick said that
he felt that he next large movement in
physical training would be the movement
for play and Fairgrounds
AT the annual meeting of the Play
grounds Association Of America in Chi
cago next June, Jane Adams will speak on
Public recreation and social morality
If am not mistaken, Miss adams viii
say that public morality has far more to
do with public recreation than it does
with public education, and that, from a
governmental point OF view, there is, per-
haps. nearly as much reason for de-
partment OF public recreation as for one
Of public education.
In the light of this idea. $4,000 for
the maintenance of Fairgrounds ought
not 10 seem extreme for "a city that Is
spending nearly 100000 FOR the maiHte-
nance Of its public school system.
The last thing on the programme was
the reading OF letter Of regret from
President Roosevelt. who, although IN
able to attend the dinner expressed his
views on the Fairgrounds question as
Tie White House, Feb. l6, 1907.
Nv Dear Sir:
II Is with regret that must refuse your kind IN
rtation 20 be present and speak a. your aEnu1i bah
quet-
/ have noted with pleasure that good WORK which
ygur association has done IN promoting Fairgrounds
for the National Capital ! especially pleased
with the prospect Il Congress granting tins year an
appropriation for the purchase Il playground sites
trust that the bill Of Representative Bouteh vii
also 20 through 50 that you mag be able to secure
sites IN the various quarters Of tie city while
open spaces still exist and before the Price upon
them becomes prohibitive- The plan u playground
development for the District has been so carefully
drawn that ] hope IL NAV be carried cut substan-
TALLY as outlined ] regard this as one Of the most
important steps toward making Washington the
model cts. which al feel that the capital OF
this nation should tt.
have been piess-d &c see also that there is new
interest in piAy and Play grounds az oEcr the country
and that many cities that hare not previously taken
up the movement IN a systematic have Tide
beginning this year The annual meeting "a the
Plsy ground Association Of America IN chicago. IN
June with It's attractive play festival and CumpTe-
hensYe study Of play problems, Is sure % increase
this interest trust that al Of cur larger municipal
titles viii send representatives II this exhibition 10
gain inspiration from this meeting and 70 see the
magnificent system that Chicago has erected in their
Soath Park section, one Of the most notable civic
achievements q any American CITY
The new appreciation II the value 0f play In the
development e children is shown In many ways.
The physical trainers IN all Of their recent meetings
have put a new emphasis GA she importance q play
and giving larger place 20 II ~ ihCir WORK
The Public School Athletic Leag1c Of New NoTk
has organized athletics along sane and helpful lines
for thousands Of school C.lildren. and number q
other cities seem to he ab0ut take up this
ment. There Is general feeling IN schools and
colleges also for larger athletic neids and the IaTtlC
patton q larger proportion Of the students in sth
letic events
IN Germany a large number Of games have been
put into the school course as rsrt Of the school
system thus extending the method Ct tie kinder
earten through the elementary school In England
football and cricket have been Part Il the school
course az Eton. Rugby. and most Of the ether pub
lie and preparatory schools for many yearS
In the private schools q this country similar 70
these English schools. such LzWTcnCUUe. GrOtOn.
- Pauls and many others play is also provided
for in the curriculum. hope that soon all Of our
public schools viii provide. IN connection with the
school baildingS and during school hours the place
and time for the recreation, wen as study, Of
the ChilSen.
Play is at present almost the only method Of physi-
cal development for city children. and must pro
vide facilities fer It If would have the children
strong and law-abidng. We have raised the age at
which the child may 60 10 work and increased the
number Of school yesrs These changes involved in
creased expense for parents with decreased return
from the child. If We do not allow the children %
work. We must provide some other place than the
streets fer their leisure time. If To require
the parents TO rCsr the children at increased ex-
pose for the service Of the State practically with
dren as easy and pleasant as possible. Ii We would
hsTc our citizens cuntented and law-abiding We must
not the seed Of discomfort in childhood BY dcay
ing children Their birthnght Of play
City streets unsatisfactory Fairgrounds for chill
drGn because Of the danger because most good games
are against the law because they are too hot in sun
mer. and because in crowded sections Of the city
they are apt 70 be schools Of crime Neither do
small back Yards nor ornamental grass plots meet
the needs Of any but the very small children Older
children, who would play vigorous games must have
places especially set aside for Them and since play
Is fundamental need Fairgrounds should be pro-
vided for every child as much schools. This
means that they must be distributed over the cities
IN slch way 70 be within walking distance o.
every boy and girl, most children cannot afford
% pay fare II view Of these facts cities should
secure available Spaces az once, - that they may
not need to demosh blocks Of buildings in order 10
make Fairgrounds, New York has had 70 do at
cost CT nearly Sl.gD0.0O0 an acre.
Neither must any city believe that simply to fur
nish open spaces VIII the best results There
must be supervision Of these Fairgrounds otherwise
the cider and stronger children occupy them to the
exclusion Of the younger and weaker ones they are
noisy that people living in the neighborhood are
annoyed they apt to gCt into the possession Of
gangs and become the rendezvous Of the most urie-
srabe elements Of the population the exercise and
play is less systematic and vigorous when with
out supervision, and, moreover. IN all cities where
the experiment has been tried it has been found
that suCh Fairgrounds not well attended
Sincerely J0urs,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Mr. Cuno H. Rudolph, President Washington Play
grounds Association, City.