The Washington herald., 1907-02-21


necticut avenue. was handsomely deco
rated last night, for the banquet given
by the Washington Fairgrounds Associa-
ton, at which about 200 people, prominent
socially and in public life, were present
The dinner was given for the purpose
of helping along, as far as possible. the
project for an appropriation Of $4,000 for
the purpose of purchasing playground
sites for the school children Of Washing
ton. and $4,000 sor equipment for the
same.
The banquet committee was made up Of:
Hon. Henry b. f. mcfarland. chairman; Mrs
Truman Nevberry Mrs Wallace Radcliffe Miss
Elizabeth 5. Oliver Hon Afford W Cooley Mrs
Henry T. Rainey Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey. Col
Charles Cromwell. L. ). A. Charles J. Ben Cuno
H. Rudolph DR.. Teunis 5. Hamlin, and Mrs. VIII
lam h. Taft.
Among the guests were.
Commissioners Henry b. +. Macfariand and Henry
L. West, Hon. Henry 5. Boutel. Miss Alys Bent
icy, Dr. and Mrs Henry s. Curtis. Mr. ". j.
Campbell. d.. and Mrs. William Tindal Rev and
Mrs. Teuuis = Harnlin. Mr.. and Mrs. Cuno H.
Rudolph, Mr.. o. 6. Staples. Mr. and Mrs William
II. BALDWIN, Mrs. George Dewey, Mr. Wallace
Hatch. DF. George NJ. Kober, Rev and Mrs. Wal
lace Radcliffe Nir and Mrs Thomas W Sidwen
DR.. Richard Kingsman. Nir. and Mrs. Vernon
Bailey and guest. Alr. Il. T. Newc0mb; Dr. 7. s.
Palmer, Miss Elizabeth $. Oliver, Mai. Richard
Sylvester Mrs Clinton Smith, MI. Henry +. Blair
Mr.. and Mrs. Otto Leubkcrt. Mr.. Edwin e. Dut-
ton Mr.. and Mrs. D. L. D. Granger. Rev. and
Mrs. Zed Il. Copp. Mr. George T. Porter, Mr. and
Mrs. J. II. Ralston. Miss Edith Wcstcott. Mr.. aud
Mrs Charles r. Weller Mrs Grace Porter Hop
kins. Hon. ". A. Caideghead, Mr. o. r. Dsrnsll,
Prot. and Mrs. Simon Scwcomb Alr. and Mrs.. Bar
ton ". EEemaan. Mayor Mccarthy Of Richmond;
Hon Henry Clay Trmanus. mayor Of Baltimore;
Nj. A Il. Tyson. Mr. Thomas Chase. Prof. and
Mrs. J. W. Chickering Judge William H. De Lacy
Hon. and Mrs. T. ". samuel, SIR. and Mrs. Arthur
Ramsay. Mrs George Brown and Miss Elizabeth
Brown. Or. Merrill h. Gates. and Mr. William r..
Guide
Fairgrounds Before Schools.
Hon. Henry S BouteH. Of the House Of
Representative. was the first speaker,
and he told why he had introduced the
bin providing for Fairgrounds in the city
Of Washington. He told of the work done
by Jacob Riis in New York, and by Jane
Adams in Chicago, and said that it was
proved that Fairgrounds. properly con
Quoted, made healthy, intelligent, and
yirtuOus Children. He declared that the
state had property right in the life and
character Of its future citizens, and that
we are coming 10 understand that these
must be strong of body and clean Of
mind.
He said that If he had the choice of
schools without Fairgrounds or play
grounds without schools he would choose
the former. lie told how the appropTia-
ton bin contained the provision for the
money for the Fairgrounds in Washing
ton. This provision was stricken out in
the House but was put In again Ga the
Senate, and 10 IL was added the $4,000
for equipment; now, he felt sure, the bill
would pass.
DIR. Elmer Ellsworth Brown. commits
sioner Of education. spoke along the same
lines as Mr. BouteIl. and then Miss Aiys
Bentley, supervisor of music Of the
Washington schools. charmingly sang
number of children's songs
President MncfnrIand's Address.
Hon. Henry b. f. mcfarland. presi-
dent of the Board Of Commissioners. in
his speech on Playground Needs OF
Washington" said. in part.
We have been fortunate in our indoor
public schools. Started. and for seventy
eight years. until 1873, maintained excIu-
sively by the people of Washington, who
have since paid half their cost. they have
proved by their graduates that they are
second to none and deserve the pride
which all intelligent Washingtonians take
in them. Now We want equally good
outdoor public schools. commonly called
Fairgrounds misnOmer to most people.
And once more our citizens. by their vol
untary contributions. have maintained a
needed institution until they have con-
WINGED Congress that it must be MAIN
tanned by the municipality"
Commissioners Plans.
He told Of the plans Of the Commission
ers as follows:
'Frst-A playground within reasonable
walking distance of every child.
"Second-A general playground in each
Of the eleven school districts Of Washing
ton, providing not less than two acres for
each 4,00O children, besides Fairgrounds
attached to school buildings. giving so
square feet for each child in the school
''Third-Athletic fields for older boys.
'Fourth-That playground buildings
where should be tried here, furnishing
public baths. public comfort facilities, a
branch of the public library. and an audi
torium fer neighhOrhood gatherings, be-
sides playroom and gymnasium"
He concluded by saying:
I'VE of Washington will. as always. do
far more than our share as compared
with the other ninety millions to make
our common Capital perfect in this re
spect as in all others"
DIR. Curtis on Coming Year.
The last speaker We DIR. Curtis, whose
subject was 1.-THE Year to Come" He
said, in part:
1t is necessary TO foster infants play
grounds until they are able to play alone.
The present Fairgrounds of Washington
reach only a little over one-tenth of the
child population, and until accessible play
grounds are provided for every child in
the city there will be a sufficient reason
for the existence Of g, playground associa-
ton
Those who look at the size of the fig
ures of the appropriation, as reported
from the Senate, often fail to notice how
the $4,000. which is mentioned in the ap-
preparation, is distributed. Last year we
received $1,000 for maintenance; this year
we received $4,000 in all but only S5.000
of this is for maintenance, although We
shall have Two or three more Fairgrounds
to maintain on TINS amount than We had
last year. We are very much in the posi-
ton of the man who was given the ele-
plant which he was forbidden to sci;
we have to keep the elephant
Last year the Fairgrounds Association
raised about $1,000 for the conduct o. the
twenty public Fairgrounds of the city.
This year it looks as though we should
need to raise nearly SI0O01 in order to
carry on the twenty-five Fairgrounds