The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-12
TO LECTURE HERE
ON FAIRGROUNDS
DR.. Henry S. Curtis, Secretary of
National Organization, Com
ing to Richmond.

DR.. Henry S. Curtis, secretary OF the
Playground Association of America, will
give very instructive Illustrated lee
ture at the Y. NJ. c. A. Hall Wednesday,
January 18TH at $40 p. NJ. Dr. Curtis
comes to Richmond at the invitation OF
the Civic Improvement League, which
Is promoting the playground movement
in Richmond. He stands at the head
OF speakers in this country on play
grounds, and he will show hundreds OF
beautiful pictures on Fairgrounds that
have been established throughout the
United States.
Richmond has for the past three or
four years been operating through the
Civic Improvement League playground
at Nineteenth and Main Streets. There
have been as many as 400 children reg
fstered on their books. The ladies' in
terested in kindergarten work have taught
these children how to play, and the In
fluence over them has been something
wonderful. The st. Andrews Associa-
ton, on Oregon Hill, has been operat-
ing a playground for the past two years,
and hopes very materially to enlarge
It's space the coming year, Miss Grace
Arents having offered to buy large
tract of land from the city on which to
establish permanent playground. All
those who attend this lecture Wednes-
day night will be fully repaid for their
trouble. No charge of admission will be
made.
The playground movement in the United
States keeps growing with rapid strides.
and since the congestion of large cities
not only throws the child and young man
on tho street for recreation, but through
this tends to make his energy expand
itself in ways inimical to tho individual
and the State-e. g., street gangs-the
playground association further affirlns it's
belief that the maintenance of play
grounds Is not matter of ornamental
philanthropy, but is part Of the system
of education of the State and necessary
to the development Of the whole nature
and not of the mind only: and that it Is
the duty of the State to insure and main
tain such place. space. and opportunity
In Fairgrounds and in the curriculum Of
the schools for all its growing citizens.
The Playground Association of America
pledges itself to make every effort to
bring this about.
The purpose of this association Is to
collect and distribute knowledge, and pro-
mote interest In Fairgrounds throughout
the country. 1t will seek to further the
establishment of Fairgrounds and athletic
fields in all communities and direct play
In connection with the schools. II will
aim, as soon as finances make 1t posi-
ble to establish in washington or New
York national playground museum and
library, which shall have models of every
playground construction and apparatus.
library of all public books and articles
relating to play, pictures of games and
Fairgrounds throughout the world and
an information department which shall
furnish cities or towns with lectures pic
lures, articles or advice on any phase of
the work
The change for the better In neighbor-
hoods where Fairgrounds have been pro-
vlded is marked. Happiness for the chill
dren, relief for the tired mothers of the
tenement house districts, and ideals that
make for good citizenship, is brief
summary of results.