Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-21

r,rised about 5000 for the conduct Of the
year It looks as though we should need to
raise nearly $4,000 in order to carry on the
twenty-two Fairgrounds which We shall
probably have this year.
IF we are to answer this question largely
we must say that we have a playground as
ISOLATION In Washington because there is
new civic spirit pervadfng the cities OF
america during the last two decades
Twenty years ago an assembly such as this
was rare occurrence; today such meetings
are being held almost weekly in all of our
great cities"
President Lends Encouragement.
When President Rudolph announced that
he would read an encouraging message
from President Roosevelt, his auditors were
moved to much enthusiasm and greeted the
announcement with loud cheers and mani
festations of pleasure. The Presidents
message in part was as follows:
II have noted with pleasure the good
work which your association has done in
promoting Fairgrounds for the national cap
ital. am especially pleased with the pros
pect of Congress granting this year an APP
preparation for the purchase Of playground
sites. 1 trust that the bill of Representa-
tive Boutell will also go through SO that
you may be able to secure sites in the vari-
Gus quarters of the city now while open
spaces still exist and before the prices upon
them become prohibitive. The plan of play
ground development for the District has
been SO carefully drawn that hope it may
be carried out substantially outlined. l
regard this as one of the most important
steps toward making Washington the model
city. which we all feel that the capital of
this nation should be.
L have been pleased to see also that there
is a new interest in play and Fairgrounds
all over the country, and that many cities
that have not previously taken up the
movement in a systematic way have made
a
Of the Playground Association of America
in Chicago, in June, with its attractive
play festival and comprehensive study or
play problems, Is sure to increase this in
terest. I trust that all Of our larger munic-
qualities will send representatives to this ex-
hibition to gain inspiration from this meet
Ing and to see the magnificent system that
Chicago has erected in their South Park
section, one Of the most notable civic
achievements of any American city.
Value Of Play.
''The new appreciation of the value Of
play in the development of children is shown
in many ways. The physical trainers in all
of their recent meetings have put new
emphasis on the Importance of play and are
giving a larger place to 1t in their work.
The Public School Athletic League Of New
York has organized athletics along sane and
helpful lines for thousands of school chill
dren, and a number of other cities seem to
be about to take up this movement There
is a general feeling in our schools and col
legeS also for larger athletic fields and the
participation of a larger proportion of the
students in athletic events. In Germany
large number of games have been put into
the school course as part of the school
system. thus extending the method of the
kindergarten through the elementary school.
In England foot ball and cricket have been
a part of the school course at Elton, Rugby
and most of the other public and prepara
tory schools for many years. In the pri-
waite schools of this country similar to these
English schools, such Lawrenceville,
Groton. ST. Paul's and many others, play is
also provided for in the curriculum. hope
that soon all of our public schools will pro-
vide, in connection with the school buildings
and during school hours. the place and time
for the recreation we'll study of the
children. Play is at present almost the
only method of physical development for
city children, and we must provide facilities
for it if we would have the children strong
and law-abidng. We have raised the age
at which the child may go to work and in
creased the number of school years. These
changes involve increased expense for par
ents with decreased return from the child.
If we do not allow the children to work we
must provide some other place than the
streets for their leisure time. If we are to
increased expense for the service of the
state, practically without return, the state
should make the care of children as easy
and pleasant as possible If We would have
our citizens contented and law-abiding, we
must not SOW the seed of discomfort in child
hood by denying children their birthright
of play.