New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-12
OF Interest ~
~ TO 6Oo,ner1.
SMALL FAIRGROUNDS
Chicagos Successful Work IN Estab-
Using Them.

Mayor Mcclellan being out of town. Acting Mayor
MCGOWAN opened the conference of city officials
! at the congress of the Playground Association of
| America, at the Museum of Natural History, yes
! terday morning. After fifteen minutes Nc
/ Gowan handed the meeting D. H Perkins
Of Chicago. and departed.
Albert w. Beilfuss. member OF the Board OF
Aldermen in Chicago and chairman Of the special
Fafk commission there, gave a paper describing
Chicago's success in establishing Fairgrounds.
we found he said that 1t not really
necessary to buy land in order to get playground.
or our first four Fairgrounds. three of them were
located on land which had been owned by the city
Tor years. One had been used a dumping
ground On the second site were a row
OF dilapdated frame houses, eyesore to the
neighborhood On the third site few
old brick iathouses. bringing in small rental
but there were regrets when a playground -four
ished in their place"
The speaker urged those who were interested In
getting Fairgrounds in their respective cities to
get the women's clubs interested. They have
been great help in Chicago he said. And rally
the daily press to your standard. The newspapers
have been our most powerful allies. They helped
US III the Council and in the Legislature when the
park boards had to be awakened to the fact that
they should get busy and get Fairgrounds"
Alderman Beilfuss favored small Fairgrounds and
more of them, instead of just few large ones ex-
pensively equipped.
For s237OOO," he said about the amount that
was spent by the South Park Commission of
Chicago for two recreation buildings the special
commission established thirteen municipal play
grounds
After he finished the alderman got up again TO
his hearers not to look askance at politicians
who could be great deal of help to them in a
financial way. You can't keep the politicians
out" he said.
This sentiment found SO much favorHwith three
large girthed New York City officials that they
Immediately went up to him and demanded his
card.
E B De Groot, of Chicago read a paper on the
work of the South Park Commission. and described
the dances in the recreation houses In the parks
How do you keep these dances from becoming
offensive?' asked a delegate
why" said Mr.. De Groot, in a surprised tone
nobody has ever thought Of there being anything
offensive about them. They chaperoned by a.
member of the commission. and there is never any
trouble"
Carl ziegler. director of physical training in the
city. He thinks the teachers important
than the equipment
The fact is" he said. "a born playground
teacher can keep children busy without cents
worth of equipment"
The morning sessions included conference Of
playground supervisors, which will probably result
in permanent organization of supervisors In the
auditorium of the museum Miss Alice @. Nc
CIoskey Of Cornell Miss Mari Hofer and others
discussed field days for the young at county fairs.
and other aspects of the play question in rural dis
tricts.
In the afternoon the delegates gave over talking
about play to witness some play in Manhattan
Park in the rear OF the museum. A lot of girls
from Public Schools 49, IT. 13. 49, Is and 1o4 danced
folk dances on the green. The girls of Public
School 104 played pass hall relay, for which they
artlessly changed into boomers under the shade of
a friendly tree.
But the hit Of the afternoon was made by fifty
small boys from Newark On. j. Fairgrounds, clad in
little white ''knickers' and carrying guns longer
than themselves They went through elaborate
evolutions and then had sham battle. in which
half Of them slew the other half and bore them
off the field on stretchers mprovised out Of their
guns