The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05

it succeeded in making the national aEd
folk dances of different countries a
distinct feature of the physical train
ing in the public schools of New York
particularly those which are situated in
the congested districts of the east side,
where the majority of the children are
either foreign born, or American born
children of foreign parents. One after
noon in September last 500 children, re-
presenting nearly every nation in COS
mopolitan New York, gathered in Van
Cortland park, and danced upon the
grass as their. grandfathers and grand
mothers danced at home upon the vii
lage green. the folk dances of Ger
many, Scotland, ireland, Spain, Russia,
Italy. Poland. Bohemia, Sweden and
Hungary, dancing them with pre-
cision and verve indicative of complete
comprehension and Whole hearted en-
1oyment. Each one of the national
dances was given by children of that
nationality, the little ones wearing over
their simple white dresses some dis
tinguishing feature of the national cos
tune.
The Significance of revival of such
dancing in this day and time shows
that the American nation is beginning
to feel that it has lost something IN
allowing the old social spirit that made
possible the folk dances and games to
lapse into disuse. At the first congress
of the Playground association one or
the most active workers said that the
revival was coming about in answer TO
a many sided need. First, as an en-
lareenent of our social views, SYM
pathetic bond between old and new; as
an element of culture in acknowledging
the general historic background and the
beauties of life preserved to US in their
abiding forms: as new-old material
bringing the Inspiration of freshness
and simplicity into the field of physical
training; as organized play material
with subjects of pleasurable and sug-
gestive kind, whose first intention and
purpose are of a socializing and human
izing nature; last, q restoring to us of
an almost lost inheritance of the funda-
mental values of life, without which our
. entire social structure must crumble
and fall
The right kind of enjoyment is the
best possible antidote for any craving
for the wrong kind and the detrimental
influences of the street are counteracted
on the playground, where there is al
ways an instructor present to see that
the weaker ones are not bullied or
cheated out of their rights, and that
everybody plays fair, as good sportsmen
should so the boy learns his first
lesson in self-control and the lesson of
which is meant for the good of the
whole group. and he gains feeling of
seIf-reliance and self-respect in know
ing that he is contributing to his own
enjoyment and that of others, instead
of merely sitting still and watching
something that is done for his amuse-
ment.
Well directed play counteracts also
the restlessness and discomfort of the
country boy, who, though he may not
be subjected to the detrimental inf1u-
ences that are found in the city, is apt
to have a certain mental inertia and in
difference to his surroundings that is
almost equally fatal to the right kind
of development. Investigation has
shown that the country child plays less
than the city child. and growing boys
and girls have little taste for athletics
of any description. The Playground as
sociation is meeting this need by estab-
fishing athletic fields and Fairgrounds
in country villages and the effect of
this training in developing the posi-
bilities of country life in the future are
almost beyond calculation.
1t is a great work that the Play
ground association has undertaken, and
whether the play takes the form of
dancing. games, athletic exercises or
social festivals. it means a .sounder,
sweeter better national life.