The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-07
DEFENDS CHILDREN
Charles H. Rowland Says They Should be Allowed to Skate on Rollers on
 Sidewalks.
TO the Editor of the Iournal.courlcr

To the Editor of the Journal-Courler
 Dear sir:The recent complaint of | residents in the northern section of our city about the children using the | and asphalt for roller skat- ing and Chief Cowles' ordinance | the prohibition of the use of the same on the sidewalks and | streets of the city and public squares leads me to write the following;
 What shall be done with our boys and glrls What are they good for, anyway!
 President Roosevelt severely con demns race suicide. but there are more causes of deaths than that he refers to- The prevention of proper exercise will and ls doing 1t, not only hero in New Haven but in all large cities, The law compels them 10 at tend school for about five hours day with teachers who expect them to give close attention to their work, and that draws severely upon the chlldren's vital forces
 The family physician says the chil- dren need plenty of wholesome, ac- tive exercise in the open air. If they remain In the house their deli cate bodies become weak. anaemlc and nervous, and much less able to resist the attacks of various diseases. 1T they go out and sit on the steps to get the air they take cold If they attempt to play-well, they must not for they will disturb some one. If the boys go to an open lot, police man is telephoned for and they are driven off If they try the streets the policeman slences any noise or attempt at play. There seemed 10 be left for them nothing but the side walks for roller skating, a good sport and healthy exercise
 One would think no person who had been boy or girl once could for moment object to the noise in cident to roller skating and the voices of laughter and fun for An hour or two after school
 Electric cars, trucks and other vehicles make much more noise. Tho building of houses ls the cause of plenty of noise, but all these have to be endured There arc always some inconvenlences we must put up with, and for the health of our boys and girls, why not allow them the use of the asphalt streets and the sidewalks for their daily exercises in the open | air2
 These boys and girls arc to be the | fathers and mothers of future gencr atons, and therefore we ought not to deny them this opportunity to gain healthy bodies. If they arc not allow. ed the use of the streets or vacant lots where shall they go? Automobiles, even though they main and kill, have come to stay, and Chief Cowles and others recognize the necessity of reg ulatlng their speed, and perhaps as signing them certain streets, but the children, It seems, are not even 10 be allowed regulation, only prohibition
 Saloons, with all their evil are con- sldered worthy of regulation, but the delicate bodies and brains of our boys and girls, seeking such exercise as they can get on the streets. are to have only prohibition for their con slderation, if Chief Cowles ordinance passes
 The chiefs prepared ordinance to prohibit roller skating on the streets and sidewalks and public squares Will be the final for their open air eSer- cises There we have 1t from head quarters. The children must not be allowed within city limits to do any thing except walk quietly on the side walks and in the parks. ] make this appeal in behalf of our boys and girls.
 If this ordinance is passed, then let our city fathers provide them places convenient for every section Ji the city for good and healthy eHer' cIses of various kinds,
 Edgewood park furnishes q partia playground for the western sectlof with swings and teeters That Is good beginning The baseball gr5unr there is too muddy and is hampere' with such rules that the boys have largely given 1t up, If the city fathers prohibit the use of roller skates CT the streets and sidewalks of the city !; and public squares, l would suggos ; that n ten-foot asphalt pavement b' constructed on one or more sides O certain public squares to be used eX | cluslvely for the boys and girls Th'
 health and happiness of our childrel should be we'll considered before the,
 are denied nearly all right of eXer
 else in the open air Many childre :. are too small to be allowed out o sight of their mothers; these certain
 ly ought to be allowed the use of tn - sidewalks for roller skating and tri l cycles.
 Respectfully yours,
 CHAS. H. ROWLAND. '