The San Francisco call., 1908-10-01
FAIRGROUNDS FOR
CHILDREN URGED
Charities and Corrections Com
ference Discusses Needs of
Public School Children
Eye Trouble in Pupils Is Attri-
buted to Lack of Outdoor
Exercise

OAKLAND. Sept S0-Public play
grounds for children and tuberculosis
and its cure were the main topics of
discussion at the California conference
Of charities and corrections in Chabot
hail today, with the largest attendance
since its opening. A noticeable feature
was the presence of a large number of
school teachers from the cities around
the bay. The afternoon was devoted to
public Fairgrounds. Judge Curtis ID.
Wilbur introduced DR.. w. A. Lamb of
Los Angeles. who spoke on The Play
ground-the Great Reformer.n
"The natural bent of a: child" said
DR.. Lamb, is for play, a fact which
may be noticed as soon as it learns
TO smile. Playfulness marks it's first
actions, and this element is so early
that we. can say that God first gives
the child desire to play.
Wouldn't it be much better to have
more of our schools and public insti-
tutions for instruction termed play
houses instead of the drudgehouses
many of them are?
PLAY TO PREVENT CRIME
of course we must .have our re-
formatories and prisons. but what a
world of prevention there is in having
clean and healthy enjoyments for the
young where they may improve them
selves physically and morally In a
playground under a careful director,
who must understand his business!
There must lie no partiality shown
by a director. The children of the rich
and the poor should be treated exactly
alike: There should be a playground
within walking distance of every child
in every municipality of the United
States''
Professor George L. Leslie Of the
public. school department OF Los An
geles spoke on Health and Develop
ment': at Some length and gave inter-
esting facts in regard to the ailments
of school children and their causes;
which might be eliminated with plenty
Of Fairgrounds.
EYE AND EAR TROUBLES
4 would: call them neglected fields
Of education,3' he said. we are COM
ing more and more to. work on these
boys and girls. Lack of play is at the
bottom more. or less of immortality and
wrong doing. .. -.
a.. IN school have. found. that eye
trouble. caused by TOO close applica-
tioai 10 studies. and Jack OF outdoor life.
is one of the chief causes of i'll health
and breakdown Thousands of grown
pCOplte k'ElO 80 tO lllSldII IGSO1lS 10 DC
cured 2from nervous diseases could be
cured IN short time by having. their
eyes given proper attention. Defective
hearing is another cause. for illness
among Children
Dr.. Walter Lindley made. a short adj
dress, saying that there ought to be
playgroundsekept-o OPEN Sundays. for the
poorer children, who do not get "a
chance for play through the week.
. The afternoon. session closed with a
general discussion, ait the end: Of which
Judge. Wilbur asked flor an expression
Of opinion as to- playground. in Oak
land With one accord the entire audi
encei raised hands in the affirmative
amid applause. -
. OFFICIALS. ARE ELECTED :.
At the opening of the evening session
the following. were elected officers OF
the conference -.
. President, Rey. ], K: Mclean, d. d., Berke-
ley; first vice president, Ernest Brunk enen; Sac
ragaent9i second Wee president. Rev J.. B. Han
": A. Gates, San Francisco. =
Executive cennf1 ttee-Qsgeod Putnam, San
Francisco; Mrs. John5 Cushing, Oakland; Judge
Curtis d. Wilbur. Los Angeles; DIR: Lucfs1s NJ
Lane Oakland; j. Asfrado. @San Francisco
= Resolutions were adopted Suggesting
the codifieationa and. amendment of the
Juvenile court law. the appointment OF
probation officers and the punishment
of parents, of delinquent children; the
establishment of a state .reformatorJ
for first offenders was urged and
among other things it was declared
that the age of majority for girls
should be raised from Is to 21 years. :.
The conference closed tonight with
lectures from some of the best known
physicians in the state. on the ravages
of tuberculosis. and the methods taken
to check it. - ;.
DIR. I. w, Huntington, member of the
San Francisco: board of health, told. of
the improvements planned for the gem
eral hospital in San Francisco, which
will have special department for
tuberculosis patients .:-.E
Addresses were also delivered by DR.
George T. Reinhart, professor of hy-
giene at the University of California;
E. Carl Bank of Berkeley; Miss Octayia
Briggs. a settlement: worker of San
Francisco; DR.. r. w. Broderick, health
officer of San Francisco, and DR.. Phflin
King Brown, also of San Francisco.
The conference adjourned withou,
fixing the place Of its next annual
meeting, Which will be in San Fran
cisco or Sacramento. the matter being
left in the hands of the executive com.
mittee.