The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-02
THE GREAT UPLFT =.
X--The Fairgrounds Movement
By Frederic J. HasIxin.


 Pittsburg, Pa. Dec. 1.-when the Pittsburg Fairgrounds Association ask. ed last spring for a bond issue of S2,000.oo0 for purchasing and equip. ping new playgrounds. 1t exemplifed the modern tendency toward outdoor life and playgrounds work that has become one of the biggest factors in the great uplift. Though the request was denied, It's promoters are not dis couraged and expect to put the matter through next spring. Two months ago the South Hills Board of Trade met in the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce and passed q resolution recommending that the General Assembly of the State pass an act Imposing upon boroughs and first class townships. contiguous to large cities of the commonwealth, the purchase of sufficient acreage for a common these lands to bo particularly for the sports and ath- letics of children" committee of seven will urge this before the Leg islature.
 One hundred and seventy cities of 5000 inhabitants and over in the Unit ed States now have playgrounds sys- tems Before the new year Is very old the number will have approximated 800. Pittsburg's system Is one of the best, and the work is notable because of the adverse geographical conditions over- come. In urging the need for more playing centers the Association has made photographs of hundreds of back yards where some children have to play, showing the impossibility of the thing. Jacob Riis is authority for the statement that Pittsburg has more congested districts than even New York's celebrated tenement quarters. proving the necessity for as many playing places as the city can provide. Though the big tenements are lacking here, PittsbNrg/has more dwellers to the air-spac9 in some of its smaller buildings than New York has in its tenements. It Is for the purpose of giving playing places to the children of such districts that the Association exists.
 In the yard of the Forbes School at Pittsburg several philanthropic mem bers of the Civic Club found sixty discontented children one day twelFe years ago. and decided to teach them how to play. The children were divid- ed into two groups, trained teachers were secured and plays and games were taught them. For a few years the experiment was watched. and then, because of the bigness of the thing, a permanent organization was planned It was perfected in the winter Of lsoo' Last year the Central Board Of Edu. cation gave s7.5o0 for the work. ana the Councils appropriated $36,00o for parks to be disbursed by the Associa- tion. Such. in brief. Is the history Of almost every city's playgrounds. First they have been opened by private or ranizations usually women's clubs, and then when their value became known they have been incorporated fin the educational work, or the parks systems, or given over to distinct or
 p1ffahnF2 has Sumner Pittsburg had six recreation parks open for eight weeks. in adol- tion to the vacation schools. Some of the arts were taught, gardens were made. and n the smaller children,s Rrounda trained kindergRrtners were in charge. Every Friday flowers were distributed to the children at tne schools. parks and playgrouhas. .t,nn & total daily attendance in the vacatloh schools, parks and playgrounos thls year was over 4,400. .
 Aeording to President Roosevelt, the biggest civic achievement in the worio Is Chicago's South Side playground More than e10,000,000 has been hi- vested there. Chicago has found, as Denver has, that there Is strong re- lation between juvenile courts ana playgrounds. The more playgrounds there are where children can be kept from mischief, the fewer are the de- linquents. Wherever a park or rec reation center has been opened in Chl- cago there has been a decrease or Ie per cent in juvenile delinquency In that district. Chicago's next play ground feature Is to be circulating library branch on each ground.
 From the immigrant population or this country can be learned one Of the best lessons in proper festival celebra- tions. Where the Independence pay celebration of America IS usually q carnival of noise and disaster. foreign CTS in big cities celebrate the days dear to their hearts with processions and folk dances in public parks. Last May 10000 Norwegians celebrated In Chicago the independence day of their fatherland in Humboldt Park. pro- cession of 10000 children leading the way. The Swedish and Hungarian fes- tivals are celebrated in a like fashion This popularizes the parks and play ing centers. Reverence for fatherland traditions is considered strong ar