New-York tribune., 1909-06-12
ON A ROOF GARDEN
College Boys VIII Teach Children
of "HcIPs Kitchen"

Early in the spring Bob" Davis. a Dart
mouth athlete and assistant pastor Of the
Brick Presbyterian Church. preached sermon at
State College. in Pennsylvania. He told the young
men Of the college about the work that is done at
Christ Church Presbyterian Building, the Brick
Churchs big neighborhood centre on the lower edge
of "HeIls Kitchen of the boys clubs. the girls
clubs, the roof playground the clinic, the summer
excursions and of the need there IS for work Of this
kind in that crowded quarter.
At the close of his sermon forty boys jumped up
and volunteered to come to New York as soon as
college closed and spend the vacation helping along
the work. Mr. Davis didn't need forty, but he Sc
lected three, who will arrive a few days before
July 1 TO have the time of their lives for two
months the roof of the great building on seth
street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues, where
Christ Church's activities go The roof play
ground Will have much larger equipment this sum-
mer than before; there viii be teeters, chues
all kinds of things for the boys and girls - play
with. under the leadership of the college boys and
the young women who teach in the kindergarten
Norman Thomas, a Princeton man. has the roof
playground. boys clubs etc. in charge. Mr.
Thomas greatly disgusted with the notion that
anybody might be inclined to look their work as
self-sacrifce. 9
Were here because it's our job-just as any
body does his work." he said 1--WE don't want any
tin haios. The men who coming here to help
will have the best time they had in their lives
They will have a busy time, anyway. Every
stay at a big farmhouse in New Jersey and BOYS
To camp at Norfolk, Mass There is dancing for
the people in the basement of the building in 36th
street. There open air prayer meetings. There
is visiting among the people. There are bowling
clubs for the mothers. There is gymnasium work.
there are hundred things. and IN all of them the
college volunteers will help. They going 10
sleep the roof. and Miss Mary Stewart. who
with several assistants takes of the younger
children Il part of the roof playground, has
specified that they must not leave any o. their
personal property lying around her preserves in
the morning
Yesterday afternoon Miss Stewart had Just I'm
ished telling Bible story to a group OF mothers.
This is new feature, and is planned TO teach the
mothers 10 tell stories to their children
I'VE tell the children stories. too" she said. Il
told them about the Garden Of Eden last Sunday.
and one small boy has been trying all the week to
make OF sand in the sand pile up here"
Miss Stewart has gathered a number OF Bible
stories. told the children. into n book called
Tell Me True Story" and Christ Church IS sell
ing il for the benefit Of the Seltl. ment work.
They tell the children other stories. too Miss
Sanders, the Librarian getting the kiniergar-
ten ready for evening performance by the chill
dren of some Of Hawthornes Wonder Tales"
which she had been telling them
The roof playground viii be turned into roof
garden evenings, when 81 viii be the disposal OF
the older people OF the neichborhood. The Rev.
James NJ Farr is pastor Of this church