The Washington times., 1909-06-05

Splashing about in a cement bottomed,
shallow pool of water, their faces
tanned and their eyes bright through
outdoor exercise. as merry a crowd Of
youngsters as one might want to see
may be found each afternoon at the
RosedaIe Fairgrounds, in the extreme
northeast.
a few minutes spent with the little
northeasters, and they are of both
sexes. will convince any one that public
Fairgrounds are just as necessary to
public health and civic government as
a lot of other things regarded as i'm
portant to the government of a large
city.
The Rosedale grounds are those for
the purchase OF which money was re-
Gently appropriated by Congress. but
the lawmakers most absent-mindediy
failed TO include anything for their
maintenance after purchase. Conse-
ouently. the money has barely been
sufficient TO acquire and lay out the
playing places-and the youngsters suffer
accordingly. They do have the pool,
however. and a few swings and open
places for Juvenile baseball games, and
later the little folks are going to have
a garden over on the eastern end.
Takes To Water By Nature.
A barefooted boy takes just as natural
~ TO the water as a web-footed duck.
If the Rosedale aggregation is cited as
an example, the boys evidently get more
enjoyment out of IT, Ducks make a
business Of wading and swimming: those
kids out at Rosedale 20 in for the pure
fun Of the thing.
Sometimes nearly hundred of them,
Of both sexes, may be seen dancing
about in the Father small pool in one
afternoon. All OF them are twelve years
Of age and under. Some of them are a
little ragged and unkempt in appear
ance, but that's all forgotten when a
fellow goes Wading- On hand at all
times IS a Waterman whose business it
is TO see that the smaller boys and girls
are not hazed in any way BY the larger
ones.
on this page are shown some or the
pictures Of these little players. They
were caught BY The Times man just
as they appear ia typical wading attire
every day. IN the background OF one
of them l. the Noel House. IN the rear
81 which the Noel House Association
viii build. before the winter months.
an $500 field house, fully equipped with
gymnasium and other apparatus to
which the boys can transfer their play
ing attentions after the colder weather
sets in
Hoel House Work.
The Noel House Association, or neigh
borhood social settlement, with E. S.
Giihllan in charge Of the home. Is do
ing an important auxiliary work TO the
Fairgrounds Association in the north
east.
The partially opened RosedaIe grounds.
thronged each day with boys and girls
Who have nowhers else to play, furnish
the Fairgrounds people If sufficient
funds were in hand. Seventeen other
grounds, each with their surrounding
clientele OF cOoped-in little folk, are
waiting to be opened.
II they are. you will find the same
barefoot. straW-hat, open-bloused bril-
gade frequentirg as may now be seen
at Rosedale- There will be plots for
the larger girls and larger boys. as we'll
as the smaller ones, and for those of
an industrious bent, gardens viii be
provided.
But swings. sand boxes, Wading pools.
waiting bars. baseballs and bats. and a
score OF other playthings cost money
and Congress has appropriated no money
for the children of the Capital.
Fairgrounds Trouble.
TAs Fairgrounds Association, there
fore. faces one OF the most difficult
problems since this great charity was
lnduE % UtEin WitHs twenty
two teachers and eight watchmen are
necessary, for children who gather in
large numbers at the Fairgrounds sites
cannot be allowed 10 run wild, al
though no attempt is made TO limit their
wholesome play. With scarce $1,000 in
the treasury. # is useless to talk OF
opening the Fairgrounds this summer
II Is a financial impOssibility.
The Washington Fairgrounds AssO-
citation, however, hopes that the happI-
ness derived by the little folks al
Rossdale may bear it's fruit, and thai
gradually the public Will awake to this
Responsibility confronting II.
Vice President A G. Moses, who has
made frequent visits 10 the Rosedalt
grounds, cites them, even in their i'm
perfect state, as furnishing ar elO
oueut example Of what might be done II
the people Of Washington should re.
spond 10 the needs Of The city's chill
dren.
Contributions for the Fairgrounds
and more than $4,000 IS needed TO make
a creditabls shOwing-wiu be received
either at the business office Of The
Washington Times, or by John b. Sic.
man. tr., treasurer. Bond building