The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-02-08
By sELENE ARMSTRONG.

By SELENE ARMSTRONG.
Are the Fairgrounds not To open until
gUIy, and win the children Of Washing
ton be shUt-ins through the spring Al
Ihe year-the very time Of all times
the tweIvemOuth refund when II Is most
EUn 20 pray: when the outdoor world
3 breaking into new life and color au6
song. and calling TO your boy and gil
gust a. it used TO call 10 you.
Are these Fairgrounds 10 remain
closed until the dust and dryness Of
GUNNER have settled upon the city, ana
many children must have access 10 the
open places not to enjoy but 10 Lve2
Want To Open Nay L
The Times saws No Therefore, on
31ext Sunday the thousands and tens
Of thousands Of pennies which are paid
Tor that days issue Of The Times VIII
40 70 the Washington Playground As
Fociation. That IS why we ask you to
tell your friends about this 50 they
ZOO. may pass the word along and swell
the penny fund Unless money IS forth
coming, and speedily. the Fairgrounds
must remain closed until July 1. instead
Of opening early IN May
What have you TO say to the citizens
Of the District about thisZ7 was asked
Commissioner CUnO H Rudolph. who IS
one Of the directors Of the Playground
Association, and the man into whose
ear Theodore Roosevelt first whispered
that the city OF Washington ought 70
play games with its children
why. that we must ali get together,
and give our pennies 70 the play
grounds answered the Commissioner,
spea king with the voice or a man who
has strong convictions on the subject
Of Fairgrounds Then he looked out Of
his window across the Potomac TO
where the open country lay smiling IN
The sunlight. calling Ia every man who
s. ErOwn-up boy And by the TeDi-
nisCeut twinkle in the Commissioner s
eve 1 knew that ne remembered what
q blessed thing L Is 10 play. and that
he was thinking about the time when ne.
too. had dug bait and gone fishing
and snapped marbles, JUST as an boys
must do If they are happy boys
Give Them a Chance.
Why do 7 belive in pIaygroJndsg'
asked the Commissioner coming back
suddenly from across the Potomac and
his own bovhood days r believe Ia
them because I know what a good thing
& Is 20 play because Il we are 70
make real men and women Of city child
zen We must give them a chance to
play-'-
Then he told how, when calling at the
W hite House one day in 1901 with
Charles J. Weller Mr.. Roosevelt mad
said 10 them that Washington must
lave some play places for It's boys and
girls
hundred dollars given Us by good
woman whose name has never been
made public said the Commissioner
and YOU may easily understand thar
on such limited fUuGs. -e had 10 super
use these Fairgrounds ourselves. those
of Us VINO were interested in the move
u.e1t"
And he told feeIirEIv how the pio-
-eers OF The playground movement IN
Washington spent their summer after
Rooms THAT year Instead OF remaining
II proximity 10 The electric ian and
he pitcher OF ice water, these enth1-
siasts could ave been seen on the six
Fairgrounds Of the city, jumping rope.
1aklng turns with strenuous youngsters
al swinging O. even running races
Was Warm Wori--
''I tell YOU IT was warm work. said
The COMMISSIONS with real emotion
Its success. however may be judged
f,v the rapid growth of the movement
here. Until last year we had thirty-one
Fairgrounds when some OF these be
longing to the schools Were taken over
b- the school board. Now we have
under The management OF the Play
eround Association eleven grounds
with trained supervisors and with an
attendance Of thousands Of children.
Just let 7auy man or woman go to one
of these playground with the children
Cr 10. and ne viii give his money Let
them think now what tragedy u
would be for tile children 10 miss the
surinEtirne of the year and they WI
give next sunday, So That the ground,
NAV he OPENED in May
Speaking from the Viewpoint Of tiv
practical and successful business man
Arthur g. Moses. vice president Of the
Playground Association and chairman
1f rs executive committee said
The value Of the playground 10 the
community must be estimated in hiEhel
terms shan those Of money In ths
first place. the Fairgrounds nave reduced
10 a rernaT kabie degree the casualtie.
on the street, they have reduced accord
Ing 10 tho testimony Of Judge De Larry
&C the Juvenile Court. and of Majo
Richard sylvester Chief Of Police ta'
uunbeT Il juvenile ofierses- They ma 81
improved both the morals and tn
health OF thousands Of boys and Eiri
who attend them. and that they ar
srorf7c an reserve strength. moral ans
physical for the men and women o
tomorrow. cannot be doubted e. an
ere Who knows their IheLlCQS-