Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-02-10
Afternoon Reception.

( y IH0 thVAp1' Va Wv iAAAS~~ r---N ~
and invited friends gave a reception
at the library rooms yesterday after
noon for Mrs. Goddard. Mrs. J. D..
Johntz presided and in a very pleas
Ing manner welcomed and introduced
the four presidents Of the clubs,
Mrs O. A. Sterl, OF the Columbian;
Miss Mary Nottorf Of the coterie;
Mrs o. L. Moore Of the Literary Lea
que and Mrs. W. A. Stacey Of the
twentieth Century, and each in turn
extended q hearty welcome to the
state president. Mrs. Goddard then
gave a very interesting talk. Dainty
refreshments were served in the III
brary basement by ladies Of the clubs.
Columbian Club Meeting.
Last evening the Columbian club
had its annual open meeting at the
home of Mrs. F. A. Wilcox. Mem
bers of the club and guests were
present making about 100 in all.
Mrs. o. A. sterl, president. presided.
Mrs. Goddard gave a helpful ana
interesting paper on public play
grounds, giving the experience ,of
Leavenworth and pleading for great
er civic improvement. She said:
"The result Of this pent up yigor
is sometimes Vandalism that we so
often read about in the Juvenile
courts, where they are taken for re-
formation to be made into the de-
cent citizens they would have nat
urally grown into, had we provided
them with public play grounds
swimming pools, gymnasiums, etc
When our beloved state was first
settled the only thing that appealed
to us was commerciallsm, otherwise
in plating our towns we would have
located our play grounds, thus saw
ing ourselves enormous expense oil
supporting our institutions Of cor
rection and reform. But our land
was so divided that houses have TAX
en- possession OF lot after lot until
no space remains.
"Our school play grounds nave
been squared out and bricked to Keep
from carrying dirt into the school
rooms, there Is no play ground left
fbut the street, and these too shaVe
SO undergone transformation. keep
ling pace with other changes Of the
city by their electric cars and auto
roads that the question arises where
shall the children play2 When we
contrast the life Of the country and
city child, we can not refrain from
saving, How blessed is the heritage
OF the country child with his green
fields and running brooks, knotted
strings and fishing hooks, the play
ground given him is one OF coos
furnishing.
."rhe first vacation school or play
ground was founded in Boston by
\ Miss Very in 1873, The playground
movement like most educational
movements Of the past century start
ed In Germany. The first directed
NAV ground in this country seems
to have been started in Boston. This
was merely a play place for small
children. During the first years OF
the work a kindergartener usually
gave her services or was employed
for avery small fee to care for the
children, the entire equipment con-
sisting Of load Of sand. Thus Bos-
ton became the pioneer Of this move
ment in our country, and after thirty
years she has shown progress beyond
that of any other American city
About 275 cities now have estab-
lIshed play grounds. Previous to
il19OS only so cities had organized
them, In 201 cities there are 1924
play grounds. During the past year
Chicago has expended eleven million
and New York sixteen million dol
Iars% Then cities alone spent over
eight hundred thousand in establish
ing play grounds.
Public spirited men and women
| in different cities Of the east, in Den
yer, Colo, and other places have
donated ground for this purpose to
their native state or towns.
AT the third play ground congress
held IN PIttsburg last May eighty
five cities through this country and
Canada we're represented BY dele
lars These cities alone spent over
mayor or his official representative,
zone Of the seeming obstacles en-
countered will be the hordes Of rough
youngsters. who have never known
and freedom outside Of lawlessness.
whose education has been mostly de-
rived from trash literature. These
chaps belong 10 a gang and consider
II fine sport 70 smash and break
everything they can lay their bands
on especially the play ground equip
ments. Now they do not DO these