The Washington times., 1910-02-09
Value of Children's Play
grounds Forgotten in
Workaday World.
MOTHERS PRAISES
REPAY PROMOTERS
Review of Facts Brings Desire to
Contribute 10 Work of Wash
ington Association
By sELENE ARMSTRONG.

"A playground is-jast for play, that's
al.
Just for fun, and laughter. and deep
draUghts Of pure air, for -Killie Ma
Kranie Crow and Drop the Handker-
chief" and Round Around Rosy" and
Prisoners Rase," nd ball and marbles,
and that sort Of thing
Now, these may Je quite foolish. IL is
true You and I think so, at any rate,
for We have been grown a long, long
time. We ourselves DO not play. We do
not even laugh as cften as We might
We respond admirably 10 the dullness
OF life We work a great deal, and il
is not often that We have time to heed
the voices or the children
That IS why We do not think more
about Fairgrounds and why We do not
give them our pennies OF our dollars We
have become unfamiliar with the spirit
of play. I've have forgotten that IN the
merriment and fresh air Of the play
ground there is stored the health. the
youth. and the dynamic power which
viii enable these. our boys and girls, 10
achieve splendidIy and efficiently the
hopes and dreams Of cur own youth
Some Who Remember
But there are some men and women
ing l. possible for the children Of Wash
ingtOu 10 play the games and run the
races which belong 10 the childhood Of
the world These men and women are
members Of the Washington Fairgrounds
Association. Since 1901. when the work
Of this organization was launched Al the
suggestion Of then President Theodore
Roosevelt. and on the modest sum OF but
500. the members Of the association
have seen their efforts abUndantly JUS
titled.
As the number OF Fairgrounds and the
attendance on them increased, casual
ties on the streets have wonderfully de
creased The hospitals have claimed
fewer victims, there have been fewer
manned little bodies and crushd limbs
as the result Of street accidents.
The Fairgrounds nae helped the boys
and girls Of the city g. be a little, just a
little, like the good children in the fairy
story The testimony Of Judge William
H De Lacy, OF the juvenile Court, is
that child delinquency has been greatly
Iessened in those neighborhOOds which
contain Fairgrounds The alleys,
streets, and river docks, the cheap
amusemeGts, in which thousands Of
boys and girls Of a large city take their
recreation when there are no play
grounds. do not make good children Of
today, or good citizens OF tomorrow
But where IS the boy or -irI, who IS not
better, as well as happier for the hours
OF wholesome happiness and exercise
which the Fairgrounds aTOrd2
Letters Of Appreciation
The greatest achievement OF the play
ground lies, however, in the raising Of
the health standard among children
The following letter was one Of % sim
liar expressions Of appreciation re-
cefved last year by James r West,
Secretary Of the Citizens Fairgrounds
Association. from grateful parents:
Mr.. James E West. Secretary Play
ground Association
Dear sir-I write to let YOU know
what a 'gOd-send' the playground AZ
Virginia avenue has been to me this
past summer
Every summer before my four little
children were sick, but this year they
kept well and strong, and TO doctors
bill
"One Of the children has been sick
since she was eight years old. and the
doctor said she would not Ue able 10
but. thanks 10 the Playground she
has kept real wei all summer
Being heartily IN favor Of play
grounds, and wishing the association
10 know the good il was to me, I re-
main Yours tTuthfulIy,
MRS. H. W BOYDEN.
'S1S Q street southeast"