Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-06-12

What Norwich Might, and Ought, to
Do for the Children was the subject
Rev. c. Fl. Ricketts, presented in the
Greeneville Congregational church Sun
day morning, taking for his text Zech.
So, And the streets of the city shall
be full of the boys and girls playing in
the streets thereof" These words were
spoken when the city was in sad
state OF deeadence- The prophet tries
to cheer the people by giving a glori-
Gus vision of Jerusalem restored, IN
which as its chief joy will be the
streets full of boys and girls playing.
Streets Are Dangerous.
Changes of environment and condi-
tons give US another ideal of model
city. The streets of modern city
with heavy trucks and the more dan
gerouS motor cars and trolleyS make
them unfit for playing purposes An
Gent Jerusalem had no vehicles and
playing in her streets was safe. Still
the idea in both cases is the same. In
ancient times the ideal city was one
instinct TO be gratified. One of the
problems of modern city is the same
thing.
The play instinct is racial fact it
i5 universal and never changes. 1t
rests upon a basis that is fundamental
in human life; nations greatest as
set is its children. Nothing else can
compare with it even in material
worth. We are prone to boast of our
material wealth, and it is colossal but
what it will be tomorrow will depend
on what the nations children are to-
day
A Wise Thing.
If the children, then. are the nations
greatest asset, does it not stand to
reason that money invested to put the
children in the best possible condition
for making good in the world is money
we'll invested? This explains the ex-
istence OF our common schools acad-
emies. colleges and technical institu-
tons all over the land. In my judg-
ment it was a very wise thing for Nor
witch, without dissenting voice. to
vote free tuition to its pupils attending
the Free Academy. 1t lifts up Second
street without lowering Washington
street. 1t means something for the
poorer people in their struggle to give
their children secondary education.
1t tends to smooth down a bitter feel
ing that certainly exists in society to-
day.
Play is Necessary.
The modern city tends to m,re
largely cultivate the play instinct.
Psychology shows that this instinct is
imbedded in the child nature. The
normal child is going to play because
he must play. Deprive him of this
and his nature will rebel to the future
detriment Of society. The impulse to
play is Just as imperative. as 1t is to
eat or sleep. or to perform any MAJ
ural function. Russia in her political
unwisdom sends whole families to the
Siberian mines and in so doing she
unwlttingiy SowS a mighty field with
dragons teeth. Innocent children are
born in those mines doomed TO per-
pertual night: they never see the lish,
of day. And the pathetic thing is that
the offspring of those mines are born
with neither the desire nor the ca
pacity for play. This is dangerous be-
cause the child who never learns 70
play never laughs, and a child who
never laughs has a little reservoir OF
a soul that only stores up bitterness
and venom that will one day break out
against society. Men sometimes escape
from Siberia to make their way
straight to ST. Petersburg with a dag
ger or a bomb No nation has any
right to succeed that thus trampIes
on the divine rights Of it's children.
am in sympathy with that eminen,
Jewish rabbi who was reading this
chapter to his wretched people many Of
whose connections were in exile. As ne
saw no laughing boys and girls in the
city streets. he ground his teeth
clenched his fist and exclaimed: Come
back, come back. great God of JACOB
and slay this modern Anak,"
A Right Move.
am glad that the Board of Trade o.
our city is taking up this matter, fol
it is a move in the right direction. L
is right from every point of view, from
the physiological and economic, and O