Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-11
DOlLY'S WALK is POPULAR
Discussion by Delegates Follows
Practical Demonstration.
GROWTH OF INTEREST HERE
James E. West Tells How Parents
Are Supporting the Movement.
Sports at Rosedale Grounds.

twenty-five white frocked little STiS
picked at random from the Fairgrounds
of Washington appeared before the dele
gates of the Fairgrounds Association OF
America at this mornings session in the
New Willard and. under the guidance OF
strange teachers, played games they had
never seen before as though they had
been part and parcel of their prescribed
diversions in the District But one les
son-or rather, oral instruction-was
sufficient 10 make the youngsters perform
the various movements like veterans.
TIE spontaneity with which the children
took up the new games ELECTED rounds
of applause.
The demonstration was in two parts:
for children under ten years of age, and
between ten and fourteen years. 1t was
for the purpose of showing the adapt
ability and self-reliance of typical play
ground children. The strange teachers
were delegates representing the Pttsburg
Playground Association, Miss Alice Cor
bin. Miss Edna Fisher and Miss Agnes
O'Connell. The younger children were
taken in hand by Miss Corbin and Miss
Fisher. and the elder ones by Miss O'Con-
nell. About a dozen and half games
were played. including sem-dances or
walking games, ring and ball games.
A Very Popular Pastime.
\ nursery pastime adapted to play
ground needs. called This Is the Way
Dolly Walks for the younger children
proved the most popular for the young
sters. The teachers had a difficult time
making them desst in favor Of another.
After leaving the Willard red room,
where the meeting red. there was
q continuous performance of This Is
the Way Dolly Walks down the one
block of 18th street to Pennsylvania ave-
nue., where the little ones were loaded
on cars and sent home. 1t is safe
wager that This is the Way Dolly
Walks. will have it's rage on Washing
ton Fairgrounds the coming summer.
Discussions following the demonstra-
tion participated in by practically all OF
the delegates centered about playground
equipment. outlined various methods OF
handling children and the value of inter
esting parents in all walks OF life In the
Fairgrounds movement
Among those who took part in the dis
cussions were George E. johnson. super
intendent of the Pittsburg Fairgrounds
Association; Miss Corbin, Miss Fisher
and Miss O'Connell. all of Pittsburg: +.
B. DeGroot of Chicago. Robert Garrett
OF Baltimore. James E. West of this city
and Miss Beulah kennard of Pittsburg.
Interest of Parents Growing.
In discussing the interest of parents in
Fairgrounds generally Mr.. West said:
1.-THE great interest of parents in the
playground movement is growing every
day. assertions to the contrary notwith-
standing, If / may form my judgment
from what I have seen here in Washing
ton.
"The same interest is manifest in parents
of wealth and position as in those of
elum quarters and outlying districts. 1t
interest at first here, and it deve oped.
] may say. form Of opposition to tie
Fairgrounds. 1t gradually mater allied,
however. and is increasing every week
and every month 1t first develor ed in
the Fairgrounds established for the tane-
TT Of the city's poor. When we opened
the grounds at 14th street and Column
bia road-in the prosperous section of the
city-it came with a rush. / wish the
delegates, IL they have the time would
visit the grounds and observe for your
selves the number of parents who ac-
company their children there
This Afternoons Session.
This afternoons session will be held
on the Rosedale Fairgrounds at 18th and
kreamer streets northeast where there
Will be another practical demonstration
OF playground games by adult instruc-
tors. 1t is announced delegates will them
selves play volley ball, playground ball
and soccer foot ball. Two teams of
male Instructors will ',ompet., captained
respectively by Messrs. DeGroot and
johnson. There will be volley ball
game between two teams of feminine
delegates.
Opening Session Last Evening.
The need OF recreation grounds in every
community, rural and city, as the medium
Of extending the great influences of self
reliance and democracy was the theme
OF two papers by Representative Will
liam Kent of California and Prof. 7. H.
Bailey Of Cornell University at the onen-
ing session OF the meeting at the New
Willard Hotel last evening
Fairgrounds experts from cities in all
parts of the country are gathered to
attend the meeting. The secretary's re-
port delivered before the scheduled ad
dresses OF the evening, indicated that
Fairgrounds generally from one end OF
the country to the other had attracted
more attention and received more finan-
cial backing than during any previous
year OF the associations existence
Thirty-two cities now employing f43
workers are actively engaged in pIay-
grounds work In the past twelve months
about x3,COOo was spent in lS4 cities
for the improvement and establishment
OF Fairgrounds The meeting is to be