The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-23
GYMNASIUM IS NEEDED
Rights of Others is Assured if Prop
er Instructor and Director Has
Charge of Public
Fairgrounds.


semi-monthly meeting Monday even
ing at the home Ct Mr.. and Mrs.
Herbert Hess. The rather disagree
able weather kept some away. but
the rooms were fairly well filed
with the members.
The meeting was called to order
BY the President, s. f. Boys, and
the report OF the committee on secur
ing a suitable room for the various
clubs had appointed similar COM
and progress reported. IN that other
clubs had appointed similar COM
mittees. and that these various ones
would come together soon and can
vass the question. when full report
will be made.
Mention was then made regarding
the "good fellow plan that was
started a year ago, with the view
OF ascertaining the names of chill
dren of the city who would not re-
eeive presents at Christmas time.
and having certain individuals to
undertake the task of seeing that q
given child is made happy with suit
able gifts on that day. 1t was
thought the churches would coop
crate in this work, and the question
was laid over for future considera-
tior.
The subject of the evening was
then presented-''Need of better
public Fairgrounds for Plymouth. A
Gymnasium for our Public Schools. ,
DIR. Ed. Danforth was the leader in
presenting this subject, and read a
paper in which he contrasted the con
ditions in a large city like New
York or Chicago. where the children
had no grounds hit the streets, the
buildings being So crowded that no
lawns or spaces OF any kind were
left in which children could play
the.- games, with the more favor
able conditions in Plymouth. Here
nearly every home has spacious
lawns and sufficient space in each
neighborhood for the children, and
there is not the need for public
playground that exists IN large
cities. The question of a Gymnasium
was taken up, and its advantages
shown, but the question as to whether
one was needed or obtainable in
Plymouth. was altogether another
question With the placing of prop
or facilities for giving needed ex-
ereise. such as bars. cheest machines
dumb bells. Indian clubs and like ap-
paratus. it was thought that Plym-
outh would have to be contens al
the present time. After the paper
was finished the discussion was lee
by Mrs. Suit. and afterwards takeI
ND BY other members as they were
called by the President. The
Fairgrounds of other cities were de-
cribed by those who had seen then
and made a study of the conditions
and it was shown that proper super
vision by a competent director, wa:
the important feature. Playground
are TO be simply spots where boys
and girls can play as they may wish
where the strong can impose on tn
weak. and the bully rule. but wher'
a director can see that the propel
exercise is given each. that the girl
and boys are each given opportunit,
The question of team work in school
where the aim sought is the bringing
out of certain ones who become ex
pert. so that they can win iron
other schools. was brought up. ant
while it was said that there wa
needed this spur of desire to win
vet this did not give the needed ex
ercise and recreation to the whole
and the end sought was not so muc
the building up of winning team
as the benefit to the individual DO
and girl, that comes from suitabl
and properly directed exercise
play.
The question Of giving over side
walks and streets to the ehildre
for use as Fairgrounds was discuss
ed, One lady said she had bee
made sad when the signs were pu
ND prohibiting children using ii
cement walks at the court hous
for roller skating purposes. She sa
no harm in this use, and never sa'
the children doing any but the prof.
er things there, and did not see VII
they should be driven away mo