The Washington herald., 1912-11-04
MORE ABUNDAAT !.
LIFE FOR YOUTH
This b Purpose Of the playground
Association - Explained BY
Charles 7. Weller.
WORK STARTED FIRST
N THE DISTRICT

WoSsssoDs0H tucsE hCCu Aos
recreation and the opportunity for bring.
ing life more abundant" to all the chill.
dsen Of America through the National
Playground and Recreation Association
were the theme Of Charles F. Weller at
Vermont Avenue, Christian Church last
night. Many of the stereopticon views
displayed were pictures which Mr.. Wei.
Ter took In this city while he was secre'
tary Of the Associated Charities from
1901 TO 1908.
II was in Washington. In 1906. that Mr.
Weller founded the Playground and
Recreation Association Of America Play.
grounds ~ various cities had been de.
veloped before that time. but since ther
the progress has been phenomenal Forty
cities started recreation work last year
thirty-Gve the year before. and thirty.
five the previous year. Altogether. Ill
cities Of America have Fairgrounds. Nort
than 400 men and women are employed
~ play leaders, new social servic<
profession.
To promote. safeguard. guide, and
strengthen the whole recreation move.
ment throughout America 10 the func.
ton Of the Playground and Recreation
Association Of America. Its central Of.
fice II at I Madison Avenue. New Yorh
City. but its six field secretaries-efi.
cheney experts in community recreation
cover the country. One of them. for ex
ample. devotes her whole time to rura
recreation, which is making life more
attractive In country towns and farming
communities.
Every 500 contributed to the nationa
association" said Mr.. Weller. bring,
about $4,000 In local Fairgrounds to the
children OF this country. For example
It cost the association see for the wori
Of It's field secretary In Lawrence. Mass.
but the result was that 800 children have
wholesome play each day. In Benning
ton. VT, recently SIS spent for the visit
ing expert led the community to engage
a local play leader at 1900 a year. From
another city a leading citizen wrote thai
the work OF the field agent had saved
ment; had ouickened the civic conscience
tion facilities before land grew too ex
pensive or ignorance developed evils"
Work Being Done.
Reformed dance halls to save young
working girls from ruin. the use Of pub
lie Schools as social centers, promotins
proper street play in unfrequentet
streets. and safeguarding the great NOV
ing picture enterprise are all interests
Of the National Recreation Association
Its field secretaries work on these vita
| community problems wherever they go
One Of the six field experts. for ex.
ample, visited thirty-fve cities las
year, but refused Invitations from forty
six other cities In his territory-"no
, because the forty-six didn't need him a
much. perhaps more, than the thirty
! five: but simply because he wasn't twin
or triplets. One OF my tasks" addet
Mr.. Weller. is to help make him int
| twins-to double the field force to NEE
the present urgent calls for vital serv
ice"
Washinston's playground and recrea
ton movement was praised by tn,
speaker. who spoke with special author
ity. for he and Mrs. Weller startet
Fairgrounds here. Over 1900 has beel
spent in Washington by the Nationa
Association said Mr.. Weller. '.in get
ting friends OF the cause Throughout
America to help convert Congressman
| on whose votes depended the fate o
the Washington work. in sending a ma
tional leader here to help the local cam
paign at time OF crisi. and In helping
to bring from his successful work IL
Columbus Playground Mr.. Edgar
Martin. the efficient recreation director
Of the National Capital"