Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-05-23

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MEETINGS ARRANGED AND
COMMUNITY TO BE INTEREST
ED ON A LARGER SCALE.
The movement to establish public
Fairgrounds for the children in this
city was given a fine start last night
at the Yew Park school under the
direction Of the general committee
for the higher specialization of the
community. The executive commit
tee is composed Of City Supt. Pow
ers, Dr. Avison, B. j. Miles, Prof.
Patterson and E. Hofer. The Yew
Park neighborhood under the leader
ship Of local committee composed
of Principal Dotson, Mr. Drager and
Mrs. Rowland has taken lead in
this matter and has held three raj
lies, the last one being specially de-
voted to the playground movement.
Help from Monmouth.
The starting Of the campaign at
Salem was given big and unexpect-
ed boost by a delegation from the
Monmouth Normal school last night,
that drove over in hack and
brought class of little girls along
to make demonstration of the folk
dances, Miss Wilcox, physical direc-
tor, Miss Fridd, of the music depart
mcnt, and Miss Foster, one of the
playground training class, with six
little girls took the long drive and
drove back home last night after the
program had been beautifully car
ried out
Miss Wilcox made charming i'm
preston with her talk and her class.
She said the playground and folk
dance movement was for the develop
ment Of more truthful, honest, loyal,
and fair boyhood and glrlhood, and
better citizenship. Very little appar-
atus was required but the work must
be under competent supervision She
illustrated the folk dancing with six
little girls who put on the "Chimes
of Dunkirk and the Fairy Rose"
drill dances, receiving hearty ap-
Iplause,
What Cities Are Doing.
Miss Bessie Foster then made a
fine address on the playground work
In other cities. Portland has 10 play
grounds and was getting more in all
parts of the city. Eugene had estab-
lished Fairgrounds and 500 American
cities had established them. The
work was to produce better social
and moral conditions for the child
rem. Its greatest value was for
healthier children and higher social
ization. The expense was small as
the boys could make most of the ap-
paratus. A class of so to 60 young
women were taking the training for
playground directors at the state
normal school. Her address showed
her heart and soul were in the work
and she was warmly applauded
Spoke for the Cause.
DR.. Avlson, of the First M. e.
church, was invited to make some re-
marks and said in Minneapolis where
he had seen the playground work
demonstrated, It had been of inesti-
mable benefit. It took the children
off the streets and did away with
what was the terror Of the commun-
ity-gang work by the boys that
resulted in destruction Of property
Fairgrounds had changed the entire
sentiment Of the community toward
the children. Boys had come to him
and complained that they had no
place to play in Salem. They we're
not wanted in the parks nor on the
campus. His remarks we're applaud
ed and he showed himself in sympa-
thy with progressive policies.
Miss Davis spoke for the branch
library movement in connection with
playground work. Mr.. Wiest, prin-
cipal Of the Bnglewood school, an
nounced that there would be a neigh
borhood rally at his school Friday
night, May S1st
Col Hofor announced for the exc
cutive committee that they we're
planning a larger meeting at the high
school where they would try to inter-
est the whole community in the play
ground and folk dance movement for
children, He said the committee was
gratihed with what had been accom-
plished and especially grateful for
the enterprise shown by the people
Of the Yew Park nelghborhood and
the teachers,
The program Of the evening was
closed by putting on little two act
play under the direction Of the Park
school teachers. II was well carried
out and gave much pleasure to the
large crowd in attendance. This was
the last Of the series Of neighborhood
rallies held at Yew Park This