New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-14
Young Woman Throws 1000 OF
Them to Children.
EDUCATING" THE MASSES
Moving Picture Man Was at
Playground to Take Reels for
Society of Good Cheer.

What might he called good natured
riot occurred on the 18th street play
ground. between First avenue and Ave
nue 4. Yesterday afternoon when Miss
Theora Carter. founder and president Of
tho Society Of Good Cheer descended I'm
an automobile among five hundred or
more uttlo Italian children at play there
and sought to distribute toothbrushes
and remarks on how TO care for the teeth
among them. AZ far as the distribution
wen, tho AFFAIR was "A success. but not one
word Of tho lecture was heard by the
laughing. hooting scrambling aud per
,plring mass or young humanity.
Mics Carriers object iu disseminating
tootbbrushcs and dental knowledge At
tho playground. which is In charge OF the
Parks and Fairgrounds Association, WAS
two fold Although ono thousand brush
es was tho total on hand FOR distribution
she hopes 10 reach thousands NJ other
persons by rcr act To accomplish this
moving picture machine Vas there. and
|, e. tho course ~ Vrok or So audiences
all over th. country ulll hc Watching the
mad scramble on IN" 18th street play
ground, which II is hoped. WI bring the
need Of a toothbrush to mind. Before
reaching tho grounds Miss Carter mapped
out neat little scenario. which, had "
been enacted would have made n most
effective reel ~ pictures In hrfef II was
this.
After tho triumphant ontr" ~ the
grounds the camera was to catch littl"
boy pulling wagon loaded with pack
ages As hc nsared the playground he
caught sight ~ an excited throug and in
qurios among other children revealed tho
fact that lady was giving away tooth
brushes The little hoy wanted tooth
brush. In fact. he wanted one 50 badly
he left his wagon on tho sidewalk. aud
with n largo bag Of eggs ia ono hand and
balloon in the other n" entered the
playground Tho lady IN IN" automobile
caught sight Of him and lifted him right
10 into the machine She gave him a
toothbrush So pleased was he with tho
gift he let 60 Of the balloon and then, IN
order to keep the brush Immediately
clean. ho dumped every egg kersmash
on the ground and put the brush in the
bag So much for tho scenario.
Was II enacted as planned? Not much,
When the children caught sight Of the car
they followed II on masse as It encircled
the playground When II came to stand
stll they swarmed over II like flies on a
piece of cake And when they learned
that thcy were going to receive something
for nothing their delight knew no bounds
Miss Carter had not counted on such
all enthusiastic reception, and because the
children troOped after every stop she
took II was impossible TO arrange the
stage effects for the scenario. Finally
the idea was. abandoned: 80 was all
Thought OF delivering an address on tho
care of the teeth While the mob tram
pied on each other she stood In the car
and II rev. toothbrushes right and left.
The big children, OF course. got any
where from two 10 two dozen, and the
little tots got nothing, but rough
DEAL but all thoroughly enjoyed them
selves. Miss Carter finally emerged from
the pack with her clothing awry, but
cheerful TO the last. and vowed that the
distribution had Been successful. One
toothbrush was all anyone could use. she
said so those who got several would
have 10 give them away. The moving
picture man had had his troubles. too
for in their eagerness to see the camera
I'm action the "brats," az he called them.
almost kicked II over several times.
There were a thousand new toothbrush
es I'm homes in the vicinity Of the play
ground last night and as some OF them
will doubtless be put to their intended
use Miss Carter was satisfied win the
n fterpoon's work