The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-10

8 - r
but nre OF a low moral character. Her
experience she said. has been that the
hardest worked girl is the readyest to
Huccumb 20 the lure OF the cheap dance
hall. The solution. she said. lies in
general reduction OF working hours
preferably standard eiBht-hour
law.
John Brown, Jr.. NJ. D.. OF the In
ternational Committee OF the Young
Mems Christian Association, addressed
the congress on the subject. Ways in
which Rural Recreation May Affect
ECONOMIC Efficiency In Rural Dis
tricts" He predicted that tho hard
est headed farmer will soon come to
realize that properly directed recrea-
ton centre is Indispensable to the
best life OF every rural community.
Open Air Carnival.
Richmond's playground enthusiasts
turned out by the thousand yesterday
afternoon to watch 500 children of all
ages play around the lake side Mt VIII
liam Byrd Park. and to see score or
more OF mature men and women tuIn-
Bile and play tag as IL thcy enjoyed 1t.
The open-air carnival was conducted
under the auspices OF the Recreation
Congress. which has been in seventh
annual session In this city since last
Tuesday.
The exhibition made history for the
playground movement I'm this city
Business men who had been accustomed
to speak OF tho movement with kindly
cynicism, watched the Junior field day
with growing surprise, and left the
park converted to tho cause. The play
spirit was abroad and infected alike
tho three-year old tot of the kinder
garten to the gray-haired delegates OF
the Recreation Congress.
There we're three general play
grounds In the grove south OF the
lake The kindergarten contingent went
through drills and songs under the
direction of 81 corps OF teachers and
to the martial music OF piano placed
on the lawn. The drill-space was
framed ten deep with exulting mann
mas.
President Lee Plays Tag.
In a section of one of the drives on
the west side of the park. President
Lee. OF the Playground Association, led
n score of men and women In an ex-
hibiton Of old fashioned games Most
Of them were delegates to the convcn-
ton. The agility of the players--some
Eray-haired and others Handicapped by
weight astonished the spectators. and
converted them to DR.. Cabots gospe!
that old age is n fiction and that to be
young forever one has only to play.
President Iec--the gray haired rec
reation leader, who has never grown
up-played tag like q school boy and
easily went to the head OF the class.
l.. Mex. Judkins. the Richmond play
ground leader. tagged with spirit. but
was handicapped by n high linen collar.
st. Andrews Association was repre-
sented by n delegation of girls. who
gave clever exhibition OF folk dane
ing. Music was supplied by piano
mounted OH wagon In the roadway
and n moving picture operator stood
by and caught the figures for the flm.
On the green at the southwest cor
ner OF the lake groups OF larger girls,
under the direction of local teachers.
gave an exhibition. which included
such typical games as Farmer III tho
Dell. jolly Goes the Miller. London
Bridge. Baby Lost the Key. Grandmoth-
err Went to Paris. Bird Beast or Fish,
and dozen others Tho boys Mt the
northwest corner of the lake played
Leap Frog. Fox and Geese. Last Couple
Out. Pig in Pen, Tug Of War and
number of other games.
On the athletic field several baseball
games were pulled off during the after
noon. y team from the Young Mems
Christian Association gave an exhibit
ton of volleyball on the drive.
Exercise Versus Turkey Trot.
The need for vigorous exercise for
girls to take the place OF the trifling
amusements that arc generally their
lot was strongly urged by Mrs. Charles
Frederick Weller, OF Lawrence, Kan.
before the Playground Congress yea
terday morning. She stated that In
vestigations among the girls In high
class finishing schools. who had little
opportunity for exercise. showed that
the only amuscmentS they really en-
joyed were dancing. with n strong pre-
election for the turkey trot and the
picture and vaudeville shows. y SINH
e i'll,
ern normal school. where athletics were
encouraged. showed love OF tennis,
basketball and other healthy sports.
She asserted that the belief that
women are physically injured by vigor-
Gus exercise is Il superstition of the
past. For one girl who is hurt by ex
ercise. she said. there are twelve who
are seriously injured by unnatural and
unhygienic modes of dressing.
Burdened by Home Work.
In spite Of the fact that the girl is
the pampercd pet of many American
families she says that many girls are
hindercd in their development by too
many household responsibilities. Sta
tistics show that only one American
family In fourteen keeps servant. and
In the remaining thirteen great many
burdensome duties devolvc On the girl.
The boys, on the other hand, since the
heavy work OF rural life does not exist
in urban homes is often bored and
useless. and grows up with no sense of
responsibility. She urged that the
home duties should be more equally
divided, and that there should be more
companionship between the sexes. both
In work and in play.
The city OF Richmond Is allowing n
fine swimming pool to lie unused. ac-
cording TO Wilbert L. Longfellow.
superintendent of the United States
Volunteer Life Saving Corps of New
York. He said that municipal swim
ming pools are the most important
form of summer recreation in cities.
and should not be neglected He has