The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-09

and amusement. even the moving pfc-
ture show is restful and under the prop-
er censorship. should be encouraged.
as feature of meeting the needs of the
classes.
Birmingham. a city of nearly 20o on0
people has a wonderful industrial future
for expansion. The past few years have
brought about far reaching changes In
her social, commercial and govern
mental conditions and, having reached
by rapid advancement that stage of de-
velopment where men and women work
for the common good of all along large
and far reaching methods. a city made
up of every class and especially the
foreign class whose native environment
makes them. as far as health conditions
are concerned. one to be considered
thoughtfully. 1t has been Birming-
hams duty to care for the product of
neglect, not 50 much her own, but that
of other countries. These conditions are
here and we must not quarrel because
of them. but we must wake UP to the
necessity of providing ways and means
for the maintenance and perpetuation
of that physical strength and vigor of
future generations.
What has Birmingham done in a soeio-
logical way? She has done a great deal
considering her rapid growth the heavy
demands made on the finances of the
city and county, the splendid achieves
ments in an educational way; her philan-
thropic work; a city known as "cty of
churches;" her ready and generous re-
sponse to practical as we'll as the aesthet-
ic needs of her people, considering all
of these, there is yet much to do. Gradu.
ally there is a drawing together of all
forces In our midst to this end-that of
combined effort of both men, women and
children.
The recent action of the Chamber of
Commerce in securing through it's efforts
and those of certain citizens, the estab-
lishment of the southern headquarters of
the National Playground association in
Birmingham is we'll worth the support of
all the people. while financial support is
necessary. The greatest need is the moral
support of all Birmingham in this par
ticular movement. We watch with par
donable pride, the construction of our
churches, our skyscrapers and other large
and massive buildings; we note with in
terest the building ,of modern homes In
which our children are to live; We not
only watch but we work with the con-
structlve elements that build our civic
institutions; we, all Birmingham, seems
to be busy doing something, working 1t
may be for our own interests or we may
be working for the common interests of
work. the young men and women must
work; the mother works, the father
works.
Birmingham is alive to the fact that
she is In a building stage and that In
time, If she continues her moral and ma
terial work, she will evolve into splen-
did city. Along with this developing Pc
riod there must be time and places for
rest and recreation, the healthy may
seek it elsewhere. but there are many
who never go out of the city limits, chill
dren who must be provided with play
grounds, who are perishing for fresh air,
who need somewhere to go other than
the street; young boys and girls who need
the real antitoxin to heal their ills; they
need the playground to spend their sur
plus energy in healthy exercise.
The playground system as worked out
by the National Playground association
is, as a civic effort, great ally to
strengthen one of the weakest conditions
in Birmingham.
When George Settle, the playground
expert of New York, arrives and estab-
fishes headquarters In our midst let there
be a get together spirit, a gang spirit
or team work or anything else that will
create interest and support this civic
work
Let Birmingham have more Fairgrounds
where the young may congregate and
expend their energies in healthful play:
where the grown ups may enjoy rest
and fresh air without paying for It,
Give Birmingham more well conducted
playgrounds