The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-08

there ,vill be room in the gallery of
the auditorium for something like zoe
auditors. and those who do not care
10 exptnd this sum for dinner, will
be admitted free TO this section Of the
Jefferson auditorium, and. having had
their dinner at home, can enjoy the
evenings activities as thoroughly as
though they had their feet under the
tables.
Day of Activities.
For convenience of purpose the
morning activities yesterday were d.
vided into three observation-disclosures
teal problems along these several
lines were discussed by practical ex
pertS. the sectional meetings rounding
up at 1880 in general meeting in
the Jefferson hotel auditorium. when
the field secretaries of the organi2a-
ton, Rowland Haynes Francis r.
North. Julia Schoenfeld and Charles
f.. Weller, gave the delegates some
interesting news from the front.
Chicago's remapkabie progress as the
leading city of The world in the de-
Velopment of small park Fairgrounds
was outlined by Sidney Teller, di-
rector of Stamford park, West Chicago
park commissioner. at the session of
section / of the recreation congress.
Over 1873, coo people used the show
er baths during the past year; 1873. 600
100 days when it was open; the gym
nasium classes We're attended by over
81 600 boys and almost as great a
number of women and girls; about
so, 600 books have been loaned.
through the playground branch of the
City library TO representatives of the
thirteen different nationalities in the
district.
Baseball. "the great democracy
Nkar,
stitute for shooting craps" and rush
ing the growler." according to Mr..
Teller The melting pot" for youth
ful immigrants, is what he calls the
municipal playground. He says that
through games and recreation pro-
perly supplied and in sufficient guam
tity higher standard of citizenship
may be developed.
open the school houses for social
advancement and lectures" says Mr..
Teller. Adult immigrants particularly
do not have proper opportunity for
learning to know American customs
and for feeling themselves a part of
the democracy If the community
recreation and civic affairs, particu-
larly elections, could take place in the
school house as a center a great step
would be taken towards their improve
nent. Every school house should have
III AUDITORIUM pToNlQtu WIN eIuip-
ment for stereopticon lectures"
Value of Clubs.
A spirited discussion Of the value
of clubs in maintaining interest in
the recreation center occupied the
first hour of section g
w. j. Smith. of the Children's Play
ground league, of Rochester. n, Y.
presided. Charles Howard Mills, su-
pervisor of the department of mu-
AffatY. ID
Mich, gave a vivid and enthusiastic
description of the Boys club work
as carried on in the recreation CEN
ters in Grand Rapids.
In every center in Grand Rapids
the boys are organized into clubs for
the study or enjoyment of different
subjects. There are clubs for gymna-
suim work. dramatics, handicraft and
many other subjects. All OF these
clubs are in turn organized into one
mass club, which includes all the boys
N its center. MIR. Mills strongly ad
1ocated the boy scout scheme as the
pest adapted for all form of boy club
work
Miss Anna Della Melvin, director
# the West park recreation center.
It Baltimore, Md, followed Mr.. Mills
With an interesting address on The
Recreation Center" as neighbor-
lood institution.
Miss Melvin dwelt especially on the /
OF the recreation center !
o do away with warning elements in !
made up of people of
different nationalities and religious /
,eliefs.
The recreation center" Miss Mel !
lin said, should be the melting pot !
or the making of Americans"
Playground Administration.
An interesting sidelight on the ques- |
ion Of playground administration was |
brought out in the discussion OF equip |
nent. c. w. Dilcher reported that |
n the city of Buffalo. N. Y, damages |
If $500 had been recovered. through |
IN action against the city by the par
.nts of boy who suffered minor in |
Jury while using some of the appa- /
'atus. The case has been sustained in |
wo higher courts and relief is now |
being sought by special action of the |
State legislature. The posting Of no.