New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-14
1000 IN LAWN DANCES
Central Park Radiant with
Happy School Children.
MANY NEVER SAW SHEEP
Commissioner Slower Keeps
Flock Out SO All May Get
Acquainted.

Seven thousand children dancing on the
new spring grass. welding forest OF
gay colorcd maypoles. and then rushing
forward sea of little white figures with
happy upturned faces to sing The Star
Spangled Banner around the bandstand
this was the picture Central Park saw
yesterday I'm place of the usual placid
iocks grazing I'm the Sheep Meadow.
1t was the annual park fete OF the girls
branch Of the Public Schools Athletic
League. Little girls all In white dresses.
with big blue or pink or rcd hair ribbons
to match tho streamers OF their maypoles,
came from 30 public schools Of Manhat-
!. tan and The Bronx TO wind up their
years work in athletics and folk dancing
with one grand Jubilee on real grass I'M
der real trees.
They had an unexpected treat in n sight
Of tho sheep before the dancing began.
This was due 10 Miss Elizabeth Burchenal.
director OF the public school athletics for
girls. who remembered a day or SO ago
that the little city children had probably
never seen lambs frisking on the green.
so she asked Park Commissioner Slower
10 allow the nocks TO remain on exhibit
ton until the very last minute. She was
more than repaid Wy the chorus OF de-
lighted Abs which rose from those
five thousand threats as they caught their
first glimpse of the big white sheep and
little wobbly baby lambs.
The afternoons programme began when
the last sheep had disappeared beyond the
trees. and the boys band from Public
School u tuned M for the Swedish Car
rousel.
Very few Of the seven thousand dancers
could hear the music. but that didn't
matter. Children's steps are light and
only play. anyway.
The most picturesque number. of course.
was the winding OF the maypoles. when
the whole meadow became swirling
mass Of pink ana blue and green centring
around the tall. nower-crowned poles.
The programme consisted OF the follow
ing dances: our little girls. carrouse.
seven jumps. ace OF diamonds. crested
hen. first OF May. four dance, ribbon
dance, Gotand quadrille and maypole
dance. and these games. punch ball. end
ball. shuttle relay and pass ball relay.
Among the dancers were thirty-eght
deaf and dumb children from Public
school a. Boy Scouts served as special
patrols TO keep the public in their proper
place beyond the roped Enclosure. After
the dancing was over they did noble SER
vice for the lost and found department
who Is this little toar-stained figure?
Esther Weisburg? Public School IS. did
YOU say. dearie? Wen. now don't cry.
Wen ind your teacher" Thus Mrs.
James Spcyer. putting her arm around
the thin little shoulders of Esther. OF
East 9Th street
Fiv, minutes pass. Then every one
brightcns up.
THE Boy Scout has found en-"
Park Commissioner Stover was there.
smiling. very proud Of his grass. his
sheep. 1t is his party.
81 always waat1d to do this kind OF
| thing" Inc says. wen have more this
year The kids ought to look upon the
park as their place TO play. Their fathers
and mothers don't take any care OF the
kids. so they just naturally have to be
turned over to M"
Among the guests of honor at the band
! stand were Mrs Alfred Seton Post. Miss
Laura !. Post. Mrs. John Garrett Under
| hill. Mrs. W. Lanman Null. Mrs Thomas
X French. Mrs. Gustavus T. Kirby. Miss
| Catherine ;. I.everich. DIR. r. Ward
Champion. William II. Maxwell. General
George Wingate. Mrs. Egerton Winthrop.
Mrs. cyrus w. Miller. Miss Martha Dra-
per, Mrs Lorillard Spencer. Mrs. DE Lam
cey Kane and Mrs. Henry Parsons.
On Tuesday. May 20. the little girls OF
Brooklyn will dance i'm Prospect Park.
and on May q the Staten Island girls will
have their festival at Fairyiew, the home
Of George Cromwell President OF the Bor-
ough of Richmond.