The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-09

Continued from First PageN
aspects. occupied the morning hours,
and in the afternoon the visitors en-
joyed an automobile ride around
Richmond and its environs, taking in
all the points of historical interest in
city and suburbs. One of the points
OF interest to the experts was the St
Andrews playground, and it may be
noted In passing that the visitors I'M
animously pronounced this one of the
best exemplifications of the gospel of
play they have found anywhere. The
banquet rounded up an altogether
eventful day.
Varied Program Today.
The half-dozen sectional meetings
will be held this morning at the same
hours and places in the jefferson hotel
with general session in the audito-
rum of the hosiery at 1870 o'clock,
with the real feature of the program
at o'clock this afternoon in the de-
monstration of play activities around
the lake in the reservoir park, in
which 500 school children will parti-
cipate. II the weather god is unkind
the demonstration will be held in the
Horse Show building. In either event
contrary to the erroneous statement
on the printed program, the public
is cordially invited and no admission
will be charged.
The evening mass meeting, which
will be the climax of the days ac-
tivities. will be held in the jefferson
hotel auditorium for convenience 8
sake, instead of the City auditorium.
as previously announced, and will be
open to the public. Among the speak
ers scheduled for this meeting are
Ernest X. Coulter, famous author of
juvenile books, and Miss Mary f. Nc
Dowell head of the University of
Chicago settlement work. While Geo.
A. Parker. the Hartford, Conn. park
superintendent, will essay the rather
unique subject of. THE Right Of
Every Girl to Be Courted Under De-
cent Conditions
Banquet Enjoyable Occasion.
Charles f. Meredith, who presided
with Chesterf1eldian grace at the BAN
quet last night, declared that the ad-
vent OF the recreation congress at the
crucial period when Richmond Us
struggling to promote the playground
movement, was the happiest thing
that has happened to the capital OF
the Commonwealth In decade
President. Joseph Lee, who was the
first speaker announced, in begin
ming what was heralded as his annual
address, that he would not make II
dry and stereotyped If he could help
1t. and he helped it, for from start to
finish his remarks termed with
humor. For instance, the president
going back to Biblical times for a
foundation for this science Of play
which he is promoting, quoted
familiar verse from Zachariah: And
the city shall be full of children play
ing in the streets thereof" In
Zachariah's time, Mr.. Lee observed.
there were>n not so many automobiles.
hence, the need for the, playground
movement. The relation of the devil
and bridges. which he traced from
ancient times through the old-fash
toned game Of London bridge is
falling down." to bridge whist. and In
football, which years. and years ago
was known as camp ball." he saw
the prophetic vision Of Walter Camp.
The Playground Movement.
In serious vein-"The work of the
Playground association is not to push
the playground movement, but to
guide it. The demand for informa-
ton and advice comes not only from
all over this country. but from many
parts of Europe. including Russia,
and from China. Japan. India and
South America. The questions are
not only about Fairgrounds. but on