Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05
GUESTS At LECTURE
Lady Aberdeen and Miss AS
quith Hear c. F. Weller.
FAIRGROUNDS THE TOPIC
English Visitors Show Interest and
Question Speaker.
AT EDISON BRADLEY MANSION
Plan to Have the Children Use Ger
tain of the Streets in Wash
ington Urged.
FAIRGROUNDS THE TOPIC
AT EDISON BRADLEY MANSION

Lady Aberdeen who is greatly interest
ed i'm children's welfare work. was a
guest at lecture delivered yesterday
afternoon by Charles F. Weller, associ-
ate secretary of the Playground and Re-
creation Association of America. given in
the ballroom attached to the Edison Brad
ley manson on Dupont Circle. She was
accompanied by Miss Violet Asquith,
daughter of the prime minister of Eng
land. Both expressed themselves as be-
ing very much interested in the facts
put forth by Mr.. Weller.
Lady Aberdeen talked with Mr.. Weller
and L. S. Martin. the head Of the play
grounds organization in Washington. aft
er the address. She questioned both
closely on the work in which they are
engaged, and has promised to make an
inspection tour of the eleven Fairgrounds
OF the city with Mr. Martin. starting at
2 o'clock Monday afternoon. if it is pos
sible for her to arrange it.
Speaking of her interest in the subject
of the lecture, Lady Aberdeen said:
81 am and have been for some time
greatly interested in the project of pro-
viding children everywhere with suitable
Fairgrounds. At present I am connected
with the movement in my own country
that has this object in view. and am
gratified to have this opportunity of dis
cussing the work with Mr.. Weller and
MIR. Martin.
Four Hundred Present.
Nearly every seat in the ballroom was
taken. more than 400 persons being pres
ent Among them were the former am
bassador to France. Henry White. and
Mrs White. their daughter. Countess
Raoul d'Adhemar. Maj Won Herwarth.
military attache of the German embassy:
Judge William H. De Lacy. Mrs. John
Hay. Mrs. Hennen Jennings and Miss
Jennings. Mrs. c. X. Howry, Mrs. Orms-
by McCammon. Mrs Archibald Hopkins.
Mrs James MsMillan. Mrs. Preston Glib
son. Mrs. Reginald Huidekoper and Mrs.
G. L. Gillespie.
Mr.. Weller in his address advocated the
use of certain streets of Washington as
Fairgrounds for the children at specified
times in the day. This plan. Mr.. Weller
said. has been very successful in ten
cities where it has been tried. the main
thoroughfares being avoided. of course.
II does not impede the little traffic there
is on some of the residence streets. the
speaker contended. and is an inestimable
help toward the all-around development
of the children.
The use of school buildings as social
and recreation centers also was urged
by the lecturer. School buildings. he said.
represented millions of dollars in financial
outlay, and under the present system.
were idle about 10 per cent of the time.
which. in his opinion. was an economic
waste.
Mr. Weller made a plea for the people
of Washington to contribute the Sl.JOO
asked by the Fairgrounds Association to
supplement the congressional apprOpria
ton for the year. He also asked his hear
crs to confer with him within the next
three or four days If they had any ques-
tions in their minds on the subject OF
recreation and Fairgrounds which they
desired to have answered
Need of Supervisors.
AS a striking illustrat ion of the need of
supervisors at all Fairgrounds to really
teach the children how to play" Mr..
Weller introduced twelve little girls from
the Georgetown play ground.
The result of the training given them
by the supervisor. Miss Ellen Hope Will
son, was shown in four dances perform
ed by the children. who We're all dressed
alike in white dresses, with red bows In
their hair The children were Misses
Edna Chamberlain. Mamie Walling, Ada
Hughes. Able O'Hearn. Able Kicker.
Blanche Davis. Gladys Ager. Mary Fay.
Annie Theurer Gertrude Herbert.
Dorothy OCallahan and Estelle Herbert.
Mrs. William s. Torbert was at the piano
during the dances.
At the conclusion of his speech Mr..
Weller received several of those who
were most interested in his work. They
congratulated him on the work SO far
accomplished, and questioned him about
the future plans of the Playground and
Recreation Association.