The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-11
Fairgrounds and
Recreation Parks

The Congress OF Fairgrounds ana
Recreation that was In session here
last week brought n coterie OF bril-
liant and gifted men and women to-
Scther from all parts OF the country.
That congress was brought to INch-
mond for the express purpose OF plant
ing the seed of interest and know
ledge in the minds and heart, Of tho
people OF Richmond. Maybe some OF
us don't know that we have only
made provision for one properly
equipped and regularly run play
ground. and that that has not yet
been started. though the money has
been voted for 1t by the city. ana
maybe all OF us don't know thai,
there are some eight or ten play
grounds conducted during each sum
mcr. In the school yards and grounds
of the school buildings. and there ac-
iualiy exist good many peopl that
think these are hplenty. aud fold
their hands comDiaccntly and wonder
what all this hubdub is about anyway.
really believe that the people that
are not vitality ami earnestly inter
cstcd in Fairgrounds are tho people
that sit In their own small circle OF
life and never travcl beyond the orbit
OF deciding whether TO spend the sum
mcr In the mountains or at the sea-
side. II is a natural enough thing.
know the waste Of souls and lives, ana
the wreckagc OF human hopes ana
longings that sweep 50 rcIentlessly
along LIES highway. You see they
came 10 the little window OF their
lives. these people that do not know
and never viii understand. and they
look out in the fair little garden that
grows beside their doorstep ana the
scent Of the hedge or honeysuckle
somes to them mingled with the breath
OF n radiant rosetrce climbing the gar
den wall, and they sigh and say to
that faint stirring OF the soul within:
WHY it is foolish for the city ia
grown ups: anybody that tries hard
enough may make their own Bit OF
garden and bright spot
All. soul that does not understand
come from your window there: come
down from the sight of Your own
little pcsy bed. and conc to the houses
that row after row. row after row,
are set right upon the street. Many
of them open upon dark and ioath
some alloyways, and the one door ana
the one window front a narrow pass
that frankly gazes with conplaceucc
into the one door and ono window OF
its neighbor Just across tn. way In
such a bower. and from such 2 gar
den must the small boys and girls OF
the utterly poor and destitute seek
FOR the blossoms from which they are
10 weave the garlapds for a life timr
wearing. Unfold your hands unknow-
ing one, and come ana see those child
rem IN their happy. cas- eless play. that
is their Cod given right ana teach
those useless hands Of yours the task
that lies so more than ready 10 your
very door.
Beside the Fairgrounds Tor the
children who must spend their lives
always in the city. with never a sight
of the wide meadows or the thFill OF
summers day, there arc the recreation
parks and halls 10 be arranged for
the bigger girls and boys that toll ali
day in the factories and stures. When
work time is ito. they Gr. So AJAX
ious 10 snatch ;hcir at OF play time.
and there isn't any place at home in
which TO play The most wonderful
man told the people here last week all
sTound for b., Ctf,s ami bDvs sue
cess and how much IL meant To a city
and to the nation itself in the deYel-
opment OF better men and women. He
said that one mustn't take feeble
Kerosene lamp and set IL up in the
dingy basement OF a schoolhousc and
expect with the added attractions OF
cement floor and squeaky piano 10
compete with the bright decorations
and gay music OF the dance hall over
the way We have got 70 have ii just
as pretty. II possible pre,ter, and the
people that help must help because
their hearts are in It, and because OF
longing wt.h all their might and main
10 show the world OF toilers the way
TO play In the most wholesome ana
healthy fashion.
II is TO be wonderful factor in
The life OF our city. this playground
AVID recreation work, and right now
is the time TO take hold one play
ground. and that not yet started. be-
side> some few small ones that work
in the summer, that is all VIC have
to begin with, and there is the need
for all OF uI 10 the least one TO take
part and forward this movement
Your children play. They love IL ana
fairly revel in the sandpilc and the
swing and the seesaw and the Siding
board Won't YOU please think about
the little children that haven't got
any sandple or swing or sliding
board or even any place to put one?
BRENT WITT.
Coats for Morning and Afternoon.
II Is real jewel Of coat that
Will cover all the service expected OF
II for spring and coming summer for
models are so varied i'm style. One
outside wrap no longer covers all the
uses 10 which ii may be put. There
is the short. sporting coat of bright
cotton matclassc. velvet cloth or