El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-09
Keen Children Out Doors
Life in the Open Brings Power and
Can BE Made Source of Pleas
IRE With Little Trouble.
Ella Wheeler Wilicox.-
= BE Mothers and Teachers clut

IT. he Mothers and Teachers club
meets to discuss subjects Of mu-
tuaI interest. and I am asked to
read a paper for discussion on What
Should Be the Social Amusements OF
Our Children from 10 to 16 Years Of
Age, and the Hours and Why?
All kinds of outdoor games and
sports should form a part Of the social
amusement of children.
Parents and teachers will be bene-
fitted personally if they arrange their
time in such a manner that they can
study such amusements and act as
guides and instructors for the children
intrusted to their care.
The tendency of the time is more and
more toward outdoor life; and this
means increased vitality and more
power, mental and physical. for the
race
Horseback riding, basketball, tennis
golf. croquet, water sports, running
races, skating. all OF these amusementS
are encouraged and taught
Every Child should BE Taught Dancing.
Every child should be taught to
dance.
1t gives grace of motion. ease Of de-
pertinent and develops every muscle
in the body, and causes good circula-
tion of the blood
Every home where there are children
should encOurage a half hour or an
hour OF dancing every evening before
the retiring hour, or just before the
last meal
In small cities. where neish bOring
children live at convenient distances. It
can be arranged that these dancing en-
tertainments occur at different homes
alternately. In this manner. at least
three times a week. the amusement
can be INDUCED in under agreeable
social conditions
Clubs organized for the study of nat
ural history ore excellent methods OF
entertaining children
After awakening the interest of the
children in nature. in plant life. in n
sect life and sea life by reading from
good and instructive books on t--ese
subjects, picnic parties in the woods
and on the shore. arranged with the
object in view of studying nature in its
own hcunts, viii prove of great value
and pleasure to the older people as
well as to the younger ones.
Information Bureau In Home Excellent.
There was once a home where the
host 1nauSurated such plan for each
member of the family. He felt valu
able time was wasted at the dinner
hour by idle talk so he asked each
member OF the circle and each guest
who remained for more than one repaSL
history or science.
A remarkable fund of Information
resulted.
The hostess prOpOunded the question
at the next meal; Does any one here
know what is meant by the scientific
term The Drift2'
No one did; and then she proceeded
to tell them She had found her infor-
nation in Ignatius DOnnelly's remark
able book, ''Rasnarok."
A book she would never have thought
of reading save under these circum-
stances.
Another one of the household un-
earthed q book all about trees. and
each day she brought d new item of in /
formation about curious trees
Stlll another found a book contain
tnE zone Thousand Curious Facts"
The host told historical facts which I
are not generally known.
And so the little social information /
circle proved a success.
instruction in Music of Value.
The Natural History Picnic club I
could be made a wonderful Organiza- !
ton if this feature were introduced and .
the children given an hour weekly 10 /.