The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-15
PLAY GROUND OPENING
The Formal Opening of the Chill
dren's Playground Was
A TREAT OF THE TREATS
A Large Number OF Children and Crown
Ups Were Present to Celebrate the
Occasion, Including Mr.. and Mrs.
n J. R. Treat

n. j. r. Treat.
Hats off, citizens, and give three
cheers to the youngest old couple in
Hays and Western Kansas About one
year ago Mr.. and Mrs. Treat who have
spent their long life in doing splendid
things for Hays gave to the town
four acres of ground near the center
Of town for children's playground.
1t is located near the park ard not far
from the banks Of big Creek" It is
a perfect plot of ground with nice
shady walnut grove on the south It is
as level as floor with a cTinkIy buff
fslo grass carpet covering it entirely
without a DEVILS ear cactus to thorn
the children's teet While these dear
old people are always thinking of 9th
ers and doing the nice things for the
town socially ard religiously perhaps
nothing will be so generally used by all
classes as the years come and go as this
gift. A plot of ground worth thous-
ands of dollars given to the city IS a
playground for all the children for all
time was q generous act and the chill
dren Of the present and coming gen
erations will call them blessed. just
think of it. These dear people were
not trying to cash opportunity but to
serve their age, to make others really
happy. To think that this new social
service should come from paople who
are past eighty years old is simply
grand, and again we say, hats off to
our octoRenarian benefactors.
There is but one string to the gift.
It must be fitted out by the city and
used by the children. The terms were
accepted by the town council, and a
board On play grounds was appointed by
it. Prof. Van Cleavc of the Hays Kan
sas State Normal, was made Supt. and
director of the ground. He is spending
his vacation without remuneration
20 direct this move ment. He had
off f-rs from other cities for his ser
vicies. but he has gladly given it to US.
Because Of this we ara 20 have the
latest ard best ordered, and most COM
plete playground Of cities of our class
in the United States. Playground di-
ractors who spend their entiTe time
directing this movement informs Us
that out of 376 cities OF our class they
! have not fourd q ground as complete
in every detail as ours. Hays does
things. Watch our smoke!
We now have our ground in full use
| E,o f7-o Of fHc
! tiny-tots, two teeter boards, two mer
ry-go rounds, six swings, the giant
stride. horizontal bar, two basket bal
courts, three tennis courts, an athletic
field, that has upon it soccer field, &
running and racing track. and vaultiDg
and jumping pits. These are now il
use under fhe direction of the bes
athletic and playground director in th'
state, Prof. VanCleave. This is no
i1st show, for the children are ueins
the ground.
To get the bet results for all and Il
provide for the future we need vel
equipped ground A shelter and too
house, and a heavy woven wire fencr
will soon be placed. 1t is hoped tina
some good citizen will give a flag pol
and large flag TO the movement I
| drinking fountain must be placed Of
the ground for the little citizens 1
soma one wants to be a real benefac
tor and to be long remembered by a
let him place on the ground lars
cement wading pool. This could b
easily dope and the city would glad
furnish the water, and IN winter
could be used as g skating rink. Jus
think OF the gIadness all this wi
bring to the young citizens Of our towr
and it will teach them the glad gam
Of life, and the countless numbers thu
Eill call the donors a joy forever.
To get the most out OF this COMM
nifty interest movement, gardening
to be added to this ''glad game" und9
) the supervision of q practical gardn'
in the sp-ing. It Is simply fine
; know tnat Hays is always setting Il
+ pace fer the western end Of the stat
81 The ground was opened in due for
Thursday evening, August 9th.
! great crowd came to witness the ch
dren enter upon their play field.
was a heart-toQchinZ sight TO see ME
Treat who has been 3 helpless inTai
! for nearly two years brought in b
! wheeI-chair to see the field. hear {
] glad happy shouts of the children a
to witness the PLEASURE that was
marifest on the face of Mr. Treat
/ his efforts to maize others happy.
II J q. Wood of Lamar, Colorado, :
tied the Blackmun family and
! young daughters, BI-die and Eva. Su
day.
Since last Saturday John o L ough
has received eight Ford cars dire
from the factory at Detroit and 81
them all. and has orders for eig
more. At this writing, Monday, be
in KaIsas CITY trying to make arranl
ments for more ears. The fo!iozi
are those who have bought ears: 7
Smith boys, two. ard Mr. Giflsr
Cathzrine, one; Roy Ward, onet =
Stock, one; Ada CEissman, Bucke
TYP, one; Pete Jorgensss, SalIl
enc; snd Mr, TsuseheF Of Eilis. one.