The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-05
CHILDREN GREATLY DISAPPOINTED BY
 RAIN IN AT TERN00N
Programmes at Most of the Fairgrounds Not Carried Out-HOliday General
 ly Observed

Thousands of people. both children and adults, were disappointed yesterday by the rain. The elaborate Fourth of July programmes, which had been planned for the IA playground parks in the city, were not carried out
 At some of the parks where there was pavilion the programmes in part were given. At others there were no exercises at all. At the Ensley and Pratt City parks where there are pavilions the ex- ercises were given, but not with the com pleteness they would have shown had the weather been moro satisfactory.
 Those parks which had advertised their exercises for early in the day were crowd ed along about noon before the rain began. Those that had planned to begin about the midde of the afternoon and run through the evening were compelled to abandon practically everything. The nov ing pictures in the open air, folk dances and similar affairs were all abandoned.
 At Ensley and Pratt City the pro- grammes for the day were probably car ried through with better satisfaction than at any of the other places as these parks hhNc pdNlhSlS anu AiSS PRtabh eNNAa exercises early in the day The children, especially, stated z. Nespor, city recrea- ton director who had charge of the pro grammes. were disappointed. In the 14 playgrounds there were between 1700 and 20O0 children intending to take part ir the celebration.
 Not DOwncast, Says Nespor
 Mir Nespor states. however, that the different playground associations are not downcast. They are already looking for ward to the grand playground day to be held at the Alabama State Fair grounds August 13, which now more than ever will be gone Into with a vim by the children. Mir. Nespor states that on this occasion there will be over 2000 children taking part in the programme, which will be rendered by all the playground associations of the city in consolidation.
 The business section was very quiet. Practically all the stores closed in the afternoon. The majority of people ap- peared to be spending the holiday at home with their families. Many picnic crows. in spite of the rain, were in evidence at the parks and amusement places, how ever, and good crowds attended the the atres A large crowd appeared at Rick wood for the ball game.
 The banks, postoffice, the city hall. courthouse and similar places were closed. President George Ward of the city commission spent almost the entire day up until evening at the various parks. He went to Ensley, Pratt City, North Bir- bingham, Avondale. West End and other places. At Ensley park and at Pratt City, where a big barbecue was given, MT Ward made short addresses to tho people and was received with enthusiasm.
 A feature of the Ensey park exer- cises was the presentation of a fountain to the park by Mrs. E. w. Averyt. The fountain was presented in the name oi the Woman's Christian Temperance union, and is very handsome. being a rustic ef- feet made out of stone. The moving pie lures at Ensley Wesley House were given last night, but the outdoor moving pic. lures which had been planned for many of the parks were abandoned.