The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-05

No finer evidence of a city beauti- ful is to be found than the playground activity which is seething in every quarter of Greater Birmingham Mir. Nespor who is in general charge of the work, has mammoth undertaking on his hands for he is practically blaz- ing trail, but he has the assistance of not only q well trained corps of young women-the supervisors in each playground center. but of the women in that playground locality-and. ac- cording to reports of one supervisor, this is a gigantic influence.
 There are playground supervisors in every section, and all were instru- mental in making yesterday a really Joyous Fourth for the children, but none is a more magnetic personality than Miss Corinne Chisolm of the Beh- rens park playground. Miss Chisolm s ideas in the work she has adopted this summer are characteristic of a na- ture independent and strikingly orig inal. l said to her once, referring to some clever little character sketch she had written about a little "newsy": You are devoted to children, aren't
 
 markedly so I am fond of children. but not more so than are other women; l am fond of people. l love contact with just humanity. It makes no diff ference who it be-of what age or class. my pleasure and my inspiration come from folks" She teaches a Sun day school class of 1S-year- old girls; sweet, cheerful, volatile college girls and she declares that her management of the little foreign children over in her playground section helps her in the management of her Sunday school class. T suspect my Sunday school girls would not feel complimented" she remarked whimsicaly, if l said l find many points of resemblance be. tween them and my little Italian boys, but l do."
 "Behrens park" she said yesterday. "has so much natural beauty that we feel especially blest thought West End ""r'S Is prettier and North Birm' ngham
 larger. Our playground is thriv-
 tremendously and while there are
 It many things we need to equip
 are thoroughly happy in the good
 doing among the children just
 are. To tell you the truth" she
 ed with her little mischeyious laugh, I've are so proud of our play ground and of our work over there we are sure 10 succeed; some part Of our ideals must come true"
 What equipment does a playground need?"-appropriate query from one who never set foot within one, and she enumerated score of things-such as see-saws. Jumping boards, merry y-go- rounds and swings. We are anxious for field house." she informed me 'one with an indoor swimming pool and lSace where the children can come on cold winter afternoons and hear stories told, and play indoor games This will cost a lot of money, but our fund is growing fast"
 How are you collecting the fund? ?" she was asked. and told of the alpha betical plan. Some woman in our as- sociation whose name begins with an A is asked to secure donations from the others having her initial letter; Mrs Baker of the Bs has her sec ton, and so 1t goes. Why they are just chunking the money at us," she fin 1shed gaily; but 1t isn't necessarily money. Mechanics give their services during idle hours for building any Of the things that require their efforts We need service no less than money" "We have meetings in a shady spot in the park under the trees, and l get the women together any time by telephone. Each one notifies as many others as she can, for l find in this as in every other phase of work most generously
 
 many as 25 mothers at the meetings; there are always more somewhere in the park, for some have to be with the younger children, but are keeping in touch with the meeting just the same. The readiness with which the moth CTS come at the first suggestion of need is evidence to me of the fact that de- spite any theories may be advanced as to woman's neglect of the home through the influence of modern femin- 1stic ideas, the mothers today are at tending to their business--the business of home ma alxing-with both enthusiasm and love. The mothers who are suf- fragists are prominent in the work of our organization. We don't discuss suffrage, mind you, because it has noth- ing to do with the case, but have of ten thought of this"
 The children's games yesterday after noon; the joyousness with which they celebrated a sane and safe July 1 at the park was great satisfaction 10 N the parents in that section, all of whom have felt the benefit of this big playground Miss Chisolm said of her duties: "I am in the park from to Il in the mornings. and from 3 to ' in the afternoon. The number of children playing varies. but they reach a general average of 75 in the morning, and 200 in the afternoon Some like to come just after they are bathed and dressed in the afternoon. and play until time for the evening meal. I am not gath ering them about me. talking to them or playing with them constantly bu. after teaching new game I sit and look off. as the aim Is to develop lead CTS Yesterday we had no fixed arrange ment for certain children to take part 1n the dances: all who come to the park learn the folk dances and the games, all
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