Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-02

the prize for the kite that few th'
highest.
While the boys were flying kites {
group of little girls. is in number
gave an exhibition OF the fancy dances
that they had learned during the pas
month. the mountain march. the barn
dance and the fairy reel. With their
pretty white dresses and pink sashes
and lovely. unconscious grace and ease
they made a beautiful picture as they
went through the various movements
to the music of n victrola- Consider
ing the short time In which they have
been learning the steps they gave an
excellent presentation of the pretty
dances. Six boys next gave an ex-
hibition of pyramid building, acquit-
! ting themselves remarkably well with
precision and quickness.
The main events of the festival were
the races open to any child between
the ages of IL and 16 who cared to par
ticipate. Professor Adolph Open
heimer. supervisor of play at River
side grounds. Moline; Roy Newhouse,
supervisor of play at Prospect park
Fairgrounds, and NJ. A. Clevett and
Miss Jansen acted as starters and
timers.
In the 50-yard wash for boys Joe
Coyle won the prize and In the 5O-yard
dash for girls Esther Pardon was win
ner. Wilma Rolf won the prize in the
potato race for girls and in the three
legged race for girls Mary Hemenway
and Gertrude Helpenstell carried off
honors. Richard Dopp won the shot
put for boys and in the back to back
race for boys Wilfred Ellinwood and
Joe Coyle were victorious. There was
no fake about any of these races, no
fixing beforehand of the winners, but
each of the dozens of children that
entered each event did so with the in
tention of winning the coveted prize
The ennis games and baseball games
were no. played because of the poor
condition of the grounds.
The prizes given in each event were
similar. consisting of sterling silver
pins attached to which were silver
medals. On the pin was Inscribed the
event for which the prize was given
and on the medal the inscription First
prize, Aug. 30 (the original date of
the festivaD Long View Play Grounds"
delighting the recipient and earning
for him a prize that he will cherish
for many years.
Opened In June.
The play grounds with a supervisor
regularly employed was inaugurated
in the city and established in Long
View park in June by the civic depart
meth of the Woman's club working
through a committee composed of Mrs
nd Mrc Il In
which committee was later increased
bv the addition of Mrs. S. w. Searle
and Mrs. Charles Esplin, when the
Denkmann square Fairgrounds in the
west end of the city were opened
These ladies have worked with untir-
ing zeal to make of the movement the
great success that it has been. They
have given freely of their time and |
effort, have seen to it that equipment |
has been installed and the grounds |
placed in condition for such work. Dur |
ing the last month Miss Hulda Jansen |
or Davenport, an experienced super
visor of play, has been at Long View |
park and at Denkmann square Mr..
Clevett and c. d. Curtis have been in |
charge, teaching the children games,
dances, telling stories, etc, and enter
aiming them throughout the day. The
average attendance at Long View
park has been 125 and at the west end
park SO, the latter being mostly boys
who have played tennis and volley ball
md baseball.
The committee in charge hopes with
n another year to establish other play
grounds in various parts of the city
where they are mostly needed, and VIII
work with that end in view
Supervised play will be discontinued
It both Fairgrounds from this time
The equipment will be taken up and
tored until the opening of the season
text year.