Evening star., 1914-04-19

n EMARKABLE advances in the
X matter of municipal recreation
facilities have been made in the
German city of Erfurt. sometimes called
the Venice of Germany"
Erfurt possesses a population of about
10000. The river Gera and its branches
traverse various parts of the town. and
there are bridges to such number that
much that is picturesque may be OBJ
served along the waterfronts. The pub
lie bath houses are located at convenient
points along the river, which has its
course in the mountains of the Thuringer
Wald and is protected against pollution,
SO that all classes of persons enjoy the
privilege of bathing and swimming in
fresh running water within walking dis
tance of their homes.
The largest bathing establishment is
divided into two sections, one of which
is free. while the admission fee to the
other is only two and a half cents when
the patron fetches his own bathing re-
quisites. If he does not, then the cost
Is something over three cents. These sec
tions are divided into compartments for
men and women. Children are instructed
in swimming by competent teachers
The German Venice has beautiful pub
lie parks that skirt the river Gera, and
the municipality employs largo force
of landscape gardeners and laborers to
maintain things in order. The city also
owns and keeps up for public recreation
the Steiger Wald a forest extending
for number of miles in the adjoining
region In these public parks and woods
summer houses, benches and tables are
set at convenient intervals, and these
are free to all, except that children ac-
companied by nurses are. restricted to
particular places reserved for them. At
these children's Fairgrounds there are
generally piles of sand low tables and
seats, where the youngsters may play
and romp. Flowers may not be plucked
in the parks. but in the Steiger WaId
the public is permitted to stroll and
gather flowers as it will. the only re-
striction being the necessary protection
of the trees and plants.
Erfurt also owns several large tracts
that are inclosed and fitted up as play
grounds for athletic clubs Certain hours
are reserved for each club using the
grounds. for which an annual fee of 81 20
is charged.
Vacation camps are established each
summer for the benefit of the poor chill
dren of Erfurt. who receive outings in
the woods for four weeks in July or Au-
gust. free of cost for food and other es-
sentials. They do not remain at the
camping ground overnight, but are
brought thither each morning from their
homes in the city when the weather is
favorable. The children are accompanied
by school teachers or other competent
adults and proper facilities are provided
for their exercise and entertainment.
These summer outings are conducted .un-
der the supervision of a private charit able
organization. the Erfurter Jugendhort
The municipality, however contributes
an annual quota that covers part of the
cost of maintenance.
The Stadt Theater is the principal opera
and playhouse in Erfurt. This theater.
with all its properties, is owned by the
city, and the franchise or lease is dis
posed of each year to the highest bidder.
One of the conditions of the lease is that
the regular stock company shall give one
suitable play or opera each week in the
winter, to which the price of admission
shall not be more than 10 cents, and 5
cents to children under ten years of age.
The tickets are sold by lot or CHARGE
without regard to time of purchase. SO
that no preference is shown in the distri-
button of seats. These performances,
given at prices considerably less than the
cost of production, are generally educa-
tional as well as entertaining. since they
include productions of Shakespeare and
Schiller and well selected plays of modern
authorship.
In winter the working people of Erfurt
frequently have the opportunity Of at
tending. at a nominal cost. lectures and
concerts arranged under the supervision
of the public school authorities and pri-
vate associations The prices of admis-
sion range from 21a to Il cents The en-