The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03

IN the proper environment, and surely
the streets OF New York are not TIT en-
v!ronmcnt for any child.
The Parks and Fairgrounds Associa-
ton Is the union of two CARNATIONS,
the Metropolitan Parks Association. or
EariHed February -, 1905. and the
Brooklyn Society for Parks and Play
grounds. founded IN 1889 and for many
years conducted under the personal
management of Mrs. Tunis q. Bergen.
II was Incorporated under the laws "
the State of New York in ls0s. George
Gordon Battle, formerly Assistant Dis
trict Attorney, IS the president Of the
association, and Eugene Phlbin was
president from 1906 until 1913. and de-
Cldres that the organization IL one OF
the most worthy OF all New York's many
charities. The parks ana Fairgrounds
conducted 10y the association are open
to all. In them the children are taught
games and useful little crafts. In some
instances the boys have themselves
made all the articles used in their games
such as tennis nets, racquets baseballs.
bats, baskets; In fact when they run
short Of toys the children supply their
own needs by making them.
They are instructed in folk dances
and singing AZ we'll, and occasionally
they give exhibitions OF their progress
that the public may See what the society
Is doing. Last summer on the green In
Central Park they gave pageant for
the benefit of the public.
The value Of parks and Fairgrounds
for children has been abundantly dem
onstratcd. For every child who Is for
tunate enough 10 have the usual privi-
III L.. l,s. lit thnr. "a
twenty-five who have not these priv
ilcgcs, and while the one child might
aid the community by becoming law
abiding citizen, there are sure To he two
or three of the other twenty-five who
viii do the opposite II allowed TO run
wild under the present conditions.
Now l do not mean to say that two
or three children out of every twenty
five left to grow up on the streets will
turn out badly. but what do wish to
imply is that those two or three would
be better citizens II they had the proper
environments. A man or woman may
be anything but good member OF So
| ciety and yet never commit a crime or
| break a law. There are many who live
| from year to year. any way or every
way, never caring what happens in their
city or country. taking an interest in
nothing but their bread and butter. As
soon as we can interest people in the
welfare of others II Will be better for
the whole nation. There will be n ma
tionwide movement to better the con-
ditions Of the poorer classes; they will
gradually develop themselves and work
out a condition satisfactory for the
masses and classes, The !. w. VS.
and their kind will bs thing Of the
past.
Social agitators would do better "a
look toward the welfare of the coming
generation than to try to upset pres
ent social conditions.
The Parks and Fairgrounds Associa-
ton cndeavors to do just this. 1t de-
votes it's resources to active work with
and for the children of the city. and
many public spirited citizens and friend,
OF the children contribute freely TOWARD
it's maintenance.
Randmaster Henry Lift is anon,
those who have the interest of the as
sociation as well as of the children "A
heart, and he has offered his service
and thos. of his Veteran Corps Artil
lery Military Band for "a series of con
ccrts for the benefit Of the association
to he held at the Twelfth Regimen
Armory. In the week of May ~. 1t /
hoped that these concerts will aid tn
association materially in It's good work