Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-08-26
THE CHAUTAUQUA.
Some of The Talks Monday and
Tuesday.

| Supervised Fairgrounds Tuesday. He
said that the playground question is
not one vital only or chiefly to cities,
but is equally burning question for
the small town and the country cross
roads, for the country general store
with its low ideals and it's vitiating
atmosphere stamps its character up
on the boys who gather there. The
association endeavors to form young
life so that it will never need to be
reformed The problem is three fold:
There is the question of scientific di-
rection of child play; also that of the
proper atmosphere of recreation for
those older than the child; and tho
other problem of how people should
spend leisure time. Tell me how
you use the time that is yours and |
will: tell you what kind of a person
youare," exclaimed Mr.. Dickinson.
Play life is natural in the child, but
it must be wisely directed or it may
lead to ruin.
In speaking on commercialized re-
creation Mr. Dickinson discussed the
movies. All forms of commercial rec
reation should be brought under ef-
fectivecontrol, especially the moving
picture theater. Children and young
people are greatly affected by this
popular appeal to the eye. The lee
turer related how he had recently at
tended DELIGHTFULLY."- appointed movie
in a large city T.. -Four reels were
shown, and three of them were dis
tinctly worth while. But the fourth
picture was a subtle presentation of
crime, a picture vicious to look upon
and evil to think about. The scenes
were very suggestive and led to the
grand climax of murder. When the
climax came little girl screamed,
and Mr.. Dickinson later learned that
children present slept little that night
and sure sign that the show had
wrought evil to their forming minds.
To show a way out, Mr.. Dickinson
told how one committee had succeed
ed in controlling the programs of a
certain theater. 1t is a committee
representing the various moral forces
in the town and it includes the thea
ter manager. This manager wishes
his show not only to be above re-
proach but to be a teacher of ethics
in the community and promoter of
high ideals. Once a week, with the
manager, these people go over what
the market affords. DR.. Dickinson
included in his criticism of moving
picture shows the fact that they de-
veIope the new disease which is ap-
pearing in American life which he
named spectatoritis.
In every ideal entertainment every
body takes part. That is the beauty
of the playground-there are no spec
tators, everybody plays.
Calls were made by which Supt.
Herbert Pryor of our Schools, is to
be of a committee of five to put Mex
leo on the map with the National
Playground Association. 1t may be
the entering wedge toward systematic
physical development in the grade
schools.
National Bad Habits" was dis
cussed Tuesday night by Congress
man Victor Murdoch of Kansas. He
kept the crowd stirred with humor-
Gus story-pith and point Murdoch is
good one. He made the work OF
Congress look pretty small along
some lines.
The Male Quartet gave a lively
and interesting program.
Miss Jean Protzman, in charge Of
the Junior Chautauqua. got the little
folks well started Monday morning
and is working toward a special pro
gram by the Juniors for the latter
part of the week.