Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-04

Second year under super
visor brings excellent re-
suits at Long View.

Prohtihg by years experience in
the conducting OF supervised play tbs
Fairgrounds committee Of the civic
department Of the Rock Island Wo-
mans club was better able this year
90 achieve real results n the work
~ Long View park Playground equip
ment had been installed at the grounds
3 number Of years previous to the
fine when the Woman's club took up
the matter OF supervised play, and
the children Of the neighboEh0od made
use OF the apparatus, but under the
direction of no older person qualified
70 look after their safety. Organized
play was first instituted 81 Long View
last year and after the arst month
Miss Huida Jansen WAS placed in
charge. She is young woman who
has had large experience n the direct
ing OF children az play and at once
put new spirit into the Fairgrounds.
The attendance at once increased
parents no longer hesitated to send
their little tots to the grounds through
fear that the older ones would hurt
them In their play and very soon the
grounds were popular resort.
Previous TO this tina the teter
boards. lawn swings, rope swings and
big and little slides had been placed
In the grounds During the summer of
1914 two tennis courts we're cOmplet-
ed, one OF which is e skinned court.
A baseball diamond was laid. where
the boys could play playground base
ball, volley ball court was placed
and sand boxes were installed Under
the direction Of the committee ig
charge, OF which Mrs F, c. Denkmann
Is chairman. Mrs NJ. c. Rice, Mrs.
Charles Esplin and Mrs. S W. sesrle
are members. number OF innovations
were introduced. the most popular Of
which was the clay modelling hour,
Are Open IL Weeks.
This year the grounds were opened
June 8, continuing Il weeks, closing
Aug. 20. During the first week Miss
Mabel Freistat was in charge OF the
work. Miss Jansen served 10 weeks.
and during the last week Miss Laura
Anderson had direct supervision of
Z the younger children Cecil Koch.
ADonald Vance and Glenn Reid. all
8from the local Y NJ c. A. had the d.
4 rection Of the play of the older boys,
relieving the lady supervisors Of much
responsibility
A supply house. the gift Of Mrs. S
S. Davis. Mrs, T B. Davis. Mrs ". II.
Marshall and c F Gaetjer for the park
board. was erected during the past
summer and added greatly to the
pleasure Of the grounds, for through
It the work was rendered easier and
the children greatly enjoyed it, Here
were kept all supplies used in the
ground activities, a table with bench
es was installed, which was used on
rainy days by the children for clay
modelling and sewing It is a com
modious room, we'll lighted ana well
adapted to the needs for which it was
erected
A number OF dolls with material
for dressing them was donated TO the
committee this year for use by the
girls They were fitted out time and
again with elaborate outfits made by
the girls under the direction Of the
supervisor This was one Of the real
pleasures OF the park. and at the close
of the season the dolls with tbeir out
fits were donated to some of the poor
children who frequented the park and
who had never before owned a really,
truly doll. and their delight in the
gifts was ample compensation for the
work entailed in keeping them at the
park In addition to thu doll dress
making school. dresses for four Of
+ta ~ ~. F>HI
dances at the close of the season we're
made by the girls at the park One
Of their greatest delights was making
two jackets for a pair Of two-months-
old twins at the West End settlement.
The tots were brought 10 the play
grounds on the closing day and after
being dressed IN their nav Jackets, a
picture of them was taken in the arms
OF two of the little dressmakeFs And
such a delight Why. even the babies
seem to smile with satisfaction The
girls also made a dress for q little
girl who was in need Of such gar
ment. which brought to her great
pleasure. They made blocks for a
quilt which was later put together
and disposed of and which kept small
hands busy on many a rainy day when
other play was out of the question.
Clay Modelling a Delight.
Clay modelling was one Of the great
est of delights at the park, and here.
as was the case at the Fifth avenue
grounds, real talent was shown. A
little girl one day designed a room.
fully furnished and decorated. On the
floor were fringed rugs il which fiow-
er patterns were traced, the table was
set for a meal with plates. cups. sau-
GERS, knives. forks and spoons, chairs
were placed about, hfghboy was a