South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-19
RECREATION EXPERT
IN SPLENDID ADDRESS
F. B. Barnes Gives Discourse
on Fairgrounds and Social
Center Methods and Results.
Other Speakers Heard.


one. character is born. strengthened
end developed. in the other it is
overpowered. torn down and destroy
ed said +. r. Barnes. municipal rec
reation expert Of South Bend before
the civics department OF the Misha-
waka Woman's club Thursday after
noon IN the entertainment parlors Of
the Methodist Memorial church. Mr.
Barnes was one OF three speakers Of
the afternoon and his subject was
Public Fairgrounds
In speaking of his topic Mr. Barnes
said that the playground was merely
one phase Of recreation and the con-
structive system of recreation. The
playground was "A community Cod
send in some places. lie illustrated
the value OF the playground with an
instance of South Bend street
where the citizens had requested OF
the city for additional police prOteC-
ton, from rowdies in the ncighbor-
hood. Mr.. Barnes stated that on in
Nestigating and questioning the young
men, he found that a playground
where they could gather after sup
per nights and play ball and enjoy
other outdoor sports Of a clean and
sturdy nature, would solve the neigh
borhood trouble without the aid of
the additional police Further. he
stated the police would probably pro-
tect the reefs. but 10 would drive
the offending young men and boys
into the saloons pool rooms and 9TH
or places where destructive recrea-
ton would act.
He next illustrated the daily rou-
tine OF "A hours. drawing a large
circle on "A blackboard and dividing
1t into three parts. one representing
eight hours for sleep. another eight
hours for work and the other eight
Ef.rT "a ION fffH of
recreation he repeated was one of the
principles OF character building u
is the time when we do the things we
desire 20 do. that is the things that
are not needed TO sustain life The
other ] 6 hours OF sleep and work are
required TO sustain life and a clean
conscience.
The destructive factors of the rec
reatiOn period arc the dance halls
saloons. pool rooms and places OF
vice, which are commonly called
commercial recrca ton. The con
structive factors of that period are
the homes schools, festivals
churches, church entertainments and
organizations, etc.
He next produced a chart showing
the various branches of recreation
First was the municipal recreation
committee 10 be constituted of mem
bers of thes chool city. civil city ana
park board. then came the various
departments or branches of the sys-
tenn, school gardens commercial rec
reauon, outings social center. play
grounds and schools, pageants. fcsti-
walls, athletic declarations and schools
f1r recreation directors.
He spoke in length of the Haley
school social center i'm the west end
of South Bend OF which he is i'm charge
telling &C the value of the recreation
system introduced i'm that section of
the city. He said that the building
was open from three TO four nights
every week and special entertain
ments were given as occasions arose.
one instance ne emphasized was tho
first neighborhood party which was
given at the Haley school and which
was q big success He said that over
25O persons young and old. attende j.
The meeting opened with program
of songs which the audience joined
IN, followed hy talks given by city and
school officials which was followed 10y
dancing. An orchestra was present
and a grand march led 10y Mayor and
Mrs. Fred G.. Keller started off.
school desks and chairs were cleared
10 the side walls and dancing was en-
lONCd. Refreshments were served
and the party ne said broke up at
1880, early enough so that the eight
hours of sleep for the working men
were not Impaired by the evenings
entertainment More of these parties
In speaking of the Public school
open Evenings plan the speaker said
that even though few windows were
being smashed. and CRATE broken.
seat or desk or side wall married or
scratched. characters were being built
and developed and these things
should come in for the merest consid-
Grafton.
The future school building viii con-
form 10 the new thought i'm social
centers: il viii not only be construct
Cd from the best point OF efficiency
for the day session education for chill
dren. but would $50 Pc des gntd for
social center recreation.
Talks cora thc Church.
Rev. III. j. Clifford. s~Islant pastor
or the First Presbyter. church of
South 81. d. addressed tEa muet.r4 ON
the subj .ct schools and Churches
AS Social Cent.rs Illustrating The
church as social center he spoke of
an instance score of years ago lu
Leigh. En- gland. where "a great church
I'm the midst OF a community of sew
eral thousand population had but n
very small church attendance. A
minister given that charge started in
on a plan 20 organize church societies
and ladies' aids and other forms OF
social activities I'm a short time the
attendance at that church was in
creased many fold and Do was soon
the talk OF the entire British isles as
this was one OF The first movements
Of SIS kind In that field I'M that day
10 was called social service today it IS
not broad enough TO cover the field of
social service.
Miss cara Gilbert ~ KcndaUri'le
Ind who is wl luo n to Che mem-
beers Of the clul having addressed the
literary and m d.nar.Tert7 in the
past Was rEe sn.aE.r uI the AFT
crnoon. fr et.1 N.s Municipal