The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-24


 CTS apron strings and to stand up for ourselves according to the laws of na- ture, a decent respect for the requirements alienable rights to
 'iLife-That if we are all created equal. whether rich or poor. we all ought to have the same chance to get fresh air, sunshine pure food and pure water.
 Liberty-That we ought to be allowed to run and play as long as we like while we are growing as fast as we can and un- til We become strong and robust
 I The Pursuit of Happiness That we are entitled to some place where we can fol- low our pursuit of happiness, and where we can play without trespassing on any body's grounds, where nobody can com plain that we make too much noise, and where we sha mt break anything our fath- CTS will have to pay somebody for We hold the above truths to be self levident, and therefore we, the children of the United States. appeal to the taxpayers of each village, town and city to grant us spot in each community. to be known as the chlldrens playground, that we may there do all those acts and things which We should by right do
 And for the support of this declaration. with firm reliance on the protection of our homes, we pledge our long and healthy lives, when we shall be grown, to the ser vice of other children.
 I Signed, Sealed and Delivered to the Grown Ups by the Children of the United States From Ladies Home Journal, July number, 1915.
 That the declaration of the children Of the United States has had an answer in Birmingham is attested by the splendid playground association here and the work being done in this city
 That the playgrounds are an addition to the citys welfare and of inestimable value to the entire community is an un- disputed fact.
 Justice Charles E. Hughes of the United States supreme court makes the following statement: T do not know of any better way to teach boy to be honorable and straight than to give him chance to play with his comrades. If there Is one thing that we need more than another 1t is the constant emphasis among our citizens of that spirit of fair play, that willing ness to give and take, that generosity in l defeat and that lack of assertivenesS in victory which we identify with true sport, and which is learned best of all in child hood upon the playgrounds.'
 | It has been found the playground is a positive factor in lessening juvenile de- linauency. When the child Is on the play ground, he or she is naturally out of rnis- chief, away from the traffic of the street and under proper supervision the influ- ence is all for good.
 l 1t is most remarkable fact that not | only is Birmingham one of the cities hav- ing the highest average attendance, but the cost per child each month does not exceed 1 cent. which is the lowest cost of | any city in the United States Savannah is next and Trenton, N. J., third.
 The attendance on the Birmingham play grounds in the year 1914 from July l to January 3l, period of seven months, was 94,0S2; in 1915 it reached five times that number the attendance over the same number of months being 474,173. MT. z. Nespor, who has charge of the recreation department of the city says the attend ance will far surpass that in another year.
 In 1914 Birmingham had six play grounds; in 1915, 20 are in operation.
 It cost the city to operate playgrounds for June, July and August. 1914. s2935 03 Last year it cost for seven months, $4455 .S6. Local playgrounds last year installed, through their associations, permanent and perishable apparatus which cost 5000 permanent meaning swings, see-saws giant strides, etc.; perishable being balls, bats, nets etc.
 It would cost the city to operate these playgrounds three months, if the super visers were paid $60 or s75 per month. S6525,. which is the average salary paid for such work. However. through the generosity of the citizens the playground work of this city does not cost the city one cent. Not that it should be run with out the citys help, but understanding the serious financial condition of Birmingham, the interested citizens and supervisors have stood by the movement.
 The comparatively small amount collect ed through the week of happiness" will cover the small salary of the supervisors. No new work. however, can be under taken as far as equipment is concerned.
 Some supervisors worked all winter
 without cent of pay, and now receive $25. which little more than covers their actual expenses.
 The other activities of the recreation
 department, such as baseball teams girls
 and boys athletics at the city gymnasium } story hours etc, will be spoken of from time to time.
 A VISIT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS. ] Hon. George Ward was asked on one
 occasion if he painted the city automo- } piles yellow on account of that being the ' suffrage color and realizing the strength of that organization in this city he wanted : to honor them, he stated he didn't know , yellow was their color and if he had he probably would have done It anyway, as
 he was an ardent adherent to the cause, but those cars were painted yellow sc
 that they would be so attractive nc
 woman would ever be seen in them and
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 when she used ferns and yellow lilies to
 make the rooms attractive. An orange punch was served by Miss Belle Acton
 Miss Annie Hofer and Miss Etta Tidwell Other light refreshments were served tc
 the members and following extra guests
 Mrs Kyle Lawson, Mrs. H. D. Allen,
 Mrs. G. F. Bentley, Mrs. Frank Darrell Mrs. R. M. Malone, Mrs. J. W. Aken Mrs. J. w. Hamilton, Mrs. J. $. Hamil' ton, Mrs. Albert Hocutt, Mrs. T. Van- ldever and Mrs. s. V. Hamilton.
 The ladies of the Ensley Methodist
 church will give a silver tea this after noon at the home of Mrs. A. F. Elliott. Mrs J. Moog and her daughter, Miss : Aileen Moog, are visiting relatives ir ISelma,
 Miss May Agnes Hilleke has returned from St. Mary's college at Notre Dame Ind.
 MT. and Mrs Milton Crane, Miss Edns lCrane, Miss Anne White and MT. Alvir Ethridge have returned from a motol trip to Montevallo.
 Mrs. w. A. Clark of Aberdeen. Miss. lis visiting her mother. Mrs. Josephine Sc. vier, in Wylam.
 The marriage of Miss Annie Lou Wood to MT. A. Hendricks Darden took place Hast evening at 2 o'clock at the Ruhama Baptist church in East Lake, the Rev iThe church was beautifully decorated fol Itha occos sion and Q daliphff,1I musical pro