The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-07


which they pass. Illustration of prai-
ries, plains, pleateus. capes, promon-
ries, plain, pleteaus, capes, promon-
straits and islands are pointed out
chances are that the ideas received in
this way will be much clearer and
more lasting than impressions taken
from a book
Sociology Without a Book.
Eight of Topeka's Fairgrounds have
and name their own cities-and elect
their own officers. There are Athens,
Sparta, Neversly, Hopcville, Die Kin
derstadt' Polk, Washington and
Quincy. This alone awakens thought
and imagination in the mind of the
child, but it is carried farther. The
officers elected actually and conscien-
tiously carry out the duties of the Of
flee to which they are elected and the
children or electors not only expect
them to but they abide by the deci-
SionS and rulings laid down by the
officers. City and East Side parks
are now enjoying fairly good tennis
courts because the police judges or
Sparta and Hopeville sentenced boys
to work for the public good to offset
the harm they had brought to the
city by breaking some CT its laws
political science, civil government and
sociology without a book.
Learn of Other Lands.
Games and dances from foreign
countries are being studied by the
girls. Through this study they not
only learn of the amuSementS OF other
peoples but something of their habits,
customs, dress and even industries and
history, as many of the dances and
games portray the people at work at
their various trades and give hint OF
episodes in racial development. Not
knowledge of the older countries, but
they place the American girl in init
mate touch and create for her a BOND
of sympathy with her little sisters
across the sea. The Fairgrounds will
give an exhibition of the folk dances
that they have learned at the play
ground exhibition at the close of the
season.
History and Geography.
Another thing that adapts itself re-
well to playground treat
ment is the working up of pageant;
Here the field is as wide as one could
wish it. One may range all the way
from early biblical or mythical times,
the way through the pages OF hteIa-
ture and history and down to the do
ings of the present day for his SUP
jects; but neither poet nor dramat1st
may create the playground pageant. 1t
must be built up bit by bit, part by
part, by the small actors, and so we
have an army of children studying, not
only history, but geography, spelling
and expression and enjoying every
minute of it.
Each playground in Topeka is work
ing out a pageant to be presented at
the final exhibition.
Will Present Pageants.
Miss Lulu McKee's children from
the East side playground will present,
"A History of Transportation in Kan
sas.'' The Santa F'e railroad officials
are aiding in the preparations for this
production.
Mic. CLARA Johnson and her Ches-
ney park boys and girls will present,
THE Pied Piper
WestIawn park children under the
direction of Miss Reba Barnes will
present a pageant portraying the de-
velopment of games from the early
Greek Olympies down to the present
day.
City park children with the aid of
the directors, Miss Pansy Mitchell and
Hugh MacLean will present a pageant
in the form of a tableaux, introducing
friends from mythology.
Miss Towle's girls from Lincoln
school will prepare pageant of In
dian history showing the breaking up
of the five nations. During the action
of the pageant several Indian dances
will be presented.
Polk, Quincy and Washington have
not announced the titles for their
pageants as yet but they are working
on the idea and will no doubt produce
something SOOu.
Industrial Work.
The children of the Topeka play
grounds have done a lot in the way
of industrial work. They have run
the gamut of Industrial work from
plain sewing and hammock making to
the making of fancy baskets and Ian
terms. Miss Johnson has taught the
boys to make and decorate many use
full articles of leather such as bill
folders, watchfobs, etc. Miss Mckee
has taught the girls to make many
useful and decorative articles for table
use at parties. etc, out of paper or
cardboard. Miss Crawford taught the
little Quincy girls to knit stocking
caps, and Miss Barnes, of Westlawn,
is now teaching her girls to make their
own costumes for folk dances. Miss
has taught the girls at City
park to crochet and make paper
flowers, etc.
First Aid" Work.
Each playground is developing first
aid to the injured squads, the members
Of which are given instructions in
tandaging, applying
and splints, lifting and
of wounded, improvising
stretchers and raising them over
fences and other obstacles. Squads
from different Fairgrounds of the city
will enter a competition in this work
at the final exhibition.
Touched by Magic Wand.
The appealing thing about the men
tai pills that may be administered on
the playground is that they are all
touched by tn magic wand of the
Fairy Queen of Play-land which drives
away all faint of school room and odor
Of books so that the small patient
eagerly swallows the dose of learning
With its sugar coating of play all un-
consciously and even with a relish.
w. P. MAC LEAN,
Director Topeka Fairgrounds.
Mem ELL MAD HOUSES