New Britain herald., 1915-01-13
Play Samaritan to Poor Little
 New York Children of Rich Parents
They Had No Playground Before But They Have Now They Did Not Know How to Play Either-Are
 Being Taught.

rich children were a necessity. For what were the children under the care of their nurses and governesses doing? Playing? Not bit of it. They were either walking up and down or sitting on the benches. Now,
 there is nothing more tiring for a
 child than walking aimlessly up or
 down, or trying to sit still on a seemed to be the only ones really enjoying themselves They could visit with one another The one benefit accruing to the children was the fact that they were out of doors in fresh air.
 But 1 wanted to sec them skip ping about, exercising their muscles, shouting and laughing. Instead, they looked bored-as who wouldn't?
 The children l was observing are those who will grow up to be what is known as society men and women.' So it struck men as paradoNical that these children had no social life at all. Most of them didn't know any other children of the same age. Few of them came of big families.
 Tn the homes of the very rich, where each child has his or her own nurse, there just isn't the chance for children to become really acquainted with each other, even brothers and sisters. There is nothing spontaneous in a child who associates all the time with groWn-up person, is there? That is why at our playground Miss Keator and I keep in the background as much as possible. We are there to give the children such care as they need and to be called on in any emergency. But we want the chill dren, when possible. to plan their own games and do the things which ost interests them. That is not say ing; of course, that we don't have some definite ideas about play. We have. From the years I have been doing gymnastic work, I know how many things which are important to health and strength can be done as play.
 Gymnastics and Play Combined.
 For instance, there is little game which l have the children play which makes them straight. l have them lie down on their faces and then raise their bodies quickly from the waist tossing the head up. To make it more interesting l play that we are seals coming up out of the sea and tossing the water off. DO | do it, too? Why, of course, l do. It is good exercise for me as well as the children.
 "One day there were some little guests at our play. l always ask m others to send their children simply dressed, for l can remember yet how sashes and white dresses interfered -I1.J JI and went to parties dressed up.' But the little guests came in dain.y white dresses. That is. the dres sses were that when they came. l hate to think what they looked like when they went away. After that when they came, however, they had on plain little dresses which they could tear or soil, if necessary.
 We have an indoor room where the children play when the weather is too bad. That isn't often, however, for one great value of play is that it should be out in the fresh air. In cold weather the children are warmly clad and the exercise keeps them warm But on rainy days we go inside.
 "It is wonderful how the children respond to play. They forget their shyness and they soon learn to romp together and have the best times ina ginabe. Of course, I knew they would do that. You know, don't you that wise saying, Play is the business of childhood? There never was a truer saying. And children if al- lowed to be natural are good at their own business"
 So it is that Miss Alma Guy has decided to be promoter of the busi- ness of childhood. She is investing her time and interest and all her belief in the inalienable right of human beings to be happy, in seeing to it that children, even if they are rich. have a good time.