The Mankato free press., 1915-10-22

lied. He figured out that In Mankat,
there were 100000 hours Of leisure
time going 10 waste each week. aiit
said that what one would find in thi,
city by careful observation would b,
that about So per cent OF the boy:
and girls would be spending their le.
cure time in streets and alleys, 20 n,
cent In their private yards. and pc.
cent on the vacant lots. Forty -iivt
per cent. or nearly FIVE cut -5 q,
ten children would be idle, lcatilF =
would say that Il was Because the:'
was nothing TO do. Forty three y
cent might be playing. and on'v
IL per cent working CT running ,tr
rands.
Conditions Of chill: LIZ.
Those were the conditions Cf chi
life in most communities. and H.
was why the people had made up the
100000 which the association
using to change these hours OF leisur,
into a joy giving power. Mr.. Weller
stated that 342 American cities nov
have a supervisor OF play. and h;
spent eight million dollars on u
work in 1915. One hundred and
seventy of these cities were il
same class as Mankato, and iG5 have
less than 10000 inhabitants. GEa
less than five thoisar6. ue r"'''
there was no safe way to tackle the
problems Of community except by a
study of the community. In a city
like Mankato. with 4by,y.. 10.
leisure the question must b. S:ud'c
broadly in a community spirit. VIII
was needed WIS an eXpeTT. SO :,
city would get the largest returns out
OF the money expended. An expert s
services were expensive. but after
they had organized the work a cheap
er man could keep it going. An expert,
OF which the association had six, would
cost Mankato SS16 for six weeks Sc
fee, or s6ss for five weeks servi,
This money would buy the city rec
reation system and leave il in good
working shape.
Mr.. Weller suggested ~,
plans that might be worked CT
among then, being q p.'
of the past history OF this g
from the early Indian DAYS, s'r.
liS uSauiiiul suilOuHuiHsS VI StDtt.
park.
General Discussion Followed.
A general discussion followed Mr..
Weller's talk. and questions were
asked by a number of those present
Secretary Soaring asked for the
process OF obtaining such a field secre-
tary, and Mr.. Weller stated that all
hat was needed was to ask for one,
md raise the necessary money The
und in many places had been raised
by private contribution.
DR.. Andrews then called upon ]. E.
Reynolds. editor Of The Free Press,
who was appointed chairman OF the
committee few years ago
or a talk on what had already been
lone here.
Mr.. Reynolds in short. crisp
speech stated that the committee had
not done very much because they had
lad nothing TO work with The council
lad voted si0e A year. but as every
ne knew that amount would not 60
'ery far. Yet the committee had done
he best they could. They had made
plans but had nothing 20 further the
'lans with. This year they had held the
Usual meeting and had tried To think
mt some feasible plan to follow. but
he committee would not ask the peo-
Die TO subscribe 10 a playground fund.
Is the Mankato people were already
'un to death with requests for SUBJ
He said that Mayor A.
J. Meyer was heart and soul with the
and had said that he would
.ry to get the council to pass an ap-
of $1,000 so the committee
.ould do something.
u have been greatly interested in
what Mr.. Weller has said" stated
Mr. Reynolds II am not so much inter
ssted in the older children as In the
little tads.' I have watched them on
he streets, trying to find someway
n which to play and they have ap-
oealed to me strongly. regret that
,ur committee had no financial means
ind could not go to work and do what
We wanted to do" Mr.. Reynolds des-
ribbed what had been done, and told
" the different Fairgrounds that had
,een started over the city. and the
resulting pleasure to the children.
He spoke in words Of praise of the
work done by Mrs. W. l.. Hixon In
apparatus to the Hixon
and of the baseball
iiamond where crowds of young peo-
Die congregate evenings to play, and
aid that he thought the work OF the
committee had been appreciated as
ar as IL had progressed by both
Toung and old. '" 80 .- i,
we all know that the way TO
make a good citizen is TO bring the
hild up right" said Mr.. Reynolds.
The people of the community have
'ot to provide proper Fairgrounds
md proper supervision to obtain the
'est results. Now that this matter
las been brought up tonight and ex-
claimed by Mr.. Weller I hope some.
hing definite will be done. The peo-
lie ought to take hold of the matter
md organize. Mankato has the rep
ltation OF doing things. Now let us
10 something along this line.' tr
Mrs. c. J. Holman when called up-
m stated that this was a work that
vas very near her heart. and she be-
ieved that Mankato people should
Ill work heartily TO have something
lone at this time.
Leadership In Play.
Mr.. Sperry when asked by DIR.
andrews stated that the children of
chool age In the city number some
hing like 2.400. and possibly more.
lie emphasized the need Of leader
hip in their play.
Mr Xniqal attnpnaiad Hal if a.