Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-30
Days at WashingtOn's Public Fairgrounds

streets southwest, with Craig Randall
as director; Willow Tree Park. at Az
and D streets southwest. with Miss
Minnie r. Prite as director.
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes il the SUI
pervisor of these Fairgrounds. Miss
Ella Gardner is the director of the
girls activities and John Petritz di-
Gardner recently outlined the play.
ground activities.
Each ground is responsible for orr
ganiztng teams in certain of the pub
the boys play base ball and the girls
play tennis, while in the fall soccer
ball and basket ball are played Tho
grounds are provided with base ball
diamonds, tennis courts basket hall
and foot ball fields where the games
and matches are usually held Trophies
are awarded to the winning teams An
interplayground base ball league has
playing on the 125-pound teams are
managers Of little eighty five pound
teams. An athletic meet. In which all
the schools participate, is held every
spring. Ihe children compete in high
and broad Jumping. dashes and relay
races.
Test buttons are awarded the girls
who meet the following requirements.
Throw the basket ball into the goal
twice out of six times. at a distance of
hfteen feet; walk twenty-four feet on
the balance beam and make up some
original feat on the same; jump or dive
into a swimming pool and swim at
least ffve feet; take a hike OF NOT less
than one mile or more than Ave miles
once month for three months: know
at least fve folk dances.
Nearly every playground is eouipped
with wading pool. and the Rosedale.
Georgetown and Howard Fairgrounds
have fine swimming pools. The George
town pool is eighty by thirty feet and
three and a half to six and a half feet
In depth. Mr.. Bruner gives instruc-
ton in swimming and lfe-saving twice
a week. and contests with other schools
and Fairgrounds are frequently held,
Two guards are stationed at each pool.
and it is amusing to watch these young
men as they catch the smallest children
who jump spluttering into the pool or
perform for their benefit, always keep
ing vigilant watch to see that no mis-
haps occur. instruction in first aid,
however, is one of the features Of thee
playground work, so the children them-S
selves are prepared to aid in case OF
accident.
Open-air kindergartens have been ,
started Children are taught to make
attractive and useful little gifts. They 4
delight in playing singing games. as
Round and Round the Village" and
did You Ever See a Lassie?" a game
in which one child performs some ac-
tivity in pantomime. such as washing
clothes, and the others initiate to the
accompaniment of the song. then guess
what the movements are supposed to
represent
Even babies are brought to the play
grounds. where baby swings and slides
are provided for their benefit Other
fascinating kinds of apparatus are to
be seen, such as T ladders. fremen's
ladders, curved Slides merry-go-
rounds and so-called boats. large rock
Ing affairs, which accommodate many
During school time the Fairgrounds
open at noon, but in summer, from 9
until dark, they are crowded with
eager. merry little folk. When the
mumble- the-peg, jacks and echo are en-
couraged and industrial work keeps
the children quietly and happily en-
gagged for hours at time.
construction of birdhouses. and, in
cidentally. learn a great deal about the
habits of birds. Little girls are given
instruction in sewing. embroidery and
children. take lessons rama and reed
basketry work.
One of the Fairgrounds, Willow Tree
Park. is unique in the fact that It is
entirely surrounded with houses and
completely hidden from the street. This
park is built on the site of the old
Willow Tree alley. now converted into
mecca for the children and grown
ups Of the neighborhood. One walks
down a short alley and energies in a
large open court. inclosed by iron
palings. against background of
shrubs and stately poplar trees There.
ensconced beneath a shade tree, are
several children playing checkers,
while girls are playing Miss Muffet,"
the spiders taking their creepy parts
with the utmost realism and enjoy
ment.
At the Georgetown playground a 1T
tie house has been erected with a wide
porch. which is a splendid place for
dancing. This ground has no music.
as have some of the Fairgrounds, but
piano has been lent by one Of the
girls clubs. field day was celebrated
there recently. for which all kinds of
athletic contests were arranged. with
supper and dancing to complete the