New Britain herald., 1916-05-20

who died last week, Judge James Roche, Lincoln $. Risley and John O'Neill, former editor of the Herald, the anniversary of whose death fell on Thursday of the present week.
 In the annualsreport of city treas urer Frederick S. Chambelain was little item which, while it probably escaped the eyes of many, awoke in the memory of some of the old men new nearing the three score and ten mark some exciting days of their van ished youth. It was a bill of $8.O5 for fox bounties. There is state law that any one who kills a fox can, by pre- senting the beasts head to the proper authorities, receive a bounty of $1 per head. This law is one that exists for the benefit of the farmers and which has existed for many years but which is seldom noticed in the city. However, eight foxes were killed or trapped by enterprising young huntsmen during the past year and the bounty money paid. To the old men the mention of fox hunting serves to quicken their faultering pulse, for fifty years ago fox hunting was re- garded here as great sport. The lit
 
 farmers and made a nuisance of them selves by their repeated depredations on the poultry stock. The youths or the day would ofttimes load up the old single barrel shot gun or take down the old powder horn and flint luck Revolutionary musket and sally forth on a fox hunt. Their hunt was lar different from that sport as 1t IS prac- tised by the elite of England today. Their own rusty legs had to be thelr steads and the family watch dog act ed as the full blooded pointer Through the woods beyond Osgood Hill and towards Pinnochle mountain; to the southward towards Shuttle Meadow; to the east and south tow ards Berlin and Beckley these nttle hunting parties would go, searchlhs out the farm yard scavanger and as a result of their prowess many mother of those olden days was sup piled with a warm winter coat' the fox's belt being tanned and cured aC home. But as the years sped past this snort decreased as did the foxes until the nast year only eight of the little animals were caught. It will not De roanv more years before fox will De known to the city boy only as an ami mai of which he reads.
 Never has 9 city the size of New Rritain been faced with more se- rious problem of how to proVloe wholesome recreation and amuse-
 nent for her children as is thls clty +odav This was forcibly brought to the attention of the council by the nublic amusement commlssloH Weu- nesdav night and steps should De tax on nromptlv to remedy the eNlstlhg oe- fects The history of the playgfouno movement here is not long UT olu' As the playgrounds were proving Ihelr worth all over the country, New Brit ain took up the movement Tn l9l1 when the Hon. George M. Landers loaned the use of a large tract of land ot the corner of Winter and Clark e+reets The plan was a success from the start and last summer upwards of 83.OOO children used the play grounds during the nine weeks they were open and under constant super vision of competent instructors.
 Today, however, the city Is faced with the problem of how to continue these recreation centers. AL though somewhat cramped for room the playgrounds can be run this sum- mer, but next year it will be practical lv impossible unless more land is se- cured. All of the schools are over crowded, making it impossible for the school ward playgrounds to accOmmo- date all. Part of Landers' playground has been sold and by next year the remainder of it will not be available. Neither will the American Hardware tract at the corner of High and La fayette streets and at the Burr1tt school the property so used IS for sale and may be purchased any day. At the Bartlett school an addition to the building has further cramped the