Evening journal., 1918-07-08
E.DDIES CUTUP'
On FAIRGROUNDS
Curled Haired Girls and
Barefoot Boys Enjoy
Outdoor Fun
WOMEN SEE THAT
TOTS ARE SAFE


A mass OF little girls with curls and
pigtaih flying. and gingham skirts flut-
tering In the wind. anu a throng Of boys
with cropped heads. bare feet and
clothes OF the nOndescript variety that
are most satisfactory for care-free rec
reaaon, adorned the but lately bare
Fairgrounds OF the city today, the
opening day. In place Of barren spaces.
there was vivid action, accompanied by
merry shouts and laughter. The suns
heat was tempered by a fresh breeze.
As a matter Of fact. the hotter the sun.
the better the kiddles seemed to like 1t.
The most striking feature this norm
ing was the absence OF the larger chill
dren, most Of those attending being un-
der ten years old. Helping mother at
home, was one reason given by the lit
tie folks for the lack OF older sisters
and brothers. But the main reason
was that the twelve and thirteen year
old children have gotten permits and
gone 10 work for the summer, girls as
well as boys. The number OF children
OF tender years that are working, is a
matter which may well cause the city
TO think seriously OF the future strength
OF It's citizens, and which saddens all
those who are doing work among the
city's children. They say the number OF
young children asking for work permits
Is appalling. They point 10 the expert
ence Of Europe, which put its little
children TO work early In the war, and
is now regretting It bitterly.
The effect OF the war Is also shown
in the playground stan OF instructors.
Miss Jennie VI. Weaver, city playground
superintendent for the first time since
the public Fairgrounds were opened,
has no men among the teachers In
charge. Even II they were procurable,
men within the draft age would be
barred by the work or fight" regula-
tiOn. Miss Weaver and E. r.. Mack,
park engineer, found a highly efficient
stan OF young women on the job, when
they made the rounds OF the play
grounds this morning. Those In
charge at the VARIOUS grounds are as
follows:
Fourth and Pine streets-Niiss Mary
Kelly and Miss Katherine Dougherty.
Chapel street-Nlss Nellie Devinney
and Miss Frances Ball.
Klrkwood-Miss Elizabeth Culver and
Miss Marietta Groome.
Madison street-Aliss Elizabeth Down
ward and Miss Emma Keithley.
Delamore-Afiss Leila Lyman and
Miss Elsie Richards.
Vandever-Nliss Helen Smiley and
Miss Marion Brown.
Kentmere-Aiiss Carrie Nutter.
Sixteenth and Walnut streets, for
colored children. Miss Mary Thomas.
The swimming pools were open today
for the boys. but lie KirkwOOd Park
boys said Il was most too cold. Only
a few hardy spirits ventured in. The
girls DAYS will be Tuesdays and Thurs
days. Park Guard Evans, who has en-
tered into the work at Klrkwo0d Park
playground since Il was opened years
ago in a way that has always made him
a chief source OF help 10 the teachers
there, was on hand today, fixing swing
ropes and giant strides. Mr.. Evans Is
a great favorite with the children as
well as with the teachers, and was fol-
lowed by an enthusiastic crowd OF
tots, firing questions like small machine
guns, everywhere he went.
The children In all the grounds lost
no time in appropriating the swings
and crOwding on the teeters, as many
as could get on. The babies made tod
ding tracks over 20 the sandpiles, and
were soon splsshing around and crow
ing, a sight to gladden. the heart Of any
lover OF children. The sandpile fun
OF little cOlOred babies was as cute a
picture as could be found anywhere.
The playground for cOlOred kiddies is
provided with excellent tennis courts,
rolled beautifully Nat, and some no
table matches between adults are looked
for.
Baseball and basketball were flourish
ing among the boys today. and youth
full Alexsnders were trying out new
fast ones. There win be the usual
schedule OF athletic events during the
summer between rival playgroundsh.
Small girls were assisting In bring
Ing out the supplies stored away for
the winter including balls, colored
crayons, basketry and the like. One set
were clamorous for stories, while an
other set desired to draw pictures.
Miss Weaver hopes that some ar
can be made later on for
keeping the Fairgrounds open during
the evenings. In the past. special
events have been held at night, and
some grounds have enjoyed two or
three open evenings a week, but Il is /
desirable this year 10 keep |
some Of the grounds open every even /
ing to reach the children who are I
during the day. Any adult .
who Will take a few minutes 90 watch |
the children in one OF the Fairgrounds /
will realize the healthful Joy they
give 70 their neighborhoods, and will I
find himself anxious TO extend the |
sphere OF their usefulness as widely as .
possible. The teachers realize so .
deeply what It all means to the little
folks that they devote every particle Of
4 -. H. al