Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-08

u
TENDER America had the dis
tinction OF celebrating the
worlds first patriotic play
week. The result of the ma
uonal baby test for the saving of
the lives of a hundred thousand babies
during the years 1913 and 1919 was
the Weighing and measuring of g.
100000 children under six years of
age. The outgrowth of this campaign
brought to the workers who carried
1t on realiza ton of the fact that
while the babies would receive an in
estimable benefit from it, older chill
dren were quito as much in need of
physical and mental at ention in order
TO resist the effects of changed condi-
tons surrounding home life as a re-
suit Of the war.
Fathers and elder brothers are in
the Army, mothers have gone to the
factories, muni.ion plants and other
places to do war work and young
girls and boys have been left to care
for the still younger members of
families or to srend their time as
Iancy dictates. There must be safe.
guard thrown around these children
that the United States may avoid the
delinquency among her young people
winch has been SO largely on the in
crease IN certain countries at war.
AS means to this erd a recreation
drive was started several months ago
under the direction of the child well
fare department of the woman's COM
m1ttee of the Council of National De-
fense This drive was for the pur-
pose OF increasing physical vigor
among the children. The children's
bureau of the Department of Labor
ana the Playground and Recreation
association Of America co-operated in
the movement. Eleven million women
IN .he state divisions OF the woman's
committee were asked to assist in or
sanizihg the work. They sent out a
the Efforts of all patriotic citizens to
save the nations children from the
wartime hazards Of increased de-
tnguency overtaxed nerves and
Wv YEA bodies by giving them a
Iair chance during the summer vaca.
ton to grow well and strong thrnn1h
pay ana recreation The elimination
" TINS drive was a patriotic NAV week
IN which the children in all parts Of the
OnIteo states were asked to Join in
1,hioh spoitS ana other amusementS
winch entertain as well as instruct.
The Duke of Wellington said: ."rha
Dattle OF Waterloo was won on the
play fields Of England" The chill.
drsn.s bureau says Keep children
dren out Of mischief" With this end
IN view the aim Of the recreation
orlve mas been to promote the games
Wnich increase physical adeptness and
9 l, Wnich train the eve and develop
only to the direction OF the leader.
put to the need OF the game: to inn.
pant In the minds of the children
!ne IDEA that keeping themselves At
IS patriotic and that they are serving
their country when they make them.
selves stronger.
That Juvenile delinquency has in.
creased in European countries during
ene war is indicated by the testimony
OF social workers. judges concerned
with children's cases and students Of
criminology. The reports of 1914 and
1915 OF the chief inspector Of reforma-
tory and industrial schools in Eng
especially boys. committed to these
Institutions in 1915 than in either Of
tne two years preceding. These re-
ports state that the records Of the
cities (the only cities for which such
hgures happen to be available) show
an increase not only in the number
or children sent to institutions, but
IN the number kept under supervision
The fathers in the army, mothers in
factories. the crowding of school
buildings and reduction to half time
schedules, the closing Of Fairgrounds
and parks and the increased wages.
through the demand for labor, which
were paid children. giving them a
sense of freedom from discipline. are
some OF the causes advanced.
X
While the evidences Of Increased
Juvenile delinquency in France are
not so clear, statistics relative to such
matters seem to indicate larger num-
bers Of delinquent children under six
teen. and especially of boys under six
teen, during the year 1915 than in ear
her years. In Italy, where there are
similar conditions and causes, the
meager statistics at hand show an
increase. And in Russia 1t is said
that judges and officers of children's
courts are overworked.
President Wilson, in approving the
plans for children's year, inaugurated
on April last. said: Next to the
duty of doing everything possible for
the soldiers at the front there could
be, 1t seems to me, no more patriotic
duty than that of protecting the chill
dren, who constitute one-third of our
population" The President Ia a living