South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-09
Spring Games and Spring Sunshine
BY Woods Hutchinson, NJ. ID.

There are other signs of the re-
turn of spring besides the lengthen-
ing days and the return Of the robin
and the Mayhower. They are as re-
liable as the almanac and earlier
than the birds and the buds, and
that is the street game. If our chill
dren. If we had nothing else to
guide us we could almost tell the
time OF year by. them.
one week the skipping-ropes be-
gin 10 whirl on dry patches OF earth
and pavement. the next marbles
suddenly spring up out OF the
ground, then the old hunting in
stincts assert themselves in bows
| an arrows and blow guns, then the
sidewalks are covered and decOrat-
| ed by the mystic markings of hop
/ scotch. Children have customs ana
| traditions and history of their
| own handed on from one generation
| to another quite apart from and in
/ dependent OF those of "grown-ups
Such deeply rooted traditions and
/ fixed and unchanging customs. too,
like the laws OF the Modes and Per-
slams they have almost the dignity
and the authority of laws Of Ma
ture.
Political or business progress,
new discoveries of scignce may have
| changed the habits and point of
views of adults almost beyond recOg-
milton, but children's games are still
played according to the some old
rules of generations and centuries
/ ago Each successive crop" of
children plays them just long
/ enough to learn the rules and then
/ passes them on 10 the next without
any attempt at improvement" or
alteration.
But the spring games fit the sea-
son and meet the needs of the chill
dren perfectly. They give them
their Unborn right TO keep healthy
and happy and growing and TO revel
in the keen bracing spring air.
No formal system of gymnastic
exercises has ever been invented
half so good for developing the
muscles. expanding the lungs
strengthening the heart and filling
every tiniest artery with rich red
blood. Their running and leaping
and happy shOutings clear the lungs
and the blood Of the fog and the
foul air and the infections OF the
winter better than any methods Of
deep breathings and chest expan-
sion.
The part OF wisdom for sagacious
adults. both as parents and teachers
is TO interfere with outdoor games
as little as possible and TO respect
/ their right OF way over vexing in
I terruptions. such as piano practice.
| extra studies and combining indoor
! chores and tasks which promote
neither health nor happiness All
THESE duties are right and proper an
1 their place. often sternly necessary
| for practical reasons. but the rights
of children to fair play and open
air and sunshine should be given due
weight and regard. The chief duty
Of children is 10 grow up strong and
| helpful and happy and nothing as
\ sists more powerfully in the process
than free play in the open air.
IL is worth a little trouble and in
| convenience in the household and
/ the shop or barn. 10 give leeway and
\ elasticity in the regular order of
+ tasks. so that when the sunny spring
/ afternoons begin 10 come. children
may have as nearly as possible all
/ the time between school and dusk
To play themselves out and come in
hungry and happily tired and sleepy.
Even the rigid and dignifed pro-
gram and hours of study OF our
/ great public school systems. may
with profit he made elastic so as to
permit Of early closing on sufficiently
fine spring afternoons Much as
some sGhool-systems on the CONT
nent have a big thermometer in the
entrance hall which automatically
rings a bell in each room and dis
misses the classes whenever the mer-
curry rises above a certain temper
allure later I'm the spring term.
The early spring is one or the
likeliest seasons for wide epidemics
OF colds. and bronchitis. and measles
and whooping cough due 90 the ac-
cumulations Of infections and i'm
prisonment indoors Of the winter
months. Nothing will do more 10