The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-29
A ThoughtfuI Address by a keokuk
Attorney and Member Of the
Board Of Education
Yesterday.
DEDICATION BIG EVENT
Superintendent Talks on the Relations
Of the Boys Environment to
Epldemics of
Crime.

The play festival and patriotic car
piyal which will be held three days
this week, opened yesterday after
noon with the formal dedication to
the lag Of Keokuk's first public play
ground, located at the corner OF
Twentieth and Main streets.
The exercises attended by nearly
three hundred children and a number
OF parents, were impressive through
out. The program opened with the
Invocation pronounced by the Rev.
Wallace r. Bacon. This was fol-
lowed by the audience singing The
Star Spangled Banner, during which
time the flag was unfurled.
William Aldrich, superintendent OF
the Keokuk public schools, dedicated
the playground.
One of the most serious things to
be considered, he said, was the wave
of Juvenile crime which has spread
over Europe. Mr. Aldrich charged
this somewhat to the many horrible
details which newspapers have print
ed concerning the war. But he de-
clared that perhaps the many idle
hours the children had spent in an
unguarded way were more respon-
sibIe. America was learning her les
son at the expense of the other fell
low, he said.
Boys and Girls and Business Men.
"The Playground and Recreation
Association of America has learned to
20 to business men for money to sup
Div it's needs" said the speaker. But
the association has appealed to the
women of the land to do unselhsh
work. 1t has appealed to eleven mil
lion women asking them to make
drive toward supervised playground
activities. This observance this week
marks the close of this drive.
Several years ago the heokuk
school athletic league was organized
to supervise good, wholesome sports
There was no paid leader. Although
both the Young Mems Christian asso
citation and the Young Women
Christian association helped In the
work it suffered because there was
no maid director. This association
disbanded. Then the Playground as
ISOLATION was formed, but it, too, was
without a playground leader. This
association, however became the
father Of the physical department or
panized by the board of education in
the schools of the city. physical
director was put in as leader and the
work was carried on during the
school year, but not during the sum.
mer.
1.-The board of education realized
that this was not the proper program,
and later purchased this playground
which we dedicate today for the use
of the children and the grown people
of the city. The board wants you to
use this. In behalf of the board
dedicate the playground to the flag.
In the enjoyment of these privileges
we will be better fitted to play the
part assigned us in aiding our coun'
try"
This was followed by four minute
war speech by Miss Marie Park who
asked the searching question, In
what manner are you serving your
country"
Patriotism and Play.
The last address was given by j.
O. BOYD. He said that it does
not occur to the average c1u-
zen that there is any relation
between patriotism and play. but as
a matter of fact there is very init
mate connection between these two
things.
The success of the Americans In
France is due largely to their skill In
games at home, he said. and the sue
cess of the soldier depends upon his
morale which and proper play has
much to do with this.
From time immemorial there has
n,. ri, nnty xrT-
ties should be divided into three
periods for work, recreation and re-
pose. said Mr.. Boyd, who continued:
1.-The strength of an individual as
well as the strength of nation de-
ponds on four things: physical
strength: mental strength; fixed pur-
pose. high ideals.
Value of Physical Strength.
IL have been asked this afternoon
to discuss the subject of Patriotism
and Play" 1t does not occur to the
average citizen that there is any re-
tlation between patriotism and play
yet, as a matter Of fact. there is
very intimate relationship between
these two subjects.
"The success of the American boys
in France in every battle in which
they have engaged is largely at:rib-
uted to their skill at home in Ameri
can games. Moreover, the success OF
a soldier depends upon his m.'Tale,
both in camp and in line of duty,
and it is well known that the Ameri
can soldiers freely engage in vari-
Gus sports and plays while in camp
and while resting. Those who have
visited some of the great canton
ments in this country have been in
"a measure surprised to see officers
Reaching the boys to play leap-frog
and other games for the purpose OF
developing agility OF body and alert
mess of mind. OF course, it has not
been necessary to teach the Ameri-
can soldier how to play baseball,