The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-08

lowed sane AmericanixAtion among
foreign workers--not Of the patron
ixing type, but calculated to help each
racial, group interpret to itself and it,
neighborA the value and spirit OF Its
special qualifications: development OF
school centers. with frequent family
gatherings" work among the color
ed population, under direction OF =
Hampton graduate: Italian orgAniEa-
ton among the 1900 residents Of
that nativity. formation OF women's
groups to supervise dances, dinners
and other social activities which will
provide decent recreation for leisure
hours; promotion OF community clubs
where the free and easy spirit of this
saloon will prevail, minus the spirits.
and training class for play leaders.
The success Of this experiment 10
well .attested In letter from Cover
nor Sproul to Mr.. Lee, written SIX
months after the inception OF the
movement, in which he says:
The advent Of the community SER
vice activities helped conditions in
Chester amazingly. and tho entire citi-
zenshp is enthusiastic over the work
of those connected with the community
center.
IT am anxious to see this work con-
tinued In Chester and in the other
large Industrial centerS In Pennsyl-
yania. 1t will give substitute Tor
much that has been evil. and Its in
f,uence In the big towns Will be pro-
ductfve of great good. We have been
urging our people here to build COM
munity centers, where warmth and
light and good cheer may be offered,
as war memorials, rather than to erect
cold and unresnonsive monuments or
stone and bronze, The Community
Service has a great field, and I sin
cerely hope that It may be main
tanned"
In Bethlehem results have been
equally satisfactory. These are rep
resentative industrial communities.
Thus far they have proved the value
of this effort to sreplace the idleness
born of loneliness with profitable
pleasure bred by brotherhood
Every one familiar with our CEN
ters of population can appreciate the
Importance of any effort in this direc-
ton. If for no other reason. this work
should be extended because of its as
sistance in hlling the place left va
cant by the abolition of the saloon.
But there Is broader basis for per-
petuating 1t.
In more than 900 American comrnu-
mites the War Camp Community Ser
vice showed the way to organized
friendliness. while the whole nation
was United as one group in carrying
on the night against autocracy and its
deep-rooted evils. The foundation now
Ia laid in these places 1t would be
com pounding a loss to neglect Its use
in buildings for needs which are as
vital to peace as were the camp SER
vices TO the successful prosecution OF
the war.
The program, as outlined. includes
the following:
Play and athletics New parks.
Fairgrounds and athletic fields, mu-
nicipal beach and hathhouse, boating,
swimming. camping, meets. and hikes.
soccer leagues. skating, boxing. has
leetball. street play. school athletics.
Social and recreational activities
Dances, movies, parties. piencs speH-
ing bees. candy pulls. dramatics,
pageants, school centers. clubs and
home hospitality,
Music--Conmunity singing, oratorio.
concerts. recitals. a music festival.
Pageants and dramatics.
. Club facilities--Ciubhouse commu-
nifty clubs, dry saloons. camps, a
worker for vacation home fer work
ing girls, community mass meetings
and celebrations.
There lis a real need for service OF
this character in every community,
says Senator Pcmerene, Of Ohio.
We heartily agree. and we hope the
American people will see the wisdom
Of making it widespread and perma-
nent