The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-06
C~ondemning Children
to Play in Gutter an
"Offense to Heaven
BY the Countess of warwick.

London Aug. },-In a little Wnlie
the days of heat and flame of full
fedged Summer will be upon the land,
and even in places far removed from
tonln one will have to aunt for cool
and shady Though the
leisured jewellers in great cities have
sought the country. the seaside or the
river. all the parks and open spaces
scattered here and there throughout
the metropolis will not accommodate
who are left behind.
Let us grant that to most Of these
leisure is scanty, for they are Inc
workers. Time presses and the task
masters are urgent, but there are
children. almost past numbering, In
crowded residential quarters of the
poor, and these must have their lei-
sure hours.
You find them snatching a precar-
ious recreation from the gutter. en-
dangered by traffic, scolded by pass
ers-hy who are in a hurry and who
think that their interminable bust
ness is of greater Importance than
shildish amusement
There Is no possibility of organized
games. Everything must lie irnpro-
vised, and where the reek and glare
OF the pavements and dusty roadways
are most trying you will find the un-
conquerable spirit of childhood en-
deavoring to extract its little meas
ure of happiness from what seem TO
be hopeless surroundings much as
miners wash for grains of gold.
1t is nothing less than a scandal
that squares seldom or never visited
by the people who have the right to
enjoy them should remain closed
against those who car only glimpse
the attractions from behind the bars,
Let us remember that everybody
recognizes the need for change of air
in summer. Even those who have
comfortable homes wish to get away
from them and would feel very badly
used if they were unable to do so.
venture to suggest that if every
square and semi-nublic garden that
is now closed cbuld be thrown open.
no damage would accrue to any ex-
isting interests, and thousands Of
children would be better off. Surely
the dullest imagination must realize
that we have not only in London, but
in all great cities, far too many iron
ratings, far TOO much wire fencing,
thousands of unnecessary notice
boards telling Of prohibition
1t would be bad enough if London
had no more than her public parks
and recreation grounds, but to pos
sess ali the squares and gardens that
are in her gift today to make no
use of them n shut the children
out is an offense that cries to heaven.
I think that although Bundle him =
self may be dead, something of his
spirit still fingers in our midst.
Even the sparrow hath found an
house and the swallow a nest for her
self" says the Psalmist: hut for the
l1itt1n human cnarr0u of nfIr sfraatS
so plentiful. so plucky and so quick
10 make the best of things. the nous
ing is not worthy the name.
The electric car. the stcam car and
the light gas car. are the principal
factors of the future in France. ac-
cordfng TO La Vie au Grand Air
the Partisan publication, which is one
OF the leading motor publications OF
France and which ranks with Scienti-
hc American to a considerable extent,
The publication or March IS. gave
considerable attention to the Doble-
Detroit steam car, showing a dia
grammatical view Of the steamer. and
also q chassis view of the new French
:, car designed by Andr Citroen. Mr.
Citroen is one of the directors of The
French Doble company which ha.
recently started on the manufacture
:, of Doble steam cars in France He
is a manufacturing engineer. who has
attained an international reputation
as A production expert during the war
and Is a member of the Renault or
ganiZation. Mr.. Citroen expects &c
; make this new car in the low-price
> class to hold a place in France such
as the Ford car does in the United
> States. The publication displays dia'
grammatical views of the three type:
Of acknowledgements. steam ant
gas. and enters into the subject yer.
fully.