The Washington times., 1920-09-02

SURFING. ITy tnlS Drdnu once
In short. a ,whistling chorus has
been organized on MAde's playground,
Eighth aid l. streets northeast.
Thirty boys are members OF the
chorus 2nd they defy even circus
caliiope TO outwhistle them.
And who do you suppose is In
charge of the chorus? A woman!
Sure, Mike. The boys think shes
fine and vow she can outwhistle any
of them. She 10 Mrs. w. B. Pttter-
son. wife OF the supervising principal
of the ungraded schools.
AN ARTIST HERsELT.
Mrs. Patterson. who is very fond
Of whistling and is quite an artist
along this line herself, is used to
hearing boys whistle and likes It.
So one afternoon, after hearing some
peculiarly penetrating efforts on the
part OF some OF her young netghbors
she decided that II was pity to see
SO much energy and talent spilled
on the unsympathetic air.
Now how can ! put this natural
energy to user" pondered Mrs" Pat
terscn.
Then came the "big idea" just like
q fash. A whistling chorus!
So she took the matter UP with
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes. supervisor
Of the District Fairgrounds.
To say that Mrs. Rhodes was pleased
is putting 1t mildly. Sho was en-
idea. .r
THIRTY IN CHORUS.
And the next afternoon the chorus
came into being on Made's play
ground. That was about a month ago.
Since that time the chorus has grown
from the few untimid urchins who
wanted the world to hear 'em in ac-
tion to, an organization of about
thirty long, short, freckled. lean. fat,
thick, Intelligent, and what-not else
but whistlers all. And, boy. what a
chorus they are!
When Mrs. Patterson gets her gang
into action the air in the vicinity of
Made's playground fairly palpitates.
At first the chorus confined its ef-
forts to getting into harmony-work'
ing 1t by degrees. Nearer and nearer
harmony, so to speak. Then after
couple of lessons they we're whistling
popular airs in unison, and, honestly,
the composers Of those airs never
dreamed that they would ever pro-
duce an effect like that.
When the noise began to work
around among the neighbors six and
eight squares away they awoke to
the fact that something was loose in
their midst. Every selection by the
chorus brought recruits, each time
from increasingly great distances.
At first some Of the recruits were do
ing some far and near harmony but
their puny efforts were drowned out
by the superior efforts OF the chorus,
which was beautifully In unison, as ii
carried farther that way; ,'
But now the boys are beginning to
md that it. isn't just a new way to
make noise. with, official sanction
and they are beginning to take pride
in their work. They are being
trained in part whistling and are get
ting real music out, according to
their hearers.
The class meets every time Mrs
Patterson can get a few minutes to
visit the playground.
HOW DIRECTOR PROCEEDS.
The process Of assembling the
chorus is simple. Mrs. Patterson
Just gathers all the boys in sight and
turns 'em loose on q popular air. The
sound sort Of spirals around the play
ground and the rest of the chorus
congregates with enthusiasm. Each
addition spreads the good news and
the =. chorus grows apace. A few
trumpet calls q la flute from the
chorus brings in the stragglers and
the session gets under way. So do
those OF the neighbors who have no
ear for music.
The chorus on Mades' playground
has proved so wonderfully successful
and has given the boys and Mrs. Pat.
terson so much pleasure, that the
| idea is spreading and it will not be
long before every playground has its
chorus. according to playground OF.
fciaIs. Then concerts and contests
are in order.
When the boys grow up they will
no doubt, carry the idea to the Gov
eminent departments and other places
where they are employed and Wash.
| ington will be a city unlike any other
in the universe. The very mockine
birds will be forced to either fee the
place for shame or fee to the city
for instruction.