New Britain herald., 1924-12-30
CALLS RECREATION
 CRIME CORRECTIVE
Expert Points Out Way to Lower
 Cost Of Courts

bNPApi lib AhN A"NN AhSN ANNt NAN'N'f has been relegated to secondary place In tho municipal government, C. r. Stimson of the National Play grounds association. delivered an inspiring and educational address before a joint meeting of the Cham her of Commerce, and the Rotary, Lions and kiwanis clubs at the Burrltt hotel last evening.
 Mir. Stimson said that municipal recreation is not matter of play for children during any special part of the year but is matter which should be based on program cov- cring l2 months of the year, with Well-trained leaders 10 supervise the activities. Recreation is not sub iuct competing with commerce.; it is an intricate. specialized, tech nical service program related 10 the home. The home is the basic unit of civilization and the fact that the aims of recreation coincide with those of the home put recreation on an equal basis with the home.
 Recreation Is also closely related 10 the schools and the aim of both lis to Idltivate in the child the quail ities of good citizenship. Recrca- ton is related 10 health and health .habits, to industry, and efficiency. its goal, to social problems, to de- linquency and crime, to the reform and treatment of crime, 10 the res toration of health and is even a part of the satisfaction of life it. self.
 Recreation is not second sub iect, 1t Is not trivial part of the municipal government. it is a mat ter deserving of as much attention as sewers, roads and ether municipal problems, the speaker said. It should be handled in a scientific and definite way. Probably good course 10 follow would be tho or ganization of a committee represent ing all the civic clubs and the Chamber of Commerce as well as the ministers of the local churches. This committee should have as its work the appearing before a ses- sion Of the common council 10 make an appeal for a better system of municipal recreation.
 Mr. Stimson referred to Dr. Richard Cabot's book, entitled. What Men Live By" This book developed out Of an article which Dr. Cabot wrote for the Atlantic Monthly In the book Dr. Cabot explains the four necessities of life, which are work. play, affection and religion. The subject of work in- .cludcs all the responsibilities which are incumbent upon a person. A mans work, in the ideal state, would be his greatest enjoyment. The subject of play includes rest, recreation and all the things a per son does during his leisure time Play is the balance of work and 4varies. according to the person The subject Of affection includes all ' Jeiendship, sex love and that which everybody desires, an honest friend or "pa''. The fourth necos- sity, religion, Mir. Stimson termed inc hunger 10 be in touch with that mystifying power, the spirit of God Mr. Stimson spoke of the works Of Christ in his dealings with children
 The great problem of today is tc tit industrial life to human life, Inc said. Far more imDortHnt than the restoration of health and the tree mcnt of crime and delinquency 1, their prevention and it's great chan. Ecl is recreation. One of the great, "st prevailing indispostons i' chronic fatigue. Millions of peo pie are affected by this fatigue a a proper balance of living. In the past the cost of maintaining court! and prisons has exceeded tho country's bank balance.
 The study of delinquency is al interesting one. In cities where the "visting crime and delinquency i chartcd the pins appear in botchc and these blotchcs cover localities where there are no playgrounds churches or other community or tanizations A proper system 0 recreation would cost about one tenth of what courts and penal in stitutions cost at the present time .hc said. Mir, Stimson stated tha practically all the prisons and in sane asylums arc equipped with rec rcational facilities. Many insan people are benefited even by th sight of others enjoying recreationa facilities
 Mir. Stimson outlined the play ground standards as they have bee recently given out. A piece of cit land quarter of a mile acros should have three or four acres o open land equipped with playgroun facilities and covered with man trees to give it a genuine outdoo