Evening star., 1926-03-21


time. AS the great throngs of merr.
youngsters entered the play kingdom
childiike expressions Of gratitude rang
out
Demonstrations took the form o.
shrill whistling, loud cheering, mirth
Sul shouting, running, romping. Thes'
we're impressive ceremonies, indeed
There was no pomp.
Games We're quickly organized by
playground directors and play leaders
under the direction of Mrs. Susie Roo'
Rhodes, who next month rounds out
her tenth year as supervisor OF tht
local playground system.
Base hall. with the typical play
ground Babe RuthS at bat, was
played i'll almost mid-season form
Inside" play was instilled into the
fray by the intuition exercised on the
part of feminine players.
Girls excelled at schlag hall. a game
first introduced on Washington play
grounds and now played nationally
Dodge ball afforded its participants
good sport.
For the younger children there was
a game called poisonous snake.
There really was no evidence of a
snake--an Indian club represented the
reptile feature. The object of the
game, it seemed, was to force a player
10 knock down the club which was
placed in the center of a ring formed
by the dozen or so players, who with
rlaSped hands pranced around the
mythical poisonous snake" in zig
. gag manner. The procedure is similar
to ii tugofwar of college campus
fame. A few minutes tusSle usually
resulted in one of the players being
bitten by the reptile-in reality merely
L. -..At
the feet of one of the players.
Still younger children played keep
the mill going on the slides. Swing
ing fascinated many children. and as
they swung through the air there was
heard chorus-'Swing high, swing
low, up in the air we go-over the
garden wall :"
Some got their thrills on seesaws.
Others found recreation through per-
forming on the horizontal bar, giant
strides. gymnasium frames.
Everywhere boys and girls We're
engaged in wholesome play activity.
1t was a picturesque sight.
X x x y
MUCH enjoyment in the lives of
Washington boys and girls is de-
rived from the efficient play system
which exists here. The health, happi-
ness and well-being of the younger
generation-men and women Of tomor-
row-obviously depend on the fore
sight which the city uses in provid-
ing d we'll organized and adequate play
system.
Likened to the character in the
famous Mother Goose fable only be-
cause she has 80 many children" to
care for at play is Mrs. Rhodes, the
kindly supervisor For she certainly
"knows what to do The high cal.
iber of her regime has placed this
activity of the National Capital in the
front rank among the playground
systems of the country.
An indication of her whole-hearted
interest in the work of planning play
for children of Washington is ap-
parent from the graphic description
given by the director. Speaking of
the part Fairgrounds have in the
making" of tomorrow citizens, Mrs.
Rhodes said:
THE playground is really the melt
ing pot where children of different
conditions in life come together to
have one interest. Here success de-
pends upon the ability to work with
others. Games and the activities are
merely tools to secure the funda-
mental results. Here wholesome play
Proper use of the child's time out of
regular school hours is a safeguard
against temptation.
These hours we try to fill with in
tereStinS instruction and play that
may develop self-respect, desire for
efficiency, sense of justice and admira-
ton of skill; things that will help
make him useful in the home and in
the community.
There is no factor more potent in
determining the character of the fu-
ture citizen than play. The greatest
lessons in life may be learned-obe.
dience, cooperation, team work, re.
spect for the rights Of others, all de.
sirable qualities in the coming citizen.
1--WE have found that if Fairgrounds
are to be interesting to the children,
adequate equipment is particularly
important. The playground differs
from school in that it is not a place
where. the parent compelS his child to
go. but where the child may go if he
wishes.
More Fairgrounds and better equip.
ment is our outstanding need, partic-
ularly for the Summer months. 1t
has been found that one-third Of the
fatal accidents to children are on
streets and highways"
X x X
IN the little journey around the
Fairgrounds these ideals visual
lied by Mrs. Rhodes seemed to reach
fruition.
Playland at present consists of "a
municipal Fairgrounds, a play station
at Children'S Hospital and IL school
play yards.
Balmy Summer weather will great
nf 10 1y1o ND pxy
the first of July 40 school and 25
municipal Fairgrounds will be In oper-
alton. officials said
Untiring efforts of Mrs. Rhodes and
her able staff of assistants ushered in
the play season without the slightest
hitch. Everything was in readiness
for the little play-seekers.
One of the Fairgrounds is so well
organized In the play activities of
boys and girls that it has a mascot
Bob. big police dog. who had dis
tinquished service in the A. L. F., at
taches himself to the Garfield play
ground, where he affords child visitors
there an especial feature in the play
system
However dogs are not permitted on
District Fairgrounds. officials eX-
planned. Efforts to keep mans best
friend out of the playground in.
closures have been successful in every
case save Bob's.
Bob has no regard for the rule.
He loves boys and girls. And, in turn,
they lote him.
His master lives near the Southeast
play station, it was learned, and since
the time he was a small puppy Bob
has made daily visits there. Every
morning during vacation time he goes
to the hauntS of his LITTLE friends apd
joins them in play. When they 20
home for lunch, Bob digs up one
OF h.7 buried bones or runs off to his
own home. Returning after lunch