Vol. XV, No. 8 The World at Play Unforgotten!-For the benefit of those who sometimes feel that our wounded and ill exservice men are being forgotten, a brief account of the activities at Fox Hills Hospital, Staten Island, under the direction of the Red Cross, will be reassuring. One hundred and ninetyeight godmothers (volunteers) are regularly visiting assigned wards of the hospital every week. Many of the wards have been adopted by several groups of visitors who include a considerable number of men from Legion Posts. Every ward is amply covered. These visitors know all the men in their groups, give them comfort, advice and supplies, and through the recommendations of the ward surgeon and nurse meet the needs of the ward as a whole, often providing furniture, pool tables, victrolas, pianos, clothing, shoes and similar supplies. In addition to the work of the godmothers, the Red Cross sends into each ward every day a medical social NOVEMBER, 1921 worker who gives systematic service. On visiting days, Thursday and Sunday, the hospital is crowded with friends of the patients. On other days of the week there are always people there on special errands in the interests of patients. A large number of block parties have been given all over greater New York from the proceeds of which many benefits have come to the ex-service men. "There is no foundation," says Mr. F. R. Lane, field director of the Atlantic Division of the Red Cross, "for the statement that the ex-service men are forgotten by the public." Lexington Has a Pet Show. -Pet Shows were a popular feature of the playgrounds conducted by Community Service at Lexington, Kentucky. Very few, if any cities, Lexington contends, can show such a variety of pets as were exhibited for the benefit of the 1500 people attending the show. The entries were not con fined to children; adults from different parts of the city and from the country sent in their pets, which included bears, wolves, alligators, coons, cats, dogs, birds, possums, snakes, gold fish and many other varieties of live stock. Town and Country Get Together. From the September, 1921 issue of Community Leadership comes the following note regarding Caney, Kansas: "Community picnics on nearby farms are popular at present in Caney-roasting ear picnics, cantaloupe picnics and watermelon picnics. During the roasting ear season the Chamber solicits from some promin ent farmer an invitation to hold a picnic on his lawn, he and his neighbors to supply the roasting ears and other locally produced food. They all arrive at about 7 p. m., the Chamber members and their families also armed with baskets of tempting viands, ice cream, cigars and lemonade. The repast is usually begun with an informal talk by the host on his farming methods. The Chamber also holds a monthly community dinner at the Elks' Club banquet hall, to which the farmer members are invited." A Community Day.-Highland Park, Illinois, claims in "Highland Park Day" one of the most successful special celebrations held recently in any Community Service town. Seven local clubs cooperated with Community Service in arranging for the hundreds who came in from the country in a three-day carnival marking the opening of Sunset Wood, a glen on the western edge of the town. "Highland Park Day," which began the carnival, was a holiday. Business houses closed. and the streets were decorated. All the town was stirring early, for the first event of the day, a water fight between two teams of the local fire department, took place at nine. At ninethirty a parade with floats and as all the other features that make parades interesting made its way to Sunset Wood. There the Mayor addressed the crowd from the dance platform, emphasizing the fact that a community spirit such that shown in this gathering could do much to make the city more attractive. The afternoon's activities consisted of a baseball game and all manner of competitive races and stunts. In the evening the carnival features were in full swing and out-of-door dancing attracted many. There was a merry-goround and a Marionette show for the children. "Formalities were laid aside for the day and all met on a common level," says the local press. "Highland Park Day was a fine illustration of what may be accomplished by cooperation." Ice Glen Fete Is Successfully Revived. Under the direction of Stockbridge Community Service, the annual torch-light parade through Ice Glen, traditional since 1841, was held for the first time since 1915. Ice Glen winds through a mountain cavern just past Laurel Hill, a spot famed for its Indian history. It was there that the Stockbridge Indians two centuries ago celebrated victories over warring tribes. The costumed marchers in the modern parade left Red Lion Inn at 8:30 p.m. and were greeted on Laurel Hill by an Indian tableau lighted with colored fire. The way through the dark cavern was lighted with flaring torches of red and green light. The party came out on the community recreation field, which formerly was Stockbridge Meadow. There a bonfire one hundred feet high had been piled and was blazing. An Indian war dance to the beating of tom-toms gave real atmosphere. A fitting close to the evening was a costume ball at the town hall, at which prizes for the most unique costumes were awarded. Playground Day.-Playground Day, celebrated in Newburyport, Massachusetts, on Labor Day, was one of the features of a campaign to raise money for providing the playgrounds with much-needed facilities. A larger crowd than had been expected turned out. Though this involved making some changes in the program, everything was most successful. Among the activities were historic pageantry, group dancing, singing and massed games, acrobatic stunts, relay races, efficiency tests (chinning, baseball and basketball throw, base running). The presentation of the League cup gave the afternoon added interest. A fine spirit of loyalty was demonstrated in the athletics. Boys who could not ordinarily be prevailed upon to do anything before the public participated. One boy was heard to say, "I'm not running for myself--I'm running for the playground." The program ended with a sing, which was particularly enjoyed by the older people. Mother Goose Records.— Among the new Victor educational records are a number of Mother Goose records, music by Sidney Homer, sung by his Homer. wife, Mme. Louise |