The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 17, 1902, Page 14

14 THE SUNDAY CALL. Paradisg of ot sat be loose mor obtained way As a result ¢ has beer is kept city. So if much right is doing e, If ye take a out If you are c cross you cannot but feel more armony with the world 2nd its ways when you t your back upon the children; if you terested in little people you will re- Jolce w the happiest morning—say, about 9 o'clock—a on a W minutes. The front door of house will suddenly open E will bu forth with a water pail almost as big as shoe is and something that resembles a piece of cloth in The entire fi one of her mot e will be swathed er's the ot aprons and the appearance Where 2 Qrowd ofF Lusty YounGsters Eind a Bealthy Fun She will look up and down the street rly and then disappear into Out comes the cloth dripp:ng, oungster, for that matter, he front steps do not get a almost ain’t yer pretty near g child as she stant 3 ou don’t get a move on will get the teeter first. Say, r the rag in two and I'll giv r and the second figure is hidden at all embracing pail the door, and in less time Jack Robinson the n in takes falling down the “get there first. to say ps ag: ness to ht of the two scurrying figures k into a run and a bat- yal with the girls. And their ation? W vground, to be sure. Where else v be going? Long before the gates are open a string rong the streets, all watch- rticular plaything that pleases , and when Mr. Hutton, who is intendent of the grounds, comes like a piece nded by busy be of children t ing sc to say gou he loo r surrou With a whoop and a yell they break in. The girls are on one side andthe boys other, to prevent rough playing; but e y cross the boundaries if they so ple: “F here,” calls a small boy. a policeman?’ Where, indeed. The sive ¢ e force in the regulars ca. laygrounds can and spades for being on the spot “What's the matter here?” demands an hat two fellers fightin’ n’t there enough rings?”’ And pushes his way through the ronts the culprits. he to order people Just this much—he is a n and wears a badge to that ef- Where anywhere from 600 to 1200 children play there is bound to be fric- tion and a force of men is required to keep peace. So there are nine regular of- who wear the regulation metal dge, and twenty-four who wear square ores, denoting an inferior rank. The girls have their force as well, but they are not honored with the metal, but you ficers, have only plain ribbons, which, by ihe way, 18 a bone of contention. How dces a bit of ribbon compare ‘with the dignity of polished steel? There are swings, teeters, springboards, basket-ball courts, handball courts, rings, the giant stride, parallel bars, trapeze, slippery pole, knotted ropes, mat-jumping and a dozen or more things to play and exercise with. In fact, the ground is equipped as a gymnasium, and it has plenty of fresh air and sunshine, both of which ‘aid the youngsters wonderfully in getting .rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes. The most popular place in the grounis fs what is commonly known as the “mon- key ring.”” Everybody in town has seen the monkeys’ home at the Chutes. Well, the two look almost alike. The children are on the apparatus as thick as bees; they hold on to any old thing that/ they can, and they jibber and jabber just as lard and as fast as they can without trying to make each other understand in, them would make the faintest impression. Now and then some adventurous chap undertakes too great a jump and lands on his head. In a few minutes a polics- man has straightway marched him off to the emergency hospital and there he re- ceilves the necessary treatment that sends him out whole again. Since the opening the slightest, and probably without even \Qf the grounds only one accident that thinking of what they are saying. There is just a surplus of spirits that must out. The place rings with laughtar and good nature and nothing short of the earth opening and swallowing half of amounted to anything has happened. A little man. dropped from the knotted ropes into the soft bark and managed by a dex- trous twist to break his leg. Mr. Hutton, Who is always on the grounds, sét it im- nediately an@ ordered him home for a short rest. Now and then two boys—leaders of op- posing gangs and consequently sworn enemies—cross each other’'s path and leave a bloody trail before any one can lake shore, forest patk river bank me! Yours for leis- nt. In San Fran- cisco, t0o. If you have been cooped up all the week and the thought of approaching Sunday finds little favor because of the expense ¥y attending an outing, you be by the knowledge that ch—within “bed-rock re trip not excelled for compressed variety, wholesomeness of at- e and quick changing panorama of nature’s forms in their most interesting aspects This ouging-jaunt may be made in two ways over the same ground, but the route from which the most enjoyment may be obzained the one making the ocean beach either at the CHff House or Boulevard station the first pcis) 3 SN SEA BREEZE AND FO itinerary. The start should be made early In the forenoon to avoid the winds that frequently spring up an hour or two after midda:. it The earlier in the forenoon the better will be the appreciation of the strou along the surf line. Arrived at the beach, turn your footsteps in a southerly direc- tion away from the Cliff House. Upon reaching the remnant of the hull of the wrecked Reporter imbedded in the sands you will observe on the boulevard the Life Saving Service sign “Half Way.” Cross over the roadway at this point into the sand dunes, and in the vicinity will be seen a curiously constructed dwelling- place. It is “Little Japan,” and the building s straw-thatched, the only one 83’2 50ciTe 1 Son Frasalhed, & Cannw . view may be had and enjoyed. Return to the beach and continue southward, bearing in mind tha you are to enjoy a topographical change when you pass the great white structure, the once famous Ocean House, riow a private residence. A short distance beyond this imposing pile you find your progress checked by a stream of fresh water emptying into the sea. It is San {ranclsco'u “river”—the outflow from Lake Merced, and there your ocean trip ends. Follow the course of the stream east- ward and it will bring you to a broader expanse of water, banked with masses of greenery and wild flowers. Watercress is often found here in abundance, and also in the rivulet paralleling Ingleside road. C=s3¢ are plentiful in these waters at this season /of the year, and thrifty Young America wielding a scoopnet is occasion- ally in evidence. This fresh water patch near the beach Will furnish a half-hour’s pleasant diver- sion, and then the second lap of the tramp is taken up along the macadam- ized road. There are some very pretty views in the windings of this red-bedded avenue, the tall eucalyptus trees impart- ing a stately dignity to the rural effect. After a twenty-minute stroll you come upon a row of farm buildings on the northern side of the road, the last one painted red. At this point if you cross the fence on the south you will obtain a splendid view of the eastern neck of Lake Merced, and if you so desire five minutes’ walk will take you to its edge. It is in a sheltered valley and the lake beach affords many cozy retreats and spots for picnicking. The extent of lake exploration will rest with the traveler, and when he has had sufficient commun- ion with the quiet blue waters he may re- trace his steps or traverse the flelds to- ward the great patches of trees lying eastward. Over in the southerly distance there are great splashes of blue and gold and white in the green landscape, which the lover of wild flowers will correctly at- tribute to the prevalence of baby-blue eyes, golden popples and the modest snow drop. The next shifting of scenery is just a bit farther along the red road where the Gum Forest comes into view. You pass the roadhouse and then appears the great _naturally. _fit to liberate them. et to them. When such is the case there just one thing to do. What happens to pufians who nearly knock each other’s heads off on the street? They go to jail, ‘Well, so do these smaller ones. In one corner of the grounds stands a small building all by itself. It does not look inviting, In fact, it looks like what it really is—the jail. In go the unruly and there they stay until Mr. Hutton, the chief of police, sees The greatest punish- ment that can be given is to be barred from the grounds, and sometimes even that is deemed necessary. In several weeks the anger is gone and even the last particle of pride has entire- ly vanished. That means a great deal in a bully, too. To eat humble ple—and as large a piece as he is given—is the last thing his young lordship would ever have dreamed of doing. As far as the promise “to be good.” Pshaw! Out of the ques- tion. But it {sn't out of the question. That is the fit part of it. However grandly the hand may have been waved and however loud and firm the voice may have Been to say “Pshaw!" still the fact remains that 2 fellow cannot hold out forever when everybody is against him. How can he be boss of the gang when they are all on the inside of the fence and he on the out? So you see while the health of the chil« ‘ dren fis fully considered, something eise 1s thought of, too. Self-government. The boys and girls who frequent that play- ground for years cannot help but be bet- ter citizens. Just because they have been there implies that the rules which are set down have been followed and the idea of government has been well instilled into thelr heads. \ Just across the street s the headquarters of the Columbia Park Boys’ Club, and many of the boys are enthusiastic police- men and officers in fhe grounds. Then again if a new boy comes to play or ex- ercise hé may be “rushed” and invited to join the club, and he is indeed a happy youngster if such good fdrtune befalls him. It left to their natural instincts chil- dren rarely stand on ceremony. Too much precious time is apt to be lost and anyhow why on earth should they stand’ and stare at each other when they might be whizzing through the air on a teeter or making immense strides, just touching the earth here and there in the high spots. It's great fun and it is likewise great exercise. The arms are kept busy holding one up and the feet are going just as fast as they can keep out of the next fellow's way. All of the sport:in the ground is on the rsame plan—a combination of work and play,” and the results cannot help but be more than satisfactory. ‘What is wanted now is more of them When ‘children come from the Mission, when they come from the hill and from the heights, it shows that they should be scattered all over the city. Have you noticed that your taxes are a Iittle high~ er? Probably not, and you would not no- tice it either if every tenth square block had & frolic ground. But you would notice that your youngster was stronger ard more robust; that your doctor bills Were smaller and your home happier. REST BREATH FOR A DIME gate over which is placed the almost su- perflious sign “Gum Forest.”* You are near the end of your tramp and approach- ing a most enjoyable feature of the out- ing. At the end of the fence inclosing the Gum Forest pass down into the valley or canyon on the south side and you will find yourself in the midst of a maze of eu- calyptus trees with a picturesque avenue running parallel to the road above. This_section makes a delightful picnic ground and is free from wind and dust. It affords excellent opportunity for the spreading of luncheon and for a lounging hour or two in the balsam laden atmos- phere. The resting hour is usually con- tentedly welcomed in sucn surroundings, although the walk should not be fatiguing it lelsurely done. There is satisfaction, too, in the knowledge that the Ingleside electric cars are close at hand and that it requires but a lazy stroll to the point + whence one will be quickly transported home. The other way of making the trip is to first go to Ingleside and visit in reverse order the places mentioned. This trip Is equally enjoyable, provided the day Is fine, but if the afternoon develops a breeze the outing may be marred by wind and dust. As a rule the mornings along the beach are balmy and mild and a strolll of a mile or two means a bit of recreation, as the ever-changing forms of waves and break- ers, the distant sails, the shells and peb- bles. furnish diversion that banish all thoughts of the length of the walk. Then the long rest near Ingleside comes at the end of the physical effort and thus proves doubly refreshing. Taken either way. the trip is one of healthful, Invigorating pastime and will furnish enough of nature's exhilarating tonic and symulating ozone to set at de- flance a month's accumulation of offies haunting germs and other terrors of the 4 microscople realm.