TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN. PORTLAND. AUGUST 9, I90S.
COLOR LINE IS NOT DRAWN ON NORTH PORTLANDS3 ARK BLOCKS
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BT NANCT 1.EE.
XT afternoon of the week If you
walk down the park blocks as far
as Burnside street, you will hear a
merry conglomeration of childish voices,
chiming out the old familiar tunes. "Lon
don Bridge's Falfing Down." "King Wil
liam was King ' James' Son," "Beney,
Meneey. Miney, Mo." interspersed with
"Tag You"r It" and "Hide and Go Seek"
sung from the throat of happy little
tofs from North Portlano.
This playground Is one of the most
commendable charities of the People's
Institute, whfch has fitted It with all the
paraphernalia dear to the heart of a
small child, swings of various kinds, sand
piles, climbing poles, see saws and a
baseball ground for the boys, all of them
full of infinite possibilities for fun.
Prom Burnside street north three blocks
have been set apart by the Park Board
ax a playground for the children of the
Peoples' Institute, presided over by a
sympathetic policeman, and a matron,
ilrs. Bertha Davis, who Is dearly beloved
by all of her small charges, for she It Is
who listens to their tales of woe. teaches
them embroidering, plain sewing and
basket-making and is ever ready to ad
minister kindness and sympathy.
Fully to appreciate the splendid work
the People's Institute has done, in pro
viding this fairyland of youthful delights,
one must go down these warm Summer
afternoons where you will find from 100
to 3ft) children of all colors, types and na
tionalities. Every European race is represented and
their outland neighbors, the Chinese,
Japanese. Indian and negroes, all shades
of humanity forgather there to play the
'merry hours away, amidst the blessed
surroundings of fresh air and wholesome
moral Influence.
An added feature of their enjoyment,
is the bronze drinking fountain which
was recently presented by Mr. and Mrs.
George F. Russell In behalf of their
daughter Nan. This has. been Installed
In the girls' playground, and consequent
ly is eyed with envy by the bovs, who I
might add. would not return with thanks
ny contribution of this nature. Owing
to the novelty of the recent acquisition,
the children continually hover about the
water and consume veritable quarts.
Here the color line is not drawn, and in
spite of the large numbers there Is ap
parently the greatest harmony. In a
sand pile was discovered a tiny plcka
niny, with head of kinky curls, who
bore a striking resemblance to the Gold
Duet Twins, with a smile that wouldn't
come oil. Building rare architectural
triumphs In the same sand pile was a
group of Chinese children with well
groomed hair, black sateen costumes
trimmed In vivid shades, their tiny Ivory
hands and arms covered with carved jade
bracelets all delightful, moist and dirty.
Under the shade of spreading trees were
grouped a number of Syrian women,
watching their little ones, who come In
regular Rooseveltian sequence, - at the
same time fashioning garments by the
aid of a tiny portable sewing machine.
Nearby stood an Indian girl neatly
dressed with strong regular features
totally absorbed In doing artistic em'
broidery work under the guidance of
Mrs. Davis, while a tiny Swedish boy, his
face the worse for pie, assisted a beauti
ful Syrian child fan a diminutive baby
asleep in a perambulator. A Syrian child
with a wealth of raven black curls, a
skin that suggested carved marble and
beautiful swooping lashes which long ago
had reached the braiding stage, derived
apparently great satisfaction from swing
ing a tiny pickanlny and a dear little
golden-haired girl.
So the various occupations and amuse
ments of these little ones might be de
scribed and elaborated upon. Sufficient,
however, to say, that the People s In
stitute playground Is supplying a certain
definite and important need In the social
and economic life of a big and growing
city. There is no more useful or better
directed charity to which a local philan
thropist may lend his aid. It is buildlag
for tomorrow; and -the children who are
developing their little bodies, growing
healthy and well-kept minds, will pay
back some day the money
with compound Interest.
investment
PARK BOARD VIEWS TRACT
Purchase of Melinda Heights by
City Is Under Consideration.
Mayor Lane and members of the City
Park Board visited Melinda Heights,
otherwise known as Washington Heights,
yesterday afternoon, and spent three
hours inspecting it. There la a proposi
tion to purchase it for an addition to the
City Park, which lies Just north. No
decision was reached as to what recom
mendation. If any, will be made to the
Council, as that question will be settled
when the Board meets again.
"I think the city should own the prop
erty," said Isadore Lang, the member of
the Board who first suggested the pur
chase. "Our City Park is already too
mall to accommodate the present popu
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lation, to say nothing of the future. We
can now purchase the property for much
less than we will be able to buy it in
future, and this Is the opportune time to
secure It. if the city is to ever own it."
A special meeting of the Board will be
held soon, at which this and other sub
jects will be discussed.
Tomorrow. Monday, will positively be
the last day for discount on West Side
bill. Portland Gas Comjauur. . J.
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HOUSE BURNS ON HEIGHTS
Three Other Small Fires Are Easily
Extinguished.
The fire department was called upon
to -quell several incipient blazes yes
terday, the most serious of which was
the bumling- of. a vacant house on Port-
land. -HsisUla ovaed by T. C Brown,
This blase was discovered yesterday
afternoon and, before the engine com
pany on the Heights could reach the
scene, which is near the observatory,
the structure was badly damaged. It
Is understood that the loss Is covered
by insurance.
An explosion of a tube in the boiler
of the Oregon Furniture Factory, on
the Macadam road, yesterday morning,
was the cause' of a slight blaze that
was .extinguished by the firemen, of
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Engine Company No. 10, with but slight
damage.
Two roof fires were extinguished
after small loss. ' The first occurred at
101 Ninth street, north, and the other
at 846 Sandy road. , . :,, ...
Baeball for f 130 Purse.
Golden- West colored ball
The
team
will battle for supremacy this after
noon with the J. G. Macks at the Will
lams avenue grounds for a purse of
1160. Game called at 2:30 P. M. Um
pire, Buck Keith.
Bath Makes Tolstoi 111.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 8. Count Leo
Tolstoi is again lndisposed.f At the con
clusion of a long walk, through the coun
try he took a bath la' .the river, which ;
caused an enlargement 'of, the veins. -in'
one of his feel. He, .has .suffered con-,
siderable pain, buL.he rta 'now a iUtla
better. . .. ..., ".".'' . '..-,
Rosenthal'.)) wjnaows are ' mony-(Tara
t
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