are the Grand Canyon, and the Petrified Forest-both in Arizona. A third group includes the national forest reserves, which are more recreational in character than the other two. These reserves were primarily intended to conserve our great

forests, but they also offer splendid facilities for hunting, fishing, and camping. Campers are furnished with "recreation maps showing the towns, streams, roads, and trails, and giving information about camp-sites, fish, and game. As a playground for adults the great forests are unsurpassed.

4. ADMINISTRATION

Although the federal and the state governments provide opportunities for recreation it seems to be increasingly a matter for the city to take charge of. Yet the whole development of recreational activities is so comparatively new that cities differ greatly in their methods of handling this important function.

In most cities several different departments have a share in providing recreation. There is, however, usually some central committee, or individual, that supervises the activities of all these different agencies. In New York City, for example, there is a Bureau of Recreation in the Park Department, a Recreation Department of the Board of Education, a Recreation Commission appointed by the Mayor, and finally a body that supervises

Courtesy, National Park Service

all of them-the Committee on Social Welfare of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Most cities have a separate department in charge of parks, or parks and playgrounds, under the administrative control of a director or commissioner appointed by the chief executive of the city. The parks are usually policed by the Police Department, patrolmen being assigned to the city precincts lying within park areas. The Board of Education often fur

nishes recreational service in the school community centres, which have the use of school buildings after school hours.

Under the direction of the recreation committee, or the commissioner, is a corps of playground workers, usually known as recreation secretaries, supervisors, directors, and play leaders. In some cities they have charge of the physical

training in the schools as well as in the playgrounds. All except the play leaders are employed by the year. The latter are generally employed only for the playground season, for two or four months. These workers are all paid from the municipal treasury.

5. HOW OTHER AGENCIES CO-OPERATE

The city's health department is vitally interested in the community's recreation program, for recreation helps to promote good health.

The largest private organization engaged in the work of developing the service of recreation is the Playground and Recreation Association of America. This association gathers all kinds of information on the subject and does all in its power to extend recreational activities through publicity. Its aim is to stimulate public opinion in favor of the community's recreation program, and to promote better plans wherever needed. Social settlements, supported by private and not city funds, and located in poor and crowded sections, do much to organize recreation in many city neighborhoods. College men and women take up their residence in the settlement houses and devote a part of their time to gathering together the boys and girls in the immediate neighborhood to play games and learn useful crafts. Because of their small number, the work of the settlements, though splendid in character, is necessarily limited in extent.

6. HOW THE CITIZEN CAN DO HIS PART

Every one of us should plan to make the best use of his recreation hours. On the fighting lines in France a soldier who allowed himself to be gassed got a severe reprimand. Every precaution against gas was given him, he was trained in the use of his mask, and ordered to put it on at once when the signal sounded that gas shells were coming. If he was gassed, it was because he was careless, or did not obey orders. We should be reprimanded if we do not take out-door exercise, when we have plenty of opportunity to do so, and when we know that exercise helps us to keep well. When we are ill we are a burden to the community. It is our duty to keep well, if we can.

Find out the sport that is best fitted to your needs, then practice it. Visit your city's parks; they are there for your

benefit as well as for that of other citizens. Help the park department keep the grounds in beautiful condition so that all can enjoy the walks and drives. Don't litter the parks with papers and trash. You wouldn't throw rubbish in a person's living-room, would you? The parks are the community's livingrooms. If the "Keep Off the Grass" sign in springtime annoys you, remember that the grass is replanted in spring, and if people walk across the lawns when the grass is young and tender it will be marred for the whole summer.

TOPICS FOR REPORTS AND DEBATES

1. A Visit to a Great National Park.

2. The Game I Like Best, and Why. 3. Profits in Playgrounds.

4. An Ideal Play-Leader.

5. Gangs I Have Known.

6. A Model Playground in Our City.

7. Recreational Activities Offered by

8. "Don't flinch, don't foul, hit the line hard."

Park.

RESOLVED: That river banks should be preserved for boulevard

purposes.

RESOLVED: That the city should organize and supervise all playground activities.

QUESTIONS

1. What play facilities are offered to its citizens by your city?

2. Have you ever visited a city playground? Describe its arrangement and equipment.

3. How is the play organized?

4. What play facilities are there in connection with your public schools?

5. Has your city an organized playground "system"? To what extent?

6. In what districts of your city are playgrounds most needed? Are they in those districts? Explain.

7. What ancient people fostered games? Why?

8. Of what use are school gardens?

9. What is your favorite city park? Why?

10. What are some of the uses of parks?

11. What are community centres? Settlement houses?

12. Why should your city pay for recreational facilities for its citizens?

13. Can you show that money spent for recreation brings definite financial return to the city?