Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission Part 72

Mr. Armand Hawkins, New Orleans, La.: Generously loaned many interesting, historic, and useful pieces of furniture, which were used in the building of the board of lady managers during the exposition period.

Standard Scales and Fixtures Company, of St. Louis, Mo.: Loaned the useful and necessary adjunct to housekeeping--an unusually fine and large McCray gla.s.s-lined refrigerator, which was in use from the first days of the exposition period until a few days after the close, and an aid to the comfort of all who resided in the building and their guests.

The gifts and loans to the board were most gratifying to the committee, as they were an evidence of a strong interest in the board of lady managers and their building.

It was, undoubtedly, not the intention of the board, when limiting the expenditure of this committee to $20,000, to mean that this sum should cover an outlay beyond the time the building was p.r.o.nounced finished and furnished, and ready for the occupancy of the board at the opening of the exposition. The total expenditure given below, however, includes all additions to furniture, repairs, both to building and furniture, and the replacing of broken articles during the entire exposition period. Such was the careful management of the committee that they not only succeeded in accomplishing the payment of all bills contracted by it prior to the opening, but at the close of the exposition were still within the limit originally imposed of $20,000.

The Exposition Company agreed to pay $5,000 for the furnishing of the building of the board of lady managers, $5,000 for its maintenance, and $5,000 for entertainment. The demands upon the Exposition Company at this time, however, were so great that the board decided, at the meeting held on July 14, 1904, to take up any outstanding bills, and pa.s.sed the following resolution:

_Resolved,_ That the board of lady managers a.s.sume the payment of the now unpaid bills for entertaining and furniture for the board that have been turned over to the Exposition Company, for which the Exposition Company had pledged a certain sum.

The following is an itemized account of amount expended for the finishing and furnishing of the building of the board of lady managers:

Bills paid Bills paid Bills paid by the from the from the Exposition $3,000 $100,000 Company. appropriation.

appropriation.

Furniture, china, linen, expressage ...... $752.32 $652.25 $11,692.65 Tinting walls, plumbing, staining floors, heating apparatus, electric wiring, awnings, screens, part.i.tions, etc. ....... 1,460.99 64.30 2,263.32

Total ................ 2,213.31 716.55 13,955.97

Total paid by Exposition Company ............ $2,213.31 Total paid from $3,000 appropriation ........ 716.55 Total paid from $100,000 appropriation ...... 13,955.97 ----------

Total amount expended for house furnishing .. 16,885.93

MARY MARGARETTA MANNING, _Chairman._ MARY PHELPS MONTGOMERY.

EMILY S.G. HOLCOMBE.

It was the earnest wish of some of the members of the board, at a very early period of its existence, to establish and maintain, if possible, a day nursery or creche on the exposition grounds, in order that suitable provision might be made for children whose parents might wish to have them cared for during the day, and thus afford to those whose time and means were extremely limited an opportunity to see as much of the exposition in as brief a s.p.a.ce as possible. Ways and means were frequently discussed, but the absence of funds and the uncertainty of the action of the company in regard to substantial aid were sources of much anxiety and delay. Estimates were obtained of cost of building, however, plans were drawn ready for work to be begun the first practicable moment, and all information as to best methods and equipment was secured, in order that no time might be lost should it later be found possible to proceed with the enterprise. The idea was viewed with much favor by both the president of the Exposition Company and the director of exhibits, and it was hoped the Exposition Company would regard this as one of the "suggestions" from the board which President Francis had said the executive committee would "take under serious consideration," but on the 15th of August, 1903, President Francis wrote to the president, Mrs. Blair:

My idea is that we should not permit any one State to have charge of these day nurseries. I think the board of lady managers should have entire charge, and hope they will be able to raise the money without making inroads on the treasury of the Exposition Company.

Subsequently, however, the Exposition Company agreed to appropriate $35,000 for the purpose of erecting the building, but later granted a concession for a similar enterprise on the grounds. When the board eventually obtained its appropriation of $100,000 it was thought that the work might be begun immediately, but as some misunderstanding had arisen in the minds of the members as to the terms of the original proposition of the one who was to conduct the creche for the board, upon close investigation it was found that, whereas in the first place it had been represented that the creche would be self-sustaining, it now became evident that the plan had grown beyond all antic.i.p.ated or intended proportion, and that instead of being self-supporting the board would be called upon for unlimited and unreasonable outlay.

As all the members had become greatly interested in the project, they felt keenly disappointed when it became evident that it would be necessary to abandon the undertaking. Desiring, however, to take some part in this useful work, and being informed that the concession that had been granted for a similar purpose was in need of funds to enable it to employ additional nurses and make it possible to care for more children, on July 14, 1904, at their midsummer meeting, the board pa.s.sed the following resolution:

_Be it resolved_, That the board of lady managers set apart, and turn over, to the persons in charge of the Model Play Ground, Nursery, and Lost Children work the sum of $5,000 to a.s.sist in carrying on these projects on the exposition grounds.

Mrs. John M. Holcombe was made chairman of the committee having this appropriation in charge, and her final report is as follows:

The members of the board of lady managers were from the beginning of their organization deeply interested in the need of caring for little children at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and various plans were under consideration at an early date.

To have a model creche was the desire of the president and members of the board, and it was with great satisfaction that arrangements were made for a very perfect equipment.

A practical philanthropy in full working order would prove also an exhibit of the most approved and up-to-date methods--at once a charity, an example, an inspiration.

The Exposition Company made a generous appropriation, the sum of $35,000 being allowed for the building and furnishing, and very beautiful designs were made and accepted. Here infants were to be cared for by trained nurses, receiving attention and consideration possible only to babies of the twentieth century, and altogether in advance of the simple and natural conditions of baby life prior to the closing years of the nineteenth century. Special foods specially treated, specially constructed bottles--in fact everything special and disinfected, from the nurse and crib down to the smallest minutiae.

The charge was to be 50 cents a day, and estimates formed on experience went to show that on this basis the creche would be self-sustaining when once established and started in running order.

Shortly before the opening of the fair, however, and at a moment when the Exposition Company was pa.s.sing through most trying experiences and needed all possible funds, it was found that unfavorable aspects had arisen. At the March meeting of the board, 1904, and only a few weeks prior to the opening of the exposition, it was learned that two concessions of a nature similar to the creche had been made, where the charge for children would be but 25 cents a day. Already the board had heard some buzz of criticism that 50 cents was too high a price for benefit to poor people. Thus there seemed to be established a rate of income which, for the requirements of the creche conducted under great expense, would be entirely inadequate.

There were apparently no sponsors for the undertaking but the board of lady managers, and a steady loss of 25 cents on each child for a period of seven months would pile up the losses to unknown and quite incalculable proportions.

It is true the board had received a sum of $100,000. This was to cover all expenses of the board, whose members were the official hostesses of the fair. Everything was to be conducted at this great exposition in the most munificent manner possible.

Ceremonies and entertainments which had been given at the dedicatory exercises in 1903 indicated a scale of elegance and boundless hospitality; in fact, hospitality was to be a distinguishing feature of this great exposition at St. Louis.

The board of lady managers formed a part of the hospitable equipment, welcoming the world to the official home of the exposition, and were to fulfill one of woman's missions and entertain in a manner and on a scale harmonious with the greatest and most beautiful exposition the world had ever looked upon. For these purposes the money must be made to last throughout the seven months of the coming fair. No more fatal thing could occur for the fair name of the board than to spend early and inconsiderately, and to be met later with pecuniary embarra.s.sments and complications.

The estimate for the opening expenses of the creche exceeded by some $16,000 the sum appropriated by the Exposition Company. The members of the board might have felt justified in furnishing this sum, but there loomed before them the vast bulk of losses which must follow as the result of cutting the price from 50 cents to 25 cents on each of the many children to be accommodated at the creche. It was an enormous responsibility.

Consultation with President Francis and some of the directors seemed to indicate that the saving to them of the promised $35,000 would be very desirable. The building was about to be commenced, and only a few hours were granted the board for their decision. It was obviously impossible to enter upon a work involving great and unknown expense pregnant with such possibilities of loss and failure, and so, with the deepest regret, the members of the board saw their cherished castle in the air--the beautiful, useful creche--fade and disappear. Words can hardly express the discouragements and heart sinking of the members over this failure of their fond aspirations.

Mrs. Ruth Ashley Hirschfield opened her Model Play Ground on May 23, 1904. From the beginning it seemed to meet the requirements in a simple but direct and effective manner. So successful was it that soon the demands outgrew the accommodations, and the possibilities of extending the work were such that Mrs.

Hirschfield welcomed the aid of the board of lady managers. Very soon after the opening of the Model Play Ground the president and members of the board became interested, realizing its needs and possibilities, many of which had been carefully--even affectionately--considered for a long period.

At the July meeting a committee was appointed to confer with Mrs. Hirschfield, and the sum of $5,000 was appropriated for use in the development and care of the Model Play Ground and Day Nursery, and a special stipulation made regarding the care of lost children. Arrangements were entered into as to times of payment. Mrs. Hirschfield was to have the entire responsibility; the board gave her their confidence and hearty support and five monthly payments of $1,000 each.

Results proved the soundness of the theories, as well as the administration of Mrs. Hirschfield, and no appropriation could have been more advantageously applied.

It gives me the greatest satisfaction to report that the money appropriated filled a distinct need and enabled Mrs. Hirschfield to enlarge the scope and power of her work up to the very day that the fair closed its doors on December 2, 1904. It seemed, indeed, to meet every want, and no child was ever turned from its hospitable doors. To this bright and happy spot parents could bring their children, even wee babies, and be themselves free to go unenc.u.mbered and enjoy the beauties and wonders spread so lavishly before them and happy in the consciousness that their little ones were receiving the tenderest care and were undoubtedly enjoying the many comforts and attractions provided for their welfare and entertainment. Here the wage-earner at the fair could bring her little child, leaving it with the same cheerful confidence. This also was the haven for lost children who were brought there by the police or by members of the Jefferson Guard, and here were they found by their distracted parents, or from here they were sent to their own abodes under safe escort.

The care of lost children began on June 6, when the first lost child was brought to the playground. The system of caring for lost children was as follows: Lost children found by members of the Jefferson Guard or the police were brought to the Model Play Ground, according to orders received from headquarters. Every child brought in was recorded, and an aluminum tag bearing a certain number was attached to each. They were cared for and entertained, and had all the privileges accorded to children who were registered by their parents. After being recorded they were handed over to the matron to be washed and fed and given all necessary attention. They were then induced to join groups of other children of their age. As a rule they quickly forgot their sorrows in play. They were not permitted to leave the playground until called for or sent home. If not called for they were escorted to their homes, or, in case of children of sufficient age and intelligence, to the car by the attendants of the playground. Parents inquiring for lost children were directed to this place by guards and police. If the child had not yet been brought in, the inquirer was informed the child would be taken care of. The telephone and electric service proved of great a.s.sistance. The ages of lost children ranged from 2 to 13 years.

The system kept track not only of those who were brought in, but also of those who were reported lost, and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition should have credit for a "lost children system" so complete that children separated from parents or escorts were restored to them in every case. "The method used for the care of lost children is the most complete and far-reaching system that has yet been devised for the use of any world's fair." (World's Fair Bulletin, September, 1904.)

Mrs. Hirschfield gave the following gratifying statement in her September report:

"The $5,000 appropriated by the board of lady managers has a.s.sisted very materially in the ability to handle the increasing number of lost children, the fund enabling the playground to employ a larger number of trained a.s.sistants, and to add many and attractive features.

"The expense incurred in the care of infants and lost children was not contemplated in the original playground plan."

The accommodations for the children included bathing and laundry facilities; clothing was furnished in some instances; two luncheons were served daily; kindergarten cla.s.ses were held morning and afternoon; athletic exercises and baths were furnished, and many were the children, boys particularly, who thus enjoyed luxuries not otherwise obtainable.

Among the children attending the cla.s.ses were a number who came regularly, including children admitted free, whose parents were employed in the exposition grounds. The fee charged to parents who left their children to be cared for was, except in the case of small infants, 25 cents a day. For babies requiring the services of trained nurses, 50 cents. In the case of parents too poor to pay no charge was made.

The ages of the children ranged from 2 weeks to 14 years. The number cared for, by months, was as follows:

May and June, 483; July, 864; August, 1,160; September, 1,732; October, 1,922; November, 1,189; making a total of 7,350.

The number of lost children brought to the playground was: In June, 94; July, 132; August, 328; September, 248; October, 209; November, 156; total, 1,166.

Children admitted free were newsboys, office boys, messenger boys, all children earning their living, or whose parents were employed within the exposition grounds. Many of these came regularly. The hospitality of the playground was also open to the children of the orphan asylums and other charitable inst.i.tutions and to the children of the city playgrounds and kindergartens.

The number of children admitted free was, in May and June, 336; July, 554; August, 8,616; September, 3,916; October, 1,789; November, 5,700.

On November 2 the children of all nations were received by Miss Helen M. Gould, who gave a souvenir gift to each child.

On November 24 the children of all nations attended Thanksgiving dinner and ceremonies at the playground; 326 children were seated at the tables. After dinner they played and enjoyed the many features provided for their amus.e.m.e.nt. Every child took home a box of dainties and a souvenir of Thanksgiving Day, that traditional New England festivity. A member of the National Commission planned the affair, and it proved a notable success.

Children of twenty-eight nationalities or tribes were gathered on the playground at one time. No such representation ever took place before, or was possible, except at the Model Play Ground and Day Nursery of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.