PLAY
GROUND
One prevention against disease and crime.
"Plenty of room for dives and dens,
(glitter and glare of sin)
Plenty of room for prison pens,
(gather the criminals in);
Plenty af room for jails and courts,
(willing enough to pay);
But never a place for the lads to race,
(never a place to play).
Plenty of room for shops and stores,
(Mammon must have the best),
Plenty of room for running sores,
(that rot in the city's breast).
Plenty of room for lures,
(that lead the hearts of youths astray).
But never a cent on a play-ground spent,
(no, never a place to play).
Plenty of room for schools and halls
(plenty of room for art).
Give them a chance for innocent sport,
give them a chance for fun,
Plenty of room for teas and balls,
(platform, stage and mart)
Proud is the city, she finds a place,
for many a fad today,
Better a play-ground plot,
than a court and jail when the harm is done.
Give them a chance, if you stint them now
tomorrow you will have to pay-
But she is more than blind,
A larger bill for a darker ill,
if she fails to find a place for her boys to play.
so please give them a place to play."
