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 assistance.  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 assisted 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 assistants, 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 classes 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 classes 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.