Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-08-26
Correspondence.
GOSHEN, n. Y, Aug. 20 1880.

beautiful of the season. the sun shone
brightly from a cloudless sky, and
cool breeze coming from the heavy
forests on the hill sides tempered an
otherwise unpleasant heat. The cars
glided rapidly along their serpentine
course winding among the hills as
does their intimate companion, the
Delaware River, now whirling around
mountain side here or rocky cliff
there, darting over high bridge or
into deep rocky cut, first here, then
there. but constantly on with an ever
changing scene. Occasionally the
hills would break away, opening to
view wide range of hill and dale, Of
forest and farm, then again a rocky
impenetrable wall closes about. Not
withstanding the smoke and dust, we
enjoyed this scene of rare beauty
along the Delaware.
At one place where we stopped, the
arrival of the train was greeted with
cheers and great deal of noise. All
attention was at once directed to these
Enthusiasts, about three score of small
children, who were soon hustled
aboard a special car aud became our
fellow Travellers Feeling a natural
curiosity to know more Of these youth
full friends we sought them out and
formed the acquaintance Of Mr.. Will
lard Parsons, who had charge Of this
party of "Fresh Air Excuisionists'
for such they were.
The boys and girls were Of all ages
from babyhood up to twelve and four
cen years. They were dressed much
the same as are all children who spend
most Of their time on the street, some
were barefooted and some wore ola
shoes, some of the girls wore neat
calico dresses, but many did not fare
so well, a few Of the boys were out at
both Lnees and elbows and some were
coatless but all seemed to be happy.
These children, said Mr.. Parsons,
come, many Of them, from the lowest
tenement houses in New York City.
! Those three girls in the back seat
come from Give Points" We 60
out into the country, he continued, and
visit the people, asking them to make
one or more Of these little ones their
guests for two weeks, then we 60 back
to the city and pick up these children,
many Of whom have never seen green
fields, and take them out to these
country homes in parties Of fifty to
two or three hundred each. Our ex-
cursionlsts always stay two weeks and
some OF them four. We have reduc-
ed rates on the railroads and pay their
passage from our fund-the "Evening
Post Fresh Air Funa.' Their parents
or friends bring them to the depot,
where we take them in charge. They
are treated often times on the way
with refreshments and flowers and
when they reach their destinations
thew are turned over to the care Of these
good people whom they have come to
visit. Here they enter upon new
lives, they run in the fields, climb
trees, eat apples, pick berries, feed
the poultry, learn to milk, in fact they
eat, sleep, play and enjoy their two
weeks holiday in every way possible.
We take charge of them again on
their way home and deliver them over
to their proper friends where we re-
ceived them. But how is this fund
obtained? BY voluntary contributions
entirely. The cost per capita is very
slight compared with what they re-
ceive.
Last year we took out two hundred
and sixty adults, who were in i'll
health and unable to obtain fresh air
in any other way, each of whom we
boarded at the expense Of the ''fund. :"
With this additional expense included
the average cost per capita for the
trip was only two dollars and seventy
one cents and the average distance
which they travelled was one hundred
and seventy miles from New York.
They have some bundles, generally
going out; and invariably are loaded
down when they return. We saw
several with little chickens in paste
board boxes and the quantities of
fruit, vegetables. and other miscella-
neous things, which they had done up
in bags and boxes was astonishing.
They go out looking poor and sickly,
theygo back looking happy and healthy.
They al talk at once, they run back
q