New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-14
THE FRESH AIR FUND.
rur rPrRIryE TAKES CHARGE OF 1T.

rs METH DDS AND BENEFIrS-MR. PARSONS TX
PLAINS HOW POOR CHILDREN ARE TAKEN FROM
TKNEMENT-HOUsEs TO GREEN FIELDS IN THE
MIDSUMMER HEATS.
To the EdttOr Of The Trtbnue.
SIR: In the summer of 1877 when pastor OF
small church in sherman. Penn, | came into the
city and gathered together little company Of the
poorest and most needy children to be found. They
were taken ont among my people. who were willing
to receive them as their guests tor a fortnight dur
ing the midsummer heat. Others took the places Of
the first company, and at the end of the season the
good people had entertained sixty-seven poor city
children for fortnight each. This somewhat
novel experiment of taking little ones from
wretched city tenements into comfortable country
homes was a most gratifying success Appettes
improved, coughs ceased to be troublesome, ulcers
healed. growing deformties arrested, cheeks
filed out and grew ruddy, spirits became buoyant
and the sckly smile gave way to the hearty laugh
of childhood.
1t an easy matter. after the success Of this
first summers work. to interest other communities;
and with The Nec- York EreniRg Post to raise the
necessary money to pay the travelling expenses |
enabled TO extend the work greatly till more
than ten thousand of the needy children from the
miserable tenements of New-York have had two
weeks of Joy and fairness among the hospitabl
such a humane enterprise will best crystalline
around journal of the character of THE TRIBUNE.
When the plan of continuing it was discussed in
the spring by the friends of the fund the consent
of THE TRIBUNE to take up the work was most
heartily welcomed and The Lreaing Post has trans
ferred ii 10 The TFdBUSE The large circulation of
The TRIBUNE and its well-knOwn interest in phil
anthropic labors of this character give the best
possible backing for the Fresh Air Fund" We
hope and expect that the former friends of the
Fresh Air Fund viii be as ready as in previous
years to help on the work for children by their
contributions. and that many new ones, readers OF
TIE TRIBUNE, will be as willing to aid in giving
vacations to the unfortunate little ones who would
otherwise never have q chance Tor anything better
than tenement-hOuse air OF life.
1t is an openhanded generous hospitality which
the country folks give and the contact ofthese chill
dren with the healthy Christians living in these
country homes is already bringing forth abundant
fruit in hi cher aspirations anu be lives Three dol
lars will give child fortnights vacation. ana every
dollar contributed Will be applied strictly 10 this
purpose. The country hosts receive the children
without compensation save that of the conscious
ness of doing a worthy act of charity to one In
need, the various transportation companies cheer
fully make large deductions from the regular fare,
and others volunteer their services to help on the
work. Hence the expenses Otl er than the mere
cost of transportation are very small Superlnten-
dents of Missions city missionaries. Bible readers,
! physicians and any responsible persons having a
personal knowledge of poor children in want OF
such vacations need only to apply to have such
children included in the Fresh Air Funds benefits.
We only stipulate that the children shall be in real
need of such vacation and free from any commu-
! nicabe disease. The applicants however must see
personally that the children made clean aud
suitably prepared to 60 iutO the houses awaiting
them.
1t is often asked. How do you find the places for
The children how do YOU find people wiling to in
| vte tenement-h house children into their homes " In
April that preliminary labor begins. | 20 to a
village hunt up the clergymen, introduce myself and
explain the work and ask for an opportunity to pre-
sent il TO their churches When | once get the
chance 10 present the 20 The people. and tell
them something Of the lives Of suffering city chill
dren, and something of tho practical and
permanent good done by these brief vacations,
| I always find hearted, hOspitable
men and women generously offering to give shelter
| and food and tender care to the little ones.
A local committee il appointed, or the arrange
ments are left in the bands Of the pastors,
and bv-and-by the invitations are sure TO
come When people he told Of this work for the
children we find, almost without exception,
a generous welcome offered The experience of five
wears in this work shows beyond question that
tho country people are quite ready 10 do
their part and DO 1t, too, IN ono half
hearted manner
Experience has taught also that be
| lie voient pablic will not suffer any Lack Of
money for snch n purpose. | have already
held this ycAT iaore than forty public meetings in as
many different places to plead for the children,
and an interest has been aroused
in nearly every instance that viii result IN much
benefit to tae children There is 40 fear nat or
need, now that money Ne sent To TIE lRlBUNE III
small or large amounts that when the herce hca; 81
summer comes we may toe all rea1y 10 transport
the children INTO the green fields.
WILLARD Parsons.
,-.,c Tori Tune 1850