New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-06
THE FRESH AIR FUND.
SENDING OUT THE FIRST PARTY.

The pier of the Citizens Line Of steamers pre-
sented an animated appearance yesterday AFTERNOON
al o'clock, when the 40 children VINO hau oeon
chosen as the benefciaries of The Tribune + iesn
Air Fund began to crowd upon the steamer Nliilho
Cornell which 10 convey them up
| the Hudson on the first stage OF tneh
journey away from their tenement-house homes III
the city 10 the healing air and inspiring scenes Vi
the maintains and the lakeside. They came to the
pier in little companies of from twenty to forty IN
der the care of the kind men and women who had
selected them those who came from a distance being
brought in street-cars stages while others
marched in joyful little battalOns. Their faces
all shone with happy anticpations OF the
wonderful sights TO be seen in that unknown
land the country, and with the extra scrub
bing they had undergone for the occa-
sion. The variety of style and color that was dis
played in the clothing of both boys and girls was
something wonderful to behold All were neatly
and comfortably clad, although in many cases the
different parts of their garments seemed to have
had widely different origins.
AS each group of children arrived they were
formed in a column, two abreast, and were counted
to see that no one was missing. Then they marched
on board the steamer to the part Of the boat that
had been assigned to them. Each child was adorned
with little red badge, on which was printed: TIE
TRIBUNE Country Vacation" The whole upper
part of the boat was crowded with the chattering,
laughing throngs of little folks. when all were at
las or board. They were noisy and full of fun,
but orderly and patient. They Piled their con-
ductors with questions about the country won
dered when they would get there. whether they
weren't the country already and whether the milk
was better where they were going than in the city,
Each one OF them carried a bag or satche or bundle
with clothing in 1t and another containing some
luncheon and all seemed to have the greatest So
lctude about the safety of these precious pieces of
luggage Tie faces Of the little travellers were in
terestin- and intelligent; all looked supremcly
happy and expectant. but many bore the sad. an
mstakable signs of poor food bad air and miserable
surroundings None, however. looked vicious
They had been chosen with the greatest
care from among children who attended mis-
.ion or industrial schools, or are otherwise
known by the missionaries who made
the selections. They are from that class of poor
people who live amid the squaor misery and vice
| Of the overcrowded tenement houses. and whose
lives are never-endng struggles not only 10 obtain
| bread but 10 ward of from their children the
higbiur Influences tO s0ul and body that surround
| them such ncopIe welcome with hearts overflow
inc with gratitude the opportunity which The
| TRIBUNE Fresh Air Fund gives them of sending
| their little ones out INTO the exhilaratlng Pr
| and scenery of the country where they
can shake of the taInt that nevtably tastens 10
| fb,.ir D..
! ing something of the green fields and blue noun
! tains INTO their dark. cOmlortless homes.
In different parts OF the boat there were piles OF
! small mattresses winch the children were TO sleep
! during the night Every possible provision was
made Tor the comfort OF the little passengers. They
seemed to realize perfectly how much was being
expressing their gratitude to the Rev.
Willard Parsons. 10 those VINO had volunteered 70
VINO had chosen them. When at last everything
was ready the children babe goodbye 70 the friends
who had brought them, the gaug-plank was drawn
ill., the lines were cast of. and the steamer swung
ont INTO the river. The excitement that the chill
dreu had with difficulty suppressed now broke loose
and they ,rowde 20 the sides of the boat shouting
hurrahlng and waving hats and handkercheis ~
frantic delight. Many of them. however, upon whom
poverty and want and slchurss had lana heavy
hands, sat back on the benches and looked the hap
uluess that the rest expressed so vigorously.
Before the boat star Ell some OF the more thought
full children expressed the ietl that perhaps there
would be 40 one ~ tA- country no would want TO
fake thetu They Iaiied 10 understand. as many
others have done that all the children go out as the
invited guests Of the families Who have expressed
Willingness To help IN the good work which
the Rev. Mr.. Parsons Is carrying on.
The people who send the invitations do not know
ne names OF their little guests, MOI 90 the children
know whom they are To Vish; yet no emu Is sent
out unless voluntary invitation has been given
and II IS known that somebody wants visitor
The young travellers Oh the Minnie Cornell reach
1rov t,,ls morning. here hearty breakfast will
he gwen go them AT one Of the hotels by Sheppard
| Tappen benevolent citizen Of Troy. altrr
i
| the western shore 81 Lake ChampaIn ana be scat
| Tered among the hills and valleys that he at the
! foot OF the AdlrOnddcks. There they VIII reycl u
the sunshine and the fresh mountain air. viii grow
! tat and healthy on homemade bread and good
milk and will return about July p, brIu giug Won
der.ul tales o. COWS and horses green pastures ana
running brooks 10 tnelr companions III the city. 10
their BONES they viii BRING much more III the
health ana vigOr which they have gained.
Some idea of what these little travellers have left
behind them may be gained from the stories OF tIe
missionaries Who collected them and took them 10
the steamer.
sand 10 "a TRIBUNE reporter on the pier alter
the boat mad gone. " They all are children
of the Alexander Mission, and they 1--we cellars
rarrets and dark foul rear tenements. There are
among them three children IRON each 81 three fam
lies of seven. 1 have known OF the time when
cents worth VI liver was an mat one OF those tam
lie, had tor meal, ana the others arc as poor as
they are. Many OF the children, ouug as they are,
nave to work constantly; One little glrl
OF eleven, very delicate Child was
gong mo the country TO take care of
the three children OF TWO families. | found II
difficult first 10 persuade her parents 10 lei her
on tbs vacation Dut thcy hnaly consented, and say
now they are glad they did. some OF the little ones
" no went out last year Tsuaded their parents 10
say grace before every mea!, when they came back.
The good Influences Oh thef snort country lie are
felt In a thousand ways III the poor homes they re-
turn to. One little gIr went away last wear weigh
Ing twenty -four pounds SIZE came BACK weighing
lust forfV-eighi pounds"
II brought twenty children from Gotham-court
al Noe. 80 and 80 Cherry St, SAID another lady.
q" Many vi EN- haven't the faintest conception oI
Whit fbe country IS IKE. Many of The lit,le girls
have been making their own dresses for this trip of
two weeks; they much better than tier
mothers can. There are hiteen tenement houses ia
GotLam-court They are tiye stories higl, and con-
tam in all, III families, averaging live or SIX
Ill a family. The place was che OF the
worst I'D the city few years ago. Two benevolent
uteInen leased 1t ana put me in charge OF the
place ne rents are % and - for two rooms and
u fOr four rooms Inc place IS neat and clean now.
Last year not child died in GOtnam-court, while
tIev aIcd by the score ali about then. The people
are all Irs ! have 10 scol them often, but
they take q gOOd-natdredly ana THANK me Ior IL al
terIg ard. They improve constantly"
Another missionary, whose little band OF children
belong to st. AugustIncs Chapel III HOustOn-st.,