New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-19
CHARITY IN ToUN AND COUNTRY.

son River boats made strange pToposai w I"
member of The TRIBUNE staff who was con-
Quoting one of the Fresh-Air parties north
ward. I" would like to send my boy on one OF
these excursions" was his remark, after he had
spent an hour in scrutnziDg the faces and
listening TO the chatter of the children On deck.
"Oh, I'll pay his expenses" he added quickly
:" and not only his, but the cost OF sending out
"a good many more You see, can afford To
"pay we'll, for have had my boy for some time
at Saratoga for his health" The wellto-do
traveller was reminded that the children
were the poorest of the tenement poor and
would lot be considered proper companions for
n lad brought up under different circumstances.
His response was that he had watched the chill
dren closely aud overheard their talk, and had
been charmed with their good manners and
general behavior. any boy" he added, could
"learn great deal from them. They are nice
"children and would be- good companions for
"him. But ! canrot believe that they are the
@childrep of the poor" The conductor OF the
party had no difficulty in convincing the scep-
teal traveller that these were, indeed poor chill
dren. Accosting one after another at random,
he proved that they came from the worst streets
in the overcrOwded tenement section, and that
" there was little TO earn and many to keep" In
the drcary places which they called their homes.
Clean and el-dressed they we're" nice chill
dren,r as the traveller expressed ii, but they
were poor.
The appearance and conduct of the children
excite similar expressions of iDcredulity
speeding their poverty not only while they are
making their holiday Journeys but after they
reach their destinations. Kind-henrtud enter
tainers, who look for ragged urchins and ill
dressed, trowzy and impettncnt girls, are sur
prsed to find their guests from the tenemcnts
neatly attired and we'll behaved. Sometimes.
indeed the girls are dressed moro tastefully
and SLOWLY than the little country mlidens
who are expected to entertain them and al
most always they are polite and respectful and
impress strangers as being children who have
been well brought up. Consequently the com
plaint is sometimes offered that the rural house
holds are being imposed upOn-that they are
called upon to entertain children who are DOT
poor, and do not require assistance. These
structures are oftener made by families whc do
not open their houses to the little ones than 10y
those who do but a false impression is some
times left upon the minds of the entertainers
themselves, and the careless talk and gross
exaggeratlons of the children not unfrequently
create prejudice against the Fresh-Air Fund
Now the simple truth Of the matter is that
while the children are all poor, they carefully
selected. They are MT taken from the streets
and alleys, but from mission schools, Sunday
schools and benevolent institutions, where they
have received religious training and been
taught good manners Frequently the cloth es
which they wear are provided by the managers
of these schools and institutions for the holiday
journey oftener the tenement families are
regularly supplied by the missi On teachers or
the patrons of benevolent societies with cast Of
clothing aud finery from wealthy households
and sometimes 1t Is the mothers art as O lauD-
dress-tbe washerwoman who earns three or
four dollars a week and has large family to
support-that makes the only good dress look
so fresh aud dainty. The little girl in the party
sent into Allegany County who when presented
with a new pair of shoes jumped up and down
in such wild exhiaration Of spirits that she
slipped on the floor and dislOcated her shoulder
blade evidently was not accusi omed to Law
ish outlay In wearing apparel. Nor are any of
the wards of the Fresh Air Fund. They do
not appear In rags and tatters, and ss u rule
they are neither rude nor saucy, but appreoi-
alive and we'll behaved. They are nice chill
dren.n as the traveller said on the Troy boat.
They are poor children none the less, and are
most promising as well as deserving objects Of
charity.
The neat appearance and good conduct of the
children facilitate the formation of parties
from year to year and in this way tend to
make the work permanent means of doing
good. If the little ones were dirty, ragged and
troublesome, those who entertain them one
year would not be anxious to do il again. A
prejudice against the Fresh-Air Fund would
quickly be created If pains were not taken
with the selection Of the children and the pre-
parations for their outfit. As it is, the little
ones make friends on every side. The first
party sent to a town leaves 80 good an impres-
sion behind it that homes previously closed to
the tenement children are Immediately opened
and additional companies are rapidly organ
lied. In this way the children themselves give
an impetus to the movement. The holiday
journey, moreover, and the whole souled hos
pitalty of rural households fit in with the be-
nevolent work that is carried on all the year
round in the city. The children who attend
the mission schools and get credit for good
conduct in religious and charitable institutions
are those who have the glad midsummer holt
day. The hosDitable farmer virtually puts
premium upon attendance and good behavior
In all the missions and schools where the chill