New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-08
CHILDREN SEEKING FRESH AIR.

FIRST PARTY Of The IhiDUNI OND'
STARTING FOR wAvERLY NEW YoRK-EAGER TO SEE
THE COUNTRY.
Plump children and thin, pale and brown children
went trooping in double files into the Erie Rail
roads ferryhouse at the foot of Chamberss yester-
day morning, till their number reached eighty nine
They formed the first party sent out by lHE
TRIBUNE Fresh Air Fund this season, and they were
10 take the o'clock tram in Jersey City for
Wayerly, Tloga County, n. Y. Each dIminu-
i've traveller grasped tightly in its hands car
ned laborously in its arms some kind of bundle,
basket bandbox or satchel. Some of these recep-
,scles luncheon and some of them clothing,
while others were bulged out with both clothing
and luncheon. Such study in travelling bags
,ould not be found anywhere else except in a
larger Fresh Air Fund party. There were satchels
hat once were shiny black but are now notified
orown there were green candy-boxes tied up with
white Irvine. and brown paper bundles OF all sizes
wound with red green yellow tape, andthere were
mrpetbags small and great oneply rag carpet
The sturdy way in which these young carpet
pagers tugged along their giant-ooking burdens
rave the struggling procession the oldest appear
lnce imaginable All of the children chung to their
baggage with great solicitude. but those with the
most diminutiye bundles looked utterly weighed
DOWN and overcome by the cares of so much prop
srty.
But the children themselves made a moro inter
ssting picture than their parcels. They hurried
through the ferry-house when the boat arrived and
scrambled for seats in of the cabins. They
shattered and talked necessarily. There were
knowing ones of both sexes who had been to the
pountry once or twice before and they
POUNDED with circles of open-eyed and open-mou ed
listeners whom they puzzled with marvellous tales
Of the beauties and wonders of rural life But the
young and inexperienced members a the party
who knew nothing about the country for them
selves could get only hazy notion of what their
two weeks vacation had in store Tor
them. So they kept up a running fire
Of absurd questions. Is this the country I"
"When will we get there I" will Jimmy live
In the next block out there 7" "WiIl policeman
show the way If got lest in the streets on the
farm p some Of the queries that filled the air.
The children were all excited and all seemed to
anticipate most glorious time playing. riding on
little pones picking berries and rolling in the hay
In spite of the animation and happy anticipa-
hon In all the faces there also appeared
she pinched. wan and even aged looks which told
loleful tales of days spent in dark and narrow
rooms and loathsome atmosphere, OF scanty food
md of cares too heavy for young lives to bear.
They came from overcrowded tenement-hOuses in
she lower part of the city and from bare lodgings
% nelghborhoods that are anything but inviting.
Their parents are day-laborers, licensed vendors
washer women, sellers of newspapers street-car
drivers and members of the poorly paid laborng
elasses ger0raly. MANY of the children were or
phans andAnany of them were half orphans None
81 the children had vlcouslooking faces IN spite of
Ihe many signs of want and care in them. They
we're neatly clothes in fresh calico dresses and
traw hats and through the efforts of the mis- sion
irles who collected them they were well provided
With other clothing for their visit. When the
party was settled in the two cars which had been
provided for IL and the train moved so WY out Of
the stations hundred hands popped out Of the car
windows waving handkerchIefs and hats and shri
sries of delight filed The air.
ARRIVAL OF THE CHILDREN AT wAvERLY
WAvERLY. N T. July 1.-THE two carloads OF
children arrived at O'clock this evening the train
being an hour late. 1t was raining furiously
at the time, but the children, hungry and tired
by their long ride of ten hours. were
placed in the commodious waiting room while the
distribution was being made. This is the frst party
of city children sent TO this pleasant village. and
there was an unusual amount Of enthusiasm ex-
hibited by the farmers, who had been somewhat
afraid of giving their names when the committee was
making out the list Only ninety children were sent
but6fty more could have found pleasant homes had
that number been sent Few Of the children were
sick ON the Journey About o'clock all went away
happy, and later several of them eating
hearty suppers. A substantial luncheon had been
provided Tor the travellers at NaIrowbnrg