New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25
FRESH AIR FOR THE POOR.
HOW TENEMENT CHILDREN ARE HELPED.

THE DIFFICULTY FEATURES OF A BEAUTIFUL SUM-
MER CHARITY DISCUSSED FROM MANY
POINTS OF vIEw-sHALL THE BENE
FIcIARIEs BE INVITED, BOARDED
on CoLoNIZEDi
With the mercury below the freezing polnt ana
falling steadily as the days shorten, one would hardly
EXPECT "rresh-Air work. to be subject timely
enough to call together large number OF city pastors
nhvsicians nurses missionaries and Bible-readers.
Yet such gathering was held one afternoon last week,
called at the request Of many persons Interested IN
this delightful charity The committee signing inc can
for the conference were Robert W DE Forest, DR..
gtuyyesant F.. Morris, MIS-. Charles h'
Lowell Mrs. j. r. Copper and Charles ID
Kellogg Of the Charity Organization Society," at whose
rooms the conference held. Papers had been
expected upon number OF important features OF inc
work. but 1t was deemed best to hear from
many workers rather than few and the discussion was
somewhat informal So great was the interest mani
tested In THIS practical method Of distributing charity
10 The worthy poor Of the city, that second meeting
win be held on December 4, at p. m, at No. FL
University place.
AS the recent report of The Tribune Fresh-Ar Fund
shows, the work In the season just closed was the
most successful OF that done in any Of the twelve
rear since the work was begun of sending tenement
house children to country homes for fortnight IN tne
summer Nearly j. 900 children enjoyed this treat,
the full benefit of which in not fully appreciated by the
child ITSELF much less by those who give their time
and money 10 pour little sunshine into darHehco
homes But the mothers of the children, and the ms
sionaries and pastors who climb tho tenemehVn MUSE
staiu winter and summer alike, daily hear anu 200
what the real benefits are Of even the snort VA0ao
Besides The Trbmc's work in behalf OF tnoso "hoii
xoycrty holds in its relentless grasp there are seVera
independent branches all offshoots OF the fund con-
Quoted By The Tribune for many years 10"
churches provide for the children OF their own suoAs
schools some look after the children attending inc
mssion-schoos, few act independently OF The IT'D
me- Others obtain board for their children and nave
their travelling expenses paid from The Tribune fund
DR. Morris presided ct the conference Father
Huntington of the Mission Of the Holy Cross, al
Avenue c and Fourth St. spoke in favor OF coiohiza
tfons showing how much better II was 10 nave inc
city children apart from country children III was
better for both classes he urged TO have city children
and country children kept separate From an economi-
cal point Of view. also he favored having the children
IN colonies.
The Rev. Willard Parsons, the father of the fresh
air work in this country told of his experience with
"invited guests boarders" and "colonzers." He
tries always have the children guests one or
two in farmers family where they are cared for by
Christian people, forming friendships that are often
lasting; forming habits of cleanliness and thrift that
often transform their dngy homes when they return 10
the city. When the supply of homes is less than the
amount Of money ready TO send the children OUT theh
he sends some OF them boaders, but not In large
companies Mrs. Crowell, Of Bratteboro, VT. invites
fifty working girls and later fifty children to her
home providing for them at College, beautiful PARK
overlooking the village and the Connecticut Valley.
The Tribune fund provides them with tickets, and
Mrs Crowen sends directly TO missionary to select
her guests
Mr.. Parsons did not believe that either class OF
children hurt by having the city guests and the
country hosts minge. OF the 10000 benefciaries
tba Of
sands have returned, TO stay year. the greater
number TO remain permanently In the land flowing
with milk and berries Perhaps the greatest EN-
barrassment in the work comes from the hosts loading
down the city children with gifts, which intended
kindness generally demoralizes the home of the re-
cipient and many homes in the ncighborhood.
The Rev. J. T. Avery, Vt the Mariners Temple
favored the invited guest plan. Mr. Bishop, OF the
Madison Square Presbyterian Church, told how he
superintendent the sending out of $50 children last
to Bergen County, N. j. and Rockland county,
n. " paying their board the expense for each child
was 81 40. Mrs Whitney, OF Heber Newton's church,
favored colonization. and her explanation of the
manner IN which that church provided for its poor
children on long Island in the summer was re-
peatcdy applauded. Last season 69b children were
provided for at a cost of $4,000. There are seven
cottages, where the little are under the best OF
home influences; nearly very building connected with
the colony built by a member of the church In
playroom overlooking Roslyn Bay.
The second topic was Medical Examination and
Cleanliness This most important subject was dis
cussed In practical by many of those present,
the general verdict being that next even greater
care than past would be taken TO see that no
child went to the country who was not free from
objections of every form.
Partial Payments by Parents, Including Car
farcs' was next discussed, and variety of opinions
given. Some thought the children should save their
pennies during the winter, others urged that the
parents should be compelled L. pay wholly or IN
part while still others told Of the sacrifices made by
many parents in allowing their children TO go away
from home; the wages which they would earn II at
home had 10 be paid by the societies whose missionaries
thought the health Of the children necesstaed chang
of air and surroundings. .
Mr. Kellogg gave some interesting and valuable
statistics in regard to the holiday week in London
parents feeling Of selfrespect necessary In char
table work In referring 10 childrens holiday fund
are unknown. Mr.. Kellogg said Could not such a
fund be used as lever to raise the parents 10 more
has generally soft place in his heart for the Sich
child of his family. If It were known that this ailine
child could have fortnghts fresh air, sight of the
fields for which she longs, change that would
her n F and dv Ss on wo nG @ be s
great inducement to many to mend their ways
Would not many father forego a few of his pints
many an idle wastcful mother try Just for once tc
economic her pence and spend less time In idle
s ssp 'n'' 'n0 "'Sn' maze "u' ''o'"'"S me-
. No doubt a man is bound to provide for his chill
dren TO the best of his ability. and form of charity
can be good that in any way tempts the idle and
selfindulgent to neglect this duty. But how can a
our great city give his child the country air she
pines for II is utterly Of his power unless he
lis and IS Is Of 70 benefit
the whole future Of the child this form OF charity
70 xsh 4ssd not ssS donr
pay what they can toward the cost