New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-17
chinery, simply because they have been Prev
ously employed at the works.
MLDSUMMER CHRISTMASTIDE.

MIUSUHMEK CHhIC In hoA~D~'
Az the end of as hot and facilitating week
nc that which has Just closed it is refreshing
thought that THE TRIBUNE'S circle OF patrons
and readers have been able to do much 10
minister to the comfort and pleasure OF inc
child life of the metropolis. When that week
oncned there were many hundreds OF tenement
| children scattered among the pleasant valley ;
of New-England and the cool hilsides ana
mountain villages of the Middle States Every
day large companies were sent out gaspihe
with the hot breath of the city to be restored
TO health and vigor in quiet farm-houses and
| in cool wind-swept meadows. Only the organ
ized CORDS of mission workers and assistants
who recruit this army of holiday travellers can
form an adequate idea of what this annual
outing means to the poor children of New
York; with what eagerness and Joy the little
people set out by railway or steamer for their
destinations how pale and thin are the faces !;
how dull is the light in the sunken eyes and
how great is the need of Natures most potent
tonics-fresh air and the restful quiet OF the
country. These midsummer vacations are at
once life giving and pleasure giving. during
the sixteen seasons of the Fresh-Air Fund s
onerations hundreds of lives have been saved
bv the timely transplanting OF these tender
little plants from back alleys and tenement
floors tc green fields and pastures new. AT the
same time every midsummer has been genli-
inc Christmastde of wholesome pleasure ana
innocent Joy TO thousands of neglected children
Our hospitable friends in the country who
open their homes to the little strangers, and
our generous patrons in the town who con-
tribute to the Fund for their travelling ex-
penses have full cause for rejoicing that they
are enabled through the agency OF this simple
charity to- bring so much light, peace and hap
pincss into the oyercrowded tenement world.
As many as $4,000 or $4,000 children from
rs many as 1000 homes have this vacation
tourney to anticipate as the chief pleasure of
the year II comes at a time when they are
enfeebled by heat and liable to be overwhelmed
with sickness. They 90 out of town with
weary. prematurely old faces betokenlng the
hardship and pathos of child life III a great
city. They return with rounded cheeks, elastic
step and youthful enthusiasm. TIE TRIBuNEs
readers are the good physicians who minister
TO the needs and often save the lives OF these
tenement children and since the quality OF
such benignant mercy is not strained, but bless
eth him that gives as we'll as him that takes, it
is their midsummer ChriStmastide as well as
the childrcns
We all know how much Mr.. Dickens was
enabled to do for the poverty OF London by
humanizng the figures in what was an I'M
known world TO well-tO-do and prosperous
England and by arousing sympathy and in
terest in their unfortunate lot. Christmas
meant something essentially different when his
busy hand had finished its work from what it
had meant before he brought Little Nell,
hungry Oliver. the Cratchits, poor 10 Of Tom
All-Alones and all the other pathetic child fig
ures into mems memories to remain always.
so. too. the tenement child who has been placed
in the midst Of The TRIBUNEs great family
of readers has done much to open human hearts
10 the trials hardships and shadows of metro
poitan misery. Every year that child's white
face looks up appcalingly and generous in
stncts are stirred. The work having once
been begun cannot be dropped. There is so
much of the Bethlehem spirit in it that it has
to be taken up every year with new zest and
carried to larger and more practical results.
The dog days may come and the city lie blister
ing under the fierce glare of the sun. but it
is still the midsummer Christmastide, and Tiny
Tins weak little voice is heard rs il chirpS,
blithely, "God bless us, every one ~