New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-25
CITY BOYS At RIDGEWOOD. N. j.
HOW THE FREsH-AIR CHILDREN THRIVE AT
MEADOW BROOK FARM-SoME ANUS
ING INCIDENTS,

ING INCIDENTS.
Meadow Brook Farm" as II has been formerly
known. tho Libby Farm" hes one mile norm Oh
Ridgcwood Bergen County, y. J. II contains eisht'
acres OF rolling fields. meadows and ORCHARDS AZ
one end Of the property Is fine. large cottage ara
one smaller one. which buildings have during 'he
present summer furnished country home Tor up
ward of 500 bows from the City Of New-iork
and Rrookyn sent out by The Tribune Fresh-Ar
Fund Like all city boys in the country
the bows at Meadow Brook have furnished their
full quota Of fun.
The craze to capture pets and take them home
to the city took many Interesting turn. Among
the creatures that have been captured for ths pur
pose were butterflies grasshoppers largo cricke's'
frogs toads mice snas and turtles The greatest
ambition OF many a lad. and one that has never
vet been satisfied during the season. has been 10
capture bird squirrel These various pets
were bought and sold among the lads Win Is
great earnestness sale OF STOCKS or DOhds Is
negotiated between bankers. common medium
OF exchange for the transaction OF business, wheh
pennies are scarce Is apples-green in the early
part OF the season. half-ripe now. The following
incident heard at the street gate morning will
testify to the estimation IN which the various cap
tive pets" are held One lad looking out tho
lane said To another Hello hero comes Patsy J-P'
No replied sure, Mike, an that Amt Patsy"
asure AN It's" "what dye bet" Bet yer
my grasshopper gin yer stihgih oee' o""'N'
Bet something big" Bet my bullfrog gin yer
mud turtle"
The Hobokls Creek flows one end OF
the farm. ana In It's fresh and lmpid waters the
boys are required to take bath daily, SICK ones
excepted One hundred boys In bath at once
ia a sight to which Ridgowood people have not
been accustomed, and 1t Is no wonder that meo
were plenty Of visitors In the mornings.
The Episcopal rector and the Reformed minister
NJ hay
in the orchards on Sunday afternoons when the
weather was fair. The choirs OF the respective
churches also assisted in these Is did many other
members OF the congregations. These services are
greatly reshed by the boys. Some Incidents occur
at them that are embarrassing well as amusing,
az the following may serve to show The young rector
was on one occasion In most excellent and entertain
ing iak comparing the development OF the human life
from birth to manhood to that " the apple lie
laid special emphasis on the point or time when
the egg Is deposited I'm the small apple from which
the worm is Matched that destroys the fruit intend
ing to lken the entrance Of sin into the boys heart
TO the egg and the worm. When he came to the
relative point In the boys life he said, NOW,
you are like green apples; for what must you be on
lookout q" The boys answered with will. "WormsW
Some Of the letters that written home BY those
boys who In the country for the first time con-
expressions that not little interesting, ana
serve to show the conditions OF living to which the
boys have been used lad writes his mother that
1--WE eau have two bowls OF milk and even more II
We can drink it, Another Is happy because the boys
get white bread and all they want Of It," Another
boasts that they sleep In real beds. and only two
tn bed while another that Nc has cocoa and
don't need to drink black coffee"
Baseball Is the standard game with the boys There
are often as many three games In progress at the
same time swings for the smaller boys, football,
circus soldier and war form sources OF great amse
ment The last named consists In the stormng by q
force armed with corn oObs OF Of the barns de
Tended BY another forc. The orchards are never
ending source of delight. Before the fruit was half
grown the boys attacked 10 with much relish As II
"a had already reached the condition OF entire maturity.
Strange TO say no serious results have occurred
from this. few lads have been made sick for An
hour day. but beyond that sickness mas been en-.
which would eat its way through . piece OF cast IRON
or baler plate does MOI cause the slightest incou.
venience TO tho freshair lad. When party Is about
TO return the city stockings shirts and coats are
converted into rcceptacles wherein ~ carry supply
Of green fruit home II Is no uncommon Ngnt 70
see lad rudgc ~ the train with his long stocking
8lled with apples tied together and hung about MS
mech. while In either hand no carries shirt or y
bAgfl OF the same kind OF fruit
Two young men, college students on ya'ation,
| have in charge the amusing OF the boys. They &C
company them TO the bath. assist them IN playing
ball In short their companions and helpers III
every game and recreation, whether be the STORM
ing OF barn fort or leading them In The singing Oh
patriotic and popular songs and chorSes The young
nsn have further photographed every party exceHe
tho FIRST 100 and will carry with them TO Pennsyl-
vsnA the pictures OF the groups OF happy faces 70 be
viewed and displayed through many coming year
with no little feeling Of enjoyment, ror they nave
learned ~ love many N the poor boys VINO nave
been under their during the summer have found
many rough diamoud'