Middletown transcript., 1893-07-08
MIpsuMMER cHARITY.

NJ. M. Irvine REPRESENTING tHo L iooh
Air movement of the New York
Tribune was visitor in town this
week and gave the TRANSCRIPT a
pleasant call. The objects Of this
movement are set out at length by the
Tribune as follows:
The remarkable success OF IHE NEW
YORK TRIBUNE Fresh-Air Fund is a
proof of the old saying that sti
waters run deepest" It isnot chal-
ity that is loudly advertised aud iialin-
ted before the public; there is no &C m
plex organization OF wheels within
wheels; like the Kingdom of Heaven II
cometh without observations; but when
the season is ended and the results are
tabulated, it is invariably found 70 oe
one of the most economically admins
tered and most effective agencies o.
practical benevolence of this phiian-
lhropic age. Last year the receipts
we're S32 ,415, voluntarily contributed
by readers of TIE TRIBUNE and
friends of the charity without single
begging letter or an importunate ap-
peal. The results accomplished were
extraordinary. The number OF poor
children sent for fortnight's vacation
in tie country was 5.267, their travel
including a total mileage of 4, 424, 800.
The number carried on day excursions,
the expense of which was met by one
man, was 25,560, making total o.
4O. .S27 benefited by the seasons work
of the Fund.
There are many benevolent associa-
tions vii; h elaborate lists of directors
and committees and empty treasures
and heggarly records of work accom-
pIished that might study with profit
the methods employed by the Fresh
Air Fund. The secrets of its financial
prosperity and unfailing efic ency are
simplicity of organization and economy
of management. There are no saiar'
les drawn at the expense OF The Fund.
There is no clerical staff; there ID
neither leakage nor waste. Every
dollar contributed is applied directly to
the travelling expenses of the children
and their conductors, with small
allowance for medical examinations
postage aud necessary arrangement
for securing homes in the country
AS board is not charged by the gener
Gus families who entertain the chill
dren, and as the railway corporations
make large reductions in transpor'a
ton. the average cost OF vacation !
very low, being S270 for 1O9,3l7 chill
dren who have enjoyed the benefits Of
the Fresh Air Service during the iasl
sixteen years. In economy and busi
ness management no other popular
charity can compete with the Fresh
Air Fund. The public is impressed
with this fact, and overwhelms The
Fund with its patronage year after
year.
Another secret Of the success OF this
simple, well-organized charity is the
broad, catholic principle on which it is
conducted. 1t knows neither creed
nor nationality nor race. Every form
of religious faith is represented in the
families from which the children art
taken. Among the young travellers
who found their way to country homes
last year were American, English
Scotch, Irish, French, German, Italian
Spanish, Swedish, Swiss, Russian
Greek, Syrian and many of The coloret
race. The only requirements are thai
Ia child shall he poor and elem. The
Fresh All. Fund takes account only Of
the misery and pathos of neglected
child life in great cities during the in
clement heat of midsummer. lt'
philosophy is that a child'sa a child FOL
a. that and a. that. 1t carries out Will
heaven wide charity and catholicity
the great commission: "WhosoeveI
shall receive this child in My name
rece.veth Me; and whosoever shall
receive Me receiveth Him that sen,
Me.n
The Fresh-Air Fund will begin TIN
new seasons operations this week will
balance of over $1,000 in the treas
ury, of which large portion was re
ceived last year too late to be used
This enables us to point the moral tina
all who desire to contribute TO TIT
Fund this year should be foreh ndeC
| in their generosity. Money that il
SEN in at the close uf the season ha!
TO lie idle during the winter. Whf
the bulk of the subscriptions well il
hand early in the season the work il
greatly facilitated, parties are enlarged
and multiplied, and the children gel
their outing in the hottest and mnst
sultry weather, when they are il
urgent need of it. We have no caust
to make special appeal to our reader:
for the support of this work. II stand
upon its merits and its record, ard it i;
their peculiar institution. We merely
emphasize the necessity for proml re-
mittances from all who have interested
themselves in this beautiful charity.
The Century for July.