New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
SPREiD or THE FRESH AIR IDEA.

The chldren's Fresh Air work. such as tnht
of The Tribune. started nineteen years ago
each season finds wider favor in both he'ili-
spheres as a most bcncicent avenue OF chart
table effort Perhaps in no other way Will
money expended in behalf Of the population OF
the crowded cities result in more happiness ana
physcal and moral good. Those who receive
the bounty are the children In whose heattn
and characte? the cOuPtrys future Is bound up
to n great degree. and every favor conferred
upon them is an addition to the amount OF pure
10y on earth The latest example OF the spread
of the Fresh Air idea comes from Glasgow, III
the form of an appeal for the Poor Chldrens
Fresh Air Fortnight Homes There youngsters
are being sent into the country for fortnight
stay m the rate Of 800 week, so that during
the season about 5000 have vacations. The
story of a strangers visit TO one Of the houses
reads almost like an account Of life in one OK
the homes in the Berkshires or In rural New
York. where children from this city are enter
tanned.
II is most gratifying TO The Tribune to note
accessiOns TO the ranks OF its c0-workers III
this field The great cities Of America have
followed. the plan first put in operation here
and in NewYOrk others have undertaken TO
give the children vacations by methods differ
ing from The Tribunes their resources or
opportunities dictated Some have solicited
funds for building homes. others TO pay board
in the country for city boys and girls some
manage free excursions for n day: some admin
lister endowment funds: some maintain large
agencies for the collection of money for Fresh
Air work All have place in the field. But
as The Tribune Fresh Air Fund is the oldest
enterprise OF the kind. so it is unique In It's
simplicity and economy. 1t maintains no star
of solicitors and sends no appeals for ala
abroad and has to waste no energy asking for
support nj home. Its work Is SO well known
that no machinery of collection is required, the
simple Statement; in The Tribune Of the needs
and progress Of the work having been found
sufficient TO bring the necessary responses.
Moreover. practically every cent received Is
spent in sending children 10 the country No
child's board has to be- paid. The little ones
are the guests Of the good people who for years
have been in communication with the managers
of the Fund Nothing is spent in hiring homes,
and those which are kept to provide places FOR
children not otherwise assigned are held REM
free and cost the Fund nothing but for their
| maintenance The money goes for railroad
| fares and. such Is the favor Of the railroads.
| that in most cases only onc-quarter fare Is
| charged for the brneiclafleS OF the l. ulu
| Thus experience. large transportation accounts
| and the hospitality Of rural communities have
| enabled The Tribune Fund to send 14l.2Si chill
! dren for II two weeks vacation AT an average
| cost Of 81 G3 each. Last year more than 5000
| were sent at IA cost of 81 IL each and in 1872.
| when general prosperity opened more homes
! than usual within reasonable distance or the
| city, more than $1,000 children had fortnight
| outings which cost only 81 SO each In addi-
| ton 10 this work day excursions have been
J given to $685. children. 2S.924 having been
sent out last year This work. however. Is not
| paid for from the Fund. but is simply carried
on by il at the expense of n benevolent citizen.
There is no limit to the good which may be
| done in this way. All our great cities and all
| the European cities are crowded with children
needing air and sunlight end chance to play
| in green fields There always more TO be
| found where the last company came from, if
only there is money enough TO send them away.
and the more agencies there are bringing JOY
| and strength 10 poor boys and girls the better
| will be the world which the next generation
\