The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-08-15
SWISS VACATION COLONIES.
Wholesale Charity Movement
which the state Aids.

WASHINGTON, Aug 15, 1886 The
benevolent movement for the benefit Of
poor children inaugunated IN Zurich
Switzerland twenty years ago, has grown
TO such proportions and been emulated by
so many European countries that the
American consul at Zurich has sent the
State Department an elaborate report on
the subject of the vacation colonies, 10
Which school children in need of recuper-
alton are taken in summer The founder
of the system was Clergyman named
Bion, who found on moving to the city
that the environment IN summer did not
suit his own five children who were az
custoTned to the pure air of their native
mountains. For several successive sum-
nlers he took them away TO their former
nome for four weeks vacation and
found that they returned invariably with
greatly improved health and spirits. TINS
led him TO consider the good that would
accrue to the poorer children taey
could be taken away occasionally from
the putTld air OF the narrow city streets,
poor food and scanty fare The result
Of his study Was Am advertisement which
ilsg voluntary contributors TO carry out
the project. The first responses were
discourasislg, but eventually he secured
Subscriptions tosther amount of $468 which
enabled him to send siNty-eight boys and
girls. divided into three colonies. to three
points in the Canton of Appenzell each
tOlJlAJ lcll4ctflll4l5 lOQliESIl ia
The growth of the movement in Switz-
erIarld is shown by the fact that forty
nine colonies, Numbering LIPS children,
were sent away In 1886, and the increase
dren. divided into seventy-three colonies
had a four weeks vacation IN the country.
The means Of the nianaging committees
other division Of the movement which
has now been IN operation sixteen years
w was s, slaseea; l, IaaS ms P@royioss @ LOT me ISSUE
the poor children as a compensation foI
the loss of their vacation trip. This aid
has already been extended to ,24t
IN Germany 125 cities have now adopted
the Bion system of colonies. statistics
showing 13.9o7 German children so cared
for in 1885, and 20 2e5 in 1895
Spain. Italy. Austria Hungary. France
The Netherlands England Denmark
Belgium and Russia have taken up tbs
movement, and On this continent the Ar,
gentlne Republic and some localities oi
the United States have begun the expert
merit with unqualified success.
In Switzerland close attention is paii
10 the benefits derived from the change
from the periodic outings art scientists
have found that the increase in weigh
of the colony children has been from
seven 10 eight pounds greater. Ofssrya
tons on th5rty-four children showed greas
Increase In the number of the blood cc1s
puscles and e0i0rfng matter due to thess
Vacations. The children are always ac.
comp2nied to the colonies by their teach.
ers and remain under their supervisors
One of the Zurich colonies has been frans.
formed into regular saslitar.um. where
last year 20S children were cared for cut.
side of vacation time between May anx
November. The means of support ofs ths
Swiss colonies are furnished principally
by voluntary contributions. but the State
and municipal governments also assist.
A part of the profits derived from the
Federal alcohol monopoly is contributes
TO the colonies and in Zurich Theatrical
performances, concerts, fairs and other
entertainments are given in winter to
swell the colony fund