New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-06
A GOOD DAYS RECORD.
THE FRESH AIR FUND SENT 800 CHILDREN
TO THE COUNTRY ON FRIDAY-PAR-
TIES TO START TO-DAY.


Tho Tribune Fresh Air Fund accomplished great
deal last Friday. Almost 900 little city children
sent away 10 the fields and mountains. They were
IN ecstaces at the thought OF spending the Glorious
Fourth In the country and the boys especially
laying great plans for a patriotic celebration
The mere expectation Of getting out into the open
air and among the green hills enough for most
OF them. and a happier crowd Of little people never
left tho city. They were sent out at intervals all
through the day. Early in the morning two parties
started on the same train for the Berkshire region
One was made up OF fifty children for Curtssville
Mass. mixed band OF boys and girls This Is the
second party OF the season for st. Helen's Home.
and they go to tho happiest two weeks that they
have probably had in their lives.
Fcrty-six children for Pittshe.d. Mass. composed
the other party. These children open the season
at Pi;tsfeid and will remain there ten days. The
people OF Pttsfeld have done faithful and effective
work In the matter OF giving fresh air 10 the children
OF the city. For a number of years q committee has
been appointed. and the organization is known as
the BERKSHIRE Fresh Air Fund. The country there
is beautiful, with the rolling hills clear mountain
lakes and the innumerable grain fields and sheep
pastures which have made the fame OF the Berk-
shres. Parties will be sent there every ten days
through the summer.
A small party OF ten little girls to Elenville.
" Y. in the morning. They are the guests OF the
st. Johns Fresh Air Guild. and this Is the first
year the guild has helped along the charity. special
house has been made ready. and everything will be
done 10 make the children happy. The Rev. O. APP
plegate jr. has been the prime mover in the work.
and he has arranged for alternate parties Of boys
and girls 90 Ellenville at intervals OF two
weeks for the rest OF the summer.
Twenty-four children also went TO Claverack. y.
Y. in the morning The parties for Claverack are
met at the station by wagons and driven 20
large farmhouse just outside OF the town. which has
been fitted up especially for the purpose. The
people OF Hudson and Clavernck have for the last
two or three years met. organized and carried
through this work. The place TO which the children
go is an ideal one. and everything Is arranged for
their comfort and health. There Will be many more
OF the little unfor.unates 10 taste the sweets OF life
In a large. comfortable old farmhouse before the
summer is The C.averack home has been man
aged well. and faithful efforts now rewarded
The other two parties OF the day for the
Eunice Home AZ Chapel Hill. y. j.. and the Ash
ford Hill Retreat They comprised about $50 chil-
dren
The lives that some Of these little sufferers lead
most pathetic one very little girl said she came
from Bone Alley This Is portion OF the East Side
notorious Cor the misery and squalor 10 be found
there II is an assured fact that in one tenement
there eighty families living. Every inch OF space
is used. and room often holds or three fam
ilies. When hot strikes the city. the heat
and suffering In this place are appalling. An order
has been given by the authorities that this rookery
shall he torn down and the ground converted into
a park
One small boy who went 80 the country Friday
was immensely ticked with his Fresh Air badge
BY some reasoning known only to himself II seemed
10 be connected with the martial glory Of his coun-
try and strutting up and down with great pomp and
vgor. he enthusiastically proclaimed to the public
I'm an American soldier, I'm American soldier"
Then the gong for the departing train rang, and
he American soldier unceremoniously stopped
in his triumphant career and placed among his
companions again
The incidents that when the children first
find themselves really in the country often In
expressiby touching One little girl the other day
was fairly beside herself with excitement when the
party arrived the station She pale forlorn
little thing and had been very quiet the journey.
Now she was all quiverng. and. pressing up TO the
attendant, she took hold OF his hand. ana with an
eager almost beseeching look said: Mister. mister.
IL this the country Is it, Il was no. 50 mucn the
ID The observer the look of intense
entrsaty on her little face, and the pitiful way In
which She could hardly believe that she was really
in the Countrywide country. which IS such COM
mon place for mos; people.
There five parties OF The Tribune Fresh AT
Fund children to start for the country to-day; AZ il
a m a company OF IJ7 for Mount Joy. Penn, and on
the same train l. for Mil.ersvile. Penn. at D. m.
StonInrton boat there will be a company OF iG for
Westerly r. / These four bands. numbering zo';
all go invited gue-s. one or TWO In family and
are 10 remain two fu!l weeks In the countr.'; The
hOspitabe people in these places have siZnned their
10 receive the children free (Tne tribune
Fresh Air Fund never pays board and each child IL
assigned TO Us host before the hour OF starting.
The last party for the day goes 10 Ashford Hi.
pleied their stay there.