New-York tribune., 1897-08-30
TWENTY GIRLS TO BE MADE HAPPY.
TO START TO-DAY FOR A TWO WEEKS VISIT
AT THE FAIRFIELD FRESH
AIR HOME


thousand city children to the country this summer,
nut 1t is safe to say that few OF the fortunate lit
Tie benehciaries enjoyed their two weeks more
than Will the twenty little girls who leave this
city to-day for Fairfield. Conn. To these children
the city means the crowding the heat and close
ness or the tenements with darkness. small rooms
and foul odors within and whitening pavements
without. In hot weather II means sickness and
sometimes death. The country is vague blank
ana means nothing to them until they have been
there hut then II is their Elysium, a subject for
dreams and memories of happy, golden bygone
days and a land OF pleasure never to be forgot
ten. These twenty children go from the worst
side OF life In the city TO ideal life In the
try. They go from extreme to the other, and
Elm Cottage. the Fairfield Fresh Air Home. Is
Mt place TO be their extreme Of happiness
Five years ago an interest in fresh-air work
sprang up among Fairfield people and in 1892 a
Fresh Air Committee brought about the enter
tainment Of number OF children. Since that
time the committee has been incorporated a per-
manent organization. Of which the officers
the Rev. +. S Child, president; DR.. W. r. Don
adson. vice president and A. F.. Rowland.
tary and treasurer DR.. Donaldson also performs
the duty OF visiting physician. The home Is sup
ported by voluntary contributions and by receipts
from fairs and other entertainments from Fairfield
and its vicinity
Elm Cottage itself is situated the road
which leads from the beautiful old town OF Fair
field TO the Sound. which is not more than half
a mile distant. 1t Is purest country all about
there. on both sides of the road leading 10 the
cottage the open fields stretch away far az
see. broken occasionally by bit OF wood
land. or the gable Of house outlined against
the adjacent overhanging trees. There Is endless
clover hay and corn. and the dropping elms, which
are so profuse in this region. cause breaks In the
landscape which make the scenery welnigh per-
feet. Four magnificent old elms throw their shade
a1fh thaN- tnu.a
above the little dwelling to keep away the sum
light altogether Between the cottage and these
trees. which stretch along the road In front, -
lawn which Is covered with all manner Of soups
and swings and hammocks. The backyard comes
in for its share of popularity also, because II Is
the site OF the two apple trees Of the place For
the first hour after the arrival of a new
party Of children there always l. trouble
about these apple trees. The usual idea or
the country in the mind Of a Fresh Air young
ster who has never been there before Is that OF
a place where "dere is apples wot yer Kin git wid
a stick" SO the juvenile mind Immediately strikes
the scent leading 10 the backyard, and the bonn
bardment begins. 1t is peculiar fact that the
ripe apples invariably escape. The green fruit suf-
fers first and the children suffer later. This IL
the first educational effect OF the fresh-air va
cation upon the little benefciaries thereof
The cottage is a plain. snug house which IL
primarily COOL clean and roomy. on the ground
Miss Mann who is the matron OF the estapnsl,
ment. Upstairs are the children's bedrooms, and
the rows of little iron beds. immaculate in thtir
whiteness. revelation to most OF me nttie
visitors. The children are urged to make the,r ,,
own beds and some Of the first attempts are pill
fu enough in their display Of ignorance on such
"A fundamental duty Of housekeeping 1t IS not un-
common 10 find four blankets and no sneetS on z
bed the first night a single sheet and nothing
else. Some of the children have come from such
surroundings that they do not ever KNOW no" 10
ge' n,o TO- Fen ha coycrle as Under it. Every one
hoy. IN ms her
the two weeks have elapsed ,. -
rhe dining room downstairs is 4 pretty sight AT at
mcaltime The white bowls OF bread ana mix
are ranged around the table. together WIN 'ne
accomplishing plates ana o'her uteh5lS hnh src,nn a
helps" are obtained MIX. fresh ana rch' ~ me
staple diet and there Is avail aUd fruits in
abundance from the neiGhbors. Everything IL
wholesome, and quantity and quality are po'h We"
The children lead life Of simple pleasure:
Early 10 bed and early to rise If a nottQ sa'icS S
adhered TO- All day long. except at mealtime nu
when the weather prevents The lttle lok fh IT, IA
the open air and Walk TO tne ont nOuna' niiV "c
by Il bath on the beach. Is an almost "''! "
Thc ncople OF Fairfield have been Jealous in
,rovidine pleasure for the children. one Kind lady
treats each party TO a long drive. IN, same per- pei
son gives Il wealth of flowers to the little people
ON the day of their return. and these are Drousht
back 10 the city gladden. otherwise dreary nomes
Another custom Of the home is the weighing q
earh nartv on the days OF their arrival and ie-
urn The differences In weight are always 'are-
fully noted and the average gain Is nt'ie oNeII
two mounds for each child. one little girl galned
five pounds during her stay Al another time 4
party of sixteen gained total OF iorty -ilne e
rounds They happy lot wheh my t VEN
away and the story OF the scales WAS toio teiin
in he laughing eyes and rosy cheeks "f 'iXteen
very healthy children l., o,,,, ,,oo
The cause Of one little girls gain In weight was
MOT hard 10 find when "A certain gastronomlcal ltht
Of hers "A few days before WAS recalled her paiS
bad a pcnIc given them. and the spread "ds
lavish with good things. Little table-talK was IN
drlpnd in-ihcre other things 10 De uone.
VVhen This particular little girl was questioned az
20 whether She had enjoyed herself or not she 'us
nnexpectedly but eloquently answered, - e ate
six Sandwiches. boiled egg. three cakes enc
reach six pieces o watermelon, an peanut .,
~ 49, 'rhore words failed her the amount oi
Deanuts could not he described ,
,rhis the fifth year Of the Home. mas SHOWN
,hi. kird nroplc not only in Fairfield but In
FAST widening radius Of neigh6oring towns ana
.i1og"s have become interested in and suDs,ah-
tally helpful to the work. To all are eNlenueu
the hearty thanks of many a poor motnei. sVus &
liz "a her or sickly child imprisoned IN New
SSnrk tencments Their reward Is the good accom-
pshed.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
'L'orenr.' 40