Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-06-03

| Tribune's Fresh Air Fund Was Here
Yesterday in the Interest of These Little
People-A Committee Appointed.
j. Frank Dechant, of the New York
Tribune Fresh Air Fund, was in town
yesterday in the interest of that great
charity. He called upon our pastors
and II number of our citizens with the
encouraging results that Il concentrated
! effort will be made by the different con-
gregations to sufficiently interest the
people of this community to have Il
carload of these little waits from New
York city brought among our people for
n two weeks stay during the midsummer
months. This charity has now been in
operation for twenty years. During that
time the number of children who have
been taken from poverty-stricken homes
where a breath of fresh air is an almost
unobtainable luxury, and have been
transported to the midst of green fields,
to be ministercd to by the kind hands of
loving friends, has increased year by
year until it is now rapidly nearing the
splendid aggregate of 200, 200. surely a
record of which they may be proud, and
one, perhaps, unsurpassed by any similar
charity in existence.
Who shall attempt to estimate the
amount of good which has been accom-
plshed? What standard can be used to
measure the happiness that it has
brought into hundreds of families? 1t
has restored to health many thousands
of little children, who, but for the Tri
bune Fresh Air Fund, would have gone
down to early graves. More than this,
it has been the means of bringing re-
newed hope to many home darkened
by misfortune.
The children come from all parts of
Brooklyn and New York city They
are selected by missionaries, bible
teachers, physicians, and Christian
workers among the poor. They are
sent to the country during the months
of July and August and they range in
age from to L. years. They all under
go. a thorough physical examination
before being sent out, so that no child
showing symptoms of any contagious
disease is among them. Each day the
Board of Health supplies list of all in
fected houses, and thus it is impossible
for the children to carry with them any
contagious disease.
Ever since the inception of the Fresh
Air Fund there has been bitter war
fare waged on vcrmin. This year par
ticular pains will be taken to stamp
them out aud DR.. Vinton, the Tribune
examining physician, has printed and
distributed circulars showing the best
means OF overcoming the evil. The car
fare is paid by the fund. All that is
food and shelter for one or more of these
little ones, for fortnight.
Mr.. Dechant was favorably impressed
with Freeland as spot to accommodate
some of the thousands who will be sent
out from the tenement districts this
summer, and he made arrangements to
have the movement conducted in a sys-
tematic manner. The following com
mittec was selected to represent the
several churches of town: Rev. j. j.
Kuntz, charman; Rev. S. Cooper Rev.
II. e. Wilson, Rev. NJ. j. Fallihee, VIM.
williamson, j. j. Brobst, Freeand,
and Rev. j. p. Buxton, Drifton. The
matter will be brought before the con
gregations at the earliest opportunity
and applications for children will be re-
ceivcd by the above committee. The
little ones will arrive here about July
and will remain two weeks.
Already considerable interest has been
aroused among all persons whose atten
tion has been called to this subject, and
the prediction can be freely made that
Freeland will give noble assistance in
furthering this truly charitable work.
No donations, no money is asked for.
All that the TRlBUNE's great namesake
of New York requests is that responsible
families will give a home for few weeks
to one or two of the little waits. There
are nearly one million little ones in the
metropolis who have never inhaled any
thing but the contaminated air of their
surroundings and who have but vague
idea of what "the country" is like.
Children of whatever sex, age or re-
ligjon will be sent, according to the APP
plications received by the local commit
tee. Every family in Freeland and
vicinity that can do so should arrange to
accept one or more of the little New
Workers.