New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-14
CHINATOWN'S LITTLE GIRLS.
FIFTY OF THEM ARE NOW ENJOYING A
FRESH AIR OUTING.
THE SECRET OF RED CHEEKS AND BIG APPETITEs
DISCOVERED - SPECIAL ENJOYMENT
FOUND IN CHASING CHICKENS

DISCOVERED - SPECIAL. ENJOYMENT
FOUND IN CHASING CHICKENS
There are fifty little girls of Chinatown happy
and frisky and clear-eyed because of the Fresh
Air Society. They drinking In the cool breezes
enjoying the pure country air and romping over
the felds-many Of them for the first time-at
Branchville. Conn. and. judging from the glowing
letters sent home by some of them. they are hav-
ing as good a time the many other little
who have been sent away 10 discover the secret of
red cheeks and big appetites
Tribune reporter who visited the homes Of
many of these little ones recently is able to APP
preca,e the difference between their home life
and the Aladdin life they are enjoying now. and
he would be a queer human being. indeed. who
could once the dark, noisome homes in the
filthy tenements and thank God for the bless
ings Of the Fresh Air Fund
Mary Bassalno lives al No 526 Pearl-st. though
on account Of the Board Of Health condemnation,
she and her family will move In few days. She
lives with her father. mother and two brothers, In
an apartment Of three rooms for which they pay
SO month They are a typical Italian family
The father grinds the organ for living the
mother has stand and the brothers sell
papers
Mary is a Jolly roguish little girl of twelve, who
is something of a philosopher In her way and
loves nothing better than TO crack a joke at her
mothers expense.
Mrs Bassalino is fat-so fat that Mary says
there are times when 1t is difficult for her to get
upstairs.
II don't know what we'd do If dere was a fire,
said Mary humorously; guess the fremen I'D
have TO make a hole in de wall an take hummer
out"
As Mrs Bassalino could not understand what
was said she could only look and smile.
Have you enough room here? the reporter
asked.
ooh yes" answered Mary quickly. why, we
could take boarders. only that they don't pay !
tell We it's big mistake TO tink dat we make
anything on boarders. Dey always want de pest
ye hang up bill at de grocery store. an some me
night We find dat de gent don't show up. an OF
course ye know he few de coop. Say. I'm goln
10 have a great time in de country-l love 10 chase
chickens. do
After the reporter had visited a few more homes
she commenced feel sorry for Branchvihe
chickens as the universal ambition seemed 10 be
10 chase them. Indeed some OF the little ones
seemed 20 have no more knowledge Of life In the
country than that there were chickens TO De
chased and birds nests TO be found-somewhere'
Lizzie Dominica lives at No 80 Park-st. with her
mother and little crippled brother Iohy. IN inc
two bare-looking rooms they call nome he'
mother keeps a fruit stand. and Mary Is just as
happy as the most fortunate little girl on ear.n
whoever she may be- She feels very sorry Tor
Tony. she says. and wishes that ne were S'io"se''
that ne could on the street ana oeiei'u Hvi'
Il wish he was big. as he'd punch ue ie"e'S
watts fresh 10 meself an mommer she s"iu'
and then she told the reporter a long sdu va, -
the struggles for existence she and her mother hau
had AS long she could REM moer II nav
work and fret until there were two Things i'"'"
bly, stamped In her childish memory REM "
the Gerry Society" ,.
She used ~ ,ick coal and wood around the neigh
borhood when hut mere tot and always uiu ~
with one eye rowing up and down te SUI"
catch glimpse OF every stranger VINO e"'
Italian colony. And yet Mary was happy lo' '"e
going TO the country
Mollie OConnor was going, too, and she was 81
full Of rural dreams when the reporter c"ie" AZ
her home I'm Cherry-st. that she kept on si's"is
the words of of Gerald Grifins Deau'Hu s'"s'
TO a tune OF her OWN
And after you've kissed ,hey'n lie On my bosom
"Booo-som," Mollie pronounced it.
are going 10 the county b TO rs se5 er
Sure was the ready answer. and then, WIN
{ to cGizz With the following questions: Did you
ever hear d Dluebell ring? Which would you ralnrI
s e Wo G Gr ySa Ike 10 drink EIp eSe out of
tercup?'' nan.
say. she's full on EN- to-day" said her little
brother Tim. coming into the room. She's eoin
de fresh air 10 de country,
ran away. followed by Mo.lies whitening glance.
and Petite Murphy, another candidate ior a tn6
country. asked Moe If she was goin'. dead
Now Petite is well known to nave a more intimate
other being young o d.. In the neighborhood
Though only eight years old he is sort OF a re-
Chapel. the Protestant Mission and the Jewish
Synagogue. the notion strikes him HIS mother
makes no difference TO Petite and he loves nothing
better than TO describe the other world as ne
go IT'S red an green by turns" said he g 'Tis hot
an cold. an It blisters worse than redhot steel
worse oysters"
1t was really relief to hear the cherry-st'