New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-27
FRESH AIR CHARITIES.


forms as evil There are many kinds of sin
and suffering in the world, some Of them old
as humanity itself. some Of them Of recent
origin. SO with the aspects and manifestations
of the better life Principles of virtue and Of
character are eternal But they have the happy
faculty of adapting themselves to new condl-
tons and Of meeting the new wants created
by the woes of man. The crowded tenements
of our great cities, for example, need an espe-
cial benefacion. and it is supplied in the fresh
air. charities which are now increasing and
multiplying on every hand Founded twenty
years ago, The Tribune Fresh Air Fund stood
alone in its ministry of blessing until within the
last few years. But It's marked success melted
other enterprises more or less similar, until now
their number in this city and elsewhere, may
wellnigh be called legion.
They have indeed become numerous that,
in accordance with the tendencies Of the day,
they have begun to move toward general or
ganizaton. meeting for that purpose was
held the other day. A constitution and bylaws
were considered. the object Of which Is TO secure
n certain concert Of action. or rather to prevent
any clashing of interests and any 'poachng on
each others preserves That object Is no
doubt n laudabe one. II is better to send n
great number Of poor children into the country
once each year than to send a smaller number
several times in the same season. To that end
Il is desirable that each such charitable agency
should restrict itself to definite field and not
overlap upon the fields Of others, so that each
will benefit its own self-secured constituency,
and not merely send to the country in July chill
dren that another has sent in June or will send
IN August.
Upon all these newcomers in this department
of charitable endcavOr The Tribune looks with
sympathetic interest and with hope that they
may achieve much good. II will not he pre-
sumptuous. indeed, to regard them as largely
offshoots Of The Tribune's own Fresh Air Fund.
for this was the pioneer and excmpar. and Is
still by far the largest Of them all. That the
argument for combination and restriction of field
Is to be applied to this as to them Is, however,
scarcely to be expected. The Tribune Fresh Air
Fund was the first IN the field. II was for years
the only one. j, did not, therefore, invade. and
II has not since It's organization encroached upon
the field Of any other. In the very nature Of the
case Il could not do So 1t Is for those that come
after IT, which II cordially welcomes, 10 guard
against such overlapping Of endeavor either upon
It or upon each other.
Moreover. the proposed organization contem-
plates the creation of some official machinery
and necessarily the expenditure Of some money
TO prevent the various societies from getting
into each others way. Such expenditure. we
need scarcely remind our readers, Is foreign TO
the spirit of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund. The
cardinal principle Of this organization Is that
not one cent of the money contributed by the
public Is ever diverted TO the expenses Of any
machinery or official staff. Not cent ever goes
for salaries or office rent or any such purpose.
Every cent Is sacredly devoted 10 the sending OF
poor children TO the country maintaining them
there and bringing them lack again. All the
expenses Of the agent in charge and his assist
ants office rent, ETC., are betrayed by The Trib-
une and the gentlemen associated with 1t who
have founded and developed this charity. To
that principle The Tribune will adhere. 1t Is
perfectly evident that the more organization ma
chinery there Is to consume the funds contrib
uted by the public for ii charitable purpose the
less money there is left for that purpose and
the more the intention of the benevolent gvers
Is defeated. II may be thar such an organiza-
ton as that proposed is necessary. If so. its
promoters will do well TO initiate the example
of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund so far pos
s!ble in minimizing the expense Of machinery
and IN preserving sacredy what is contributed
by the public for the charities the public de-
sireS to sustain.