The Newtown bee., 1897-07-30
Town Topics.
A HEARTY WELCOME TO THE FRESH AIR
CHILDREN
THEY WILL REACH NEwTOwN NEXT TUES
DAY.--A PARTY OF FIFTY-FOUR TO BE
DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE FARMS HERE
ABOUTS.
THEY WILL REA

DAt.-A IAhI1 OF fIF11-FOCh ~ bE
DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE FARMS HERE
ABOUTs.
A few weeks ago The BEE gave notice
that soon party of Fresh Air children
would come to Newtowu. The time is
nearly here for this party to arrive.
They will leave the Grand Central De-
pot in New York City, next Tuesday af-
ternoon, August 3, by the O'Clock ex-
press and reach Newtown at 05. There
are to be "a boys and girls in the compa-
ny, and it can safely be said that group
of happier faces has never been seen in
| Newtown. This dull weathear has
brought depression and gloom to many.
1t will be better than medicine just to be
at the Newtown station, next Tuesday
afternoon, and see these children step
from the train. All who are interested
in this work are cordially invited to come
to the depot at this time; it will be
sight worth travelling several miles to
qee. People who have always lived here
abouts will get new idea of the charms
of Newtown as they are seen by the
wide-awake eyes of these boys and girls
coming from the dwellings of the city
poor,
All the children in this party come
from the Union Settlement in New York
City. The promise has been made by
Willard Parsons, who is in charge of the
Tribune Fresh Air work, that the New
town party will be selected with great
care, SO that those who entertain the
children may be assured of receiving the
pick of their class. A physician exam
ines them before they leave New York
to see that they are in good health. The
hosts of the children are to meet them
with carriages at the Newtown station.
The Fresh Air party will remain in New
town exactly two weeks. Those who
have had the management of the children
coming here take this opportunity heart
lily to thank all those who have so gener-
ously offered to receive these little ones
into their homes.
The following extract from an editori-
al in the New York Tribune of July u
will give further insight into this noble
work: The movements of trade, the rise
and fall of stocks, the state of the crops
appeal to this one or to that and are of
vast Importance. The simple doing of
good appeals to all, and is fraught with
Importance transcending all questions of
selfish profit and loss.
The height of the season is near at
hand. 1t will be the height of heat, hu
Nudity, suffering and all evils of midsum-
mer. 1t must also be the height of hu-
name effort for amelloration of those ills.
Such latter the Fresh Air Fund intends
to make it. Last week it sent to the
country for two weeks each no less than
forty-three companies, containing In all
1910 children. That was a splendid
record. But this week may surpass it.
The beginning is suspicious. No less
than $50 children were sent out yester-
day, and others will be sent, by scores
and hundreds, daily. Last night there
were nearly 1900 Fresh Air Fund chill
dren in the country, and the total num-
Der sent out this year thus far is 6,636.
Such figures are surely not devoid of in
terest.
But neither is it devoid of interest to
observe the total of contributions to the
Fund. 1t is generous sum. But it is
not commensurate with the work the
Fund is doing. It will be remembered
that the average cost Of giving each
child two weeks outing last year was
exactly $3.50. This year the cost is
about the same. For every $3.50 con-
tributed, therefore, child can and will
be sent to pleasant country home for
fortnight. For every cent contributed is
sacredly devoted TO that purpose and to
chat exclusively. Not one cent ever goes
for rent or salaries or red tape.