New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-03
AN URGENT NEED.

| During the fortnight Of rainy weather which
followed q dry and fair 81. Swithns Day Few
thoughts were turned countryward The city
was more comfortable But with the incoming
of August true midsummer days have dawned.
1t is warm. and growing warmer. There Is a
prospect Of sultry days and all but sitting
nights The terrOrs Of the dog star will he
upon the town, and all who can will fee It's
precincts for GOODNESS and shade and fresh air
in rural places. 1t Is time when men may
well think Of those who. not only for comfort
but for health and life itself. need thus TO go
10 the country. but have not the means to do
So Nature itself in all her elements. Is max
ing day and night the strongest OF appeals for
generous contributions TO the Fresh Air Fund.
In brief business statement week ago II
was shown that the work Of the Fund had al
ready outstripped the contributions by more
than $1,000 To-day the same state Of affairs
exists in a more marked degree Down to ana
including Yesterday the Fund has sent to the
country for two weeks each no less than 1871
children. The cost of doing so at last years
very low rate, 81 80 each. amounts TO S1SS26 G'.
Receipts to date have been only Sl4.5S6 "a. That
is a generous sum- but IT leaves deficit In the
treasury OF the Fund OF S4,239 %. That ought
made. also. for the expenses Of the 600 more
children who are 70 be forwarded to country
homes this week, and for the thousands who
are to be. or who should be and may he. Tor
warded during the remainder Of the season.
Frankly. the question must now be answered
by the friends and patrons Of the Fund. and by
all benevolently disposed people who may read
these lines. Is the work Of the Fund 10 60 on
or Is It to come to an untimely end? The man.
ager of the Fund has In his desk lists OF many
hundreds of children who ought TO be sent TO
the country. and OF scores OF hospitable conn
try homes to which they are cordially Invited
But he cannot accept the invitations and send
the children unless money for transportation Is
provided Shall It not be provided at once!
Never yet has the appeal been made in vain.
Never vet have the friends OF the Fund failed
to meet, with their generous contributions the
opportunities afforded by country hospitality.
1t is not to be believed that they Will fall 10 do
so now. But every day counts. The season Is
already beginning to wane There are only
four weeks left. What is TO be done must he
done quickly.
There IS urgent need OF S4.239 % today TO
balance accounts, and Of $3.50 more by the
end of the week. Then II contributions con-
tinue to come in at that rate the Fund will con-
tinue to do its work at the present rate from
now till the first of September, and make this
record year in Fresh Air charity. The chill
dren are ready and longing and needing to go.
The country homes are ready and eager 10 re-
ceive them. The administrators Of the Fund
are ready and anxious TO do the work. All that
is needed is the money. every cent OF which
will be sacredly devoted To the exact and eX-
elusive purpose for which it is given. Surely it
will come. 1t will not he said that in this year
Of returning prosperity good works were al
lowed to anguish. Ii will not be said that the
hospitality of the country outstrpped the gen
crosby of this imperial city.