New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-23
FRESH.ATR FUND WORK.
AN EXCURSION FOR THE DAY STARTS FROM
BROOKLYN.

At an early hour yesterday morning the barge
Sumner was lying placidly by the pier at the loot
OF South Fifth-st Brooklyn. There was hardly
person in sight. and the only nearby sound was
made by the idle tapping OF the waves against the
sides OF the boat. 1t scene OF peace and
quiet
But IN Brooklyn at that moment there were
about ono thousand persons who could nave
foreto,d a transformation There was excitement
ahead and this peaccfulncss to be OF short
duration The Tribune Fresh-Air Fund was about
10 give It's first excursion OF the summer.
This was why the excursion boat was waiting
there, and this was why hundreds OF poor iaTles
all over Brooklyn tiptoe with expectation
All of them had been informed by the Brooklyn
/ Childrens Aid Society which was the medium for
the distribution Of the tickets. and they had risen
with the dawn Family luncheons had been hastily
prepared. Then South Fifth-st. pier became the
Mecca OF many people. At o'clock there were
scores OF tired mothers with their babies and little
children aboard tho boat. and there were more
on the pier All were happy In anticipation OF the
enjoyable dny before them IT was n Jolly. laugh
Ing crowd. and the number OF pleasantries and
good-natured jests that were exchanged showed
what sort Of occasion this was. One large irish
woman, her face rosy from walking, came up the
gangplank with n big bundle wrapped In paper, In
her arms.
An where did yez get all that lunch trom?"
asked n friend
why. Lord bless yer that's not me lunch--ts
me little baby-look at tho darlint"
And she pushed back the paper coverings and
held up for inspection n little white scrap OF
humanity. which looked Just about ready TO give
up tho struggle OF existence. To this kind OF child
n day on the water In the fresh air means more
than does any medicine.
\ family which had learned TO depend upon itself
came aboard IN body few minutes later. They
were seven" The procession led hy the mother
with a baby IN her and small boy just
learning to wax toddng by her side. Just behind
came the eldest son. who was not yet In his teens.
laboriousy carrying another infant. Finally, the
rear brought up by two little girls. one OF
whom vas just big enough 10 lead the other by the
hand. " they settled a family gufgie
OK satisfaction announced that they were there, and
a concerted attack was improvldenty begun on
their luncheon.
But the other side o. the day was just evil
dent and many faces the cares OF poverty and
the wtarncss o: continued ill-h"dth stood ont too
plainly TO bc chased away by transient smiles.
Those mothers and children had all been selected
because they were tho poorest and most miserable
IN the tenement districts. and they needed Just
such a trip as one of these excursions OF The
Tribune Fresh Air Fund
As the hour OF departure drew near and the decks
o, tho boat became nll"d with IN" pleasure seekers
series Of piercing whistles from tho tug which
was TO 10 the towing urged the ate-comers 10
hurry Finally II VAS too late to wait for any
more ana tho wharf hands began to cast on
the ha ~scrs n cry ~ delight went up from the
boat, The tug gradually swung its burden away
from tho dock, the band on the upper deck began
music The barge went down the .riycr. Win nagS
living. music playing and load o. nHppy people
who mus, have stayed IN their unhealthy tenement
homes all day (, I, hal no, been for this charity