New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-02
REMEMBER THE CHILDREN.

While all America is eagerly watching for war
nows the hot weather comes on apace. With 1t
comes hardship and suffering for the children
crowded in the sitting tenemcnt-houses OF the
city. In war or in peace IL IS ever true that the
poor are with us still. our absorption In the
dolnGs OF our soldiers and sailors In Cuba ana
the Philippines should no; lead us 10 forget our
obligations 10 those ar home who need our help
Care for tho children of the cities is work or
patriotism. Among them is the great problem
Of securing strong and worthy citizenship IN
the centres Of population which more and more
tend 70 become the determining factors In our
political life Their health must be preserved.
Their faculties must be cultivated They can
not he allowed 10 grow mp to he weaklings Of tho
pavement, hopeless and bitter, without serious
danger 10 the National welfare
Probably no work among the children Of tho
CITY produces so much good for the expenditure
OF money as that OF sending them In numbers
for n short stay in the country through the hot
months. They go away puny; they come bnck
rugged They are taken from surroundings
tending TO discomfort and sullenness; they are
put under influences OF nature and man making
for Joy and giving encouragement 10 virtue.
Hundreds Of philanthropIc people on farms and
Of love which docs so much for these children
and for the land Of which they are to he tho
rulers They ask for no compensation. The air.
the light the green fields, tho wholesome food
and the clean beds are all free and waiting. All
that is needed is that other service of love which
carries the little ones to the hospliabc homes
ready TO receive them. II Is this open welcome
Of the generous hearted country folk which
gives the high percentage of benefit 10 The 'rrib-
une fresh air work. All the money contributed,
with the exception Of the email amount outside
Of special funds used for the fifteen hundred
children at Chapel Hill and Ashford Ill., goes
directly to sending the bcnchcIaries Of tho fund
to the country Board is not paid for children,
nor do they have TO work for their entertainers,
nor IS an expensive staff maintained from their
fund They spend two weeks welcome guests
I'm refined homes, and every dollar given for
them except the Insignificant cost Of medical at
tendance and few incidentals goes TO the act
ual work Of sending them to those homes
Al the opening OF the twenty second year of
The Tribune Fresh Air Funds operations there
Is every prospect OF n welcome in the country
for all the children who can possibly be sent
away Last year 10.2S6 were sent out for two
weeks and 3l.013 for one day In twcnty-one
years lGl 500 have been sent out for two weeks
and 2270lS for day. Last year holds the
record for day excursions but several years
have done better on the regular vacations. In
1892 the number reached 1928. and 1t is only
question OF funds whether many children
shall be blessed this year Three dollars will give
a child n fortnight in the country, and careful
management and command Of nearby homes
generally make that sum go even further, as,
for instance, when last season SO. 7O3 30 gave
the longer vacations to 10,2S6 children. and also
maintained the two reserve homes. The Trb-
unc Fresh Air Fund has solicitors, and de-
ponds entirely on the voluntary contributions Of
those who realize the value Of this charity. An
activity Of nearly quarter OF n century has
proved It's character and commended 1t to think
ing people, as n charity which goes to the most
deserving class, does the most good TO the
largest number for the least money and wastes
least OF all In the whole list In the whole coun-