River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-08-04
Concerning Fresh Air Kids,


The following letter from st. Paul
lady to lady in this city will be read
with interest:
A short time ago four of our children
came home from River Falls, not having
staid half of their two weeks. | am so
sorry they had to come home, they need
ed the outing so badly. / think from
what am told that the children greatly
misrepresented their home surroundings.
| have Just been to talk with the girls
mothers, they were much troubled when
| told them what the girls had done and
were disappointed that they had missed
week of fresh air and nourishing food,
both of which the parents readily admit
they do not get at home. One family
lives in one little room-kitchen, dining
room, bed room and sitting room, all
combined. This room is in block. 3"
If you know anything of what living in
| block means you will understand that
| the little girl has no place to play but the
street and no fresh air to breathe: Her
parents are extremely poor and were
| very thankful for the opportunity of
sending her to River Falls, for they realize
| that they can do very little for her.
They regret very much the trouble she
has given.
Three weeks ago the other family were
| put out of their rooms by an officer be-
| cause they could not pay their rent.
Their household goods laid out on the
| sidewalk all day in the rain, until the
father could get help to remove them.
They are now in four rooms but do not
know how they can pay the rent. They
are worthy people but he cannot find
work to do and so cannot meet his rent
bill, and has difficulty in furnishing the
barest necessities for his family-in fact
has not been able to do it without help.
| Their daughter who went to River Falls
spent several weeks at the city hospital,
and is not vet strong think she is not
an easy child to get along with. | find
upon inquiry that she likes to appear to
have better things than her playmates.
| All this shows a lack of training and
proves the need of sending the children
| where, even for short time, they can be
| taught better. The same lack which
makes it impossible for the parents to
provide food and clothing for the chill
| dren seems to make it impossible for
them to give the children proper moral
and ethical training.
The mothers of both of the boys who
came home are hard working washer
| women. The woman who had put up
the blueberries is really an invalid, still
| BIC hSSllCo anu lIOAlo ONSiJ Nog inv
probably had a chance to do some extra
work for the berries. She is very
economical and works and plans wisely
for the future.
The children all looked well clothed
but in the majority of cases the clothing
had been given them. In many instances
the children of washerwomen are clothed
with the cast-off finery of those for whom
their mother washes. This makes them
appear to be from we'll to do homes when
in truth they often go hungry, and as to
what the children may say about their
circumstances it must be weighed care
fully. l have been in philanthropic work
in St. Paul for four years and feel that i
know and understand pretty well the
people among whom | have worked
We have to be very firm and decided
with the children and try to counteract
the home influence.
St. Paul. Mimi, July %, 1898.
| HOUSE FOR RENT.-Inquire of w
/ A l.