New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-13
CHILDREN WELCOME GUESTS.
THOSE SENT BY THE TRIBUNE FRESH An
FUND WANTED AGAIN IN sum.
MER HOMES

When this summer comes to end The Trib.
une Fresh Air Fund will have sent the country
some seven thousand children. This great army
includes children OF every nationality. every kind
OF surroundings. Of life and degree Of
poverty, and OF every sort OF character Amsri-
cans. Germans. Irish. Italians. Poles and Bohe-
mans have been sent Jews and Christians have
been given outings. The white and the black races
have both been benefited. and children OF every
conceivable variety Of environment have received
two weeks Of fresh air
The one thing common 10 them all has been their
wretcted poverty and unhealthy habtations which
have combined to make them worthy recipients Of
rresh-air charity This common possession has
made the pale compexions the weak. anmmic
bodies. and childhood days that fraught with
more sorrow than pleasure. 1t has made suffering
for those who are too weak and small TO bear Il,
and 1t has made fresh-air vacations invaluable.
The comment OF some people however. VINO do
not know is that children who grow up amid
vice. sIualor and dirt must inevitably become
dirty and Objectionable themselves and must.
therefore. make trouble country hosts. q
Is contended that surroundings must have their
effect. and that out OF many children OF so
many varieties there must b a large percentage
Of the little benchcaries who. through no fault OF
their own are distinctly persona non grata"
Poverty. which Is the normal and chief character
istic of all these thousand children. must
exercise Its n-handed visitation OF hardship to
the moral detriment Of a great portion OF them.
The argument. advanced in spirit Of good
faith, seems plausible CROUCH rs an argument
But II can be. and has BEEN completely demol-
shed by certain carefully authenticated facts. II
Is a truth which demands attention. that out Of
these thousands Of children every one Of whom will
be found. upon investigation. 10 b. a victim OF
that poverty which has been mentioned the ones
that have proved troublesome to their country
hosts can be counted upon the fingers OF one hand
Children that have been enough sullied by their
surroundings to be unfit to visit refined. gentle
! hosts have been extremely exceptions. II 10
expected as never broken rule that they be 90
! ccptablc
This is a good deal to expect but the expectation
is the result Of experience. The fact that these
pectations have been richly fulfilled this sum-
mer is not brought forward in extenuation Of
anything. II is made known as an interesting cir.
cumstance. That than two or three
children out OF thousand picked from the
Sums and tenement districts Of the city Of New.
/ York for their poverty. should be found uncon.
genial to people so far removed In environment
from them the country hosts Of fresh-air
children is certainly an interesting truth. Re-
Election will enhance It's markabloness. II IL not
generally known what extended and careful
system OF picking and choosing ard medical ex-
aiming is shown in this interesting little fact.
The various ramificatons Of the process OF select
Ing hesh-air children their merits would Ill .
book The result IS worth tho trouble The result
/ II that tbs right children obtain the outing.
letter which was received from country host
short time ago Is pertinen, herr II SHOWS with
clearness how many children 20 he
/ Invited each summer by their pleased entertainers
OF former summers. ard how the many lifelong
/ friendships between fresh alrs' and their hosts
have started. The letter follows:
| Agent Tribune Fresh Air Fund
- has been with my family 10 spend her
| two weeks In the country and - DO the Cirl Jus
| tice must say that she has been little lady,
| with kind and gentle maun,rs-fir superior 10 tho
| most OF our n.ighbors' children. W. wish that
| 10
Three parties started for the country yesterday,
comprising 200 children