New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-05
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AMONG THE DAISIES.
THE TRIBUNEs FREsH-AIR CHILDREN AND
THEIR HAPPY LIFE AT sIMsBURY.

THEIR HAPPY LIFE AT SIMSBURf.
If there is any doubling Thomas in this city so
sceptical question the advantages OF fresh
air outing he should followed In the footsteps
OF the little children whom The Tribune Fresh All
Fund sent to Simsbury. Conn, on Saturday last
These children constituted the second party wnlch
Mrs. Norman W. Dodge has invited TO the fresh
air home which che maintains at Smsbury, ana
they will be her guests for three weeks. To say
that there lie some difference between the starting
point and the destination Of this little party Of
travellers would be putting II mildly. 1t would be
a rash assertion TO say that there Is diner
enoe between black and white
These children the children OF the extreme
poor and their homes the tenements OF a great
city When they left New-York they left behind
them the dark close rooms the il-smeing stair
ways the narrow alleys and all the other circum-
stances Of tenement life They visibly weak
and pale from their unhealthy surroundings, just
as all tenement children and they needed fresh
air more than any one knows.
Their destination Is about different az could
be imagined. Mrs Dodge has provided place
which makes ideal fresh-air home. II is a large
old farmhouse the outskirts Of the village Of
Simsbury and IN the middle Of an open, rolling
country where one meadow would hold scores OF
tenement houses. All about the house are tall
shade trees. and the meadows. which just now
covered with thick white coat Of daisies, stretch
almost to the house itself. These daisies caused
much anxiety when they were first seen by the
children.
When the carriage which contained the party
stopped before the house and the youngsters began
10 file out there successive shouts Of
joy each aIghted The first thing they had
seen was the daisies all about the house, and with
a cry Of delight each had taken the shortest
route them by the quickest propulsion which
short legs would allow. When the last child had
been handed out and the astonshed attendant
looked for her lost chickens she two small feet
vanish enid the daisies. and that was all They
the pedal extremites Of the last youngster 70
leave the carriage.
There other sign OF fresh-air children
The tall. daisy besprinkled grass OF the meadow
violent waving OF some particular portion OF the
and it would be inferred that Of the fresh airs
was there sundry gurgies and twitterinss OF
there something more in the meadow than
vegetable life 1t was not until the children began
however with their arms laden down with daisies
into crevasse by mistake and begun long jour
ney toward the centre Of the earth.
light the children and convince them that they
really in the country at last they had much
has been cleaned and renovated especially for the
fresh-air children who will occupy 1t this summer.
cellar The rooms unusually large, with a gen
erous quota OF windows and two children are al
s child III nd 5n been
10 R OF any s9r hea rhe b dng
ly for --e children, and each little guest is the
proud possessor Of a special bib and cup and saucer
Another room has been fitted UP with little benches
and chairs TO be a Sunday school, and new organ
has been placed in It, on Sunday carriage goes
10 the neighboring village and collects ten little
children. and there ten. together with the ten little
fresh airs" compose the Sunday school. which is
held in the large room OF the farmhouse which has
been arranged for that purpose.
The food which is provided for the children Is
simple and wholesome. and the quantity is unlim-
tied. The milk fresh to the children from
two COWS which bought by Mrs. Dodge for
the fresh-air home. The life OF the children IS
simply a rotation Of eating sleeping resting or
playing and a more ideal existence. free from the
care and dirt and noise OF the tenements, could
hardly be imagined
The man who doubts the wisdom OF fresh-air
vacation should visit a New-York tenement house
and then take the first train for Smsbury remem-
berng all the time that IL is the helpless little child
who is benefited and relieved for a few heeting
hours.