The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-06
Danish Fresh Air League.

| Now and then one discovers some Gus
| tom prevalent in one of the smaller coun-
| tries of Europe which might we'll be imi-
| tated by a greater Commonwealth. A
custom of this sort came to light not
long ago in the writings of a traveller in
! Denmark.
There is an arrangement in Copenhagen
by which ten thousand children annual
ly get country holiday, while another
ten thousand children, from the country
take their places in town and enjoy the
sights of the city. The holiday does not
last long enough for the arrangement to
be wearisome to anybody. and it seems
to be a mutual benefit 1t is the Fresh
Air Fund idea on different basis, and
not confined to>the poor.
Those who are anxious to arrange mat
tiers so that the city child can occasion
ally get a breath of country air some
times overlook the fact that the country
urchin is almost as much benefited by
a glimpse of the town. In the one case
the body is refreshed, and in the other
the mind is frightened up. Life on
coifntry farm is often dull, duller than
the city visitor can understand. One
OF the crying needs of the age is some
plan by which the farms can be made
comfortable for body and soul. Too Of
ten they are fit for neither. Time was
when the farmer, raising varied produce
for the city market, could live well off
his surplus; but in some farming regions
this is no longer true. The farmers are
raising crops all Of one kind and dis
pensing with the garden truck which
used to be wholesome and profitable. AS
for interests which may broaden and en-
rich the minds they have none beyond
the agricultural journal and the county
paper. It is good that the farmer and
sionally, and keep in touch with the
world.
The system of exchange. too. is good
element in this Danish plan, since in this
case the parents and guardians of the
children are not burdened with the care
of extra members OF the household in
addition to their own children. 1t is
possible that in some cases there may
be moral as well as mental and ply
steal benefit attached to the plan. Chill
dren are apt to think their own parents
unnecessarily strict and sometimes un-
just, and a little experience OF other
people as guardians may lead them to
feel differently. 1t may also be whis-
pered that some parents, who have been
grieving overmuch over the faults of
their own youngsters. may be better sat
isfed with their offspring after fort
nights trial of other peoples children
1t was DR.. Holmes who quantity remark
ed that the reason why families sepa-
rate, like peas in pod, when they reach
responsible age. is $50 that Brown may
household of individuals exactly like
him; and it is entirely true, and no dis
credit to anybody, that parents and chill
dren, brothers and sisters, husbands and
wives, get on all the better for a little
separation now and then. There is
certain strain about being obliged to live
with Q lie person ali the time. Ones char
aeter becomes warped by the effort not
to show ones faults, or by the irrita-
ton which provokes exhibition of those
faults. Whether there is ever any rec
ognized and traditional system OF ex-
change of children in this country, or
not, it will be well for individual fami-
lies to adopt the Danish plan occasion
ally. and see If 1t does not promote do
nestle peace and happiness.