New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-18
AN ANNUAL REMINDER.

This is the time of year when our readers
have learned to expect a statement in these
columns that The Tribune Fresh Air organiza-
ton will soon begin its work, and that gen.
erous contribution from old and new friends
will be necessary for the fund. On our part
we have learned to know that such a reminder
is never allowed to go unheeded, and that The
Tribune has only to state its needs to receive
abundant means. It seems scarcely necessary
at the present time to tell what that work is
or what our needs are in regard to it, For
twenty-three years The Tribune has been act
ing the agent of kind hearted people in pro-
viding n fortnight in the country for children
of the tenement house districts; in giving them
fresh air, sunlight, the joy of green fields and
the pleasant country brief fOrgetfulness of the
dreariness of baked and nosome streets and
crowded alleys, renewed strength and vitality
for the rest of the year. Since its beginning
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund has used $437,-
S9l 6S has sent to the country for fortnight
116,797 children, and on day excursions pro-
vided for by a special fund 279,94O children
and mothers-its benefciaries in all numbering
1867 These figures only put into concrete
form what our friends already know of the
benefcent activity of The Tribune Fresh Air
Fund. We are sure, from experience, of the
confidence they have in it. We are certain that
luOSe WHO nave SHOWN Jnelr DelleG IN the past
will do again. and that there will be many
new friends to it before the season is
closed.
In making our annual reminder we feel it
unnecessary to urge at length the peculiar adj
vantages of the investment we ask our friends
to make in The Tribune Fresh Air Fund It's
methods and organization are such that every
penny goes straight from the donor to the
children. There are no leaks. There are few
small and necessary expenditures for stationery
and medical service, but there are no salaries
and no expenses of administration The aver
age cost of sending child to the country is
considerably less than So. They are trans
ported by railroad corporations which make
very low rates for them, and they are cared for
by good people all over the country within easy
reach of NewYOrl, many of whom look for
ward to their coming as one of the blessings Of
the summer The kindly influences and lasting
friendships that result among the greatest
goods of The Tribune Fresh Air Funds work
We have assurances that this year an es-
pecially bountiful hospitality is awaiting our
little charges. Our chief concern will be to fill
all the places that are offered u.s. AS bearing
upon the way in which our friends in the
country view their guests from the Fresh Air
Fund, an address by Mr. Henry Strader. Of
Port Jervis, n. Y, published a few weeks ago
in The Tribune, is Illuminating. He has taken
the trouble to come to New-York to get &C
quainted with the homes Of the children sent
out He has been deeply impressed with what
he found-all of which, it may be remarked
corroborates The Trlbune's statements that
while the children come from the poorest homes
in the city they are not gamins or gutter
snipes" OF jewellers in infected quarters.
We shall begin to send children to the coun-
try as soon as possible after the close Of the
public schools We trust that the hot and
sweltering days that have already visited us
and will doubtless come again before that time
will serve rs reminders to the generous friends
of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund. Upon them
we depend entirely for the means to carry on
the work we have organized. Their liberaIity
will determine the extent of its activity. The
field for it is large and always growing. We
ask them to give, to give now and to give
freely, and we ask it with fulness of conf
dence that in twenty-three years has never
proved mistaken.