New-York tribune., 1900-07-11
CHILD'S DRESS DECEPTIVE.
IT MAKES TWO MEN THINK A FRESH
AIR FUND GIRL RICH

There was little girl in the Grand Central
Station the other day who a pink dress and
Tribune Fresh Air Fund badge The dress looked
ne" and clean. and 10 made bright patch OF
color against the dark woodwork OF the waiting
room that was conspicuous The wearer was pale
and very thin- Tot or other children bound for
lne country were In the waiting room. and they
were dancing up and down and making the place
ring with their shouts and laughter but this one
seemed Hstless and tired and she stood or by
herself And this made her all the more con-
spIcuous, so much that well dressed men
noticed her as they went through the gate %
eaten a train When they were outside each sDoks
To the other az the same time about what thsv
mad seen, and they Iaughingly congratulated each
otner on their powers Of observation. Then they
both spoke or the neat little dress. 50 OBSERVING
were they. and finally they came % the indignant
conclusion that such a well dressed child was not
a proper object Of fresh air charity
4 noticed right away what a fancy dress thar
child wore" said one I'm bet her parents are
plenty well enough on It's a shame that charity
never seems 20 reach the right people"
SO observing were they. II they had learned the
address of that little child and gone there after the
necessarily long and winding trip through the
streets of the East Side they would have found
a hve story tenement house in the middle OF a
crowded block This tenement house is back OF
another one which faces the street and back there
IN the middle there Is little light. and fresh air Is
practically unknown quantity. A climb I'd
several dark flights OF stairs brings one 70 the
home OF this little girl. and there the two critics
might have found something 20 observe one
small room for a family OF six cannot be called a
thlng OF beauty and JOY forever. Up there under
the not roof with a single doruler window opening
upon a fire escape this family lives in its little
room The father is willing TO work but is TOO
sick 10 be able 10 do anything. has been OUT
OF a Job FOR a long time The mother Is too sickIy
20 do even wOman's work Three OF the children
are under six years old and the fourth is this little
girl who supports the whole family She does II
oy facing mems trousers at ten cents dozen.
which is sweatsh0p work with a vengeance Shs
Is not a large OF strong girl but she deft with
ner needle and by working most OF the time from
early morning until dusk she can finish four dozen
pairs. So she makes forty cents a day and
that gives the family enough bread and coffee 70
live
IEe sewing is done out on the FIRE escape for in
side II is too dark for that sort OF work and the
nel5hooTs have become used 20 seeing this HtrIs
80 "oIAlilS away there all day long They may
wonder how she stands IT, and taev NAV norics
now oent and pale and serious she has become but
Ty Tasy 40 nor snow II In the next room lives an
tries % draw smile from her little child ueighbor
carnaton and that Is about as much g1Insbi0s
as ever gets into the little ones life The Tribune
Fresh Ar r una sent the child away for two weeks
IN the country the other day. and that means a
sreal ollze or sunshine that should make her
happier IGr rev months ar least When IL was
time Tor her 20 90 she had not single dress that
"ss ut 70 90 out in So the ciry missionary bought
lock Holmeses went wrong The Tribune Fresh Afr
Fund sends no children 20 the country who are nOr
IteStrNIllS Lney ara picked out By a careful and
thorough process. and i- is hoped thar no one wiz
9e deceived by little bright color in the wav OF a
Two parties. COMPRISING seventeen children. were
sem - ne country yesterday They went 20 Wind
SGT y l. ana Docnecton, y Y. and the kind peo-
pie who have invited the children are as follows
r7 Wdha72r y, Mrs Warner Mrs Reed. Mrs
Bee9e, Mrs Drake and Mrs Pee-
Nlcnots- Mrs C. Ft1Pp and Mrs Hartman
ACL-NT,v-T