New-York tribune., 1901-08-05
THE FRESH AIR CHILDREN
EXPERIENCES OF THE WORKERS OF
THE TRIBUNE FUND.

The workers of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund
hreathed sighs relief when they awoke yesterday
morning. Sunday 10 them day of rest. IN
deed, for parties of children were sent into
the country. These workers among the poor werr
decidedly busy last week for children were sent
to seventy-nine different towns in six States IN
all. fortythree parties, numbering l.io children
started Fresh Air vacations between last
Monday morning and Saturday night The ener-
getic and women who got up the different
parties. the volunteer escorts who accompanied
them their journeys into the country. and others
connected with the work tired. for children
are hard TO handle. and never more so than wheh
they are going somewhere The total number OF
children and poor mothers who benefited by the
Fresh Air Fund last week. including the day eX-
cursions, 5,SiS
The workers who were sending children into the
country the only who were busy
others had for many hundreds of children
who had through the fourteen joyous, care free
days allotted to them for the enjoyment of the
freshest kind of air In all. thirty parties OF twelve
hundred children returned from the country. loaded
down with health tan. sunburn and pastoral treas
ures.
Although the total number o: persons-childrcn
and mothers-handled by the agents Of the Tribune
Fresh Air Fund during the week was over seven
thousand. there not a single hitch connected
with their transpora ton. There were no accidents
of any kind. The big parties were always at the
stations time and without single member miss
ing Every child into the country found its
hostess ready and received a generous welcome
BRING BACK WONDERFUL TALES.
The strange antictpations Of children who have
been in the country before. and who have
very little idea Of what It is Ike. are only e1ualied
interest by the wonderful tales which the return
ing youngsters h-ing home with them Some Of
them make most wonderful discoveries: that pig
has two ears that milk really comes from things
that walk around and grass. and that trees
grow In punches in other places than Central Park
q all oh ot-ar arf,s sffr
turning children. many Of The Tribune's volun-
teer escorts have learned. In the first place. in
every big party there are number Of children who
insist staying in the country. They have had
such good time that they absolutely refuse 20
back TO their cramped city Fairgrounds. Some
OF these have be carried bodily into the train and
kept there by force If he party Is large 20
fiji car the escorts troubles Iessened. The
doors locked both ends. and the children put
down the windows of their accord after their
eyes have filled up with cinders.
The Ice water tank causes the first trouble. Every
child IN the party develops thirst perhaps because
he she knows how hot II Is in the homes 10 which
they being returned wise escort will give every
child one drink This exhausts the capacity Of the
tank II the party is large and the brakeman IS
allowed to refill it, As soon the children know
there is more ice water they settle down for the
ride.
Fresh Air children curious about the
trains which take them to and from the country.
said one OF The Trbune's escorts who had just
turned with large party After long and de-
tailed explanation. which included steel rails and
methods OF telegraphing some child or other spied
the bell rope. l told them that pull on the rope
would stop the train that IL was 10 be used only in
case of accident. / impressed them with the ex-
pense which was involved in making sudden stops
/ had hardly finished when tho train came to one
of the sudden stops about which had been telling
OF AN INQUIRING TURN OF MIND.
" Did you stop the traIn? asked the conductor.
I've been through a q he of her and
seems TO know anything about it,
" 1 certainly did not pull the bell rope replied.
That kid over there pulled the rope. seed him,
said one of the larger boys.
The boy confessed and gave his reason thus:
II wanted to see If you tellin' the truth.
Didn't think little rope could stop a train. II
wouldn't hold a fire engine
The conductor took his name and address more
for the purpose of frightening the other children
than anything else The fve-year-old who had
caused the trouble cried until got home. Since
this incident no one has had TO tell about the
suspicious nature of our poor children"
1t seems hard to believe that even poor children
should be unused TO pillow cases and sheets that
they would take them off the country beds before
going to sleep. Yet girls who have just
turned did that very thing. Their hostess went in
to see If they were sleeping soundly. Imagine her
surprise when she found the sheets and pillow
cases neatly folded and the girls sleeping the
ticking
The pillow was so white with this on that
IL frightened me- declared another
Another little girl. who sleeps with brothers
and sisters when she is home could not get used
TO a whole bed herself II one of those big,
old fashioned country beds and she begged for
something smaller.
= can't go to sleep mere" she said This beds
so big rs scared"
Her hostess finally had to make up a bed on the
foor which was nearer the girls idea OF the proper
size.
CHILDREN GREATLY BENEFITED.
To realize what a fortnight in the country does
for Fresh Air child should visit a railroad
station when party is returning. Mothers. and
fathers sometimes. are there to meet the returning
children. At last the train pulls in and there Is
mad rush of many little feet toward the gate.
Mothers hardly recognize the pale faced children
whom they sent away. Lines drawn by hunger and
care have disappeared. sicky white skins are a
brownish red from much outdoor life. and weight
has been added in surprising degree. The youth
of the children is said TO be accountable for the
magnitude OF the change for the better which can
be effected by living two weeks in the country.
There is a wild exchange of greetings and many
hurried kisses Mothers filed with offer
fnss from the country. II may be bunch OF Wild
flowers. or II may be chicken In coop One
boy recently brought home young zig in q big