New-York tribune., 1901-06-14
THE TRIBUNE FRESH AIR Fund.

The Tribune Fresh Air Fund is about TO
begin its twenty-ffth season. 1t is probably
unnecessary to say that the managers season
began long ago. That is. the preliminary work
involved in the selection of the children who
are to be sent out of the city for a fortnight's
vacation. and in arranging for their reception
in country homes is we'll advanced. and no
hindrance is feared so far as that part of the
undertaking is concerned. The country is won
derfully hospitable. We have recorded the fact
over and over again. but it freshly and strongly
mpresses us with each succeeding year There
is no doubt that rural homes will be gladly
opened this summer TO as many boys and girls
of the New-York tenements the cash re-
ceipts will provide for. The country does not
set the limit Its welcome is never exhausted.
1t is for the contributors to the fund old AMI
new. to say how many beneficiaries it shall
have this year. Certainly the number ought
TO he large We see no impropriety in saying
that it ought to be larger than usual, for pros
perty is widely diffused and the disposition TO
share it should not he less prevalent. Last
year 7.431 children had two weeks of healthy
and happy life in the country at a cost of
500 $50 is, or 50 76 for each child For six
teen successive seasons the funds per capita
expenditure has been under So. and we have
doubt that it will fall somewhat below that
little sum this year But let us reckon it at
the round figure and once more remind our
readers how small a gift guarantees n great
total of benefit and delight for destitute and
pnng child. Mr.. Keene's gift of $1,000 from
his recent victory on the English turf will thus
send :33 children to the country for two weeks,
as we have already pointed out. by way of con-
frming his own satisfaction and offering
hint 10 others. II must be easy for everybody
TO imagine the immediate happiness which
comes from exchanging sitting tenement and
its wretched surroundings for n farmhouse and
green fields but perhaps too little thought is
given to the effects which do not disappear
when the snort vacation ends-to the physical
vigor which wards off disease and makes mani
fold deprivations lighter. to happy memories
and hopes and in many cases 10 some new and
fruitful purpose.
And so ask for a generous support of The
Tribune Fresh Air Fund as il begins the season
which will complete its first quarter Of cen
tury. Our readers know that do not make
many direct appeals of this character We hope
that more would not weary them. but for the
most part we prefer to let the descriptive
record which we print from time 10 time com
mend the work TO general sympathy. confidence
and cooperation. But when the annual re-
sumption of activity or n temporary falling Off
OF contributions gives occasion for a special
reminder. do not hesitate 70 speak freely
and earnestly, under the warrant of long es-
tablshed facts There is waste In this
benefcent enterprise. No administrative ma
chinery is supported ont OF the fund Every
dollar received goes straight 10 the object for
which it was given. without delay or discount
And once more we repeat that So will send a
child of the tenements TO the country for two
weeks.