New-York tribune., 1902-07-23
"CUCUMRER DANDELIONS. .
HOW A TRIBUNE FRESH AIR GIRL
LEARNED NATURE SECRETS.

Packed with happy bright faced children were the
stations OF the Erie and the Pennsylvania lines yes
terday morning, when through the funds contrib
uted 10 The Tribune Fresh Air department over TWO
hundred and eighty dwellers OF the tenements
were sent to the homes that were waiting TOT
them In New-York and Pennsylvania. Ten separate
parties started the trains leaving at a. m and
1880 a. m al the Grand Central Station, taking the
children to thirty-wo different towns and villages
where accommoda tons had been secured for one
or more How great and how necessary work is
accomplished each day through the generosity of
the Fresh Air contributors perhaps better ap-
precated by the passengers in the stations yester
day morning than by any people in the city.
At the Erie 173 children were gathered at one time
In the waiting room, line after line all quiet ana
orderly, though their excitement easily read
in the pale little faces where hard and unchidlike
lives had left many mournful traces AS the vari-
Gus bands were counted and marshalled out into
the dockroom ready for the ferryboat many were
the exclamatons of pity over the children. Some
of the party bound for Bnghamton had been for
years helping to support themselves. and in some
cases entire families. For them the wonderful out
ing just beginning meant rest from steady daily
toll Two girls of the party. from basement homo
in Brooklyn. longing eagerly for the two
weeks of plenty The sole support Of the family Is
a mother who earns almost nothing. and as re-
suit The Tribune Fresh Air trip means far more to
them than the outing alone.
AT Binghamton, where the party will go to be
divided and sent TO the various places OF entertain
ment, the work OF Fresh Air relief has been un-
dertaken and thoroughly carried out by the BinS-
hamton fresh air committee organized to work In
connection with The Tribune fund. Last year over
q hundred invitations were secured and When the
children appeared they completely won the hearts
OF their entertainers The result was that this year
a total of IFS Invitations and arrangements to care
for the children were soon obtained. principally
through the work of the members Of the committee,
the officers which William F. Seward. Editor
of THE Binghamton Republican, president; Nor
Pierce wce-president; S. Mills Ely. treasurer.
and the Rev. NJ. J. Bieber. secretary. The three
leading newspapers of the town, THE Republican"
The Leader and THE Herald took hearty in
terest in the plans for the small New-Yorker and
the entire town anXiously awaiting the coming
OF its summer guests last night. Some OF the
churches which give Sunday school pcnics have
postponed their outings until the poor tenement
children could be there 10 participate. Wherever
the children so special efforts will be made TO give
them maximum Of pleasure and enjoyment
The children last year simply melted our
hearts" said the Rev. NJ j. Bieber yesterday
Many a piuful and unexpected tale Of misery came
light under the questions of the hosts, and this
year almost all have renvited their former guests
There single OF dissatisfaction or
trouble with the children. Such well behaved lot
OF little men and women l have never seen Ihey
far better behaved than own boys and girls.
and every one noticed It. Once the hosts at Great
Bend gave big picnic, and. a thunder shower com
ing up. the entire party had luncheon in the town
hall Never before had | seen many evidences
OF real culture and real manners as / saw then in
those little city ragamufiins gathered up from the
streets, There fighting loud talking,
each ate his dinner without disturbance. and
couldn't say that for the country bred members OF
the party.
They knew little nothing OF country life. and
their very ignorance made them seem the sweeter
One little girl when she saw dandelon for the
first time greatly astonished and asked what
it was. Some one explained. and told her she could
tell them by the yellow color. The next morning
early she was missing, and was finally discovered
In the garden gathering all the yellow dandelions
from the cucumber vines"
The party for Maitland. Penn. composed OF
children sent by the Brethrens Open Door Mission
OF Brooklyn TO sister organization In the country
OF the same sect. on the Pennsylvania line Il big
party 70 Matawana, Penn, and McVeytown
where J. c. Swigart and J. B. Harshberger have
interested themselves in the welfare OF The Tribune
children. Many OF the Matawana party Will be
entertained at other neighboring villages. With
them went band for McVeytown. Penn. In the
Binghamton party were bands of children for Conk-
lin and Union. besides scattering for other
towns and villages.
BY the New-York Central a party OF nearly forty
Glenheld where the Rev. d. l. Roberts
has taken charge OF the work With this party
also went children for Lyons Falls. Turin and
other towns large proportion of the children had
waited many days for this chance TO go, and were
fairly wild with delight when at last they were on
the train Owing to the need OF absolute cleanli-
many Of the children who examined for
the various parties are rejected and they are told
they 90 later, When they thoroughly clean
and their clothes in perfect condition. These and
certain substitutes who were given an opportunity
through the absence or some of the regulars
composed considerable proportion of the Glen
field band. Some of the older ones were
cash girls, whose employers had agreed give
them a vacation whichever The Tribune could ar
range to send them away, and yesterday the oppor-
tunIty for them came.
The hosts of The Tribune parties to-day
follows
Matawana. Penn.-Abram Harshberger Noah
Hertzler, Jacob Haines Joshua Harshberger, j. b
Harshberger Amos Naftsinger. w. II. Swgart
Levi HertZler. Abram Rennnger, Mrs. Jane kenn-
niger Mrs. Maggie Moist Jonas Y. King, S. IL
d. II. Hertzler, j J. Kaufman James Rebman
and Jacob Harshberger
McVeytown. Penn.-JacOb Byler. w. C Rambler
Berk Krepps s h. Dunmire Mary Bratton. J. A
French Mrs A F. Rush. Mrs. James Mccormick
and Mrs Thomas Slime
Glenfed. y. Y.-The Rev. d. J.. Roberts. Pearl
ToWnsend Town md James ia @ TTany, Mrs j. Eastman
Mrs. Royal Danneth and Mrs. A. A Deekin.
Binghamton n. Y.-Alrs. r: B. Fowler. Mrs
Alexander Carmen the Rev. NJ, J. Bieber. Mrs
Jens Jansen O. S. Heller, Frederick Lofstrom, Mrs
H. c. Lines Mrs. f. +. Hopton. Mrs. William Shan
ley, Adjutant Turner Mrs. l.. A Moat. Mrs c.
Sullivan, Mrs. Martin Kunkel Mrs. 5. A. Wilcox
son, Mrs. o Benn H a. Niles, Mrs. J. Chidester
DR., c. d. Morris. Mrs. J. h. Whieldon. Mrs. A. F.
Harding. Mrs. NJ. L. Roosa, Mrs. J. E. Smith, Mrs
T.. NaVinger, Mrs. A. j. Lilly, Mrs Barton, Mrs
well, Miss Grace Butterfeld and Mary w. Law
renee.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
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