New-York tribune., 1902-07-26
GAINED TU UENTY.SLX POUNDS.
FRESH AIR CHILDREN IN
TWO WEEKS

twenty children-two weekS-twenty-SiX pounds.
! That is the way The Tribune Fresh Air children
fatten up when they go out into Connecticut for
fortnight visit guests of the Fairfield Fresh Air
Society. The amount of happiness and hope that
comes into their little lives, could it be reckoned
in avoirdupois. would probably break the scales.
Townspeople, rich New Workers and church
ganizations all turn in to help give the small
visitors a time which they will remember. Nor is
it all for one party. During the entire season the
pretty little home especially provided for The
/ Tribune children is kept running at its full
pacity. every two weeks the bands Of twenty pass
ing each other at the Fairfield station.
Nor are the accommodations limited at the pretty
little town Drives picnics walks, games play
things and, last, but not least, the bathing at
special beach. iIl up the happy days with round
of gayety that lives for months a glorious
golden dream in the minds of the hundreds OF
povertystrcken tenement dwelers as they wander
around the narrow, cramped and filthy streets of
the East Side.
AS soon the children arrive they taken
in big bus through the pleasant shaded ave-
nues TO the home the edge OF the village the
border Of the wide, stretching field Then in they
go for rapid change into the play dresses pro-
vided for them. the small stock of clothes
that each possesses. Out in the yard big
swings and comfortable hammocks that soon
filled with joyous crowd. trying to enjoy them
selves in all ways at once. Every morning the
children go in two separate parties TO the bath
house on the private beach. where bathing suits
water To the children whose experience with
water has been confined TO the smallest OF wash
basins and that often. these daily swms
are source Of never ending wonder and enjoy
ment
Fido. the mascot dog of the Fresh Air House. a
big, black, good natured animal, always
panies the children, and goes n with them.
objecting in the least when they try to duck him
or, hanging onto his tail. demand that he shall
them ashore. When children return who have
1Doype do 10 rla 6rSs oh
ject which they expend their happiness,
he always enters heartily into the rough houses
of which he is the much mauled centre
On Sunday all the children are given nice
white dresses in place of their weekday gngham
and they march away church. where they form
special class in the Sunday school. and trained
to sing two pretty little songs part of the
service The pastor OF the church is the Rev. F. S
Child, who has headed the Fresh Air work for many
years The other members of the committee are
A. Rowland and DR.. w. H. Donaldson. One OF the
childrens best friends is Mrs O. jennings who
every fine day sends her carriage 10 the house
and takes all the children for long drives She
has also built special road for them TO the
bathing beach. In addition plentiful supply of
ice cream comes from her two three times a
week TO gladden. the hearts and stomachs OF the
youngsters familiar with the delights o ''hokev-
pokey-" Even from outside towns come visitors 10
duced the children by Mrs A S Disbrow the
matron. and her assistant, Miss McFeeters. and
it is seldom that the gifts of clothing from these
made friends do not send the children away
pentifully supplied. On the last day the
of each party all go to the beach in the after
noon and go in bathing together coming out for
a last final picnic dinner and campfire. and then
back for a long sleep and bright and early start
for their homes.
Even for The Tribune Fund, the record Of yes
terday's children made happy by trips to the
country large In the OF the day
nearly three hundred and sixty youngsters were
gathered up by the different organizations OF New
York and Brooklyn, brought TO the railway stations
and sent in nine seOarate parties to places waiting
for them in NeW-York, Massachusetts,. Connecti-
went TO Deposit N Y. and with them went chill
for Hannibal and Sterling. neghboring towns
At these places a thorough canvass of the people
was made by the Rev. John Alison, and the party
yesterday went as the results o; MS endeaVors
Another party of fifty started early in the morn
ing for Interlaken, Mass, where they will be the
guests Of John A. Parsons. The people of East
Stroudsburg, Penn, already have had one party
of visitors and highly pleased with the
children that another party was Immediately ar
ranged for and started yesterday for two weeks
stay To Fairfield. Conn, went the third party OF
the season and another of l63 went 70 Ashford
Nm Home at Ardsley. party OF fifteen also
went to Norfolk. Conn .,.
n " are Miss Minnie Merrill Winfield w. Case.
Charles F. Clock, w. o. Bunting, John sweet
William III Crawford. Mrs. H. K. Leonard; Mrs
fa,iven Knapp Mrs A. w Cook, Mrs. Eugene
Wontgornery Mrs Levi P Miles the Rev. Charles
olsen Miss BESSIE McLaugry. Mrs; Carrie Bios,
Ms Van Steenburg. The hosts at other places
follow: Gulf Summit. N Y.-Mrs John patterson
Miss Hempstead Mrs. Looms. Mrs. Brush, mrs
Dibble Mrs Stewart Mrs Moore and Mrs. Dewlt,t
Drake William F. Decker. Clara T. Broadhead,
Mrs Dale F. Morgan. F. J. kistier, MRS; fo,ace Iars
smith, Daisy Hanna. Edith Kinney and Mrs
George BrutZnan.