New-York tribune., 1902-05-11
ONE SUMMERS WORK
AND ANOTHER.
a QUARTER OF A CENTURY OF
FRESH AIR WORK.

In the record the writer says among other
things:
The coming in OF the new century has brought
with It a fashion OF looking back and tracing the
development Of the various human achievements
in whose presence find ourselves. 1t seems
though everything possessing a history Of a hun
dred half a hundred years had had that history
told. Has achievement numbering only quar-
ter Of a century Of summers its right to be so
recorded? Short lives mean much sometimes. and
this n twenty-five years has been worth living.
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund work stands recog-
nzed of the finest forms of organized
vice in our great city. Many are the children who
arise up and call ii blessed. This last summer OF
1901 has been the twentyffth Of its benefcent life.
Is not appreciation and a look back It's
tiny bginnlng in order?
To begin the end. In the last summer 9125 chill
dren sent TO the country for two weeks or
at cost of s27. .lO3 s. and a Of annex
TO this main work 2s61 mothers and children
were sent on day excursions the total of those
helped being p, 736 The day excursions-the gift
for some years Of man, who will have his
name published-may be passed by here with hon
orable mention. What concerns us is to what is
beneath that simple, easy statement that 9125
nent house children sent into the country for
two weeks last
Nine thousand one hundred and twenty-five
children sent the country" There is the text.
Nine thousand one hundred and twenty-five
children Who finds them? The answer tangles
work among the poor Of our city. The report men
tons l21 Sunday schools day nurseries, dispensa-
res settlements, etc.-stretchng from Little Italy
the upper East Side, to the downtown Jewish
settlement, from South Brooklyn TO Greenpoint 1t
is their representatives largely who invade the
tenement houses find the children. make them
~ 10 90. send them TO the doctors who pronounce
on their fitness start them for their destination,
receive them their return. So much for that
only there is great deal more of it.
The and
the money TO pay for it. Again in net
work OF organizations. this time the great railroads.
many Of them Corporations with souls accord
ing 10 Mr.. Parsons. The story becomes of
tickets al rates. Of special cars and special
stops Of conductors and other officials notified of
meals ordered. Here is one sample letter out Of
hundreds. quoted, because it is interesting for
is not. but because it gives idea OF the detail
work done:
subject-Tribune Fresh Air Fund Parties for Cherry
Valley and Otego.
Dear Sir: Tribune Fresh Air Fund party Of
ba Fbnr'y-one IN charge OF an attendant VIII leaye
vii provide a special coach. which will be taken
trom Albany on the Delaware and Hudson train
No ]. leaving AT 7l5 a m Please instruct the man
agef of the Albany dining room 10 provide this
o. coffee and regular breakfast for attendant TAX
furnished. This receipt TO be forwarded to the
ceI'or OF passenger accounts. who will render bin
Fresh Air FUND for the amount ii'Ou''s
another party, destination Otego. will leave here
ch raln No. Il. Thursday, August /. occupying
fphTough coach, will be taken fro Albany on first
Dela~are and Hudson train. which leaves 10
a a m Please have this party furnished with forty
three sandwiches, forty-three cups of coffee and
breakfast for attendant. manager take receipt in
The same manner to be forwarded to the auditor OF
passenger accounts.
ne children composing these parties will all
pplltens' on which is printed Tribune Fresh Air
fnnd,' so that they may be readily Identified
me coffee should be weakened with plenty Of
MIX ana sugar Very truly yours
GENERAL PASSENGE Err AGENT.
Ihis is one detail Of the sending out of two par
s and on July u alone 47s children were sent off
20 nine different localities the first party leaving
aoooken at a. m the last the Grand Central Sta
uon al $50 p. m.
Inc raising OF the money for all this is not so
ohplsH' The Tribune holds out it's hand without
many words, and into it is dropped perhaps the
sao' W. on the turf perhaps the 81 saved up and
sven by some little child. The money comes
b Ie country. The part Of the work indicated
lnese words In the text must begin earIy Dur
s , uhe spring months agents are on the road look
'At Sp places for the children In a wav this mart