New-York tribune., 1902-07-03
CHILDREN GO TO COUNTRY
JOYOUS PARTY OF TRIBUNE FRESH AIR
LITTLE PEOPLE STARTS FOR
PITTSFIELD.

happy and joyous party of Trirune Fresh Air
children gathered at the Grand Central Station
yesterday morning and few minutes later waved
an enthusiastic 'goodby" to mothers and friends
the train pulled slowly out of the big platform
bearing them away TO Pittsfeld Mss This was
the first of four parties which every summer are
invited to Pittsfeld guests of the Berkshire
Fresh Air Fund Seventy-four were IN the party.
completely filing the special provided for
them by the New-York Central
The work Of charity at Pittsfeld for the reher
of the chi dren of the great cities began many
years ago, when it called Country Work.
The children at that time We're taken from the
crowded districts of Boston. Later the name of
the charity organize tion changed TO the pres
ent one. and children were taken from New-York
through the aid of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund.
Since that time thousands of the little tenants
of the East Side tenements have given thanks to
their friends at Pittsfeld through whose kind
ly minstrations many a happy outing in the coun-
try has been enjoyed
Last year the Berkshire Fresh Air Fund enter
tanned 402 of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund chill
dren The Berkshire workers. through efficient
committees secure funds with which to arrange
for the reception and entertainment of the chill
dren at farms in the neighborhood, where they
to have the best of care and an abun-
dance of fresh air and wholesome country food
The funds come both from private contributions
and from the various churches in Pittsfed-
The executive committee of the fund is COM
posed of Mrs. w G. Backus chairman; Miss
Elizabeth Campbell, secretary and treasurer; MIS-
Arthur H. Wood and Mrs Charles w. Power
The churches which assist in the charitable work
are the First Church of Christ, st, Stephens
Church the South Congregational Church the
First Baptist Church. the Morningside Baptist
Church, st. Joseph's Church. the Pilgrim Ne
mortal Church. Unity Church. the Jewish Church
and Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church In the
neghboring towns also the work has been ex-
tended and is in charge of Mrs. Frederick u
Crane, at Dalton; Mrs. George 7. Plunkett at
Hinsdale; Mrs. George B. Church, al Great Bar
rngton: Miss Mary A. Averill. at Lee; Mrs. George
F. Bourne at Lenox; Miss Katherine Atwater, at
Stockbridge: Miss Lois Dean. AZ Cheshire and
Miss Edith Hall. at Adams
In the Pttsfeld party two interesting ut
tie girls, eight and nine years old For the nrsC
time in their lives they were leaving the city
where they were born A world outside OF New
York they had heard of, but nothing more Even
trains, at least from the inside, were new and
strange. and great were the awe and wonderment
of the little tots when they arrived at the DIG
Grand Central Station and went out along the plat
form to the forbdding black car that was TO
carry them away TO the unimagtnaole country
One family of eight living in Harlem have been
unable to give any of their six children an outing
of even a few days. the total salary OF the
father is Sl2 a week. Two of the children were
not we'll and the parents overjoyed at an
opportunity TO send them to the country for a
fortnight They went with the party 10 Fltts-
one Of the children, a little girl. has no mother
and is the sole hoLsekeeper for her father When
The chance came however. for her to go to the
country for an outing he would not hear OF her
staying to take of him, though she onered
to do so, and away went the little housekeeper
yesterday leaving the fathtr to get along as best
ne could. -,
A party OF nine children were sent by The
Tribune Fresh Air Fund TO Arhngton VT Wnere
they will be received by the Rev. ). h Watkins,
and entertained by some of his parisnioners. All
were from the Wilson Industrial School;
In the afternoon the second party OF the season
for AIiddetown, n Y, started from the Erie sta
ton. The party composed OF convalescents
from New-York and Brooklyn. OF the party
which returned yesterday eight were found TO be
s needy that arrangements were made for keep
ing them longer time, without. however, chang
ing the size Of the second party.
Another party was sent to Tenahy. N. J.. where
they viii be the guests of Mrs. John S. Lyle, at
her chIldren's home. "Happyland." The party of
bright faced and happy little ones completely won
the hearts of those at the station. and benevo-
lent. gray haired old man proceeded to buy out the
entire stock Of candy OF the station newspaper
stand and give all the children share of his
treat" When the kindly Santa Claus left he
received a hearty goodby from the entire party
and the generous applause of the other paSsen-
gers.