New-York tribune., 1903-08-08
BIG FRESH AIR DAY.
Three Hundred and Nine Children
Sent to Country Fields.

There was a bright day again yesterday ana
big days work done by the Tribune Fresh Air
Fund Three more large companies OF children
went yesterday to the homes at Interlocken. Mass.
guests of John z. Parsons. Ashford HIN. y. Y.
ana Chapel Hill. y. ]. Besides these. thirty-one
went to Williamstowa, Mass and four 10 West
field, y. J.. making in all 500 children sent out by
the fund in the day. Interesting reports continue
TO come in from the different places where the
New-York guests being entertained
In the party that went to Middlesex. n Y, last
Wednesday were three little girls out OF family or
ten persons. They live in three rooms in double
decker tenement house down in "Helfs Kitchen
The father earns about 50 week when AT work.
but his industrious streaks are irregular and the
family income consequently pTecerious-
The oldest girl child OF fourteen. works IN a
carpet factory and could not take a vacation. as
her s. 50 a week could not be spared. \ place had
beaa provided Cor her. but the family vetoed the
trip
Sleeping car accommodations palatial and
commodIous compared with those in this home
One of the two beds is occupied BY the father
mother and the two youngest children. In the
other, a folding bed, sleep two boys, eleven and
twelve. years old, and four girls. fourteen nine;
seven. declared: Its nice an warm in the winter;
but pretty not In the summer time. sometimes.
The ToTngest one going TO Middiesex this season.
has never seen the country nor even park before
The mssonary sg W in charge told tae Of another
family OF ten which has two representatives IN le
and able to Work only half the time one boy
er begged so hard 10 have me send Joe. aged nine.
away. For ne has never seen the country In his
life she said The sister, twelve years Old vas
DO you think the doctor will pass me2 For II 1
can't 80, Joe must stay home, too The hostess
ter The girl has been away before
Last winter, when the mother was III, I went
there and found the child had Just been doing tas
the stove. while a tubtul. all washed was waiting;
The mother apoiogetlcaly SAID: 1 kno% IIe Stie t
girl had curvature of the spine when she was
baby. but has been cured though sull sTna! S ana
II was good TO play too much cause II makes you
lazy. She also complained that she couldn't sleep
her husband until and O'Clock. and always gets
by the airshaft window where every one can near
Another little girl whom prepared for that party
went away for the first time last year she ASKED
me If she was going to Mrs. Bucks country OF
another one. Mrs Buck is her hostess OF last year
She also told that the other girls went IN bath
ing every day in the river. but that She never
went with them When pressed for a reason as 70
why she did not go bathing, she said. Well you
see, I'd never been in bathing and didn't know
This childs mother IS supporting four little ones
the father having deserted her about three years
ago The eldest one aged eleven cannot go away
this summer, for she is mindng the bEtcAer store >
baby for which she receives s. q month
Two other children there from rear Jerle~
nent The ouLiook Is upon q courS .tUIi e--I r+1S
four sides OF which representatives or over Iort
families watch the stranger who enters. When /
first asked the JanltOr regarding the SIZE OF most
of these families, she said: The most OF theIu hs
lots of children. but of our tenants Is Just
couples (this rather proudly. Then Sne supple
Inented the information with the statement IhaI
them that had no children kept bOarders but they
was mostly and away all day. so they WASH :
anv bother i'm the court
These are some of the lights and shadows found
by the Fresh Air workers There are many more
such children hoping for a chance TO get away
only waiting for the generosity of the kind friends
of the fund.