New-York tribune., 1903-08-30
At ST. HELEN'S HOME.
Last Party of City Children for
This Season N01o There.

The last party of Tribune Fresh Air Fund chill
dren will leave st. Helens Home at Interlaken
Mass, this week and that place. full of delight
for the little New Workers. will be closed Cor the
winter, after another successful season. John e
Parsons, the founder and supporter of this home
has entertained here SOP children this season
Over the hills. about three miles from Stock
bridge lies Interaken between it's two little lakes
Stockbridge Bowl and Echo Lake. All about in
the midst of the Berkshire Hills. are large estates
and summer homes. One of these is the home OF
Mr. Parsons himself. at the edge OF Lenox not far
from Interlakeu.
"A better way could not be chosen in which to
entertain the small city visitors than this transit
ton from squald surroundings and narrow brick
bound streets to the Berkshlres The homo is by
the main thoroughfare the -four corners of
the village. The main building is a relic Of the
stage coach days-a square. two storied building
with long double decked" veranda extending
the entire length Of the front. The effect is COM
pleted by the little triangular dorrner windows set
IN the front of the sloping roof. Under a high
stone arch in the roadway at one side a brook
flows through the grounds. fitted with dam and
escape gate. that the stream may be used either
for wading or swimming. This also gives excel
lent drainage and insures the heathfulness of the
place. On the banks are convenient washhouses
In the rear is roomy building the lower floor
Of which contains small hall and property room.
where the juvenile entertainments are held and
the upper floor is used dormtory for the boys
with room partitioned of at the corner for the
TWO attendantS. Across the road, IN front OF the
main house is triangular green. fitted with tent
and swings, and further on another plot contains
the barn and a rainy day playIoom, besides af-
fording space for outdoor romping. The main
building contains the girls dormitorics, dining
hall kitchen and laundry.
Here fifty boys and Afty girls are entertained
for two weeks at a time. J. w. Mcconnell the
superintendent. and Miss George Gordon the
matron are both teachers and adopts at amusing
and caring for their charges. They are ably as
oISO
two college Besides. there are six servant
girls making in all very efficient staff ali inter-
ested in the work and genuine friends of the chill
dren.
There's always sumpthn' doin' at St Helen's"
as the boys put it. The plays given in the tee
ater' are really remarkable productions consid-
erinS the age OF me S aetoEs and the short time
stre shows, fancy drills. shadow pictures and Mrs.
the children of St Helens took entire charge of
The services in the village church. All these en-
ne sqEr4unq@g Gun @ featnrs Of the 6e; ts H]gegs ]
one performance that attracts attention is the
FIRE drill FIRE company is organized, It's equip
nent cons.stns Of an ola buckooard and a large
barrel for the engine hose cart Of similar nature
and little o d wagon tor the eniet All drawn by
lighted some one yells ''Fire!" the bell rings and
fire company rushes down the sueet and ext!n-
guishes the naEnes. Neanwhl:e tneEe Is a crowd
thrown about pillar. and the boys slide down in
carried + of on a stTetcher.
Other treats are hay rides among the hills and
through the winding drives OF the estates. swims
an Stockhridse Bowl and berry picking in the
woodlands. Every week there is an ice cream fes-
also sent for a magician from Ney-Fork- and he
will entertain the children this week Before each
meal there "A brief military drill and inspection
with a drum corps OF boys from the home The
other joys are frequent gifts OF apples by the
neiefborfng farmers. and soda water all around
when the party takes the train FOR home
Practically every provision is made for the nealth
Of the visitors. DR.. l. T. Ingham, of Dalton.
drives over frequently and inspects and the place
Is thoroughly fumigated after each party 4 good
proof OF the healthful conditions IS that not one
of the 502 children received this season has been
sick Ia fact Of a long series of successful sea-
sons John E Parsons feels that this has been one
OF the most successful at 81. Aelen's Homa