New-York tribune., 1903-08-24
ASHFORD HILL DELIGHTS.
Hoo Fresh Ar Children Spend T7cO
Weeks of Recreation.

Not far back of the picturesque little village OF
Ardsley few minutes ride from the Bronx line.
is the beautiful Tribune Fresh Air Home of Ash
ford Hill over 1850 New-YOrk guests have been
entertained there during this season, and now the
last party for the summer has been received
The village of Ardsey is only short distance
from the east bank OF the Hudson, situated among
the hilly woodlands of the lower valley IN the
region about many wealthy people nave their sum
nner homes. Here is Andrew Carnegies fine couh-
try place ana near by the grounds and mouse
of the St. Andrews Golf Club
The home itself is a wooded tract of eighty acres.
1t is full of hills and dales open groves ana dense
thiekets and allurng brooks, just such place as
the city children delight to romp over. gate with
large stone portals leads from the winding road to
the rustic buildings. These are five IN numoer
and have from time to time been given more OF
less fanCiful names The Main Hail. has, be
sides large dornitories, the kitch@l and dining
Then there is "Edgecombe Cottage where
a large part OF the girls sleep, and "Tammaly
Hail." occupied doubt, by embryo politicians.
The Parsonage" containing sleeping accommoda-
tions for a group Ct boys is so called because the
young in charge is a Methodist minister who
is taking his vacation in this way.
In the basement of of the buildings is a
shower bath where twice week the little folk
get good dousing with the cool water. 1t ac-
commodities sCyenty-hve at a time, and it is a
great sight to see the band run down the stairs
and rush howlng and screaming with delight into
the spray. Besides this bath, the boys are taken
picnic days for real swim. They go out fre-
quentIy for short walks and allowed to take
off stockings and shoes and wade in the brooks.
Then other forms of amusement are furnished by
the numerous swings, "teeters,' ''joggle boards,
''razzle daZzlas," etc, that are hung about the
trees. There are playrooms and pianos for rainy
days Nothing that add to good time is lett
unprovided for
Here, in this juvenile paradise, three hundred
children are entertained at a time besides twenty
iVp feaTp 9lZeTS md ants s
presdes over kitchen and dining room, and these
neat. faithful people make ideal servants. The
caretakers are all collegebred men and women. who
spend their vacations in this work They are
wide awake and interested in the children, and
do everything to keep the small visitors amused.
The superintendent. Mr.. Austin, has had charge
OF the place for several seasons new, and has
everything reduced to a we'll tried system He is
a genius in this kind of work. He manages his
small army with no apparent effort. and every one
Of his charges seems to look TO Mr.. Austin as TO
who do no wrong.
His theory of caring for the party is to have
everything appear spontaneous and yet TO have
the children always looking forward to something.
He accordingly has a somewhat flexible programme
laid cut, which covers two weeks and can be
varied slightly 10 suit the personnel of each party
Each day the programme of the day following
is announced and there Is always d good time
coming as well as a good time going This
anticipation helps to fill up the little gaps in the
day when children are likely to get restless or
The THURSDAY and Friday on which the parties
change is occupied in giving the new guests swim
Saturday evening is the time for shadow pictures,
the veranda of the Main Hail." and the attendants
Perform behind 1t p pEqauGing eiiectS "hoh hlaAe
Sunday is observed in a quiet manner. Those
who wish attend church, and the remainder are
taken for a walk In the afternoon Sunday school
on Monday comes the grand field day for the
from the events, in which there is a large number
of enthusiastic entries. and the next day they
Meanwhiie the attendants have been searching
out the musical and literary talent of their charges
given by the children. stage is rigged up,
trimmed with evergreens and provided with foot
and join the throng that is ranged in a semI-crele
the ground. The numbers are cheered with
Thursday comes a game of bail between the
girls and boys This is sometimes varied by
night about the tents, and the boys take turns
at this duty through the night. The attendants
everything is realistic Friday is picnic day at
the Hudson, and the week is ended by a lawn
sunday is again quiet day and on Monday a
merry game of hare and hounds is played over
grounds and the Children indulge in a cakewalk
ing home. Apples, flowers and souvenirs col
lected and on Thursday and Friday the fun begins
All the while absolute cleanliness is insisted
The children police" the grounds every day and
is taken as part of the fun.
At the table the hungry little visitors supplied
Experts have been consulted in the preparation Of
the menu, and the way the Youngsters increase in
In visiting Ashford Hill forgets that it is
institution and goes away with the impression
family where there is nothing TO do but to have
a jolly good time from dawn till dark.