New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-01
CHILDREN TO COUNTRY.
Fresh dir Parties Go to Shokan and
Fairfield.

Two more parties of children started for the
country yesterday, under the direction Of The
Tribune Fresh Air Funo one of these going to
Shokan N Y. and the other to Fairfield, Corn.
The new home at Shokan is one OF the most de-
lightful Of all the country homes provided by the
fund for city children. II is on a large farm in
the CatsldH Mountains the use OF which is given
to The Tribune Fresh Air Fund. rent free. by Mrs
H. S. Ladew. of Madison-ave.
Back about twenty miles from Kingston, nesting
in the wooded foothills Of the Catskills, lies the
little village Of Shokan; and short distance out
IS Shokan Farm, in the midst of enc Of the most
beautiful regions Of New-York State. The home
itself is large, well kept farmhouse It lies on
a little plateau at the edge OF the Esopus Creek
Valley. From the front porch one looks off down
the valley and out the mountains that rise IN
every direction, pile upon pile. and in the
rises the steep face Of another large mountain
Altogether it is an ideal place for the children
Many wealthy pleasure seeker might go further
and fail to find such scene IN which to spend q
vacation season
The farm itself is in Use. and. besides large
and exceptionally fine apple orchard contains the
usual routine crops Of the average Eastern New
York farm Its fine buildings give II the appear
ance OF an ordinary we'll kept and prosperous
farm Indeed the regular country work con
Quoted throughout the season as on any farm.
presents much Of interest for the little city bred
boys and girls
In the home itself are accommodations for nine
ty-four children at a time, and a party Of this
size Is sent out every fortnight through the
son. This place is put in the hands OF The TTib-
Fresh Air Fund, to be managed On the same
plan the homes at Ashford Hill. n Y. and
Chapel HILL y. J. The first party Of the season
at Shokan Farm started yesterday.
The ninety-foUr children, who assembled the
day before to meet the doctor and get certificate
Of proper physical condition. were at the summit
Of anticipation. 1t some time before the doc
tor arrived, and the expedents adopted by the
good woman IN charge to keep the impatient crowd
0rlfat nd al Cd yver r.eF11
we'll amusing. After speeches and descriptions
Of the country and admonitions to be good by all
the adults present began 10 lose interest, songs
were introduced. These children have all been
taught to sing in the Sunday schools. and take
great delight IN It. While the songs lasted all
were content. Then the questions began again:
Say. teacher. VIII the doctor let me 60 do you
thtnk?" 'WhenH the doctor be here?' VIII It
be like It was last year?" came from every side.
Then recitations by the bright pupils were tried.
and that made a diversion for a while
At last the much desired but rather dreaded
doctor arrived The eXpectaut ones were lined up
and passed one by one under the professional eye:
and those who were satisfactorily clean and free
from any signs of contagious disease were en-
{ rolled Great care is taken in these examine tons
10 see that no form Of contagion or uncleanliness
exists.
Many Of these children are from the more
spectacle class Of poor. but a large number come
from most miserable homes All worthy OF
the aid given them by The Tribune Fresh Air
conditions worse this year than usual A larger
number Of the fathers are out Of work, owing 10
the prevalent strikes. Many families are sending
children this season who are not accustomed 70
accepting charity in any form Two families ara
represented in which the fathers have recently
committed suicide and in the father has
lately become insane There IS a little eight
month-old baby whose mother cannot support II
and is seeking a family which will adopt the child
Most of the children IN this party are Sunday
school children; though. the superintendent
said, the ranks Of the Sunday schools become alb
normally swelled just before the fresh air season
opens It IS a busy time for the Sunday school
helpers, too It took nearly three weeks to get
the children OF this party cleared and properly
dressed for the start. over half Of them have
never been in the country before OF course many
who apply have to be turned away for lack or
| accommodations for them, and there were many
disappointed faces when the examination closed
with the full number made out
The friends at Fairfield, Conn. under the lead
ership Of the Rev. Dr. Frank 5 Child. have again
offered their hospitality tc The Tribune Fresh Air
Fund, in years past. The home provided by
| them accommodates twenty children at Tune
Parties Will be to this place. also every Two
weeks, and the home Will be kept filed through
out the season Yesterday twenty children started
for this pleasant home.
The fresh air work appeals TO different persons
in very different lights, although all agree as 10
its usefulness The most obvious benent 10 every
one is Of course, the giving Of good ume !" the
pure air the children who have otherwise Few
bright places in their lives. To the medical pro-
| fession the hygienic effects are most apparent
But while these good results alone are worth al
that is put into the work, 10 some well known
workers other phases seem more prominent.
DR.. A 5. Daniels, whom the hyg1enic dement's
! appeal strongly also emphasizes the soclaI Up
fL to which the fresh air work tends SalQ Sile-
Through this work many and many CITY IaIlllF
forms pleasant friendships in the country when
are lasting BY this contact with better Puter
| life the city families become elevated in every
| way They see the advantage of right HvIns
| their pride is awakened. and they become zen
erallv more respectable. / know one FANNY mere
| in The civ the father ard mother of which were
! both fresh children at the same place WIlen
fund first started Every suniHleI O ~
visit their country friends, and IN the winter the
country people IN TO Visit them a. go
of the sons has married he has taken MS proc L
10 the country for the honeymoon, ana mus ltl
| family for three generations has been So1iaI'S
benefited ,,.,,ar os
verv pronounced views: 'Cleanlipess IS the ElsiI
and lasting result OF fresh air work II means means
| more than cleaning up for the Two tHs
Of the stav in the country. To begin WIN. tiiey
have 10 commence getting Respectable JIteii or
f0flr weeks before gong and have 10 keen Ian
while there That starts the hdblt IAJ.- a. -
learn for the first time now Inuch Deter y -
every vay 10 keep clean. Prize IS aWaAeIlsI,
and find that a family which has once SCI ~ rs
children TO the country under the chaIse - -0