New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-07
BINGHAMTON TAKES 500,
Banner Day for Tribune Fresh dir
Fund Children.

Yesterday vas one of the banner days of the
Tribune Fresh Air Fund. with more than 500 chill
dren starting for the country under its care
A prolonged chorus of whoopS and cheers with
a rapid fire of questions and eager chatter greeted
The passengers at the Chambers-st. ferry yes.er-
day morning. Seldom has there been happier
crowd of pleasure seekers Three hundred and six
little East Sders starting for Binghamton
y. Y, to enjoy two weeks frolc amid the green
breezy. quiet hills. To of the unnitated
ones, however. this joy tempered by feeling
of awe for the untried world beyond the river. and
only the half tmid but radiant ex pressions Of the
little faces told their owners happiness
In spite of its exuberance. however it was an
orderly little army. Caretakers and railroad men
alike commented on it. In eleven groups the chill
dren filed into the ferry house, in charge of as
many missionaries In their eage.ness. some were
on hand an hour before the time appointed One
missionary who mustered a detachment of fifty
boys had given them military drill for weeks be-
forehand. In two companies his eager volunteers
marched proudly dropping bundles and standing
at rest" only with the word from their officer.
Another command and they instantly at at
tention. "F'orward' They marched aboard the
ferry Not until they were the train with
seats assigned did they become once more ordi-
nary civilians, and prolonged yell of relief proved
they were Jest kids after all. At the ferry the
party was taken in charge by the Rev. NJ J.
Bieoer of the Lutheran Church of Binghamton
with eight caretakers to assist him. A special
train Of five cars was provided fer them by the
Erie Railroad.
And oh the fun of having pitchers took'la
novel experience for most of them Say mister,
does takin pitchers ever hurt folks?" inquired one
anxious little miss Guess mug nd a broke
the machine if they hadn't a made me scrub it
fore l came" grinned small boy rs my face
fixed right asked vain young woman of eleven
years. And quaint group they made in their
neat though often sadly patched holiday clothes,
with bundles of all sorts and sizes. from which
the luncheons had already found their way and
soiled their owners newly scrubbed faces The
boys a rule. loaded down with baseball
equipments
Gee but it's great out in the country said
veteran of summers in Binghampton TO a
acquaintance who was making the journey
for the first time. We had heaps to eat, and they
apples lots of EN-, an the lady with
Civ green ones, but I wouldn't eat EN-
cause / knew they made sick summer before
only them wuz little An l brought lot OF
big green apples home and made four pies
An they wuz tree with branches just like
a ladder, and we'd climb up IT lot. And
played ball. and 1 swimmn' lots. And they
chased 1t some-that's lots o. fun-ouly the man
told not to- And day the COW chased us
You a COW? They's abou' half long
Is this car. and got horns and tail. one day
Jim threwN stone an hit me on the head and made
a hole in IT. An the lady put some stickum over
It. and 1t felt better and Jim. he cried moren
did cause he didn't mean to- An the lady give
me nice things to eat and my head d!dn't
hurt much then. and I kept right playin'.
don't know whatN happen to me next I may get
killed in the country sometime. Gee but it's great
there"
The narrator stopped for breath.