New-York tribune., 1904-09-12
FRENCH SCHOOL COLONY,
Ho1c Children Get Fresh Air in The
Holiday Season.

Paris. August %.
crowned husbands trains have for years -.
been familiar sight at the holida,, sa-- Eess
the railway stations of Paris Funnirs a. -
cial fares. they enable the well 10 do hor--.rs-
to spend the week end in the more or less siSt,-s
pleasure resorts in which their families -
elected to spend the summer months. This 80.
another kind of trainIosd left the Great Eas,s--
StSeioh. When on Sunday morning four hundraa
parents All or the poorer working class, left IN.
capital to see with their own eyes how IL f.ras
with their children at one Of the Iar~as+ of 49,
many admirable institutions known as tha
colonies scholaires." or school colonies rha..
four hundred mothers and fathers included 1aun-
dresses. market women. bricklayers. cabmen and
eoneterges. and they were all bound for Man.
dres-sur-Vair. in the sunny hiIly Vosges a
nve hour journey through the rich pasture and
wine country of Northeast France The plan
was started very much on the same lines as wa.
the Tribune Fresh-kir Fund
Since 1889. the year Of its foundation. Mansrs.
has grown almost past recognition Starting a,
fair sized chateau. standing In pretty ana
spacious grounds. It provided accommodation
through those first summer holidays for two
hundred children. who went down in patches AZ
fifty alternately boys and girls. The present
year will have seen over a thousand children
time. and the original buildings have more than
doubled In size. A vast refectory has ba.,
added. extensive dormitories on the most nv
sienic and comfortable pIan large pIavroom.
and, out IN the grounds. a spacious msroua.
tent IN winch all the two hundred little coonist.
can take shelter In wet weather In addition 70
all these, there has been built In a secluded cor
ner Of the estate an infrmary. so that II an emf
dennIc should break out the cases can he AZ ono.
isolated. a doctor is also attached to the star.
IL Is calculated that each child costs two
francs day mot quite half a doIlar) for its
keep In the vacation colony. and not farthing
or THIS expense Is borne by the parents. Each
OF the communal or parish schools OF Paris has
special holiday fund. which is supplemented
by subvention from the state. to keen uu thesa
country houses. in which pale little town chill
dren after long term Of work IN the oyerheated
atmosphere OF a crowded city can fine rest
with good, nourishiug food and bracing fnvtx
Grating air, for at least fortnight out of the
two months holidays But neither the funds or
the school OF the Eleventh Ward of which Man
dres Is the dependence, nor the state subvention
would have sufleed 20 make OF is the prosnsrous
and satisfactory colony II now Is Private ar
terprise and pecuniary help had 10 be invoked
and an appeal was made TO the railway COMPANY
for special arrangements to enable the school
authoFlues 10 Send as many children as possible
down to Mandres. The results have been most
satisfactory, and Misunderstanding is one of ths
finest specimens OF school colonies which could
be seen.
All the four hundred visitors OF last Sunday
had children then in the colony. and the meeting
out in the sunshine. on the soft turf or the gar
dens. was OF the gsyest description. The little
eolonists. with their bright. sunburnt fac.z
proudly conducted their mothers and fatharz
over the building. exhibiting their neat cubicIes
and extorting constant cries OF "Oh. Ia. AP'
from their adniriRg relatives. After the tour O,
inspection good dinner was served to the whole
party. and the parents could see for themselves
how excellent Is the fare provided The chief
OF the eonnmissariat department. might have told
these parents that the rations OF bread and meat
have 20 be largely Increased when the children
have been few days In that fresh sweet air.
Not fails 10 return TO its Paris home the
heavier and stronger for It's happy holiday.
While every school In the capital sends IL quota
Of children to sea or country IN the summer
It is only the Eleventh Ward school which can
boast any entirely adequate accommodation. IN
most schools the proportion OF children who are
able 10 profit by the colonies is a good deal
smaller than one could wish. The principal OF
each school Is informed before the beginning OF
the holidays how many of his or her pupils can
be accommodated. and the choice Is made OF
those most IN need OF the privilege. So great.
however. is the interest now taken BY Parisians
in this useful work that in time it will be posi-
Bile to give every pupil who requires 1t. and
whose parents are not In position to procure It
themselves. the welcome change Of air. scene
and food which are so necessary to young city
children. GLIB.