Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-16
SUMMER CHARITIES
Tired Mothers and Little Ones
Off for a Holiday.
JOYS. OF THE SLUMS
AMERICA LEADS THE WORLD IN
THIS PHILANTHROPY.
Tender, Pathetic, Funny and Quaint
Stories of the Seaside and
the Farm.

Written for The Evening Star by R. Bennett
Palgrave.
THE rich American cities lead the world
| in philanthropy declared a prominent
| member of the London Charity Organiza-
ton Society who visited the United States
recently. II came over here to see how
charity organization work compared with
our efforts in England. and 1 was impressed
by the fact that every possible need of the
poor seems to have been foreseen and pro-
vided for.
There are societies for everything. No
where else has specialization been carried
to such a fine point. There is even a society
conducted for the single purpose of supply
ing free legal advice to Cinnamon who need
it, and another for writing CHEEKY letters to
chronic invalids.
But in no respect are the American cities
farther ahead Of the rest Of the world than
in what are known as 'fresh-air charities
for the women and children or the tene-
ments in summer time. London and other
cities have their fresh-afr charities, too; but
they are of comparatively recent origin: and
cannot compare in number, extent and va
riety with those of Americas great centers
of population
The credit so freely given by this English
visitor is as just it IS generous OF all
the multitude of charities which appeal for
funds to the American public, none are
more literally and cheerfully supported
than those which aim to give the poor
taste of the pleasures enjoyed all summer
by the rich at seashore and mountain re-
sorts.
This is natural. The men and women who
fee at the first opportunity from the swell
tering broiling city would be hard-hearted
indeed If they did not spare thought and
a check for the women and children in the
tenements, to whom breath of fresh. cool
air often means not merely comfort, but life
itself.
In Greater New York alone there are no
fewer than eight fresh-ar charities. work.
ing along various lines and providing for
the needs of different sections of the people.
In other cities there are many. and
sometimes even more, in proportion to pop
ulation.
In Baltimore the Children's Fresh Air
Society does an excellent work by running
semi-military camps for boys in the sum-
mer time This is a favorite idea in En-
glish cities, especially London. Similar
camps are conducted by the Young Mems
Christian Association in several parts of
the United States.
In Washington, which is nearer to ma
lures heart than most big American cities,
and where fresh-air charities are conse-
quently less necessary than they else
where, they usually take the form of free
rides on trolley cars out to the meadows
and woods. This is a cheap kind of fresh
air work which might be copied more eX-
tensively than 1t is.
Has Big Methods.
Chicago, as BELTS it's size and impor-
lance goes in heartily for hot-weather phi
lanthropy. Summer outings were given to
nearly 10 600 poor people in that city last
year.
In Boston the special feature OF fresh
air charity is country week. for poor
children. Early in spring farmers and
other people living in the country send in
| A. ~, nv,6 nH ma
bureau saying that they will take two, hve,
ten or twenty children as the case may be,
for country week. Frequently one gen.
erous person will accommodate as many as
thirty or forty Sometimes no charge is
made sometimes a small sum is asked Tor
to cover the bare cost of board or part or
| the cost. In response to each oner the
bureau sends an agent to see that the place
| is suited for the accommodation of chill
dren. The cost of the transportation OF
| the youngsters is paid by the bureau.
These are some Of the special features OF
| the work in different cities; but. speaking
generally the various societies which try
| to give the tenement jewellers a breath of
fresh air pride themselves upon the wide
| trated by one society, which asks each of
| its supporters how his subscription shall
| be spent.
shall it be for
Some wan mother with four or five
| children?
Some teething baby and its little moth
| err of tenn
| Some anaemic shop girl earning %
| week?
Some aged woman still fighting bravely
| for self-support?
| Some woman or girl recovering from
| protracted illness serious operation?
| Some child with tubercular bones or
| glands whom our seaside tent camp might
| cure?
| "Twenty thousand babies and children
and mothers who cannot see the ocean but
| for our bay excursions, and whose only
| fresh-air outings are in the crowded
streets?"
A Great Day.
Even a days excursion to the beach-a
favorite fresh-air charity-is a great thing
for the multitudes packed SO closely to-
| gether in the slums, for whom life holds 50
little variety or pleasure For the tired
mothers and the children whose only play
| ground is the street. what could be more
! delightful than the day of freedom on the
| sand the fine, refreshing bath In the sea.
| tho generous luncheon served around by
| kindly hosts and the absence Of toll and
| responsibility
But II mother and the children manage
| to get a week or a fortnight's holiday at
| the country or the seaside, at one of the
| numerous homes established for fresh
air charity. then. indeed. they are in luck.
| They arrive pale, worn out. weary. i'll
| they go back to their homes in At shape to
| endure the rest of the summer heat and
| even the hardships Of the coming winter.
The bracing air, good food and rest often
cure them Of ailments which have puzzled
| the doctors at the hospitals and dispensa-
ries In town.
Any nurse at ono Of these homes can
tell you scores of stories about the chill.
| dren--tender. pathetic. funny and quaint
There ives + small patient ct . SEASIDE