New-York tribune., 1904-08-15

but have no knowledge OF tho number. With
nearly. every company OF children that escort to
the railroad stations l am flooded with questions
by passengers the trolley cars. When tell
them OF the large numbers OF children sent away
every week by The Tribune Fresh Air Fund, many
look at me in amazement and others reterate their
questions as If were telling untruth-"
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund provided for the en-
tertainment Of 400 poor people last week In
tventy-three parties s72 children were sent to the
country for a vacation OF two weeks. and four day
excursions for mothers and children numbering
S.5sS held at Excelsior Grove. opposite
Yonkers.
In the same car with recent party OF fresh
air children bound for points In Western Penn
sylvania were two men OF distinctly opposite tenn
peraments One. young man. not long out or
college, became greatly annoyed when the small
army OF fresh air children charged into ths car.
II didn't bargain for this disturbance" he NUT
tered cor I would have taken earlier train
planned for good reading philosophy On
this long trip and now the yelping Of these bratS
will knock It all out" The last remark mads
to an elderly OF the world. who had given up
his seat to three little fresh air children. and sat
beside the young pessimist.
II suppose you'd rather have me sit beside you
than OF those cherubs." said the elder man as
keep quiet and I'm not all sticky from candy" The
pesslmist gave half-hearted grunt OF approval
bag is good place for theoretical philosophy" said
the elderly man OF the world. III you want some
right here among these children. I see you have
followed the first principle by closing your book
and accepting the inevitable
The young smiled sarcaStiCally at this coun-
sell and grunbled: What good does this excursion
business do for these children, anyway They learn
when they return The parents are responsible for
all this poverty. and let them dnd way OF it.
The city Is overcrowded. anyhow"
stick to your first principle, my son." said the
older man. This fresh air work is relieving II not
changing. the deplorable social condition Of the
years age, and had one of the best boys the Lord
ever made. He was sent to me by The Tribune
Fresh Air Fund. 1 had him stay with me for a
number OF years after his first trip, and can put
my hand on him to-day. His parents were good but
incompetent people. and they gave me a tree rein
over that boy. He's connected with one OF our big
railroads now. draws a big salary. and he told me
recently that he thanked me and The Tribune
Fresh Air Fund for his rise from the commonplace.
The people engaged In fresh air work don't look
for immediate results This work is only the water
ing and pruning of the vine. Wall Street does not
manipulate the fresh air investments. They don't
fuctuate, but rise slowly and surely. Red cheeks,
full stomachS, additional tissue and a set OF good
manners are apparent when the children return.
But. great Scot! The work don't end there. The
deeply I'm those fresh little gray cells and stays
there. They are like the American Indian in that
forget a kindness and always
member injury One does not have to ferret for
these thoughts You don't have to feel the child
feels TO grasp them Read their happiness in the
little faces
The elder got on the train before the student
of philosophy reached his destination. and il was
evident that the younger man was pleased with the
advice OF his acquaintance by the way he shook his
hand When the train started the young student
called two children to occupy the seat left vacant.