New-York tribune., 1906-07-30
ENJOY BEING HOSTS.
Fresh Air Chadren's Entertainers
Often Tnuite Guests Again.

No less than eishty-two different places in seven
difterent states took an active part in the move
ments of the twenty-six hundred Tribune Fresh
AR FUND children who either went to the country
or returned to the city after two weeks visit
last week Fully two thirds of these children went
out to be entertained guests by families in the
country who anxious 70 pass along some Of
their good fortune those less fortunate than
themselves
Still the invitations continue to come in for
children. Apparently, the people enjoy receiving
the children much the boys and girls enjoy
going. The only offence that the Fresh Air Fund
appears to have committed this year has been the
Failure to supply children where they are asked
for. This usually been because some particular
child has been asked for by the people in the coun-
try, and when it proved impossible TO find the
child the Fresh Air Fund thought that perhaps
substitute might not be acceptable. Letters from
the hosts in the country such as the following
common:
Please do not fail to send US our full number
OF children, If you cannot find those asked for
Send sqbsIitutes but 90 not dlsapPolnt US me ne
here d are saxouSy I awaiting the day Ed Of thew fbsy
will be sorely disappointed.
In some places the whole town turns out to give
the children welcome. Bradford, Penn, which
received party of IA last week. did this in a
royal way. Bradford is Binghamton's nearest rival
IN the number Of children entertained, and is said
to have aspirations outdo the New York city
time.
AT Bradford the children were met at the station
by the Mayor and the Chief Of Police. The Mayor
welcomed the children and read the lists while the
police captain 10 making the correct divisions.
The party was then put into a special car, pro-
Tded free of charge by the trolley company, TO
complete the journey. In the afternoon liverymsn
sent horse and runabout to show the escort Of
the party the beauties Of Bradford before her
TO New York the evening.
This is sample of the whole-hearted, generous
receptions that the children receive wherever they
go. People who have not asked for children often
to the station. and when they the happy
fresh airs Immediately wish to look after the en-
tertalnment of one or two. When they find that
there are no children, for them they appear Bit
terly disappointed In one case where the distri-
button at the taking place it was found
that one hundred more children than-had been sent
for could have been provided for.
1t is when the children start for home that the
them is shown; II is believed that usually more
than onehalf Of the children, and sometimes nearly
all OF them, receive invitations revisit the
of their summers enjoyment In addition TO this
toes Of their visit Hardly child returns who IS
not better dressed than when he went out Be-
folks including flowers and fruit. One boy came
when he d had to send It back to the roost Many
reluctant about sending their fresh air chill
dren back to the city and keep them Tor three or
four weeks, or sometimes all summer In some
cases chllqren OF parents N pGactiCy @
pletely from their unwholesome surroundings in the
both drunkards and who at home had TO shift for
herself this meant great deal she eI Is o,. now IN
That the benefits are not all one sided, but
sometimes extend 70 the hosts, well TO the
children. is shown by the following incident:
In a togn in the central part OF the the state was
nous. dreary sort of life and, she afterward
confessed. reached d point where she thought OF
suicide She finally induced to take fresh
air" child and delighted. The next summer
she took several and kept them all summer, en-
toying taking care Of them. Now she takes at
least one child every year and her life has, appar
emily. become much happier.
Another woman received a little fresh air. girl
last year. This year she sent for only the
child but her brothers and one sister, all the
children OF a poor washerwoman here in the city