New-York tribune., 1906-06-30
CROWDS FOR FRESH AIR.
Nearly FiUe Hundred Children Start
for the CountrY.

The Tribune Fresh Air Fund broke the season 8
record yesterday Nearly five hundred boys and
girls left the hot city streets for pleasant country
home
The biggest party Of the day one composed Of
154. which left 155th street last night for Ashford
Hill. near Ardsley. y. Y. where they will remain
for two weeks. This makes three hundred
children that have gone TO Ashford Hill this week
Next in size was party OF 104, which left the
Grand Central Station yesterday morning for the
Shepherd Knapp home, at Milton, Conn. Three
minutes after the bearing this laughing crowd
pulled out fifty boys left on another train for
lnterlaken, Mass where they will be the guests Of
John E. Parsons This makes hundred children
that are now being cared for at St. Helen's Home
at Interlakea.
About noon party of eighty-two left by boat
for Chapel Hill. n. J.. where they will stay at
Eunice Home. Fifty little girls sent to Ten
af1y, where they will form the second party to be
entertained at Happy Lana" this year. Twenty
convalescent children completed the quota Of yes
terday's consgnments. These children were going
TO Mechanicstown, n. Y. where the people of Mid
dletown. NJ Z. and Goshen. n. Y, provide for them
at the home of Mrs Thomas Southwell-
No little preparation necessary to get these
children ready for two weeks visit TO the country
Some of them had hardly clothing enough TO cover
their backs, and for these garments had to be made
by the missionaries. Three little boys who were
going to the Shepherd Knapp home were unable to
go in the morning because they had shoes The
fact was discovered on Thursday that their shoes
badly in need of repair At night missionary
took them to the shoemaker's. while the boys went
barefoot. Friday morning the shoes were not
ready by the time the train went They were fortu-
nate enough, however. TO make the afternoon party
TO Chapel Hill, and were satisfied. For several
boys the missionaries had to purchase new shoes
before they could go. One boy reported at the
church wearing stockings, but no shoes.
Some Of the boys seemed be frightened when
they the big boat that was to take them TO
Atlantic Highlands on the way to Chapel Hill. One
fellow somewhat larger than the others had always
and sisters. The teacher expected him TO do II
Yesterday, but when he reached the pier he said;
Il feel to-day though would have all 1 could
Getting the children clean well providing
them with clothes is a part Of the missonaTy's
duty. They have to pass a rigid inspection by
short. The mother of one of 1he boys that went TO
Chapel Hill Yesterday failed 10 get his hair cut in
time The missionary Informed the boy that It had
little while came back with his head looking like
wheat field with half the grain cut, It turned out
done 1t himself He was Immediately dispatched
to the barber's.
In the party that went 10 the Shepherd Knapp
dren, Of whom the boy is the constant caretaker.
The youngest is only two years old and the brother
has been little mother to them all while the real
mother has been ILL., Now the mother is going to
the hospital while her children go to the country
Some idea of the conditions that the missionaries
meet be gained from the following incident:
Now said one of the missionaries to the chill
dren who going in the party TO Milton, II
want every one of you to take bath before you
But" objected one little fellow Il had a bath
last week"
One poor mother wanted her children 10 go. but
they did not have sufficient clothing She had no
money TO get any and almost distracted.
Finally, as last resort, she pawned her wedding
ring, which she had had for fifteen years.