New-York tribune., 1907-07-22
FRESH AIR FUND BUSY.
EteUen Hundred Children To Be
Sent to Country This Week.

With more than eleven hundred children expect
Ing TO go away from the city and almost many
that 1t is necessary TO bring back TO the city this
week promises to be of the busiest of the sea-
son for the Tribune Fresh Air Fund. Altogether
fifteen parties are expected to leave the city, vary
Ing in size from thirty three hundred. and MAX
ing a small army if they all drawn up to-
gether.
reports are constantly coming in from those
children already in country telling the good
times they are having ard the additional pounds in
weight that they taking Here is what
OF the caretakers at Ashford Hill said yesterday Of
her work:
1t was an interesting experience TO take the East
Side children on their first country walk. Ths
commoneSt roadway sights marvels in them
eyes moving machine new kind Of
automobile; the appearance of q the sig
nal for demonstration; gTasshopper most
wonderful mystery; passing farmer was regarded
with much curiosity. The distance of wood path
was measured in city blocks and questions were
asked as TO how milk was made.
1t is remarkable how little friction there is be-
tween the children after the first day two and
how much OF thoughtfulness is shown. Kindness
TO the birds and animals IS noticeable, and a boy
who injured toad would fare badly. After two
weeks at Ashford Hill the children go home. up
lifted in body and soul, their arms full OF ferns
and flowers and their hearts full of happiness and
consciousness that there are people interested in
their welfare"
1t is from the letters of the children themselves
that much of their life and attitude toward things
Is learned Here is an extract from letter that
gives an excellens picture OF tho life at the Shep
nerd Knapp home at Milton. Conn:
we are having glorious time. We box. play
Dali and tennis and all sorts OF things. We go
Tor walk every day and tell stories of history.
Fecite and 90 things TO amuse ourselves We go
out in the forest. pick Strawberries catch frogs.
go IN swimming, and while there get
white birch bark, make postcards out
or II We played a game of baseball. and Com
pany won it, so we were given the watermelons,
and then we gave watermelon to B.
we went out yesterday and told about the
GREEKS, Egyptians in the museums, and talked
abCut paintings that wouldn't be sold rich
people. The man that told is our teacher
and his name is Mr.. McCauley. We always have
nice food. and he gives all want. At the
table the superintendent tells of the theatre
and other things. and always make a lot Of
noise"
Here is another letter that shows the child
scious Of the benefits that Is getting:
Dear Papa and Mamma and Family am
Ing home Thursday morning and will be home al
~ O'Clock, Best regards to all the folks at home
and l have gained great deal OF pounds Dear
mother, l have no more to tell you. but wish
forget To look good you will not know me,
am SO pretty and fat. l remain your loving daugh-
ter, DORA"
Another letter closes as follows:
Il hope the little dog is getting along all right
and tho rest of the family"
The parties the writer's are with went away
Saturday. Twenty-Five Of the children went to
ClaveraCk n. Y, TO Benawny Home. where they
Will be entertained by the churches OF Claverack
and Hudson. Mrs August Rapeyea Of HYDE
Park, took ten children who went away in the
party
largely on account Of the efforts of the Rev. T. n
CavanGugh. In the afternoon twelve children we're
sent to Campbell Hall. N Y. where they Will be
boarded at a home.