New-York tribune., 1907-04-30
FRESH AIR FEDERATION
THE ReU. Or. Devins Tells Outdoor
Workers of Summer Plans.

Inc one thing supremely worth the having is
the opportunity. coupled with the capacity. Of do
ing thing well and worthily. the doing OF which
Is for the welfare of mankind" This motto of
lheodore Roosevelt, taken in connection with the
text "Inasmuch ye have done IT unto the least
oI tAese my brethren, ye have done it unto me"
was the keynote sounded at the meeting of fresh
ar ar workers held at the Friendly Aid House. No.
%so East S4th street. yesterday afternoon which
was addressed by the Rev. DIT. John Bancroft
oe'lhs' the new manager Of The Tribune Fresh
Ar pund The meeting was largely attended by
missionaries. clergymen and workers among chill
dren in this city
4Or' Devins began by telling something Of the
Iodndation Of the fund, paying a splendid tribute
70 Ihe hev' Willard Parsons, the former manager.
Thirty years ago." said DR.. Devins 'as Mr. Par
sons. then the pastor OF a little Congregational
c'urch IN Sherman Penn. riding through tho
country. he was inspired with the idea that for
nm 10 enjoy so fully the flowers green grass and
landscape beauties of the country. when there were
SO many poor children in the city who had never
had chance 10 see the country. was selfish. He
returned to his church and proposed that some
fresh air work be started Among his parshioners
ne met only with opposition. Finally he found a
Few people who sympathized with his ideas. and
party of children was sent for. This party
numbered eight. Sixty children in all went out
that summer. This small beginning, however. fur
nshed the foundation not only for the immense
work that has been done by The Tribune Fresh
Air Fund. but for all the fresh air work that has
since been accomplished by all the charity
ganizations in this city,
DR. Devins then went on to outline a project
which is under way TO bring about cooperation
among all the city organizations that do fresh air
work In years gone by there has been frequent
overlapping. Some children have been sent twice
to the country by applying different societies
and others have not been able to go. Under the
new system a central Office will keep an account of
each child who goes to the country. thereby pre-
venting Implications. BY means Of the federation
or agencies It is hoped that some children particu-
larly in need of aid may be allowed stay longer
than the prescribed time. An effort will be made
by the federation learn the income Of each fam
fly from which children sent to the country,
ana 10 provide for the children Of families with the
least income first. In this connection DR.. Devins
warned the workers that they should not in any
school club attendance but should distribute the
Violation Of the rules Of the management by
missionaries will mean the loss OF the privileges OF
sne . Lund i IN sending away children, SAID the
speaker, use the Golden Rule. Think OF the per-
son that is receiving the children in the country
host; Don't try TO work the fund for what it does
NOT prsJena 10 give or you may ma yourself put
won't be TO your advantage"
DR.. Devins finished his talk with plea for
you in closing a quotation FROM Phillips Brooks
he said e He who helps a child helps humanity
&C. e human creature in any other stage Of human
dren is not simny thst which comes 81 from the
thrifty housewife whose thrift alone keeps her
home one remove from sQualor. The cry is two
fold; the child In the tenement house and the Child
Or. NJ. NJ Yinton the medical examiner for the
fund. pointed out that dirty children should be
try. emphasizing particularly the necessity OF
treating their heads with several applica tions Of
white precipitate ointment, which he thought more
effective feet than KEROSENE or larksPur, ..-,, -.
early In June when q party Of fifty girls will be
sent 70 Happyland at Tenafy. y. ].