New-York tribune., 1908-07-02
FRESH AIR SEEKERS.
Tribune Fund Sends 667 Children to
Country an One Day.

The Grand Central Station was a-hutter yester-
day with children their way to the Tribune
Fresh Air Fund homes So was the Putnam sta
ton at 15th street. the West Shore station in Wee
hawken and Pier 10, North River. Exactly 667
children started vacations guarded by solicitous
caretakers all happy and all radiating anticipa-
ton They crowded the stations and pier. but
the grown-ups were infected with the cheer of the
children and did not mind It.
The boys and girls time with their bag
gage. There were hat boxes stuffed with clothing;
new bags, tattered bags and some bags that were
just able hold together. There were bundles
of all sizes and many child tried to hide small
package through the imperfect covering Of which
some eatable protruded.
What are you going for?" asked man Of boy
at the Putnam station.
ITO play ball, have good time and to be IN the
country, and this with a solemn air. TO try 10
help the teachers" They don't all try to help the
teachers, for they are just children When one or
the teachers asked how many boys were In
a group under his wing he said: Roughly. twenty
five, or, I told friend who asked me, twenty
five, tenderly speaking.
1t was lark in earnest. with guides and chill
dren this first day of theirs They were going to
the mountains to the hills of Connecticut, to the
hills near Ardsley and in Massachusetts,, to Utica
and to Chapel HILL n. j., just back Of Atlantic
Highlands. The tender care of mothers was ap-
parent on every side. Faces shone with cleanii-
ness the gowns of the girls were Of all varieties
of fashion and wear Many of the boys had
had shoes that were in the last stages OF useful
ness.
From the West Shore 100 girls were started for
Shokan. They ranged in age from twelve 10
fifteen But for occasional evidence of extreme
poverty they might have compared favoraoiy with
any group of girls in the city. To ST. Helens
Home at Interlaken, Mass, 90 girls were sent; to
Pittsheld 80 boys and girls; to Litchheld, Conn.,
100, for the Shepherd Knapp Home; ~ went to
Schenectady; Utica, Is; TO Ardsley, on the Put
nan, road I5S and to Chapel Hill. n. j., 81. More
will leave the city to-day
The work of getting the children OF without
friction would be difficult only for the perfect dis
cfpne They must be time at the station, the
tickets must be ready. ths children must remain
together and when the ready the boys
and girls must be prompt in taking their places
Not a child is ever left behind This might hap
Den only for the careful oversight And the chill
dren aid The older ones look after those younger
The money for the work is beginning to flow
ont There was bill of 200 to be paid for rail-
road fares yesterday. This was only one item OK
many Except for the cooperation of the rail-
roads this first bill would have been far larger
The railroads help IN other ways. Where the
parties are large enough cars are especially pro-
yided for the little passengers The attendants
are as solicitous for the welfare OF the children
as are the caretakers. They keep in touch with
those in charge OF the children. help to seat them.
and for the time being forget their proyerbial alb
ruptness and grunness-
Letters are beginning to come in from the East
Side and west Slue ASKING peEHllSsOh tO 20
with the Fresh Air parties One from West
Side girl yesterday showed spirit Of self-efface-
nent 1t was follows:
Just few short lines TO ask you Will you please
try and help get my sister and brother to the
country you can, for mother has got
two new babies four weeks old mean twin
bs sbies-and won't you please send away?
am the oldest, fifteen years old, and would like
to go If l could. because could work or make
myself useful. Here is my little cousin. who lives
by us She is al orphan GoOdby; answer soon.
II you amt got room for me send my sisters
and brother.
The brother is eleven. the sisters and
four and the cousin nine years old