New-York tribune., 1908-08-29
JOY SEQUEL TO DRIVE.
Hoe Chance Remark Led to Found
ing Home for Poor Children.

When sixty-tuo ch1dren--ifty-one boys and eleven
girs-started in special car on Thursday for ST.
Heen's Home, at Interlaken, in the Berkshfres.
near Lenox and Stockbridge. there were cheers
when the train started, cheers when they left the
tunnel behind, more cheers when the sun cleaned
through the heavy clouds, and then came a howl
from boy whose fingers had been caught under
window, which cheered by his companions
who were in such good spirits that they were
ready for q shout at anything and everything.
The small rivers received greetings, and so did
the newly stacked corn IN the fields. with their
punctuation of squash. The day before forty girls
had been taken up, that when the new party
arrived after a six mile journey in the Home
stages from Richmond Furnace there were two
more than the usual one hundred that make UP
the number entertained there at time
1nterlaken once known Curti5ville. 1t is
situated among picturesque mountains, and about
mile northeast is Lake Mah-kee-nac, or Stock
bridge Bowl. and the same distance south Echo
Lake, from which stoekbridse gets its water sup
ply Rattlesnake Mountain is that it looms
large over the little village. and Monument Noun
tain is another nearby pine crowned elevation In
the midst of Interlaken. brawlng stream, is
ST Helens Home, There the children locked from
the stages, and, forgetting bundles. made a dash
for the swings the lawn, only to be called back
for the preliminary settling When this had been
completed they stormed out of the Home. TO be
met by the forty girls returning from bath in
Mah-kee-nac The newcomers were hailed as
spring chickens" but didn't mind that They
were drinking IN the beAutles OF tne pace
About sixteen years ago John E Parsons was
driving with his daughter Helen neer his Lenox
home They went through fnterlaken, and Miss
Parsons called attention to the building, now the
Home, as being peculiarly fitted for place of en-
tertainment for children from the city Miss Par
sons died soon sftArward and Mr.. Parsons pur-
chased the Iuterlaken property. and for fifteen
years II has been d home for children sent out by
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund The fifteenth an
nversary OF the Home. dedicated Mr. ParsonsS
daughter. was celebrated last Sunday. Mr.. and
Mrs Parsons the little church where the
exercises wese held and were Joseph II Choate
eX-Ambsssador to the Court of St Jamess. and
Mrs. Choate Mr. Parsons. after the exercises,
said
The child touches the heart as no one else
can We go TO church We hear fine sermons from
preachers but don't believe we have ever been
10 church and heard what said that touched
US much what these children have said
TO-DAY. The children Of to-day are the men and
women OF tomorrow. They the ones who
are to direct the destiny OF this country They
TO preserve it's integrity. its honor. Its great
ness among the nations OF the world Think then
how important 1t is that impressions for good
are carly made upon them l know OF nothing
better calculated work for their lasting good
than that OF giving these little ones an oHportu-
nifty to enjoy the green neds. the water falls, the
brooks the lakes, the mountains here az inter-
lal<en These children never forget the two weeks
spent here.
VI.
and said that their coming 10 st Helen's Home
meant a lot 10 him and 10 all who were there from
the village and near by. He said;
1T does us a lot OF sood-as much good be-
I,eye as IL does the children hope you Will Keep
nm coming I'D here, 70 these woods. these brooks
and lakes I almost wish that could ee g.
small boy again in New York and be able TO como
I'D here with you
The children ehO were at that celebration Afe
all hack in their tenement homes, and the Home
was toe1,ins with the newcomers yesterday, Inc
main building a tavern years ago III IL dIo
the dining ROOM rooms Of the superintendent ana
the matron and the dormtories for the girls anu
their Immediate attendants. In the basement -
the tttchen and laundry 4 large building ad-
;o;o;r, ,s used as a dorInitory by the boys, ana
t,e,r attendants have a room. with an open par
+i.ion on the same floor. Down slope OH each
s,ao % 4be stream are the wash houses-one Tor
the bovs and one for the girls The boys ana glris
are lust as ready TO go TO bed at c'ooh a.
;bt as tn get up soon after . O'Clock IN 'ho
morning They play with an intense earneS'ness
from morning to night, and eat! NelL the eoo,
.a 4. - Iot of work to keep the supply Oh Drodu
49,. -, tha demand and the milk from over Twelve
oows is used daily There is of course oPher iooo
and In plenty III, 80, hoy
I-ycursons to the lake are made dahS' ahe may
tsas staee rides camping cut at the iahe ior
49,. ma nfrht are of the pleasures thdl
-, The two weeks go by quickly. Ihe hohe
4AN..ins i've hundred children every summer,
"a All the expenses the beautitul place are Paiu
bV MI Parsons.