New-York tribune., 1909-07-05
LIFE AT ASHFORD HILL
Fresh dir, Good Food and Games
for Mann Little Ones.

Among all the homes controlled directly and in
directly by The Tribune Fresh Air Fund that OF
Ashford Hill, Ardsley, n Y, is the largest and
of the most popular with the children VINO go
there year after year. Situated a lofty hill in
the country, two miles from the town itself, the
home commands distant view OF the Palisades
and the hills lining the banks of the Hudson. The
fund owns plot of hundred acres. thicky
covered with big oak. pine and maple trees. with
here and there a space cleared as a playground
for the children The various cottages set deep
within the grove of trees in the cool shade, but
high enough up to be tree from dampness. Not far
distant are broad farm lands and meadows. The
fields are flecked with daisies waving in the breeze
and along the shaded roadside grow tiger lilies.
On this site there at present 361 poor children
of New York city, to whom the country is almost
unknown, who spending a vacation of two
weeks, and before the season is over the number
of those entertained at Ashford Hill viii r"ach
2000. The normal capacity of the home $50
at one time, but the constantly increasing demand
for entertainment has already 0vertaxed the home,
though the season has scarcely opened The children
are in the constant of fifteen attendants, each
being in charge OF about twenty-five children A
group Of twenty-five children forms dormitOry-
-Four houses used to lodge the different dormi-
tories three living in the main house two in Tam
many one In the parsonage" and five IN Edge
horn"
The attendants are with the children the entire
time, both night and day An endeavOr Is made 10
come into the closest personal possible with
the children and both by precept and example to
open their 10 view life. Among the
attendants now at Ashford HIN students from
Columbia. New York University the. College Of
Physicians and Surgeons Wellesley. Vassar and
Teachers College. Living as they do in the very
closest intimacy with the children they are able
exert great influence for good In lives which
seen little but Indulgence and its attendant evils
The daily life at the Home is governed by n regu-
lar schedule The children rise at s is a m. and
60 to bed az soon II is dark as the dormltories
are not lighted at night Saturday evening when
some form Of entertainment Is generally planned
they are allowed to remain up until 30 rising
at ,15 on Sunday morning They are required
wash before every meal each child having his
towel Large shower baths have been Installed in
two Of the dormitories. covering the entire ceiling
Of one OF the rooms. thus enabling twenty thirty
children get under at one time. They are re-
quiTed hathe frequently
Simple. heathfui food is given. Breakfast gener-
ally consists Of oatmeal and bread and milk. Oc-
casionally cereal Is tried but without sue
cess the children having the peculiar characteristic
OF not eating anything which they have never seen
before Even rice is poorly received. For dinner
some substantial meat stew IS given. with plenty
OF fresh bread and milk. and for supper the chill
dren have bread and butter. milk Jelly or
and cake and cookies Grace Is said before each
meal The children eat ravenously and seem 70 en-
Joy this feature Of the outing much anything
else. The culinary department IS in the hands OF
seven japanese cooks. Tn" japanese love for dec
orRton has found expression in the dining room.
NH'Ir lne kADitN OF the Fool nave been 0lled with
pine boughs which have been hung with japanese
lanterns. Each child is weighed before and after
leaving The increase in weight shown 10y this
parison IS often remarkable
One OF the most interesting features Of the outing
is the Zest with which the children enter into the
various games. Saturday was field day for the
boys. and the rivalry manifest between the differ
ent dormitories keen. Teams picked
from the eleven dormtories TO compete in the meet
First. seeotd and third places counted three
a for he
teams. To the winning dormitory presented
a watermelon. while sticks Of candy given to
the point winners in the different events
The which run of follow. IO0-yard
dash. potato race sack race. three and legged
race wheeIbarrow race. high jump. obstacle. hur-
die relay and shoe
The boys entered into every for all they
were worth The obstacle found little uTChns
scrambling over barrels around trees and under
benches. fast their little bodies could move
Coaching from the side lines allowed The
element became intense toward the end OF the
meet The race started with shouts from all sides
"Smitty." undsrslzed seven-y -year-old won and
he carried OF the field by his dormitory.
You're all right. Smitty. You did something for
your country said one. slapping him on the back
The cheering a bit disorsanized first until
one little fellow picked up a twg and led a cheer
which went something Ike this:
Strawberry shortcake huekIeberry pie:
Are We in IL! weii. -R-F-l i guess.
Parsonage Parsonase
Yes yes.
Then followed song entitled Take Me Back TO
Ashford fIill." written the tune OF a familiar
song
Saturday afternoon ball game was played be-
tween the Ashford Hil team and the team from
ths 81. Cares School located few miles distant.
In the evening the attendants gave a vaudeville
show OF ten twelve numbers. consisting Of pan
tomimcs, songs and dancing The shadow picture
entertainment is the most enjoyed by the chill
drcn. however
games the girls discovered having the time
their lives with she myriad of swings which have
been placed around the grounds OF the home Oc-
Casioualy "A little girl is hOmeSick when she
rives but "A general thing she cries more when
she leaves
The two following letters recently sent home
TO parents in the city:
Dear Mother: We hsveing fine time out
hear. / witch / could stay the hole summer. did
you get the postal card that sent YOU go
out picking flowers every day. We got weighed |
! weighed 81 and Kitty 81
Goodby
from ELSIE.
The second letter went something Ike this:
Dear Mother: l will write "a few Inns 10 let you |
know that all well and hope to here the |
from you. | Will let you know that Jimmy |
plays with US every day and harie plays with |
every day Please tell Rosies mother that Rosie |
sleeps In and PLAYS with US The teach |
ers very kind 10 us. | have nothing else TO |
say. Best regards.
TEssIE.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Charles Gatz through the New York Observer, SO 90
air children help send other city chil-
dren through Miss Ella B. Westcott. .......-- % |
Miss Josephine Penfod 1000
.--