New-York tribune., 1909-12-20
FOR THE CHILDREN
WHAT FRESH AIR
FUND HAS DONE.
In SO Years eos 900 Little Ones
Hare Benefited at Cost
Of s729, 900.
By John Bancroft Devins. Manager Of IN.
Fund.

That 70 the world are childrer-
Through them Il feels the glop
0f a bright and SUMMER climate
Than reaches the trunk below
one new Fresh Air Home opeued and
another doubled in size mark the increase
IN equipment Of the New-York Tribune
fresh AIT tund for the year One home
oeNo'eo exclusively TO convalescent chill
oren from the hospitals. infirmaries and
oispensaries OF the metropolis shows thar
the work is extending its usefuIness add-
ing the idea Of health TO that Of happi-
ness.
Another home. used exclusively during
the entire summer by children especially
selected from families where one or both
parents are suffering from tuberculosis.
marks a step in the prevention of disease
fsrreaching in its effect
Children remaining guests of hosptt-
able persons on farms, in small towns and
in the ten homes controlled wholly or in
pert by the fund. from two weeks to a
month, and one party Of eighty spending
the entire school vacation in the country.
indicate an advance toward adequate re-
lief, which is the characteristic Of true
philanthropy
An Increase Of more than $1,000 in pop
ulsr receipts. as well as s2,5OO given for
building e new dormitory at one plant
and equippinG the new home placed at
the disposal Of the fund suggests that
the conduct OF this beautiful charity has
growing hold upon those who believe
with Phillips Brooks th~t:
Anything that touches the life or chill
oTen, thaI deals with the beginnings of
lie, cannot help being hopeful as IN Won
should drop something into the fountains
Whlch should rush on in the stream and
50 into the fields and make them richer
II IS JOY 10 do something which shall
not merely touch the present bur which
shall reach forward into ;he future he
who helps a child helps humanity with a
clsunctness, with an immediateness which
no other help given to human Creatures
In any other stage OF their human life can
possibly give again.
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.
Not perfection but vision must be the
goal; not satisfaction with what is accom-
plished in a given year, but an intense de-
sire 10 make each coming year better than
the closing one; 10 learn by experience; to
profit by mistakes; TO regard each child
that is intrusted 10 ones care as a sacred
trust; TO Ill each little life so full OF happi-
ness, and each little body so full of strength
and viEor that the fortnight in a farmers
family or IN q Fresh Air home will be the
fortnight by which the child will measure
its days of joy In the coming years
can this be done in fortnight. in q year
in q generation, some one asks? No: but
Il can be the goal. and every one who con-
tributes toward il by service or by gifts
may feel with Whittier that he has part
in the final victory:
Others saaIl sing the song:
Finish what I begin
And al I fail Of win.
What matter. or they.
Mine or anothers day
50 that right word he said.
And lie the sweeter made
No report on Fresh Air work would be
satisfactory which did not begin with an
OPPRESSION of gratitude 10 two classes Of
people Those who in small towns and vii
lagos and on the farms Of Massachusetts,
Connecticut. New York New Jersey and
Pennsylvania annually invite thousands of
children 10 their own -lospitable homes; and
those who furnish the money for the car
fare, the principal item OF expense. and this
notwithstanding the very generous reduc-
tons made by every railroad except one;
again, This road IS not named, in the hope
that continued forbearance will receive a
Que reward.
The officers and members Of the trunk
line committee continue their sympathetic
interest in the children. but up 10 the pres
s1t writing the off1cers Fl the road in ques-
tion are able 10 resist the widows prayer
and the orphans tear, not 10 speak Of the
managers appeal.
WHAT GIVERS MADE POSSIBLE.
1ir. Carnegie. Mrs. Sage, Mrs. James, Mr.
Phipps. Mr.. Kennedy. Mr. Gates. Miss Gaz-
zsm. a Friend" and more than thou
sand other friends old and new have made
= possible for thu fund 70 send 1929 chill
6ren away. three hundred less than last
year. but 2 considerabI increase over last
year IN days spent in the country, as six
hundred OF seven hundred more children
than usual remained a month more in
stead Of the customary fortnight The bud
Eet % 10000 was not reached this year.
hut with the many new friends interested
snd the benehcent results achieved fl is
believed that the full amount needed next
year viii be received.
TO give him who cannot repay" says
lover Of children Ito bring JOY 70 one 10
whom II is a stranger. and 10 lift little
child from out the encircling shadows where
It's lot has been cast is 70 possess spirit
akin 70 the infinite"
With invitations secured and money pro-
vided the work is assured, but it is not
cone. The children must be invited, pre-
pared for their journey, taken to the train,
accompanied on the train 10 the places
where they are 10 be entertained, and at
the appointed time brought back TO the city.
met az the station and returned TO their
homes
some good angel whisper il in the ear
OF 2 little one" wrote the founder OF the
movement. when he had induced his people
IN Sherman. Penn. 10 take the first party
OF nine children in 1871 Tell a tired
mother that there is life for her child in
this fresh country air"
THE FAITHFUL WORKERS
There may be duties harder for a woman
than spending two months in fresh air
vork: ifJthere is the writer Of this article
has yet 10 learn them. Not simply climb
ing countless tenement house stairs, sitting
IN stuffy rooms. explaining and arguing TO
convince a tired mother" that her child
viii really come back alive and well and
stronger than when IL goes; the mission
sry's faith in Providence and the manager
OF the fund is beautiful 10 behold, and so
Ear her trust has not been too severely
tested
In addition 10 the personal appeals mace
in the country Dy the manager IN behalf or
IN. children al Delhi, Glen Cove, Deposit
and Sherman. and other towns, two clergy
men. J. n Mcdonald and ". l. Hughes
made z special canvass in towns within the
limits OF the trunk line concession, hVe
hundred miles from New York
The Berkshire Fresh Air Fund COM
"A Pitts