New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-10
GIFTS FROM RECEIVERS
How Beneficiaries Supply Funds
to Extend Fresh Air Work.
TURNING BACK OF BENEFITS
Two Hundred Youngsters Raise
Money to Send Other Little
Ones Out to the Country.

The history of the contributions TO the
Tribune Fresh Air Fund would make in
terestins and touching reading. The gifts
this year have ranged in size from few
cents to a thousand dollars. and have been
inspired, doubtless. by a variety Of motives
But among them all probably none was
offered with such pleasure and hearty good
will as one of 80 which reached the office
Of the fund on Monday.
The reason is simple. The givers were
themselves Fresh Air children. and knew
by experience 20 what purpose they were
giving their money.
During the part OF the summer already
past about two hundred youngsters from
the neighborhood Of 9th street and Tenth
avenue have been recommended TO the
Tribune Fund by the Hudson Guild. at No
436 West 9th street. They all came back
from their stay In the country in such
iUbilant spirits that the workers at the
Guild thought they might teach them a
little lesson in sharing their pleasure with
others. Accordingly. II was suggested 10
them that they might together make up
little purse which would be the means or
sending some other children away
II ever a project was quickly undertaken
and enthusiastically carried through TINS
one was. At the very proposal the eyes or
the youngsters began TO dance, and they
clapped their hands in approval Then they
trotted off home to see how much they
could coax from their parents
One small girl. whose conversation with
her mother on the subject was overheard.
rushed up the three flights OF stairs that
led TO her home and breathlessly burst out:
Mamma. mamma teacher says we en-
make A c-con-a cobu-you know; | can
say the word what teacher said but It's
what you send other little girls to the
country with Please gimme some money!
The latter part of the outburst at least
was Ineligible and in less time than II
seemed possible that her short legs could
have covered the distance she was back at
the Settlement House with 10 cents
Another girl. who must have been in the
habit Of helping TO keep house. brought
her logic to bear on the situation She at
tackled her mother less vigorously. but
more sdroitly, by what might almost be
called the Socratic method
Ma" she began, when me and Jimmy
was away with the fresh airs couldn't you
save lot Of money. because We didn't eat
nothin'?''
Ma" wasn't sure about the lot but
admitted that family expenses had been
somewhat reduced during their absence.
Having obtained this damaging admission,
the youthful and feminine Socrates dis
played the trap 10 her parent
Then she continued. we ouGhter give
a contribution to help send some other
children. oughtn't We? Teacher says We
kin II we vanter. Kin ue?''
They could and did to the extent of *
cents. Without doubt similar scenes oc-
Cured in other homes. Almost every child
who had enjoyed vacation came with it's
mite TO be used for the benefit of some
other one. The contributions ranged from
cents to 81 Possibly their generosity was
due TO the outcropping of national trait.
for most of them are Irish by birth or
parenta9e.
Now the givers feel a sort of proprietor
ship in the Fresh Air Fund and it's bene-
fciaries The workers at the Guild House
are continually being called upon 10 give
an accounting Of their stewardship a
small boy who has been romping in the
playrOom will suddenly cease and come
running up 10 the person in charge to
query: Teacher. did We give EN- the
money YETI Or another will ask Has
our Fresh Air kids gone 10 the country
yet. teacher
The collection when turned over to the
manager of the Tribune Fund gave some
indication of its origin. II was for the
most part composed OF rather grimy
pennies, niCkels and dimes. But If the
good will that went with each piece had
been visible the heap would have giowed
beyond the power of human eyes 70 look
upon il.