New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-11
TYPICAL VACATION DAYS.
Girls and Boys Enjoy a Round of
Health Giving Games.
A VISIT TO ASHFORD HILL
Fresh Air Guests, After Fresh
Air Fun, Relish Abundant
Food and Baths.

It was ages ago that Mother Goose sang
those pathetic but immortal lines:
There was an old woman who lived in shoe.
She had so many children that she didn't know
what 70 do.
AS time passed. and her family fncreased
the poor old woman. hopeless OF ever finding
out what to DO" laid by her switch and
shipped the whole tribe of them up to Ash
ford HILL the Tribune Fresh Air Fund
Home at Ardsley, \. 7.
At least that is the impression a visitor
to that place would gain If he were sud-
denly set down upon the open grounds of
the home The picture would be the same
Just a swirl of harur-scarum youngsters,
tearing about and clambering over every
thing in sight-except that the shoe would
be missing, and the hobbling old woman
with the switch, just appearing around the
heel of the shoe, would be replaced by the
figure of Superintendent Austin. just COM
ing into view around the corner of a build
ing with a baseball bat IN his hand, on his
way TO begin a game with some of the
boys.
In their wands of Office are epitorizel
the reasons Tor the respective failure and
success of the old woman and her success
sor- She wore herself out preventing the
children from doing the things she didn't
want them to- Mr.. Austin has changed all
that, and enjoys his days while getting the
children started doing what they want TO.
This Is not IN original idea with the
Ashford Hill superintendent, of course Pes
talozzi and Froebel years ago found out
the mistake that had led to such confusion
at the sign Of the old Shoe and spent
their lives in trying to persuade the world
OF the wisdom of the newer method. M.
Austin and his staff of sixteen assistants
have merely put into force a now generally
accepted principle
Their Task Not Easy.
But with the principle established, their
task is no easy one They have three hun
dred and fifty children under their charge
a different three hundred and fifty every
two weeks. To keep that many children
who are strangers TO each other and to the
staff orderly and happy for a fortnight
requires careful planning Yet the seem
ingly impossible is accomplished.
On the first night after the arrival OF a
party the attendants. who are almost ali
college students, give entertainment
They sing their college songs. get up little
humorous sl1its, and usually one OF the
men is enough of gymnast to do some
stunts for the amusement Of the youthful
audience
An advertising department is maintained
at the camp un1er the leadership Of one Of
the male attendants. During the afternoon
of the first day posters appear on the trees
and buildings about the place.
Xtrat Xtra,,
Grand Field Day.
July {. 1910
BOYS only. Pigtails barred.
Fifteen Thrilling Events.
Prizes
First-Three sticks of candy
Second-T~o sticks Of candy
Thir6-One stick Of candy.
Special
Watermelon awarded &C the dorTrtorv gaining
most points.
The next day the meet takes place
Rivalry? Think Of that watermelon!
When the girls have seen how il is done
another set of posters appears similar to
the first except that the girls get back at
the boys. This is what they put up:
Special Xtra,
The Event of thu Season
DAY Of Sports. Saturday. July 9, 1910.
Great Events Open TO AL.
Usual Prizes
o. -,Sr--