New-York tribune., 1910-09-07
STUDENTS LOVE THE WORK
Actual Experiences at Fresh AIR
Homes Narrated in Letters.
BENEFITS EASILY APPARENT
HAPPINESS and Health Come to
Youngsters During Stay at
Country Homes.

The children at the Tribune Fresh Air
homes during the season which is rapidly
drawing to a triumphant close were un-
der the care OF sixty-ive young men and
women. Most of these were college and
university students who could easily have
obtained more remunerative places for the
summer II gain had been their sole aim
Evidently, however, they were bent on
doing something more than making money
Two letters through which their motives
shine are printed below in order that the
generous friends of children who have
supported the Fresh Air work may see
to what sort Of care their little benehciaries
are given over:
Eunice Home, Chapel Hill, y. j.
Dear Dr.. Devins: 1t pleases me more
than you can know to think | am reaLy @
l thought I loved them at Shokan in 1895,
but 1t seems a summer without them mas
enhanced their worth TO me thousand
fold.
A hundred girls from twelve to sixteen
years old-the very flowers of Gods chill
d5enIone's heart could not foreear oeing sl
from the city, their pale faces and wor-
Tied looks telling all too plainly how the
hours of their existence are spent, not as
children at all, but full of the cares OF
grown up people.
Little wonder they marvel at the thought
ness, and look questioninsly al everything
for many it is the only two weeks IN
the whole year worth living
Know Few Comforts.
With the ordinary comforts that We take
as matter of course these girls are little
acquainted When they retire the nrst
night 1t is pathetic 70 see how few know
the luxury of a good. clean bed.
They seldom turn down the covers and
never get between the sheets until told to-
their nightgowns-in my party Of twenty
hEe only one brought a nightgOwn-
Inc first day in the country makes them
children once more, and after a few days
or happiness and Sunburn one would never
recognize the band of happy children as
the same that came from the city So few
DR. Devins, I thank you a thousand
times for sending me here. l am very, very
happy. Your friend,
NELLIE A. PAGNAM
Litchfield. Conn.
My Dear DR.. Devins: The rolling hills
around the Shepherd Knapp Home, with
their squares of yellow grain fields and
dark patches of wood. make lovely scene; ;
but 1t is 2 sad fact that our children have
seen so few beautiful things that their
eyes are not open to see the beauty in
One evening, as we played games in the
open field. asked the children TO stop and
look at the golden clouds above the set
ting sun. They looks like banana peels.
II they could only see such scenes more
often the beauty would grow upon them,
and they would not miss so much OF the
pleasure of life.
This was the great day of field races for
the girls, and now that there is a water
melon in prospect for victorious Company
4 the attendants can scarcely hear them
selves think. The favorite cry is:
Loop the loop,
Loop the loop,
Company is in the soup"
<
its sympathetic caretakers have tried 10
turn public opinion against watermelons-
melons are really too sweet and watery; :;
though one truthful girl felt obliged 70
whisper in teachers ear, Il do eat il
oncet IN a while at home
Yesterday on our walk down 10 the
swimming hole at the brook teacher saw
some natural objects new TO her Wine
ries" covered the bushes. A cav! cawt'
from the tree-tOpS puzzled some of the
youngsters, but teacher heard the infor-
nation passed along that them was
SCarecrOWS Slng1n.
Scenes in the Washhouse.
The washhouse, where our two hundred
children wash their faces and hands be
fore each meal. is as full of entertainment
as circus tent.
Little Oracle. fve-year-oid, always
comes early and STAYS late with great giee.
trying one wash basin after another IN
the manner Of CioIdiloCks in The Three
Bears and never by any chance using heT
own towel unless her wandering footsteps
are guided toward il.
Each child has her own towel hanging
on a numbered hook II is hard at first
for them 10 remember their own. but
recoIIect one who was very prompt in re
plying when asked her number, Mine $
size eight.
At the table it cheers the teachers heart
to see her children eat. She cannot re-
member to have seen the process Of eating,
hut when feed is set before them II dtSap-
pears in d wink, and up 20 the hands for
more
Some paIe-faced little tots who beg for
coffee are urged to drink their cups Of
foa ming milk. but most OF them need no
urging one lovely Italian girl, with mar
ble-white skin and calm blue eyes that
made one think of the Bay of Naples,
seemed a poetess. rapt and apart from
earthly things. but on Wednesday noon
she ate three plates of cabbage! Sincerely
vol1rs. HELEN CLARK CRANE.
ACK NOWLEDGNENTS.
\ F a East Orange. y J..--.------ s. oO
" NJ :. fr. Beth. y. H H--..-----.- > 90
Mrs J. W Emhury. Sto"kbridge,
Mass. > az
NJ L Weld. Bridgeport. Conn. .....-. 40