New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-05
TEN FINE CELEBRATIONS
1000 Youngsters Enjoy a Novel
18th of July in the Country.
AN EARLY MORNING PARADE
Then Guests of Fresh Air Fund
Have Flag Salute, Games
and Fireworks.

Most of the children of New York wit
messed new kind of a Fourth Of July yes
terday, but it was by no means as novel
as the day enjoyed by the one thousand
youngsters who are guests at the ten Trib-
une Fresh Air homes in various nearby
country towns At each of these places
there was a safe and sane" celebration
of one kind or another.
The exercises held al Ashford Hill, the
home at Ardsley, n. Y, were typical of
those held at all the homes. AT this mag
nificent retreat among the hills that rise to
the east Of the Hudson the day was begun
with parade and flag raising. Promptly
at o'clock the three hundred and fifty
boys and girls who are just beginning their
two weeks vacation at the home gathered
m front of the main building and lined up
two by two for the march
At the head of the line came the Ash
ford Hill .band-four drummers equipped
with tops off the mornings milk cans: two
bass drummers pounding enormous copper
dishpans coaXed from a tolerant Japanese
cook, and several with slapsticks made of
barrel slaves. What the music lacked in
harmony IT made up in volume.
Uncle Sam and Miss Liberty.
In the place of honor behind the band
came Uncle Sam under beaver almost as
tall as himself. and logged out in the
characteristic red and white striped panta-
looms and white starred blue coat,
Next in order Miss Liberty. a resident Of
Myrtle avenue, Brooklyn. aged seven years.
rode in state in q gorgeous chariot drawn
by Billy. a long horned goat who resides
at the camp during the summer.
Then came the standard bearer. and after
him the members of the home, two by two.
Most of the rank and file were content to
march in ordinary citizens clothes. but
here and there a plumed helmet, made of
newspaper, broke the monotony of the sky
line
The line of march led across the road to
the residence of the nearest neighbor Of
the home. He appeared on the veranda.
and addressed the patriotic paraders From
here the way led back to the home grounds.
and. after enough right wheeling. right
dressing and mark timing to impress
the onlookers with the efficiency of the
corps, the celebrators surrounded the flag
staff and quietly and reverentlv stood at
attention while Old Glory was run up to
the TOP of the mast. When the flag had
shaken itself clear of the pole, as one
man they raised their right hands in salute
and repeated the pledge which all had
learned SO well in the public schools Then.
after more speeches by some Of the older
boys, and one by an attendant a. the home,
the proceedings were brought TO 2 sudden
end by the ringing Of the dinner bell. which
put the bravest Of the Young patriots TO
flight quicker than hostile bullets would
have done
Games IN tbs Afternoon
In the afternoon the camp was invaded
by the baseball team of St Clair Academy,
and despite the rites paid 70 the Goddess
OF Liberty in the morning they carried
away a to victory over the team repre-
senting tbs home This was largely due to
the fact that tEa home team. having
learned the game on the paven,ents OF the
city, We're afraid 70 slide, TO bases. and
hence we're outdone in run-getting by their
opponents who knew enough 70 take ad
vantage Of the soft turf.
For the evening celebration the seventeen
young college men and women who are Civ
ing their summer vacations TO looking after
the children had gone down into their pock-
cts and provided fireworks to cap the climax
Of a great day.
The privilege OF setting off the rockets,
pinwheels and Roman candles was granted
to the larger boys. The others all sat
around on the massive rocks which crop
up all over the place and gasped with de-
light at the unwonted spectacle.
When the last rocket had whizzed its
brilliant way skyward and the last pin
wheel had died down dead" match was
touched TO the great set piece Of the even
ing, q bonfire of brushwood. collected by
the boys during the day-a feature of the
exercises which was permitted. it must be
confessed. largely because certain portions
OF the grounds needed clearing.