New-York tribune., 1910-08-22
The
Great Swamp Fight.
Here ended
The Peduot War
July 13. 1857.


When thew have read il. tell them how
2 little band of colonists long ago, when
there were very few white men in the coun-
try. besieged and destroyed u powerful tribe
of Indians in their great stronghold at this
place. Watch the look of awe that viii
overspread their countenances at the idea
Of being on a real Indian battle ground
only don't do il in the dusk - the evening
or those young inlaginations will begin 10
see shadozyy forms of red men rising from
the tall swamp grass. and there will be
stampede.
Story of the Witches
Another story that demands daylight for
;+s recital is that of the trial of four
witches on the village green in the year
1899 For although two Of them had very
urvitchlfke naInes-Goody Miller and Mercy
Desbrough. respectively-and although all
were Ultimately adjudged innocent, moon
light would be certain TO reveal to Juvenile
sight figures fitting hither and thither on
broornstick steeds across the sky Espe-
ciallv would this be true IL the tale were
told on Witch HfI where witch was
actually hanged in 16-3.
Most interesting OF all places in the vii
Iage. however, is the old Sun Tavern, where
George Washington really slept on the oc-
casion of the last of his four visits to Fair
field The fact that the Father Of His
Country must have honored other places
in the same way several thousand times !
in the course of his career does not lessen
70 Fresh Air ina gination the Importance
Of the inn where the sun formerly Shone |
above the door both night and day
Only second in importance to the scene
of Washington's slumbers is the place
ISs,,yI Dave 4 n
like honor 10 Fairfield town some years
after the need for his services as night
rider disappeared. 1t was while being told
of this great occasion that 4. young miss
once declailned-
OF the midnight snooze of Paul Revere
There are besides g hundred and one
other traditions and sights-the old stone
powder house Of the War of 1872, the tale
of the burning of Fairfield by Governor
Trvon and his British soldiers, the mar
riase Of the great John Hancock, presl-
| dent Of the Continental Congress-an Of
which provide entertainment, and inspira-
! ton for others a Well as the Fresh Air
visitors TO the town.
| II was the Rev DR. Frank Samuel Child,
pastor of the Congregational Church Of the
| village, who nineteen years ago first con-
! ceived the idea. OF bringing some of the
| Tribune Fund children TO Fairtleld. The
matter was laid before his congregation
| and they welcomed the idea Later the
movement was made q general village en-
terprise, although il has always centred
about Dr. Child and his church
/ A few years ago a movement was set
afoot TO build a model Fresh Air home
Through the generosity of the late Mrs
! q. B. Jennings a sister of Mrs. William
Rockefeller. and Frederick Sturges, a broth
er-in-law OF J. Pierpont Morgan, this was
| made possible. and Elm Cottage, the pres
| ent home, was erected. Many a weary
wanderer coming upon the cottage amid its
! giant elms. and entering its wide hall with
| its great open fireplace. might wish him
! self a Fresh Air youngster in order 70
gain admission 10 its delightful precincts
Twenty five Girls at Time.
Elm Cottage is exclusively for girls
! Twenty-Five are taken in a party and are
entertained for two weeks. With Miss
! Tevf-Ness the superintendent, ) mother,
! they constitute one big family In the
morning when they have finished breakfast
all ioin together and wash dishes Then
| the whole twenty-five temporary sisters
! troop upstairs and make up their beds IN
| der the temporary mothers supervision II
anv one has carelessly soiled dress, when
the he'd making is finished she is shown
! how TO wash it in the laundry attached TO
the home.
The snaIlness OF the number cared for at
| Elm Cottage makes possible II change from
| the method in force at all other Tribune
| homes. Large numbers would make impos-
| sible the idea OF letting the girls IN other
homes learn a little about proper house
J~IG q i11l
cleanliness, freshness and system amid
which they live at Fairfield must leave an
| impression upon the girls which results in
a desire for continuance of such sur
roundings.
Not enough work is allotted TO the girls
to tire or vex them. Such things are done
and Just so much of them as wiil keep the
girls eager and Interested Before 10
o'clock in the morning work for the day
| IS finished and If the day is clear, the
| whole family starts for the beach-a five
minutes walk across the meadows
| Then they play Who would not IL set
down care free on that great stretch or
silver sand with the dancing waters or
Long Island Sound reaching off into the
distance as far as eye can See? OF course,
they change their dresses for bathing suits
before they play, for why play as land
Iubber when one may Try the utllSilS VI
being a mermaid?
When they get into their bathing suits
the illusion that all are sisters is strength
ened The bathing suits all alike as
peas They were provided by a committee
of the women of Fairfield This commit
tee also provides dresses for the girls to
wear during their vacation. even going so
far as TO provide a white Sunday dress
for each little Elm Cottage sister.
Dress Dolls on Rainy Days.
The family really is composed OF fifty
children instead of twenty five. Each of
the girls is mother by adoption to
hsxen haired daughter which gets great
deal OF attention ON rainy davs and very
little on clear one. But on rainy days
the attic of Elm cottage u the scene of