New-York tribune., 1910-07-21
OF COUNTRY LIFE
Story of a Days Incidents Among
Fresh Air Youngsters.
CHANGES FOR THE BETTER
Lively Interest of Boys in New
Things Found in Green Fields
and Attractive Orchards.

The attendants who have the actual care
of the children at the Tribune Fresh Air
homes see best the real effect of the coun-
try life on their charges Before those
attendants were accepted for the work
they were required to answer in writing
the question. What do you consider the
aim of the Fresh Air work?' One replied:
My idea is to bring the children in
contact with a new life physically and
morally different from their accustomed
sphere and also TO make a perceptible
change for the better in their way of look
ing upon life and loving it."
Another replied: ITO give them 2
healthy. happy vacation, at the same time
giving them a few proper ideas Of life
and Of their relations to one another.
Still another said: Children may be
made stronger and healthier, taught the
value of cleanliness, made happier and
given a new point of view toward life.
The following letter. written by an at
tendant. shows how nearly these aims are
being realized It is from one of those
in charge Of the Paul Devereux Home for
Convalescent Children ct Deposit, n. Y:
Mr.. Dear DR.. Devins: It certainly is
pleasure to write about our first crowd
of fresh air visitors. The boys that went
home yesterday were all of them just as
good natured and helpful and happy as
they could be, and made the work of the
attendant light and agreeable. Did we
have fun together? Well. I guess.
AT s o'clock in the morning the BOYS
stand UP and wash Then. while wait
ing for the girls to do the same. they try
to better their records in running around
the field in front Of the house The Eec-
ord, by the way. for the ESQ yards is held
by boy of twelve and is Il seconds
Then comes breakfast at oatmeal.
cocoa, bread and butter Again the boys
try to make records-in eating. this time.
A boy of eleven managed TO put away
fourteen slices Of bread. several cups of
cocoa and Two dishes of oatmeal on one
boasts about his feat
Next comes letter writing which must
all be finished before the postal card man
comes around Here is the message one
boy sent home. I am having a nice time
Willie is good boy. Please send me 10
cents for candy. I hope the baby is bet
ter. Your son. James.
After this they crowd around the at
tendant who starts in to take the CEN
sus
What is your name?'
" Jimmie Brown.
What is your fathers occupation?
d" He goes around looking for work
What did he use 70 do?'
" He used to be a barber, but now he is
too fat'
&C How many brothers and sisters have
you?'
Three and two little babies
Then We visit Mr. Devereux's farm
near by and pick all the peas possible in
the remaining three-quarters of an hour
remarks such as the following may be
heard;
We picked more'n youse-
"'Aw. fly away; youse amt in it wild
US
Say. teacher. kin we pick peas and
take en- to our mudders?
You kin get five cents q quart for
them in the city.
Dinner and quiet resting hour follow.
teacher reads Rplings Just So
Stories 'Fireside Tales or fairy stories 10
those who wish TO listen, while the rest
read papers and books or play quietly un-
der the trees.
AT last the swimming hour arrives.
The water comes up only to the waist but
II is never failing source of delight and
rapture TO the boys. We get home just
in time to play q little game of ball be
fore the supper bell rings. The Giants
and -Highlanders' have not yet started up
their renowned contest for the baseball
supremacy which was fought out all last
summer, but they will soon be at it
After supper come songs Rainbow
Take Ne Back TO New York Town and
Old Gray Bonnet finishing up with
America and Now the Day Is Over
Finally il is bedtime. and everybody goes
off to the land of dreams until o'clock
the next morning. Yours, very truly.
y r. CHANDLER
Many letters similar TO this are received
each week Each tells its tale of the pitt
full ignorance Of the country on the part
OF the little ones and the JOY that the
awakening brings them. And the attend
ants all the while are learning the other
side Of life.