New-York tribune., 1911-11-30
Military Atmosphere for Boys.

NllRdTI SNNHlOSffCIO lOi 6SJS'
AS a result Of this arrangement at Shep-
herd Knapp a little spice was given 10 the
life OF the two hundred boys by the IN
stitution Of a military drill Only few
moments each day were given up 10 actual
drill but the day was begun with nag
raising and closed with n parade and the
hauling down Of the colors. Company flags
were selected. and company tents, which
served MS rallyinG points for the different
groups of boys, were set up on the grounds.
Toward the close Of each party's stay
competitive drill was held. which never
failed to arouse Great enthusiasm.
Through tho generosity OF the Rev. Shep-
herd Knapp the greatest drawback to the
efficiency OF the Iitchheld home will be
done away with next year. For several
years the problem of providing water TO
meet the needs Of the home has been
hard one to solve, all the water used dur
ing former years having been drawn in
wagons from a considerable distance. Mr.
Knapp. toward the close of the season.
volunteered TO contribute $500 TO defray the
expense Of drilling such a well on the
property as would meet all demands. This
well has been drilled since the closing Of
the home and is ready for use with the
opening OF the season Of 1912.
The total capacity Of the Tribune Fund
homes was Increased this year by the
doubling of the capacity of the Paul
'Devereux home. Hitherto this home has
accommodated only fifty children. BY the
construction at one end Of the main build
ing of good sized pavilion. TO be used as
ell %
arrange sleeping quarters for an additional
fifty, with the result that nearly five hum
dred little guests were received during the
summer Of 1911, instead of two hundred and
fifty, as in former years.
Fresh Air accommodations were further
increased during the summer through the
kindness Of the people OF North Benning-
ton, VT and Ramsey, y. J. At each Of
those places a Fresh Air committee was
organized and a Fresh Air home provided
These were placed at the disposal Of the
Tribune Fund. Throughout the summer
they were kept filed with guests from
New York In each case not only was the
home provided. but the committee also
provided for its support, the Tribune Fund
being called on to furnish only the trans
portation of the guests and the necessary
attendants at the homes. To Mrs. J. NJ.
Mccullough the success Of the North
Bennington enterprise was largely due.
The chronicle Of the Tribune Fund has
been one of continuous progress and
growth in benefits conferred and influence
exerted That this is true Is, of course.
due to the fact that each succeeding year
t,t - in IL
Several facts give evidence that interest
I'm Fresh Air work was never wider or
deeper than I'm 1911. Among this evidence
is the fact that during the season just
closed twenty-five villages which had never
before manifested an interest in this sort
Of philanthropy invited and received par
ties aggregating 40S children. Even more
striking than this is the fact that there
were received in 1911 contributions to the
fund from thirteen hundred persons who
had never before given in support OF this
work The sum received from these new
contributors was more than $4,000.
One of the things upon which the Tribune
Fund has each year to congratulate itself
is the character of the attendants at its
homes who make It possible for the Fresh
Air work to be something higher and bet
ter than the mere providing of fresh air
and country life for city children. AS I'm
the past, so this year these attendants
were drawn almost entirely from the ranks
Of college students and school teachers.
More than one-half Of this years staff had
served in previous years and thus brought
to the work the efficiency which only ex-
perience can give.