New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-02
RULE WORKS TWO WAYS'
"Fresh Airs" Do Much Good as
Well as Derive Benefit.
CARETAKER'S EXPERIENCE
Vassar Girl Says She Learned
Things at Camp That Col
lege Didn't Teach.

Poor Richard. or some such wiseacre.
once remarked that Il was a poor rule that
wouldn't work both ways. The Tribune
Fresh Air Fund aims primarily TO bring
benefits ~ the poor children Of the tene-
ment districts. but there is testimony that
these benefits do not stop there.
Said one of the masters of we'll known
school for boys the other day: We es-
tablished a summer camp In connection
with our school few years ago. The camp
accommodates about fifty boys, and is kept
filled during July and August each year.
Half Of the bows are from the school; the
ether half are typical Fresh Airs from
New York.
To a suggestion that II was fine thing
his school was doing. however, the speaker
objected instantly.
Not at al lie continued, though 1t
may seem strange statement. We had In
mind not the good of the Fresh Airs, out
the good Of our. own boys. Moreover. We
believe that results have justified our ex-
pectations.
I'VE figured II out this way: Practically
every 10y in our school is rich man
son Some day most OF them will be en-
ployers Of labor. our idea was that II
would be an excellent thing 20 have our
boys mix on an intimate footing with the
sort Of youngsters who usually develop at
an early age into employees.
Don't think for an instant that there -
any distinction OF classes at the camp.
Every boy there is on an equal footing, un-
less. perhaps. the Fresh Airs are looked
upon to some extent as guests, and there
fore entitled to even greater consideration
than the schoolboys.
In the natural course Of events neither
the poor nor the rich among the boys at
our camp would ever become friendly with
any Of the opposite class. But through
this two weeks Of life together mutual
respect is engendered and many warm
friendship springs up. AT all events each
class comes to realize that the other Is
human and lkable.'
Testimony along the same line was en-
Enthusiastically given by Vassar girl who
has been spending her vacation as an
attendant In one Of The Tribune homes.
.'Of course. the children get lot or
good out of their vacations" was her
reply TO a question as to this point. But
they dTen lne OIL. SdliiFl'' i DNi'N'N
have learned more this summer than l
have in three years at college. At any
rate. IL that isn't strictly true, IT is GER
tainly true that | have learned something
that I did not learn at college.
college was making me narrow ana
bookish. but this summers work among
the tenement girls has reawakened my
human sympathies.
Then, too all my life I'd been coddled
and protected at home, and the same
process was being continued at college
Al the Fresh Air homes-Ive been at
three different ones this season. WAS
thrown absolutely on my own resources
There were the twenty-five children TO ne
taken care Of, and I was the one to DO II.
They had to he amused. kept from stray
ing AZ their meals and in bed on scheo-
ME time all of which combined is no easy
task
There was another side 10 this assocla-
ton with the children which az nrst
admit enjoy so much. Those Youngsters
from, the city had an uncanny power OF
making me see myself as they saw me
Tho nicture wasn't always what IL oush'
70 have been. but believe that with thelr
nelp I retouched the bad spots some"hat'