New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-17
MINUTE MEN" RESPOND
Fifteen Prepare to Fight Way to
Fresh Air.
1896 AWAIT INVITATIONS
Many Hosts Prefer to Entertain
Girls, Though No Complaints
of Fund Boys Are Heard.

New YORK has Its minute men as "'''
as Lexington and Concord. The entire
force numbers about hfteen hundred, rather
more than less. Most OF them are between
the ages Of five and thirteen years-pretty
young "men." but they are watching the
minute for all that They are on the
watch for a chance TO go to the country.
On Monday cog slipped In the Fresh Air
machinery. party of fifteen boys was
scheduled to go to Ramsey, y. j. AT the
last moment, however, the settlement
worker whose boys had been selected to go
telephoned to the Tribune Funds head
quarters that her candidates had been re-
jected by the medical examiner.
There was exactly an hour before train
time. 1t looked as though the party would
have TO be called off, bpt the Office stan oi
the Tribune Fund never say die In case
Of this kind until the train or boat mas
actually got under way. a hurry-up can
was sent to Miss Bessie Dunlap, OF Green
witch House, in Jones street, to see IL she
could fill the party.
Fifteen boys in an hour? The only Cd
lection Miss Dunlap made was TO ASH II
she might not bring two hundred instead oI
the number called for. In minute she hau
a runner on the street passing the word I'd
the Fresh Air clans.
Minute men, In five minutes there
were four boys running up the steps Vi
Greenwich House. In seven minutes Ten
had gathered in the hall BY the time the
eleventh minute had licked away its short
life there were fifteen. and before Miss
Dunbar could snatch n hat and marshal
on
tho dispensary where they were to he eX-
amined the company numbered twenty
Twenty-not just boys, but boys WIN
their clothes packed in bags and READY
for two weeks in any country Ana as
the score logged along al "douDle-quich'
almost as many more. unlimited sand I'M
prepared. but ready for the country at
seconds notice, dropped into line.
At the dispensary the fist fifteen exam
ined passed muster, and the remainder hau
t. be turned back until another time de-
spite vigorous protests. The examination
over. there came a rush Tor the railroad
station. This was accomplished with
speed that would have put Paul Revere TO
shame. and the Fresh Air minute men
arrived at the Erie Railroad ferry, Cham
hour was up, ready to fglH-any one that
should attempt to block their way to the
country.
There are at least ,4s5 other boys anX-
ious TO respond TO Fresh Air invitations at
lust as short notice If necessary. But IN
vitations for boys for some reason 90 not
come in as rapidly as needed. Many couh-
try hosts in extending a welcome 10 fresh
Air children express a desire to have girls
sent to them.
This is probably due to a fear that boys
will be more difficult to handle. Yet 1t Is
the unqualified statement of nine out OF
ten missionaries and settlement workers
who have had experience VITA both sexes
that. of the two, boys are the more docile
and easily controlled. Miss Dunlap VINO
has had wide experience as a settlement
worker and teacher of children, declared
unequivocally that If she were contem-
plating entertaining Fresh AIRS she
would select boys, not only because they
were more easily managed, but because
being more self-reliant, they could be de-
pended upon to entertain themselves. 10
this IA TO be added the consideration that
no complaints as to the behavior of Trib-
une Fresh Air children are ever heard.
Several friends Of the minute men" and
their sisters gave evidence Of their Kind
ress in the list of to-day's contributions
Among them is one who for years has con-
tributed $1,000 under tho simple title
friend" From the Mortified conference
come the proceeds of a COLLECTION taken az
a sign OF that body's approval of The
Tribune's Fresh Air campaign; by gem
tIeman from Mississippi who has almost
reached his ninety-seventh birthday 80 Is
given TO obtain fresh air and fresh food
for the tots"