New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-23
FRESH AIR FOR FIFTY
Party of Girls OFF To-Day for
Two Weeks in Country,
CHILDREN SING WITH JOY
Fired with Enthusiasm as School
Year Draws to Close, Max.
ing Work for Fund.

A person passing through Mulberrv
street Yesterday. at the noon hour might
have seen something that would have made
him doubt for a moment. at least. the
wisdom and efficiency OF our greatest Ameri-
can institution. In front OF one Of the
public schools group OF pupils had gath
cred and were singing. at the top OF theft
youthful lungs, refrain that would have
caused pangs at the heart OF any pains
taking member Of our city's Board OF
Education. At a tempo set by the vigor-
ousy swung arm OF an urchin OF about
twelve years they shouted:
six more days and wen be free
From this place Of Misery
When they had shouted Il once. they
shouted II again a little founder and
after that once more a little louder still
and each time there was an exultant en-
phasis on the word free that made the
echoes ring even above the hubbub Of Null
berry street. There was a sort OF grim
earnestness about the way the young
choristers sang. too. which showed how
glad they were that school would soon
be out.
The close OF the schools. which brings
TO the workers of the Tribune Fresh Air
Fund. The parochial schools OF the city
closed yesterday, and to-day the first party
drawn from their ranks will set out for
it's vacation trip Fifty girls. who yester-
day passed their preliminary physical ex-
animation. will be sent TO Happyland, at
Tenaiiy. y. j., the first 'of the Tribune
homes 10 open.
This party has been drawn from DIFF
ferent parts of the city. Ten Of the girls
were selected by the settlement workers
at the Warren Goddard House in East
3ith street thirty others by the workers
Of the Greenwich House in Jones street
and the remainder through the workers
al St. Mary's Hospital.
All Of the children are from the poorest
OF homes. For two Of them, according 10
the worker who selected them, the OPP
portunity 10 go 10 the country Tor TWO
weeks solves perplexing problem a Re"
days ago their father was run over oy
truck and so badly injured that he VIII
be forced 10 spend several weeks in the
hospital. Meanwhile, the mother is COM
PEELED 10 earn the money r the support
Of the family. and has 70 leave her
daughters alone during the entire day.
There are others in the party who come
from amid surroundings equally distress
ing A small girl Of seven years IS oeing
taken from mother who for three
years has been trying 10 support her
self and her child on the three dollars
and a half week which she is able TO
earn by doing sweatshop work
Still another comes from large family
which the mother il trying ~ support ny
working a : a ianitor. The father has been
nm. but il is believed that he can be cured
II he is kept at one Of the city's open
air hospitals during the summer.
In ell Of these cases and in almost all
Of the others the Tribune Fund Is &C.
cornplishing a double service. II is giving
the children a change from poor air. IN
clean surroundings, and insufficient food
10 fresh air. Gods open country and
wholesome food while at the same time
it IS taking a burden Of expense OFT the
shoulders Of a devoted mother or a strug-
Cling father.