New-York tribune., 1911-11-29
Tribune's Great Charity Has
Been Going On for Halt
Its Existence.
THOUSANDS GIVEN FOR WORK
Number of Contributors Con-
stantly Increases, 1918
Total Exceeding That Of
Previous Year by 1,219.

then pastor OF the Congregational Church
at Sherman. Penn. became inspired with
the idea that Il was selfish for him to
enjoy 60 fully the flowers. the green grass.
the fresh air and the manifold beauties OF
nature when there were countless girls
and boys in New York and Brooklyn who
had never had a chance to see neid OF
daisies
Returning to his church he proposed that
81 some OF his parshoners would open
their homes 10 poor city children he would
undertake to raise the money for their
transportation and to conduct them back
90 their abodes in town. lie obtained invi-
tations for nine children among his parish
toners. arranged with the railroad officials
for their transportation. came 10 New York
and personally selected the nine needy III
lie ones, whose pathetic condition ap-
uepaled TO him; accompanied them to the
country, sharing their joys and their sor-
rows, and brought them back 10 their pa
rents with bodies strengthened and hearts
cheered and experiences without number
upon which 10 dwell until sumemr came
again.
This was the origin Of the Tribune Fresh
Air Fund. This was in June, 1871. Sixty
children were the benehciaries Of the Trtb-
,me Fund in that year. The Fresh Air
Fund is. therefore thirty-hve years old, or
one-half the age OF The Tribune newspaper.
Nearly ten thousand children were sent
by the Tribune Fresh Air Fund for va
cation Of two weeks In the country last
season. Nearly three hundred thousand
have been transported from baking pave
Inents 10 cool meadows by the fund dur
ing these thirty-fve years. The expense
for each child has been slight when you
recall the benefits that have accrued 70
his army OF little ones. II has meant for
them a fortnights acquaintance with intel
hgent and agreeable people, with apple
sauce. hominy and pudding with cooling
doves. with complaining brooks that make
the meadows green; with laughter, tanned
cheeks and happiness.
In speaking Of the origin Of the Fresh
Air movement Jacob A. Ris says in his
Children OF the Tenements':
There rises before me the wrath. Of a
village church in the far Off mountains OF
Pennsylvania 1t Is Sunday morning az
midsummer. In the pulpit a young cleIsy-
man Is preaching from the text lnasnucn
as ye have done Il unto one or the least
of these, my brethren. ye nave done "
The sun creeps through the windows
where climbing roses nod IN the Iall
NAPLES a dove Is cOoingi the olo"Sy num-
of the honey bee Is on the air. But ne
recks not Of these. nor OF the peaceIu Gay;
His soul has seen a vision OF hot ana
stony streets, Of squald homes, OF ndIG
Visaeed, unlovely childhood, or mankind
made IN His image twisted Py wan! Want ard l.d
Ignorance into monstrOus detormity, and
the message he speaks goes stralsht 70
1he hearts Of the plain farmers on lns
benches His brethren these, and steeped
They gather around him after the SER
vice their hearts burning within them'
siytv children who had never heard
bobolink or listened 70 the music OF the
laughing waters Of a brook cost the Trlo-
une Fresh Air Fund Ns7 g. for a two weeks
experience in the country In that summer
OF 1871. The average cost per capita that
hrst season was therefore 50 Y.
Rapid Growth Of Funds Work.
During the summer Of 1878 the number Of
children taken into the country Jumped
from 90 TO lO76 The next year these figures
were more than doubled and by lsS2-the
sixth season Of the moyement-the total
Tor the season reached $3.50 In six years
more. that is, by lsSs. this total had been
practically doubled again having reached
lQeeo Around this figure the number sen,
out annually has lowered ever since.
When. after three decades Of exacting
service. the health of Mr.. Parsons failed
and no was forced TO resign his leadership,
the Rev Dr.. John Bancroft Devins was
called 20 take UP the work where the
founder had left It. This was in 1906, and
Tor five years DR.. Devins worked toward
tho high ideal which was expressed by
him shortly before his death, q few months
1Rc.
Nct perfection but vision must be the
goal. not satisfaction with VIVA, is accom-
pHehed IN given year but an intense oe-
sire 10 make each coming year petlei thal
tue closing one; 90 learn by experience ~
profit by mistakes. 10 regard eacn cIhd
rhat is intrusted to ones care as a sacred
'rust; 20 fill each little life 50 tull OF nappl-
ness and each little body 30 fuN OF
strength and vigor that the fortnight in
= farmers family, or in a Fresh Air nome,
will be the fortnight 70 which the chlld
vii measure its days OF JOY lh tne coming
years.
Dr. Devins said that all those Who con-
triJuted 10 the Fund by service or by gifts
might feel. with Whittier, that he had a
part IN the final victory. Surely the lines
have pathetic fitness when viewed in
connection with Dr. Deyins's recent and
sudden death.
Others shall sing the song
Others shall right INC wrong
Finsh what I begin
And all ] fail Of win.
What matter ! or they.
10 that the right word be Talp.
and life the sWteter made.
No report IN Fresh Air work would DO
satisfactory that did not begin with an ex-
preston Of gratitude 20 two classes OF peo-
Die: Those who In small towns and villages
and on the farms OF Massachusetts, Con-
necticut Vermont New York. New Jersey
and PENNSYLVANIA annually invite thou
sands OF children 70 their hospitable nomes'
and those who furnish the money for the
earfare, the principal item of expense ana
this notwithstanding the very generous re-
ductions made by almost al the raHrodos'
Thousands Of friends have made II pos
eible for the Fund 10 eXpend about SfooV"
20 send nearly 900 children TO the eoun-
,rv for two weeks each during the thirty
dve years the Fresh Air work has been
conducted The number OF other children
sent into the country for one day by pri-
vate gifts not included in the Fund totals
moro than 10000, making therefore q
stunning aggregate of more than iDVD
benefcisries.
These children, without exception. come
from the congested tenement districts OF
New York. II choosing them no discrimi-
nation is made as race or relg!on'
pstbAr the benefits o. season are made
20 Jew and Gentle. Protestant ana
Catholic; 70 Italian, Russian. American
and Armenian without distinction
Fund Maintains Many Homes.