New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-22
FINDS WAY TO COUNTRY.
Little Girl, with Small Charge,
Goes to Office of Fresh Air Fund.
RECEIPTS FALL OFF BY HALF
Much Money Yet Needed to Send
Children of the Poor Away
for Recreation.
Il wanter go to the country"

Il wanter go to the country"
The speaker was a girl OF seven, who led
by the hand a boy Of four. The man TO
whom the remark was addressed was
bending over his desk. absorbed In his
mornings mail. He glanced up distracted
~ at his visitors at first, then, getting
them full in his line Of vision. he smiled
and said. inquiringly: "Huh?'
Il wanter go TO the country" repeated
the older OF the pair.
~ me- too nsped the younger in con-
frmation.
This is only a place where we sell the
country" laughed the recipient Of the visit,
but | guess I know where you want to
go. all right"
so he left his mail and taking them by
the hand, one on each side. he led them
down the corridor to where at the end the
door OF the Tribune Fresh Air Fund of1ce
stood open. The simple minded youngsters,
having been directed TO the ninth floor OF
the Tribune Building. had turned In at
the first door they came to, which hap
pened 10 be the entrance to the offices OF
a realty corporation.
These kidets wanted me to send them
10 the country. but guess you can do II
better than | could" said their escort by
way Of Introduction when they had reached
the Fresh Air Fund Office. 80 I'll leave
them with you
Needless to say. the names Of the chill
dren were taken. and they will soon be
sent to the country" Thousands Of chill
dren In all parts Of the city are saying the
same words to different people. They rush
breathlessly into settlement houses and pour
the words into the ever willing ears OF the
settlement workers: they make known their
wishes TO agents OF charitable organiza-
lions OF all kinds, or they find their way
to the office of the Tribune fund itself.
like the pair who were put on the right
road by the busy man Ard usually the
person 10 whom the request Is made thinks.
II he does not say II aloud as the man did
when he turned to leave the Fresh Air
Fund office. You look rs though you need
ed something Of the sort"
The requests Of about eleven thousand
children for vacations have been turned
over TO the management OF the fund so
far this summer. Not an hour passes, not
a mail is opened but the need OF some new
applicant is made known. And any one
who knows his New York will never doubt
that there are many more than eleven
thousand children in the city for whom
country outing is necessary, and who yet
have absolutely no other way OF obtaining
one than through charity
Last year II cost $4,000 to provide for
eleven thousand children. II will cost fully
as much this year. Up 20 date half that
sum has been subscribed by the public
During the week ended to-day the receipts
Of the fund have been s42so 90. almost ex-
actly half as much as during the preced-
ing week The falling of has doubtless
been largely due to the cooler weather
which the city has enjoyed during the last
week People forget that heat Is not the
only thing the tenement house children
have TO escape.
This week has seen 7s2 Of the needy ap-
plicants satisfied in their desire for vaca-
ton. The parties scheduled for next week
already number 1855 and this number Will
| doubtless be considerably increased before
the parties finally leave for their destina-
| tons.
The latest place 10 extend an invitation
10 the children is Bradford, Penn, which
has sent an order for about three carloads
Of little Fresh Airs"