New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-01
CHILDREN NEED HELP
Practically No Provision for
100000 During Vacation.
THEIR HEALTH AT STAKE
1924 Deserving Youngsters
Seek Assistance of The
Tribune Fund.

one thousand four hundred and seventy
nine children have thus far this year been
sent away for country vacations b. the
Tribune Fresh Air Fund Practically all OF
this number were started on their happy
tourney last Friday and SATURDAY., and are
now harvesting full crops Of health and
happiness
with the closing Of tho public schools on
Fridav more than 500, 600 school children
laid aside their books and left the school
house behind them for ten weeks. OF these
at least 500 600 tthe exact number Is doubt
less larger were virtually thrown upon the
streets for the summer.
This vast multitude Of street rangers ~
technically on vacation, but n n safe 10
say that for more than ore-thrd Of 4 no
provision whatever has been made for a
real vacation There 10 nothing for u TO
look forward 10 but a dreary stretch ct
days. the monotony Of which IS varied by
the rise and fall of the temperature only.
Following the lead Of the Tribune Fresh
Air Fund, many organizations have UNDER
taken Of late years 10 provide summer out
inzs for the poor Of all ages. adult as we'll
as child These enterprises are usually
maintained, however, in connection With
churches or social settlements. and are con-
seauently somewhat restricted in their
sphere of action
The church organization very property
provides first for the poor ~ the church
with which II IS connected and only rarely
Is able 70 go much further. Social settle
ments also provide first for the children OF
the neighborhood who are I'm the habit OF
freauenting the particular cettlement IN
question.
There are. however. rultitudes ~ ths
poor whom the settlements and the chnrches
do not reach. II Is among these that the
hundred thousand children referred 20 as
having no provision made for them exist.
They arc the thousands that are TO be seen
on the hottest DAYS half naked At their
play in the crowded streets of many sec
tons Of the city. II is rpr these that the
Tribune fund aims 10 provide this summer.
From these tots Of the streets, directly or
indirectly 1924 applications for place on
its vacation lists have come 10 III" Trth-
une fund I'D 10 tho present date. Practically
very one of these applications has been in
vestigated already. and the applicant found
10 he proper subject for help. II the
funds received warrant IT all will az some
time during the summer be sent away for
tho needed outing. This number will be.
however, more than II has been possible to-
provide for in many years.
The best efforts Of previous years have
left uncounted thousands of children with
out the brefest respite from the nopotory.
and hsrdships of summer I'm streets and
alleys where conditions of life arc indie
scribably bad.
Many of them. unable to withstand the
combined attack Of heat and unspeakable
surroundings. have succumbed, when 3 fort
night in tho country would have meant
years Of life snd opportunity for them.
There arc homes enough in the country
where city children will he received to
make IT possible to send away every school
boy or girl who needs IT, Each day new
people send word Of their willingness TO
open their homes n the children can be
sent. Within the week the people Of Utica
and its vicinity will welcome three parties
Of seventy children each. To-morro"
Pltts6ald will open its door, TO seventy
FIVE. and places too numerous to mention
will before the week Is out. receive larger
or smaller parties Of fresh air guests.
All that Is necessary In most cases rs that
the railroad fare Of the children be paid 10
and from their destinations. In this man
ner the hundred thousand for whom as yet
no provision has been made may all BE-
cared for.
Last year the Tribune fund expended
nearly $4,000 In its summer campaign.
Larger resources will be necessary II all
whose need is acute are to be cared for
For these resources the Tribune fund APP
peals TO a generous public.