New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-07
FRESH AIR NEEDS PRESS
Years Work Must Stop Unless
Contributions Increase.
RECEIPTS FALL OFF $14,930
Beneflciaries of Tribune Fund
So Far This Season Approx
mate 5000 Children.

The Tribune Fresh Air Fund has given
n'pe thousand benefciaries two weeks or
more In the country this summer. This Is
the approximate record to date. Addi-
tional parties are still to be sent away.
To pay the expenses OF this stupendous
undertaking a little less than $4,000 has
been contributed by those who have heard
the cry of the children In the city's
crowded tenement houses The expense of
providing country fortnights for 9,3IS chill
dren last year was s47,sSo. or s. II per
capita.
A comparison OF these figures will make
II evident at once that the Tribune fund
IS facing deficit for the seasons work
of at least sl0,D0-and there are still
heart broken children pleading for few
days In the green fields. still little conva-
lescents just out of hospitals and in need
OF pure air and sunshine. and still little
hollow checked youngsters on the verge
OF tuberculosis whom only change from
their city surroundings can save.
The falling off I'm contributions In aid
OF the Tribune Fresh Air campaign this
year Is attributed chiefly to the cool
weather which has prevailed during al
most the entire summer. Swelterins days
always send the money flooding into the
Fresh Air Fund treasury. while q cool
spell causes receipts to drop off imme-
diately.
Not for Hot Spells Only.
This is due, in part to misconception
on the part Of most people as TO what the
Fresh Air crusade aims TO accomplish
Many people believe that 1t is carried on
principally to get the children OF the poor
out OF their surroundings during the hot
spells of the summer This view. how
ever. neglects the fact that the hot spells
In any summer are comparatively few
and therefore not the most important
factor TO be considered in planning Fresh
Air work. Tho great fact 10 be pondered
is that every day In the year the children
of the clty's tenement houses are shut up
to a sordid life passed in the haunts of
disease. amid foul air, and far removed
from everything that Is clean and pure
and beautiful. n tho days be hot tho
life Is a little moro unbearable and some
victims are claimed n little the sooner II
they be cool the life. is still devoid OF
beauty JOY or opportunity. and the steady
wearing grind Of existence goes on Just
the same.
II is the aim OF the Tribune Fresh Air
Fund TO take these children and show
them q better way OF life. TO show them
how beautiful the world may be, 10 in
spire them and give them a taste OF care
free joy. and withal. by means OF pure
air. good food and cleanliness. to fortify
their bodies against the conditions among
which they live, so that they may survive
these conditions until they have attained
TO the age when independence will make
possible a breaking away from them.
A Deficit Threatened.
II Is a realization OF this less obvious
aim Of the Fresh AIR crusade that impels
the officers OF the Tribune fund TO carry
on the work as vigorously in cool az I'm
hot summers. The following OF that policy
in 1912 seems 10 threaten "A deficit. And
the threatened deficit means the sudden
ending Of the crusade for the year unless
resources are Immediately placed at the
disposal OF the manager OF the fund.
Several thousand OF former supporters
OF the Tribunes work have thus far this
year withheld their contributions. repe-
tition OF their gifts OF past years would
prevent the threatened shortage OF funds
and make possible the completion Of the
seasons plans. To them and TO others
who might help II they would the faces
OF the children are turned.