New-York tribune., 1913-07-25
RACK IN RAGS AND TAGS
AND ONE IN VELVET, TOO
Fresh Air Children Leave Joys
of Country for City, but
Brown and Happy.
EYES BRIGHT, CHEEKS FULL
palf a Hundred Girls Leave
St. Helens Home
Fifty More Start
for There.

From over the hills and far away they
,o,,s hack 10 town yesterday. some in
-.gs and some in tags and some-no. one
IN a velvet gown. But, despite the rags
and tags. ana even the velvet gown, they
we're happy-my, how happy
The rags and TAGS were. I'm a way Of
Speaking. the fruit of the Fresh Air tree
under which the homecomers had been
soiourning for u space. So was their
happiness, too. for that matter. When
these same young folk set out for the
hills from which yesterday they came
hack they were as neat as so many pins.
But YOU can't expect a fellow. even II
she is a girl, to keep too terribly neat
out there in the hill country. Hasn't she
got 10 roll down those grassy slopes and
scramble through those prickly thickets? q?
What brand OF frocks and petticoats
wouldn't be reduced 10 rags and tags
under the circumstances? The velvet
gown had stood the test a little better.
but even its owner had 10 confess TO the
loss of a few buttons down the bach.
The Journey homeward over the hills
started Yesterday morning AT S o'clock
from the little village Of lnterlaken,
Mass. which nestles amid the Berkshires
about midway between Stockbridge and
Lenox. The travellers were a party Of
Auv girls who had been spending two
weeks as guests at St Helens Home
which is, at least at this season Of the
wear. the most important part Of Inter
laken.
From St Helens the journey for the
girs led by stage up across the very
crest Of the Berkshires and then down u
Richmond Furnace. a drive of seven
miles. which for d good part OF the dis
tance skirts the upper hillside5 in such L
manner that there is continually spread
out before the traveller a wonderful land
scape Of wood and field, winding stream
and placid lake. To the eyes II the wear
ers Of the rags and tags, and the velvet
gown too, accustomed as they were 10
little but the citys clutter OF brick walls
ana pulley poles. the scene " IL Neritd-
bic fairyland
During the long reaches up the hills
when the straining stase horses made but
slow speed the girls took opportunity 10
hop out and pick the wild flowers by the
roadside. with the result that when they
passed through the Grand Central Ter
minal Yesterday afternoon they gave the
impression of a peripatetic flower show,
in which black-eyed susans and golden
rod had the call for popularity
At Richmond Furnace the stages were
forsaken for the railroad, and the journey
lost a good deal of its poetry. once on
the train however. thoughts Of some
one" waiting TO meet them at the termi-
nal and the stories of good times enjoyed
and wonders seen that would have 10 be
told began to fiji the minds of the girls
and helped to occupy the time during the
lons ride TO New York
While these girls were Journeying city
ward a crowd o: nifty others were travel
ling in the opposite direction to take their
places at St. Helens. To-day party OF
fifty boys will set out 70 take the places
OF a ike number who are leaving the
home this morning.
In addition TO the children VINO go 10
St. Helen's this morning. there will be a
party OF one hundred girls sent by the
Tribune Fund 20 Eunice Home. at chapel
Hill. ~ J., and a party of twenty-five {
girls for Elm Cottage, at Fairfield, Conn.