New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-11
Pathetic Letters Bring in
$50, and Writers Will
Go to Country.
MANY GROUPS HAVE
HAD TO BE REFUSED
Families of Men in tuberculosis
Sanatorium Have Waited
Months in Vain.

in The Tribune eight reasons why Tvs
readers are constantly urged TO con-
tribute toward the expenses OF Its
Fresh Air work. Each reason was
simply a letter from little child or
a mother pleading for chance TO go
to the country.
These reasons appealed so strongly
to a reader of The Tribune in Wells
boro, Penn, that he sent his check Tor
$50 acknowledged under his name pc
low in order that each one OF the
letters might be answered YES" Ihey
will be.
Hundreds of similar reasons might
be published. They are on file at the
Fresh Air Fund office, awaiting the de-
cision of the public concerning them.
But there are other reasons that ought
to be made known to the friends and
potential friends of Fresh Air work
Here is the first:
Yesterday a request had 10 be re-
fused to provide transportation for
party of fifty mothers and one hun
dred children to Otisville, n. Y. 1t was
a hard request to refuse, for the party
was to be made up of the wives and
children of the men patients at the
city's tuberculosis sanatorium at the
place named. The mothers and the
children need the fortnight of country
air and good food to keep them free
from the disease to which they have III
been exposed. Many of them have
been looking forward to the outing for
months, as the time when they shall
see once more the loved ones from
whom they have been separated.
Il will still be possible to send these
women and children if funds are pro-
vided; but however pitiful the cases
may be railroad tickets for them must
be paid for in money. The cost OF
making them happy would be $3.50
The accommodation for them are walt
ing.
Little Brothers" Disappointed.
A similar request for transportation
had to be denied later in the day to
the Big Brother Movement. They
were to send a party of the little
brothers" Of the movement to tre
Groton School camp for fortnight
outing and we're depending on the
Tribune Fund for the railroad fares,
as they have done for several years
past. The cost in this case was Sl12.
The fact behind the refusal is thai,
owing to business depression and the
European war, the contributions TO
the Tribune Fund for 1914 up to date
are $1,000 90 less than contributions
up to the same date in 1913.
Here is a second reason: Friends
in the country are hard at work pre-
pairing to receive parties of Fresh
k:r Children. From Rutland, Vt,
comes the word that entertainment
will be provided for sixty-seven chill
dren, beginning August 20, if the
Tribune Fund will send them. 1t viii
cost S21" to do it-not a high price
for 1874 weeks of country vacation m
the Green Mountains.
From Proctor, VT, comes the word
II at entertainment will be provided
for sixty-eight children, beginning
August IS, if they can be sent. Proc
tor is one of several towns that are
to combine in taking a large group
of "Fresh Airs" How many will be
called for is net known, as Proctor
alone has reported so far. The cost
be over 5000, if the children are sent.
Invitations have been received from
other places. From still others inyi-
tations are on the way. Can they be
accepted?
Sends in Call for Help.
A third reason came in over the
telephone yesterday afternoon in what
seemed like-and was, in truth-a call
for help. The social service depart
ment of the Mour. Sinai hospital sent
the call. IL was something like this:
when can you tend some more chill
dren away for as? We are being
mobbed daily by the children who
need to go. You have sent some Of
our girls, but scarcely any boys.
Can't you help us? They are all very
needy cases. We've lots of girl left
STILL
This reason comes over the .ele-
phone or through the mails these hot
days times too many to count. The
fact back of this oft-repeated appeal
is that, on an average, only about 25
per cent of the children of each OIL
ganization have been sent away up to
the present time, although more than
30 per cent of the summer is past.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
rHf-