New-York tribune., 1919-08-18
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund

The following interesting account of
her experience as Fresh Air hostess
was written by Annie Nettleton Bourne
after she had entertained two Tribune
guests at her country home for two
weeks:
"Contrary to tradition. it is much
easier to say mo- than yes Otherwise,
why was 'No!' the spontaneous and
phone that we harbor two of the chill
dren to be sent by Fresh Air society
for fortnight in the country? But
scarcely had the receiver snapped into
place after fabby excuse for our in
hospitality when Reason and Kindness
seized US by an arm apiece and marched
US up to the target. A barn of house
furnished with ndestructibles, more
than hundred acres to roam in, an
overstocked garden and milk to throw
away-what had we been thinking of :?
"Suffragists though we are, we knew
that boys would be more interesting
so we had avaled ourselves of the
offered choice of sex as we'll as of ma
tionality. Little Italians we would
have, not over twelve years old. They
would be pretty and bright, and ltal
ians were great weeders.
"They came, tagged with name and
age. In size neither much exceeded the
restrictions for parcel post. Angelo
was the dark, brown-ey type of ltal
ian, sturdy looking, though under
grown; Pasquale had gray eyes, long
lashes to match and long, rangy, thn
body bearing sad suggestions Of lack of
nourishment. Woollen caps with wide
visors, that sitting August day, sat
upon their heads we'll down over the
ears. Their personal appearance JUS
titled the happy decision previously
made to house them in the tent
Baggage Easily Disposed OF
Zone suitcase was a white cotton bag
screwed tight at the top; the other its
duplicate, only black. They bore them
to the tent, and obediently, if wonder
ingly set about the use of nail brushes
and washcloths, unknown tools. When
we was in the country the last time
whispered Pasquale, we lived in the
house Like Samson, they were igno-
miniously shorn, but it was of finger
nails. Angeles little bullet head had
been sanitarily clipped, a style not un
becoming to him, but some charity
worker had been either too much of an
artist or too much Of a scntimcntalist
TO cut off Pasquale's FURNISHED curls.
combs were accepted as precious
gifts, almost as curios; but Angeles
family had one. Pasquale it was, for
tunately, who had not been forbidden
to 90 into the lake. We looked to see
the curls emerge a shade lighter. Even
the doctor, he said it, warned Angelo,
apprehensively, when he heard rcck-
less talk of teaching little boys to
swim. He had been sick, he said
gravely. But I forgot was the only
light he could throw upon the nature
Of an illness which forbade so whole
some and delightful summer pas
time.
sometimes, however, the little fel
lows breath came pantingly and
there we're anxious lines in his brow.
His father, we learned, had been q
had welded an iron weighing fifty
pounds and 'already when he was sick
he worked Heart disease had killed
him. Had the big sister in New York
who stood packing shirtwaists in
boxes all those muggy days that An
gelo spent in the fields, but who had
taken time to fashion lovingly if
clum silly, the neat little garments that
filled his bag, noted signs of the dread
weakness in him? Dear little brother
don't go where it's dangerous she
| admOnlshed IN frequent letters.
Dinner Hour Welcomed
"The boys arrival was approximately
near the dinner hour. Fresh vegeta-
bles may have been unfamiliar, but
they obviously seemed harmless. Nor
were East Side manners specially diff
ferent from ours, with the possible
exception of occasionally ejecting &
suspected mouthful on the floor. And
the general butter knife served as &
short cut, but, really, why not? Surely
they heard enough talk Of laborsav-
ing devices. A piping hot day pointed
to some quiet occupation rather than
romping after dinner.
1--WE don't want to read no stories,
Pasquale started with decision, and An
gelo agreed, but pictures proved sc