New-York tribune., 1919-07-24
The Tribune
Fresh Air Fund

The idea Of fresh air vacations orig.
mated with the founder of The
Tribune Fresh Air Fund. the Rev.
Willard Parsons. His plan was to
place children in private homes in the
country, where charitably inclined
persons could be persuaded to enter
tam them as guests without charge.
Although many organizations now
adays provide country vacations for
tenement children at little or no cost
10 the youngsters or their guardians,
mono of them ever has been able to
40 the work IN the way originally de-
vlsed. Their vacations are given in
sozcallod fresh air camps.
The Tribune fund also maintains a
number Of camps, but it still does a
large part of its work in the original
way
Even organizations which maintain
camps Of their own agree that the
plan OF placing children in private
families produces the most lasting and
the best results. The reason the plan
IS not generally followed is simply
taat 1t requires a widespread organi-
za'ion through the country districts.
10 place children III private familice
1T Is necessary to get into close touch
With the people Of the country com
n'uri;iee
Formed by Field Agents
This the Tribune fund does through
a system cf so-calcd fresh air con
mlttees, which actually are auxiliarice
OF the fund. The committees orig
inaliy are organized by field agen.s
sent out by the fund for the purpose
Once organized they usually contin4
TO junction rom year to year
The committees in the early sum
lner canvass their neighborhoods fos
invitations. Il is their duty to guar
antee the homes in which children
are to be placed. to arrange for the
reception and distribution of the
party, to maintain general oversight
OF them during their stay and to col
lect them and turn them over to the
fund when the vacation is at an end
The fund selects She children.
gives them physical examination.
escorts them to and from the place of
enterta inment and pays the expense of
transportation
2S5 Placed In q Day
Two hundred and eighty-five boys
and girls were placed in private famil-
les for vacations by this method yes
terday.
In yesterdays Fresh Air article the
children were pictured as being shipped
cut IN carload lots--and they we're
But. once they reach the country, they
are not treated a carload merchandise.
In ,heir places CT Entertainment every
one Of them becomes = decidedly in
dividual guest. The committees keep
careful watch Of them and make care
Iui provision for their Individual needs
Excerpts from q lettcr written by the
chairman Of the Sheffield, Mass, COM
mittee viii give some hints as 10 what
IS done in this respect. He writes:
Il think the children havc all had
a very good outing. they have made
many friends Tor themselves and Tor
The Tribune Fund
"Motor rides picnic party, etc,
were given them.
Some of the children show much
moro color and added weirht han 9th
ers, but lhinl. tkay al return better
physically tiaan when they came.
hosfesses Lord in Praise
Il found it desirable 20 change the
places OF two Of the girls. for no fault
Of their own or of their hostesses One
put where two other OF the girls
were being entertained and the other
in q fire family where she had 4 girl
and Z boy Of about her own arc 3or
playmatea.
'Al the hostcsses speak in praise Of
the children, and say they wish they
were to stay permanently.
Virginia, Tor whose stay wired you,
is in q comfortable farmers family.
The mother is bigheartod woman and
will see that Wee gets all the fresh
milk. eggs, air, light etc. she needs
TO put pink into her white cheeks. We
hope Wee Will show as marked improve
ment in the next two weeks as Alice
and Agnes made while they were in the
same family"
This is the sort Of personal care