New-York tribune., 1921-06-29
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund
Watertown, N. Y, Has Beaten All Records; s'Provi
dence and The Fresh Air Fund
Are Working Together

The Watertown N. Y, Fresh Air
Committee has beaten all records for
at least the last decade in the number
Of children it is to entertain for Fresh
Air vacations this summer. It's invi-
tation list to date asks for 352 chill
dren, and the committee thinks the
number may yet go to 400.
The party leaves New York at mid
night on July /, to arrive in Water
town next morning. And most of the
cltiZens will be at the railroad to OK
tend royal welcome.
The size of the party is sufficient
proof of the spirit of hospitality which
prevails in and around Watertown, but
the folks there didn't want to cave
any doubt on this score. Most Fresh
AR parties take q train to return to
New York exactly two weeks from the
date of the departure from New York.
But to this idea Watertown said,
mo! NO. Those kiddies have just
got 10 pave two full weeks of play.
we we won't count the day they get here
the party arrives at 9 in the morning,
mind you nor the day they set out
for home. They get here on the the Cd %
well begin to count their days on the
Sd. Their two full weeks will be IN
on the 18th; you can start them home
on the 18TH. aot minute before"
ana The Tribune Fund didn't object
not a word.
Sixteen Full Days
From o'clock On July 2. when
the children arrive, until 9 o'clock on
july -, when they start home. is six
teen full days. That makes 5.632 davs
bo
are to get. What will that mear 10
tae children? As an indication, read
me stories of four children who are 10
go along
One invitation came from family
who wanted, if possible, to entertain
two children whom they might adopt.
The Fund put cut its feelers for two
such. and unearthed Mary and Ethel
During the "fu" epidemic these sisters
lost both father and mother. There
were no relatives who could care for
them
To the social service worker of the
New York Hospital, who interested her
self In them, there seemed to be no
way out for the girls but an orphan
asylum. But the neighbors protested.
They had a prejudice against such in
stitutions. "They're nice girls" said
they. "If the girls are brought up in
an asylum, life will never amount 20
much for them. Well take care Of
them"
And for two years they have. First
one neighbor has housed and fed them.
then another. When the girls needed
shoes, one neighbor bought them.
When they needed dresses, another sup
Piled them. When they needed some
thing else, some one furnished what
was lacking.
Who says there are no neighbors IN
New York?
Then came the invitation from Water
town, and the neighbors thrilled with
delight. perhaps this is what we've
been saving them for" they said. "Now
they will have real chance"
providence" Is Helping
Another invitation called for two
''little" girls, the smallest the Fund
would send-not more than three or
four years old Just as the children
were being allotted the welfare worker
of the Broome Street Tabernacle Wis
tied the fund office to make a request,
and was asked if she had two such
little" girls whom she wanted to send.
NO." she replied, 81 don't believe
any mother would let them go as young
as that"
Then she went her way, but she
hadn't been gone more than twenty
minutes when she telephoned:
oh, please save those two places for
me. Providence and the Fresh Air Fund
must work together. When | got back
here at the church I found a young
Italian mother waiting for me with her