The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-07-09
FRESH AIR WORK
GETTING STARTED
Four Applications and S21 Received by
Mrs \. l.. ROhde Up to This
Morning-HistOry of Movement

Four fresh air children are sure of
vacations in BrattlebOro beginning July
2S through the generosity and interest of
three persons, and it is believed by the
committee that many others will be in
cluded before the list finally is sent to
the New York headquarters 10 days be-
fore the date for the children to arrive
here.
Tn to this morning cash contributions
of $21 had been received by Mrs. y. l..
Rohde telephone 354-Y1, through whom
applications are made. and it is expected
that when the wheel gets to rolling it will
gain impetus rapidly.
In connection with the work a history
of the Tribune Fresh Air fund and what
it has done in past seasons is interesting
as taken from recent issue of the Fresh
Air News:
On June 3, 1921, the Tribune Fresh
Air Fund began the 45th year of it's
activity. The Fresh Air5 idea was
given to the world in a sermon preached
by Rev Willard Parsons in his little
Presbyterian church at Sherman, Pa.
Z he first Sunday in June. 1877. The text
for the sermon was ''Inasmuch as We
have done it unto one of the least of
these, my brethren, ye have done it un-
to Me"
Prior to his assignment to the parish
at Sherman Mr.. Parsons had worked
4 sue.
New York, in those days as today the
worst tenement section of the city
There he had come to realize the hOr-
Tors of tenement life and the sOrdid-
ness of the existence the children of
the tenemcnts were born to. He be-
lieved that if the people of his new par
ish could be convinced of the awfulness
of tenement conditions as he knew
them they would help him TO bring re-
lief to some OF the children Of the ten
ements whom he knew
His sermon was his attempt to con
vince them 1t succeeded. and he was
commissioned by his Pensioners to 60
to his former parish that week and
bring hack from il, 10 be entertained in
their homes, some of the little waits
for whom his heart burned.
That summer saw 60 pitiful little
East Siders transplanted from their
town streets to the cool green country
about Sherman. The next year saw
l.076 follow them to Sherman and
OF her places To which Mr.. Parsons ap-
pea led for helm in his self imposed task
In few years the work had taken on
such proportions that its founder gave
up his parish work in order to devote
his time entirely to the Fresh Air cam
paign. And from that time forward uu
til his death in 1906 it consumed all
his time and energy.
The question of how the work should
be financed naturally arose as soon rs
the idea began 10 take root. TN 1880 the
Tribune agreed 10 assume this responsi
bilitv and sought the support of ats
readers i'm the good cause The Irr
hune's backing not only secured the
necessary funds but knowledge of the
movement was spread far and wide
through the columns of the paper
Communities all through the East read
about it. approved it and lent their as.
siStance b. inviting the Fund to send
them PARTIES and guests.
Bv 1892 the number OF children sent
ont during a single summer had in,
creased to more than $1,000. Since that
time yearly average OF 10000 vaca
tious has been maintained.
I'm the a years of work which are now
history. fortnight Tor longerl vacations
have been provided for 367.0sl lads anc
lassies from tenement homes. Durine
that period more than 81 100000 has
been contributed by a ld-loving pub
| lie 10 meet the expenses OF the work
| 1t is the Tribune Funds proud boast
| that of all this money not a penny has
| heen expended for the overhead admin
| istrative expenses of the campaign
| Every dollar of the public's money ha:
| been expended directly for vacation:
! for needy boys and girls.