New-York tribune., 1921-08-15
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund

1t rained yesterday at Bethany Home
and during the morning the "Fresh
Airs there had to keep under cover
of the porches which surround the big
building. AS always on such occasions
they fell to writing letters to the home
folk
After they had been at it while
they were asked how many of them
would like to have their letters printed
in The Tribune. No modesty about
bursting into print here-the whole
crowd volunteered as one girl.
"In the PAPER! O-o-oh, mister.
print mine please
"O-o-oh, NEVER had letter in
the paper
ooh, mister, you should take mine
Sec, it's nice written; it'll look good
in the paper!"
The Fresh Air column being not
long enough to accommodate 100 let
ters, it was finally decided that one
letter should be accepted from each
of the six companies into which "the
girls OF Rethany Home" are divided.
But the decision only divided the
clamorers into six clamoring groups,
and each member of each group as
sailed her particular "teacher" for the
honor. How select the lucky one?
By red hair ribbons! But, alas, the
choice of color was i'll advised. One
company boasted six red hair ribbons;
another four; another two. In onlv
one company was there just one. What
to do?
The widest red hair ribbon! Then
there was great snatching off of
ribbons and laying of them together,
and a series of disputes as to whose
was widest that had to be decided
in most cases by the teacher"
Graded by Height
The six were finally weeded out and
graded by height, with the understand
ing that the letter of the tallest should
be put at the top of the list, that Of
the next tallest next, and so on down
the steps.
Then difficulty arose with the first
letter. What it was will be made ap-
parent by glance at the letter. But
the promise Of publication had been
given and had to be kept.
"Droga Mamo: Przyjechalam w'srode
popoludniu do contruw Mech mama
mnic napisze czy Wladzia przyjechala
contruw, tn dosta jenny, jesc dobre.
Jestesny zaraz przy wodzie i idziemy
codziennie do wady, Mech mama ME
zaponxni mnie poslac boxe cukerkow i
kapetusz. Prasze napisac predka pos
lac CO prosilam
"Kochana corka,
ELLA"
ALI of which means, according to a
running translation by Ella:
Dear Mama, am coming home from
the country on a Wednesday. l am
Il
swimming every day. Please send me
box of candy and a hat, so can go
to church on Sunday"
The next tallest after Ella handed
in as "copy" a post card containing
the following:
"Dear Mother: Just few lines to
let you know that I am fine it is so
nice out here we go Bathing every
day they give us lots to eat how is
Philip getting along how is John to
how is papa to how is very body at
home
"Ans. me back
From Angelina Bambino."
The third step down had written to
her best friend
Dear Annie: I am writing YOU a
few lines to let you know that reached
the country good. | love to stay in
the country sometimes when it is cool
we don't go to bathing when is warm
we go to swimming will you please as
soon as you will get the letter please
tell my mother to sent me O5c be-
cause | have no money I give YOU the
best regards to the whole family.
Good by
yours lovely cosine,
"Rose Bernstein"
Invites Papa to Visit
The next shorter felt for the lonli-
ness Of papa"
Dear papa: like it very much and
want YOU to sent me some candy not
any think eles and Mary and Vita like
to stay here and if you want to come
you could come to see US
"Your loving child,
Frances La Barbera."
The further down the steps. the
shorter the letters, naturally. This
was the fifth Bethany girls epistle:
Dear Mother: We was asking for
you and papa. And send me 20 cents.
We are having find time here. Tell
Ant Mary | was asking for her
From Raphael and f. p"
Shortest and sweetest was the last
of the six.
Dear Miss Roster: am haveinr a
sweete time hear. Please right
"From Ethel"
Why print their simple little let
ters? To show you that Tribune
"Fresh Airs" have good time in the
country-at least they say they do
and convince you that YOU ought to
make contribution to the Fund so