New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-05
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund

"Of all the charitable agencies in
greater New York nothing is so pop
ular as the Fresh Air Fund. 1t has
been called the most beautiful charity
OF modern times and so far as there
can be any beauty to charity this
merits the superlative degree"
This is the approval of the Tribune
Funds work-given somewhat grudg-
ingly, to be sVre-accorded by writer
who believes, and attempts to prove,
that all charity is mistaken-wrong
Praise from an unbeliever is praise
indeed
Is he right? Is there no beauty to
charity? Should there be no helping
hand stretched forth to the down and
outs? Should the sick go unhealed
because poor? Should the unfortunate,
hungry, be allowed to starve? Should
the orphaned be left shelterless and
unclothed?
To such a proposition the world
would thunder its answer, mol"
There is no finer beauty in the world
than the beauty of charity 1t is like
the quality of mercy, sit blesseth him
that gives and him that takes" Char
ity and mercy are the same thing.
Does some disbeliever argue, "But
charity makes people shiftless They
know that they will not be allowed to
starve or go naked, that some one will
feed and clothe them, so they make no
effort on their own behalf?
Negligible in Numbers
Such people exist. But any charitable
worker will tell you that they are q
negligible number compared with those
who seek or take charity only as last
resort.
From the point Of view of the doer
charity is the warmest, sincerest, most
unselfish of human impulses. From
the point of view of the recipient it
Is gentle rain of human love upon the
parched heart.
But does the Fresh Air Fund "meri,
the superlative degree 7" Is it "the
most beautiful charity of modern
tines?
The Tribune Fund is too busy doing
It's work to attempt to answer the ques-
ton. But disregarding the question OF
degree, it believes that there are as
poets in which the beauty of the work
Is easily apparent.
Its work is work for children. And
poverty is never so pitiful as when il
overtakes children. An adult may be
classified as worthy or unworthy OF
help, but not so child. No boy OF
girl is responsible for his condition
IN life. His hunger is not the result
of his own shiftlessness. His sickness
IS not the result of his own wantor
excuses. He does not live in a terrible
tenement because of his own short.
comings or failures. Whatever the
mlstortunes that befal1 him, he does
not bring them on his own head.
Deserves All Relief
He deserves whatever the world and
charity. can do to give him relief
Charity, 70 doubt, began in the
present need was given the hungry
The sick were healed and sent on thei,
way. The naked were clothed.
In modern times practically all char
table effort is aimed at accomplishing
a second end. Not only is the needy
one given the immediate relief his case
demands, but an effort is made to &C
help him that he will not fall into neec
again.
The Fresh Air Fund does both thes.
! things. 1t gives relief from the blaz
ing heat of intolerable tenement homes
Fand streets. 1t aims to make ailine
bodies strong against the attacks o:
disease in the future. 1t gives a new
feQneSs 10 blood, new vision to child
ish minds petrifying and growing dull
under the sameness and drabness O
tenement life.
1t goes step beyond rehabilitatio,
and prehabilitates" 1t takes children
when they are impressionable ant
malleable. 1t shows them the beautiful
side of the world, shows them a new
kind Of home and home life, inspire
them with the idea that there is 9
better kind of home and of life thar
those of the tenements to which the,
can aspire as their years increase ant
they begin to govern their own affairs
New Gifts to Fund