THE FRESH AIR FUND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1404, 2 April 1912, Page 3

THE FRESH AIR FUND.

THE COMING IHiITISH SI'MMEK. We have received for publication the following letter fron. .Mr. (.'. Arthur Pearson, under date February 21, which we comment! (u (lie practical attention of our readers :- "Oeir sir. - "It i- with deep gratitude for the help which his been accorded to the Fresii Air Fund by your reader* (lint in opening our 21-1 yearly campaign, I a-k you to allow -.no again to make an appeal- for subscriptions through your columns. "From my expeiience of what your readers have done in pasl years, 1 leal confident ilia! 1 shall not appeal in vain. "His Majesty the King, whose knowledge of the work done by (lie l-'.A.F. is drawn from a personal inspection of its methods, la-t year .signified his intention of becoming its patron. This gracious act— and the fact that his Mujestv allotted .£IOOO to the fund from the Maharajah of G'w.-lijr's Coronation gift—was no dtulit largely responsible for tho fact that 1011 was a record year both in the matter of subscriptions and the number of children benefited. "Two hundred and thirty-live thousand poor, half-starved, ill-clothed children, drawn from Ihe forty-one largest towns in the Foiled Kingdom, in addition lo London, had a glorious day in the fresh air of the country, with a"plentiful supply of good food.

"But a much more beneficial side of our work, and one which' it is my great desire to increase very largely, is that of providing a holiday of two weeks' duration at the tea-side or in some rural spot for the most needy and neglected children. Last year, IoSO such holidavs were arranged, making a total for the past four years of i(!,J95. The cost per child for these fortnightly .holidays is only 10s., and if those who subscribe could see the children getting a brief respite from their usual wretched, stifling surroundings, romping on the sands, paddling in the sea. running races, and doing their best to forget their troubles and cares, they would feel abundantly rewarded for their generosity.

"Those of us who are better provided for, so tar as this world's goods are concerned, arrange our holidays as a matter of coulee, but unless an institution like the Fresh Air Fund steps in and looks, after the uncared-for children of our large cities, (here would be no break from the monotony and the sufferings of their wretched existence.

"In their courts and alleys Ihe summer days are hot, .stilling, an I intolerable; the nights are even worse when six or eight are crowded together in one small, dirty, evil-smelling roam! Such a life can hardly be imagi'ied by dwellers in your bright laud, and yet there are hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children, who have to exist under these circumstances.

"It is with the children—who are to be the men and women of the future—that v.e deal.

"Our workers through the winter have had inquiries from thousands of children with drawn, pinched faces and wistful eyes as to whether there is any chance for them of a respite. The answer for a great many of them is with your readers. Sub-cribers who feel moved to send remittances will have the knowledge that they have earned the gratitude, and, perhaps,, saved the life of a child who has scarcely a bright spot-to look forward to until lie is in't'orYiod that a holiday has been sjcure.l for him.

"A liht« pr.iblom fncfti Hie F.A.F. There arc quite 500.00(1. children in the I'nited Kini.'dom. '■', ho, (his coming summer, will not fret even one day's holiday, unless tint day is pnvided by the F.A.F. , Ninepeiico pays for n day in tlio country for one child, .mil .CS is. will provide ior a caiiiplpto jiMi'lv a' .!l)0 children with the necessary attendants to loek alter the'm. "Who axoiis,'sr yonr readers would like to comiee:r,ora'o some event in their fmnily history ]>v payinsr tor such a parly!' The prriy i'.'.ay he known liy whatever name the donor \ jshes. ".\n aspect of the Fresh Air Fund which commends il-eii' la I he pvutioa! is 'hat there are no exnenscs or iiihh iijoir.sv.il. 'I'lioe ere all brew by 111:' promoters, Willi (lie result thai every iicnny subscribe.) to l.oni lit the children for wlinm it is intended without iui.V rcduclit.n. "The address of tlie lion, .secretary is •2:1 SI. flride Street, London, E.C., and tic will !>:• :;lad to receive ::ny sains that vonr readers care to'forward. For I lie sake nf the little cues lor whom I plead, 1 (rust that there will be a generous response to my appeal. '"Yours faithfully, "•C. AKTHI'R I'EARSOX. "23 St. Bride Street, London, F.C."