THE FRESH AIR FUND.
[To THE EDITOR OT TEM SPECTI.TOR."] Sin,—I venture once again to bring before your readers the work of the Fresh Air Fund, which in the past twenty-three years has been the means of sending nearly three and a half million children for a day's outing, and over thirty-one thousand for a fortnight's holiday in the country or by the sea. Many who were the guests of the Fresh Air Fund in its early days are now fighting our battles on land and sea, and I think I may say that wherever our soldiers and sailors are found the Fresh Air Fund is known and honoured. Sub- scriptions in past years have come from the bill stations of India, from the South African veld, from the Fleet at sea ; wherever there are soldiers or sailors gathered together they are always ready to spare a kindly thought for the poor children who pass their cheerless lives in the slums of our great cities, and the little ones are not forgotten even in the dug-outs of Flanders and Northern France. Recently five wounded soldiers clubbed together and sent a small sub- scription, expressing their appreciation of all the country had done for them and their hope that " the kiddies " would not be overlooked. Overlooked I feel sure they will not be, for the generous public realizes how necessary is the work of the Fresh Air Fund. The day's outing has marked a turning-point in the life of many a little one of the slums, bringing better influences and sweeter surroundings into an existence that is ordinarily dreary and hopeless, and often degrading. Incal- culable good can be traced to the fortnight's holiday scheme, a comparatively recent addition to the work of the Fund which it is hoped to extend greatly ; many an ailing mite has owed a fresh lease of life and soul to a happy holiday spent in wholesome and beautiful country home. The King is Patron of the Fresh Air Fund and a generous annual subscriber. There are no expenses of organization. These are borne by the promoters. Every penny subscribed is spent on the children. Ninepence pays for a day's outing for one child; £8 28. pays for a complete day party of two hundred with the necessary attendants ; and 10s. will give one childa fortnight's holiday. Every subscriber of £8 2s. may have the day's outing known by any name that he chooses, and there could, I venture to think, be no better way of honouring a dear memory or giving thanks for a safe return. The children are taken without distinctions of class or creed from the slums of the forty-two great cities of the United Kingdom. Sub- scriptions should be addressed to the Honorary Secretary, Fresh Air Fund, 23 St. Bride Street, London, E.C.—I am,
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