Country Air for Poor Children
KINDLY folk, as they see their children romping in the hay- fields or on the beach at this time of year, often think of the poor mites in city shuns and wish that they too could share such simple joys. If the wish often remains ineffective, it is because many people do not know of the various agencies which provide holidays for poor children. Let us, for the convenience of our readers, name a few such agencies that are doing this admirable work.
Among the first of these there is, of course, the wonderful Church Army, which includes among its manifold activities the maintenance of holiday homes for poor children and their mothers as well. Prebendary Carlile, C.H., at 55 Bryanston Street, W. 1, will gladly receive subscriptions for these homes.
There is Pearson's Fresh Air Fund, which is thirty-five years old and counts its beneficiaries by the million. A Treasury note for £1 sent to the honorary secretary at 17A Henrietta Street, W.C. 2, will give some city waif a fortnight by the sea, and bring him back a new creature. Fifteen pence will enable the Fund to take a child for a day in the country— a fine investment.
Then the East End Mission, conducted by the Rev. F. W. Chudleigh at 583 Commercial Road, E. 1, sends hundreds of Stepney children to its Southend home for a week or two, and thousands of others for a day by the sea.
Again, the St. Giles's Christian Mission, supervised by Mr. W. Wheatley at 15 Gray's Inn Road, W.C. 1, has a holiday home at Maldon, where last year 1,149 children and adults
were boarded for a fortnight or so. _ _
John Groom's Crippleage, at Sekforde Street, Clerkenwell, E.C. 1, has a home at Clacton, where hundreds of blind or crippled girls are given a good seaside holiday. The Rev. W. No0 Lambert, of St. Gabries Vicarage, Poplar, E. 14, also maintains a holiday home for the many children in his desperately poor parish.
The Field Lane Institution, where the secretary is Mr. William Wilkes at Vine Street, Clerkenwell ROad, E.C. 1, sends two hundred children to the country or the Seaside for a fortnight's holiday.
The Seamen's Mission, directed by the Rev. W. H. H. Kelshaw at Jeremiah Street, E. 14, is doing a great work in the densely crowded district round the docks and does not forget the children and their need of fresh air. Farther east still there is the Victoria Docks Mission, conducted by Mr. J. R. Reeves, at Foster Hall, Tidal Basin, E. 16.
The Rev. A. Gilbert Adams, at Berger Hall, Empson Street, Bromley-by-Bow, E. 3, has charge of a vigorous mission in that forlorn quarter and needs help in giving the children at least a day's holiday from the slums.
Let us mention, too, an institution which retrieves boys and girls for good. That is the Alexandra Orphanage, founded as long ago as 1758 and now more energetic than ever. The treasurer, Lord Marshall, at 73 Cheapside, E.C. 2, needs more donations for the three hundred orphans.
Readers who send gifts to any or all of these charities may be assured that the money will be well spent on the children— the hope of the future—and enable them to share in the joys of summer outside the crowded town.
In conclusion we would mention the excellent work being done by the S.P.C.K. It is the only Church of England organization maintaining a regular supply of Port and Voyage Chaplains, and as such deserves the support of all of Us who have the cause of Empire settlement at heart.
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