THE FRESH AIR FUND.

[To THE EDIT011 07 SHE "SPECTATOR...]

you kindly permit use to remind your readers of a duty and a pleasure which I feel sure they would be sorry

to forego F Many hundreds of thousands of poor children are anxiously counting the summer hours as they slip by,

hoping every moment for the good news that they may look forward to at least one day's respite from the heat and squalor of Sluraland. _Lucky people in whose lives the country .figures largely will scarcely believe the eager anticipation with which these little waifs long for a sight of the fields and woods and sea. Many of them have never been away from the slums at all, but they have heard their more fortunate comrades tell of the joys of the countryside, and the bitter disappointment of those who have to be left behind is pitiful to see. You who read can, if you will, insure that at least one of these children shall not be deprived of the holiday which shall make such a bright landmark in the sordid, dreary round of slum life.

I am not asking you to do anything at all difficult. There is an organization—the Fresh Air Fund—which exists to carry out charitable impulses. It lifts the poor town children out

of their sordid environment, and gives them a holiday in the fresh air among the green fields and forest glades or by the sea. The three main features of the Fresh Air Fund are-as

follows:—

9d. gives one child a day in the country.

.28 2s. gives 200 children a day in the country, with the necessary attendants.

10s. gives a child a fortnight's holiday in the country or by the sea.

The King is the Patron of the Fresh Air -Fund, and a generous annual subscriber. Last summer 238,150 poor children were given a day's outing. 4,620 of the neediest and moat ailing were sent away for holiday fortnights. The

children are drawn from the slums of forty-two great cities and towns.in the United Kingdom. There are no distinctions of class-or creed. Poverty is the only passport to the Fresh Air Fund country, and every penny received goes direct to

the children. All expenses of organization are borne by the promoters. .. Some of the children are so ailing, stunted physically and morally, that a day in the country would be of

little use. --As many of these as possible are tent away for a fortnight, to the country or the seaside. They are tenderly

cared for, they play or bask in the sun all day, and at night they sleep in 'clean white beds.' To them the country is a

Paradise—an almost iUcredible`fairyland. The benefit of the Change to:th'eirItialth is only -suipasted by the impression made on their characters. They gain ideals. Subscriptions should be addressed,- to the Honorary Secretary, Fresh Air Fund, 23 St. Bride Street, Loadon,-E.C.—I am, Sir, &e.,

C. LEMUR. PE BONN.