Life, 1905-08-03 · page 14 of 44
Life — August 3, 1905 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page documents Life's Fresh-Air Fund, a charitable program providing urban children (likely poor or working-class kids from cities) with summer retreats to rural Connecticut farms. The content is earnest rather than satirical. The decorative header illustration shows cherubs enjoying pastoral pleasures—symbolic of the fund's wholesome mission. The "Postals from Life's Farm" are charming, naive letters from children experiencing farm life for the first time, written in childlike dialect. They describe simple pleasures: drinking milk, playing, swimming, and outdoor activities. The bottom photograph shows children engaged in "hare and hounds" (a chase game), capturing the outdoor recreation the fund enabled. The "Fresh-Air Fund" donations list tracks contributions from readers supporting this Progressive Era charity. The H.J. Heinz Company's substantial donation suggests corporate participation in social welfare initiatives. This represents early 20th-century urban charity work—addressing industrial society's effects by temporarily removing poor city children to healthful rural environments.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
L" FARM, Braxcuvitue, Conn. Gentlemen > We have noted with much interest the work that you have heen doing at your Fresh-. ke us hi more may be ad. ir Farm, and we believe it to be a most worthy charity. [i will if, to the pleasure the boys and giels d through a ‘few of the 57 a littl are now enjoyi Varieties,‘ as follows: 1 Case 8 07, Octagon Ke! 1 Case Gem Chil 1 Case Polygon Mu 20 Lb. Crock Apple 20 Lb, Crock Peach 5 Gal. Sweet Ghe + Case Currant Jelly Pxe n Cans Baked Beans which we have our New Y to shi With all kind wishes for your g struct to you, est success, we are, Yours very truly, H. J, Merz Company, Per E. D. McC. Prrtsacrcn, Pa, July 11. 1995. All received in good condition, for which Lire tenders . thanks. Our Fresh-Air Fund. Previously acknowledged. $3,157.77 G saat reemey $mese F.S. D. : yto KT. W, 100.00 Monomonock Ina Children, 15.00 R.S., Jr. + $00 EE sugsbenes soo A Friend..ses4 1.00 In memory of J.W. Te... S000 HH, + $000 Postals from Life’s Farm. FLA. Morrow... ..0s0e seo Mes. M. actin 100.00 , L. MeM ose ace 600; Tn OD, saenece OD EAR MAMMA Hot Weather -ciseivs too Algy... ta.00 I will tell you how we got here. First we went in a car, then in a J 25.00 John A. Ki 10.00 boat and then in the train. ter H soo MMS. s.00 We had a jolly time last night, we were on the scupps and we went high up aL, O'Grady . soo FG. K terereeeees 2.00 Marion & I, The man said each person has to drink 200 qts. of milk a day. Cash... + i300 PG. seigensesgerers S00 Miss Betty Bate! 109 Cash ec mers F.C.B. 100.00 From Jim saga 3.00 Live's Fanst, Braxcuvitte, Cons. Chathamporte $00 More from Jim 2.00 Dear Motwer,— Miss May Gayley 10.00 Inmemory of $00 I arrived hear all wright tuesday night | am satisfied with everything eat- Buster. .. se + 2.00 Martha Hollister .. + $00 ing playing and swimming Yours truly In memory of Little Louisa 25.00 F. M.G.. oa 5.00 George Lloyd and Jackie, W. Va. 5.00 $3.089.87 Tam as fat as a pig. we have to sit on chairs. Where so fat when we go down for a drink we drink the all Brook, when we come h coffee and 5 and tell me how is Janes an papa that have a pot of all so good-by ici Braxcuvitte, Conn. Deaw Masta, Soon. wi scupps all are having re, we are, on the y. When we want a drink we have to go to the well, and co og up from the well I fous ith 2 stones in and 2 lost out and it fits ong. Mr. More said k 200 qts of milk a day and weall Ha nda porche. We Marion, We we have to dr ave milk all day We havea pavilion netory Our S s in par T hope you are all well and having a good Last night we marc ing and laugh Perry and Mrs. Arnold to come up & treat us with ice-cream. exspect M Ans, soon AT LIFE'S FARM. YING HARE AND HOUNDS. j Magxie. comicbooks.com