Life, 1912-05-30 · page 10 of 44
Life — May 30, 1912 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page promotes **Life's Fresh Air Fund**, established in 1887 to send poor city children to a working farm (Brantville, Connecticut) for summer vacations. The left illustration shows a child experiencing rural pleasures—fishing and nature—contrasting with urban poverty. The right image, titled "Why Not Women?" depicts a woman pointing to a military recruitment poster ("Men Wanted for the Army and Navy"). The caption quotes: "For the female of the species is more deadly than the male"—a reference to Kipling's poem. This sardonically questions why women aren't recruited, likely during World War I when manpower shortages were critical. The juxtaposition suggests women deserve similar opportunities or recognition for service as men.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIP E- NO WONDER THE SIGNAL CORPS GOT THE MESSAGE WRONG Our Fresh Air Fund IFE’S Fresh Air Fund started in 1887 with the send- ing of a few children to the country. The growth has been steady, and we completed our first quarter century with a record of $133,340.25 collected and a fortnight’s vacation in the country for 33,737 children. The Farm, at Branchville, in the hills of western Con- necticut, is the gift of the late Edwin Gilbert, to be used always for Fresh Air purp.ses. Its fourteen acres give plenty of playground spac :, and caretakers are with the children at all times, to guird against danger of accidents. From the time school cioses in June until it reopens in the fall parties of about 200 children have each a fort- night at the Farm. The children are from the poorer dis- tricts of New York and Brooklyn, and the change wrought in their appearance by an abundance of good food is often surprising. All are eager to try it another season, and some come year after year until barred by the age limit— twelve years. Branchville is fifty-three miles from New York and transportation is a heavy item. The increased cost of food-stuffs also counts where there are 200 guests, all with healthy appetites. In many cases there are long periods of scanty rations to be made up. With increasing population more children, each year, need this ‘ation. If these children of the city know the country as a place of beauty—plenty of space, of food, of light, of air, and of general happiness—the country is the place they are likely to seek and turn to as soon as they are able, and so relieve the congestion of the city tenements. Your own vacation may prove a flat and dismal failure, but vacations at Lire’s Farm are a guaranteed success. You can ensure a happy fortnight for some one, at least. Visitors at the Farm are welcome. Come and see it in operation. Our guests’ wardrobes at best are of the scantiest, and a strenuous fortnight often reduces them to the vanishing point. Donations of partly worn children’s clothing are thankfully reccived at Lirr’s Farm, Branchville, Conn, Children’s rompers and overall suits are highly prized. The Fresh Air Fund is dependent upon the contribu- tions of Lire’s readers. You have helped us through all WHY NOT WOMEN? “FOR THE FEMALE OF THE SPECI THAN THE MALE 1S MORE DEADLY these twenty-five years. We ask you to help us this com- ing season, Remittances may be made payable to Lire’s Fresh Air Fund. Acknowledgment is made by letter direct if address be given, and in the Fresh Air Fund column about three weeks later. Nothing is wasted. A small sum will help. More chil- dren need it every year, and the more money you give the more children we send. comicbooks.com