WORK, a form of benevo lence or helpfulness; in this particular the taking of poor children from the tenements and slums of large cities to the country or seashore for .recreation. It is said to have originated in 1849, when Rev. William A. Muhlenberg of New. York sent a large number of poor children and invalids from his parish to the country for short vacations. In 1872 the New York Times inaugurated a system of free excursions and its example was followed in other parts of the country. The first general fresh-air societies were organized in 1874, and since then a number of newspapers have in augurated fresh-air funds. There are now nearly 100 societies and 14 fresh-air organiza tions in New York. General agencies, church organizations and private funds provide for between 2,500,000 and 3,000,000 days' outing for poor children of the cities. The beneficiaries are for the most part children from 6 to 12 years old. A few adult women usually ac
company them. They are sent away from the city for periods varying from a few hours to a fortnight spent in the so-called country homes, or as the guests or boarders of private families. In Europe, Switzerland was the first to take up the movement in 1876. In 1895 there were 73 fresh-air colonies in that country. Nearly all European countries and Argentina in South America have taken up the work. It is also common in Germany and Denmark for the artisan classes in the city and country to make a temporary exchange of children during a part of the summer. Consult (Fresh Air Charity in the United (1897) ; Del perier, colonies de (Paris 1908) ; Allen, (Sea Air Treatment for New York's Bedridden Children) (in Review of Reviews, Vol. XXXII, New York 1905).