THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
11
the origin of those little creatures that dance in the woods and meadows.
The elves are divided in two classes, the light and the dark. They are
represented as of very various characteristics and propensities. Their
appearance and power is sometimes propitious, at other times baleful.
In connection with their fabled abode underground, it is to be noted
that Chaucer makes Pluto and Prosperine king and queen of the fairies.
The character of fairies as portrayed in literature may best be under
stood by mentioning such typical examples as Shakespeare’s “Midsum
mer Night’s Dream,” Spenser’s “ Faerie Queen,” Milton’s earlier
poems; Grimm’s “ Marchen” and the fairy lore of the Irish tales.—Ex.
OPEN AIR SCHOOLS
SHOW
W O N D ER FU L
IN C R E A SE
IN
NUM BERS
With the opening of the fall school term, 200 open air schools and
fresh air classes for tuberculous, and anaemic children, and also for all
children in certain rooms and grades, will be in operation in various
parts of the United States, according to a statement published to-day
by The National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculo
sis.
All of these schools, the association says, have been established since
January, 1907, when the first institution of this character was opened
in Providence, R. I. On January 1st, 1910, there were only 13 open
air schools in this country and a year later the number had increased
only to 29. Thus, the real growth in this movement has been with the
last two years.
Massachusetts now leads the states with 86 fresh air schools and
classes for tuberculous, anaemic and other school children, Boston alone
having over eighty New York comes next with 29, and Ohio is third
with 21. Open air schools have now been established in nearly 50
cities in 19 different states.
Based on figures of population and mortality furnished by the United
States Bureau of the Census, it is estimated that not less that 100,000
children now in school in the United States will die of tuberculosis be
fore they are eighteen years of age, or that about 7000 of these children
die annually from this one disease. Estimating that on an average each
child who dies from tuberculosis has had six years of schooling, the
aggregate loss to this country in wasted education each year amounts
to well over $1,000,000.
This loss and much of the incident suffering could be materially de
creased if open air schools or classes for these children and those who
are sickly and anaemic were provided. The National Association esti
mates that there should be one such school for every 25,000 popula
tion, especially in cities.