New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-24
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
NrIsFRY AND CHnD's HOSPITAL.

=.
near Third avenue. IL nas just been completed, and
4 admirably adapted fox the Of the irsttuiice.
DR.. DELAFuLD presided over the insuguratory ser.
vices which commenced al roou. After few gan
ersI remarks from the Rev. DR.. ASHTON.
DR.. DELArIELD gave history Of the Institution.
He said that i.s history was bref az its existence
had been short. When the I'D of June. 1856, tbs
corner stone of this building was lsd In a. address
delivered by gentleman who has beeu unceasirg IN
his efforts in favor o. the institution touching snec-
dote was tod, which showed the origin Of the FIST
thought TO which It owed ts existence. The story Of
The neglect and wretcbe6ness of poor infant wnose
mother had been forced 10 take 10 her breast the child
OF another, that she might gain lIveihood-the kind
ices ard benevoebce Of an excellent woman, IL heart
ard fee ing although not IN name true sister of
chsrl.y" exerted toward this infant, which res
cued it from utter restitution and misery-ths story
told 10 one who would be among YOU on this occa-
sion Il she we're not herself on bed of sickness,
awakened feeling of active benevolence which has
unceasingy urged her with the excellent ladies her
associates until they til. dsy reap the reward of their
Efforts in the completion OF this ample and excellent
building ana its dedication TO the objects of it's
tion On the LIST of March, 1854, the Nursery for
Children OF Poor Women was organized and soon
received its charter from the Legislature. In few
weeks building was provided for 1t, and opened
the lst OF May following and rapidly il filed
that larger accommodations became amost immedi-
stely necessary. The first thought was to form an
as yum Tor the children Of ses those who
from any other Gauge, were deprived OF the care of
mother, and the daily Charge OF those who
homes to gain livelihood. But these children ot,en
came into the Nursery already suffering under dis
ease frequently Of the most severe and dangerous
character or while il the buloing obeyed the law Of
i, fancy and became the subjects of dhease. 1t at
once became evident that the sick must be separated
from the we'll that physicians and nurses must take
them in charge and that arrangements suited to their
condition must be made entirely different from those
reouired by the strong and healthy The necessity of
Cbild's Hospital then, became apparent and
this feature in the charity soon becsme 80 promi-
pe1t that il was determined 10 make ii principal OBJ
iect Accordingly on application 10 the Legislature
ON the Attn of March, 1857 an act was passed changing
the name of the institution 10 the " Nursery and
"Chllds Hospital" and this name il now bears In
erecting this building these objects were especlsy kept
in view and portion of the edlhco arranged with al
the appliances of q hosDital for the SICK. And a.
among children especially contagious diseases are con-
stantly arising provision has been made not only conf
petely to Isolate them from the healthy inmates OF the
institution but also from the other sick in the hospital
And thus at all times contsgion may be confined with
in moderate limits, and danger ever incurred either
by visitors to the nursery or thCse who reside within
il. Heretofore city has afforded no refuge for
sick children under the age OF twelve years Hospitals
end inrmaries for adults not provided with nurses
for child en- and all the appliances tor their care
must necessarily be adapted TO their condition as ir-
fans and in every way different from those ola general
bospta This hospital receives all children from the
those of twelve fourteen years And 1t IL hardly nee
esssry to dwell upon the contrast between tue cond-
ton Of sick child in these large and airy wards with
the constant of skilful physicians and kind aud
careful nurses and its state in the miserable dwelling
from which it has escaped, and utter want OF medical
care kind nursing and every other essential 10 the
comfort and recovery OF the SICK. linus tue eHpe-
rience of the institution has gradually developed the
channels through which its humane objects could be
accomplished; and in various modes besides those
originally intende., it has worked out its benevolent
mission Not only the infants OF wet nurses are
admitted but all those who from any cause are de-
priyed OF maternal care. Some have been recsved
whose mothers have become insane aud removed
to lunatic asylums some who became orphans at the
moment of birth and many whose mothers were
themselves under the necessity of being removed from
their homes to the hospitals for tie sick. so, too,
women obliged 10 renquish their homes aud to go to
service instead Of placing them III the above house,
heretofore their only refuge have been cared 10, IN
this building by paying very small Pittance for their
beard, always arranged in proportion to the wages
hey receive Still further pro 1ision Is made for az
other class Of poor Nursing mothers, by coming into
this institution obliged 10 reinqush the nour
ishmens of their own children. They are here admit
ted on conditions that they will extend their msterna
care to one OF two other children who from any cause
are deprived of that OF their own parent. Here
may be found infants whose mothers nave died, but
the fathers being employed at OF on distant labor
with means to pay the board their children, have
them we'll and carefully tended during their absence
Tire Nursery extends is aid to all children whose
parents being verify, still by circumstances pre-
vented from giving them proper care But all these
objects have not been accomplished without pains and
labor and untirrg has been the labor increasing the
erervy Of those who have originated this Nursery
The frst announcement of the plan was hailed almost
by reclamation, and the labors Of few ladies 10 the
short space of q few weeks procured the con-
tribu.ion of the sum of $4,000 TO its support.
When increasing applications for admission showed
that the institution was begun on 100 small
a scale, and that large building was Essential
to L. applications made both to the State Legs-
lsture ard city authorities in the years 1880 and
1851 for assistance to carry out their enlarged plans
The city granted perpetual lease OF the SIX lots on
which this building now stands-a plot Of ground TAU
fee, WIDE and 100 feet deep. The State gave the sum
of SIG OeO for the erection of bulding-a sum not
much more than one-third OF what 1t was 70 cost
II became necessary then TO raise not only the means
OF supporting the institution, but q sum sufncent 70
make NJ the deficiency in the building fund. Imee
years in succession, with unriyaed perseverance
nave these ladies procured large sums of m Cney ~
giving public entertainments the Academy OF Music
The receipts from these sources have not only paia
the current expenses OF the charity, but added very
largely TO the building fund, and by these MEANS ana
constant appeals to the benevolent has the institution
reached ts present condition.
After few remarks by George +. Elliot, COM
menced musical matinee at which there was much
lsrger attendance the attractions being Carl Formes
and host Of lesser musical lights. At tie close q
little girl one of the benecisres of the Institution,
ran to him with bouquet. He caught her up and
kissed her. and as he LEFT the room he ~as wipns
something out of his eyes, 1t was touching thing 70
see the emotion of his great bOysh face. One OF the
little girls said that she could have listened to his sing
iIg al day and lot wanted any dinner.