New-York tribune., 1873-05-08
AN Urgent CASE OF CHARITY

Last Autumn, after the fatal experience OF
the Summer, We pressed upon the notice OF
our charitably- y-minded readers the necessity
of establishing temporary hospitals for sick
children, where the helpless little ones could
be removed during the intolerable heats of
July and August to the healing air of either
the mountains or sea. Now is the time when
such charity should be inaugurated, if at
| all not after the vindictive, killing heat is
again upon us. We need not remind any one
of our readers who was so unfortunate as to
be detained in New-York during last July
and August, of the necessity of such an
asylum. The mortality among children was
greater during those two months than any
other two since the city was built. We be-
lieve the same is true of Philadelphia.
| The victims were usually under five years,
and the diseases those incident to teething,
| for which no medicine is so eflectual as cool,
| fresh air. No one who saw the pitiful sight
| will ever forget the faces of these wan, thin
Tipped babies carried in their rags every
morning just after dawn to the squares by
their mothers, in the hope Of gaining q few
fresh breaths before the fiery heat shut them
for another day and sitting night into the
ment-houscs The excursions given to the
children were altogether cOmmendable and
good so far as they went; but they were of
no use to these sick children, whose little
bodies were carried out from among us by
the hundred and put under ground, from sheer
lack of their share of the air which God
surely meant all his creatures to breathe.
The scheme we propose is not intended TO
supplant or interfere with the excursions. 1t
has already been tried in England, and with
the largest success. A cottage or cheap house
is hired for the hot months in the country OF
at the seaside, capable of accommodating ten
or q dozen ailing children, and put under tho
care of housekeeper and skillful nurse. These
cottage hospitals" are found much more sue
cessful than the monster asylums 80 long in use.
One of them can be sustained for an amount less
than that contributed by many of our citizens
to give the children one days excursion. 1t is
but temporary, also, and not open to the
danger of failure which besets the Inaugural
ton of large and permanent charitable schemes /;
indeed, the plan is so cheap and practicable
that we urge it more upon individuals than
on any charitable corporate body. Any good
woman with the love of God OF of little chill
dren in her heart (and whatever He may be
to her, if she is q woman Mt all she is most
likely to love the babies) for one-half the sum
which her season at Newport or the Branch
will cost her, can hire an empty house on the
Jersey coast, furnish 1t with few little beds
and kitchen ware, and apply TO the good Catholic
OF Episcopalian sisterhoods for an experienced
motherly- hearted woman TO put in charge
The fare need be only simple but plentiful
Nature will DO the rest. The first tenement
house she finds Will furnish her with an abun-
dance of patients. When the Summer is over,
her private hospital, we are sure, viii repay
her in fashion of which no Newport season
knows the secret.
II any ladies wish to unite for this purpose,
to carry out the plan on larger scale, we
will gladly forward their designs by making
them known. No time should be lost in the
matter.