The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-07
THE BABIES LIFEBOAT.
The Floating Hospital Rapidly
Nearing Completion.
Aid Required from the Public TO Finish the
WOrk-Reasons Why Prompt and GEM
erouS Response Should Be Given.

durable by the WORKING and women who IL
haolt them. ASIDE rom The iact hat they are
habitations OF the vicious OF both Sexes aud all
ages, and contain the virus OF dangerous moral
Infection, they deserve the attention Of our
Weather citizens FOR the reason that they are
notbeds IN which from season to season gen.
Grated epidemlcs and pestilences that, allowed 10
gather force, soon sweep over all barriers ana
the homes Of the cleanly ana well fed. There
Is, IN fact hardly month IN the year that certain
dreaded contagious DO not carry or numbers or
vic Inns in several districts OF the city where
,ective sewerage, hncean streets and over
crowded buildings at all times greatly increase
the death rate. The records OF the Bureau Vital
Statistics are in this regard well worth careful
study, ior the danger Is not remote one, and
every reader or the HERALD must ieel that tEese
gathering plaques threaten to assail his or her
lie nearly as much is the lives OF those who
are only -FOUR neigaDorsn Utopia
PROMISES TO REMOVE OUR TENEMENTs FROM THE
CITY,
substituting for them Clearly and ven ventilated
apartments suited TO the wants or families or this
or that number OF persons and so arranged as to
insure all the privacy OF separate residence at
cost within the means or tho thrifty artisan la
borer. But these promises are lar from reaza-
ton, while the Ills they are expected to remedy
are multiplying ABOUT us daily. Some present
ton Is required toward bettering the condition or
the victims OF existing evils be IL never so little,
and no effort made IN that direction can be with
out good fruit. 10 take mother with her sick
and well children only Tor day from one OF those
prison houses would seem promise little, ana
yet IN the past year IT proved TO De a lfe-saving
scheme oil great Importance Not only is the eject
produced upon the system OF the sufferer directly
noticeable, but l. Is or considerable duration
That the blood poisoned by foul gases ana an
often bFeathed aLmOSDhpre q cleanged Nv makinu
the lungs for dozen hours the recipient Or con-
slant supplies oil pure air is not all the magma
lion comes into play. new interest In life ana
is surroundings is inspired, and emotions OF nope
and pleasure that have long lain dormant are
aroused Hope will always nerve the heart, and
especially the heart OF child la which the posi-
BILE and the probable interchangeable. To
those mo are accustomed to frequent excursions
by land and water during the heated term a SIX
hours sail Is often fatlguing. but 10 the child to
whom the ex perience IL new it Is always refresh
Ing and delightful. The lace that was Respondent
almost stolid, IN the morning Will light up with
appreciation and enjoyment, and eyes that were
null and sunken will CLEAN with q lustre that Is
ngnincant Of more than feverlsh excitement.
THE PHYSICIANS OF THE POOR
The dispensary doctors, to toe number OF more
imam 200, gave 10 The WORK or ST. JOINTS Guild,
last summer, their warmest approval and hearty
cooperation. The Floating Hospital was not only
great aid 10 them in their treatment OF children
suffering from epidemic diseases, but, to use the
WORDS OF one OF their number, at was more pow
iul for good than all the drugs In the world"
During the eighteen excursions given In behalf OF
the sick children OF the destitute, last year. under
the management OF the Rev. Alvah Wlswall, over
$1,000 little ones, with their mothers, were taken
on board and given days sail over the waters OF
the Hudson. the Sound or the lower bay. An EN-
clent corps OF volunteer physicians was each day
In attendance, q oountiu supply OF whole
some food, sklfully prepared, was daily
served and the convaiescents were enter
tanned by frequent selections or music
performed on the upper deck Seeing those
mothers and their SICK children on one Of those
occasions you would be puzzled at nrst to dis
ringuish them from the Ordinary excursionists,
save BY the great number OF infants present
There we're always the same bright looks. the
same eagerness and outbursts OF curiosity. But
after little time you noticed that on most faces
the look OF enjoyment was more subdued. TIL in
some instances II gave place TO an appearance OF
dreamy DOUBT and questioning
THESE UNFORTUNATE MOTHERS
seemed hardly able TO realize that IN the midst OF
accumulated disappointments and trials, this day
could have come to them. Unable to buy fuel or
the simplest food, let alone costly drugs and deli
cacies TO tempt the palate OF their eversh little
sufferers, they had gathered them 10 their
bosoms, and through long, dreary days and
nights had showered upon them all the
gifts they could Offer devotion and tears.
suddenly from the far away homes OF
the ricn ana from many an humber Preside
hand H. reached out 10 then ana they are guided
70 ''Ihe Babies Lieooat,n lying upon the bright
water ana IN the glorious SUNSHINE 10 the motneEis
eye IKE All enchanted palace. Perhaps the httio
one nsd oeen plning or Ice, winch the mother,
hardly able 70 procure the Simplest ana coarsess
rtlcies Of 1000, could not pnrcnase; n so, how
welcome Innst nave been the slgnt Of the huge
BLOCKS OF frozen wafer, sparkling from ten thou
sand prlsms IN the sunlight. Fresh, pure milk by
tue hundred quarts was daily poured into white
children while breakfast aud dinner were being
Compared with the tedious night oftIne in the
garTets ana cellars nom which these poor souls
MORAL EFFECT OF THE EXCURSIONS.
The Floating HOSPITAL excursions exercised .
marked effect upon these poor creatures IN an
other way. The neighbors OF the afflicted mother
seemed 10 vie with each other IN lolning her gar
ments IN which to make presentable appearance
abroad, seeming IN some sense 10 think the credit
OF the nelghporhood at stake, ana often the cx-
cursionist came attenaed TO the wharf by q troup
OF these lrienas ana neighborS. &c came 10 pass
tired ana elsspy ~ nsbt vas ~ revvea Srnn ths
asnes Of poverty, In wnlcn IL Dad Wen nigh burned
out. such ieellngls OF great enect IN encour-
aging the very poor TO strive harder In overcom-
Ing obstacles ana lettering their condition,
and that feeling once awakened Will not 5000 SINK
% rest The neat and comfortable garments worn
for day Will create desire 10 be always care
fully and nicely clad and are incentives TO exer-
ton. Tue nelgnbofy feeling inpBlse 10 aid also
grows apace aud becomes source OF great prac.
tcal Rood IN All the daily relations o. tenement
life. chickering's and contentious die away, and in
Their place good VIII snd kindness are brought to
lie. Aud as good actions, as well as bad ones,
hnd imitators. these examples OF friendlinesa
multiply ana cast their seeds IA every direction.
A better feeling toward the rich ana prosperous
takes the place oil envy and malice ana the
charity beginning In nne houses Is returned from
the homes oil the poor
rHR FLOATING HOSPITAL AZ A PERMANENT RsrI.
TUITION
No better field for eIther sanitary or charitable
labor can exist than that wnicn been opened
10 US by the action OF the Master or 81. JOINTS
Guild. The great NUMBERS tnat can be treated on
board Que oi the immense river barges-tne fact
that the barge goes alter It's patients, making
landings al intervals all along the North and East
riyers anu the cheap ana ready means Ii anOfds
or giving thousands tue dement's OF sea Dreezes
and country air. with the diversity OF constant
changes are advantages of tue greatest impOr-
lance. Mothers with husbands Tor wnom they must
provide food, and with well children az Well rs