New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-24
LOVING CARE FOE SICK OHLLDREN


NOT FORGOTTEN BY SANTA CLAUS.
The ST. Mary's Free Hospital for Children
has been reOpened In new building with larger and
better than the old structure, and the
Sisters of Mary who have in charge have resumed
their noble work. which interrupted last April by
the builders The hospital the former site
in West Thrty-fourth-st. Nnth-ave., but in Ire
architectural style and It's internal arrangements is in
strong contrast with the old building The old house.
originally dwelling. had been In use hospital for
years its capacity limited TO thirty patients,
and far from adequate TO the growing needs Of the in
stitution aud It sadly out OF repair that TO
put 1t IN irst-class order seemed 10 the Sisters
almost extensive undertaking as 10 buld new
And they resolved TO put up such building as
they needed, though 1t entailed the assumption of
great burden OF trusting for relief in the generosity
of the friends who had supported the work from its
small beginning in 1870
The hospital grew out Of the need, which physicians
and all persons whose professional philanthrOpc
took them into the homes Of the poor, felt for
a hospital for the medical and surgical treatment
OF children exclusively. In the general hospitals the
children placed in the wards with the adults
the nursing and that they receive not OF the
kind specially adapted TO the wants OF htte the
influence OF association with certain of adult
patients liz morally injurious 10 the young, aud there are
no Fairgrounds which cOnvalescent children
can recover their spirits with their health.
Considerations of nature suggested the need and
or Che House of Mercy In West f gLty siXthst. the
sheltering Arms IN One hundreds -uinthst
the Home for Old Men and Aged Couples in Hudson S q
and bad labored IN ST. Lnkes Hospital. undertook to
supply It, They frat rented a house In Porteth-st,
as had nnOdatl0ns tor only fifteen patients it
found to be too small. Then they removed TO
Thirty fourtLst and extended their work unri, al
ready stated these second quarters inadequate.
For four years they rented the building at cost OF
~ 100 per year This single item consumed go mucl Of
money received for the support Of the hospital that
they then purchased the property and established a
building fund, made nm like the general OK.
pense fund, by subscriptions pledges OF
annual payments aud gifts, for purpose of raising
the purchase Wnen they were confronted last
spring by the alternative Of either making expensive
repairs to the old building, erecting q
abandoning .he work. they bravey choose the second
course, and have begun to receive their little
patients under that double their former
capacity for doing good.
The new building IL five stories high, has frontage OF
fifty feet Thirty fourhst depth OF sixtyhve feet,
and an addition extending back from tile main stuc-
ure thirty fee long and nineteen feet WIDE It's built
of brick. with gray-stone door and window caps Of
handsome design The main entrance at the top Of
fight brOwn-stoHe steps. and under porch support ed
by Scotch granite pillars is finished III white oak and
ornameued with coored glass. Tie door opens into a
wide hall IL the middle OF which leads to The
upper floors OF the building On the right is ward
room, office ana dihtngrOOnl. The finish i'll al. the
rooms in hard wood manly ASH and the floors are
Of polished yellow pine The second story contains
wards, with dningrooms for tine children medicine
closes etc tue third story, six seepng-rOOms for
the sisters lnenrOOm, and chapel an operating
room. doctors room playrO0m for gne hldFen,
tending along the entire front Of the house and ded
with good aud plenty Of Sunshine, isolated w4rd
and sleeping for the servants the fourth
door. The isolated ward is In the extension, and
intended for patients having infectious diseases In tie
basement drug-rOom and the reception ward
aud is designed also TO have dspensarY there. The
sisters have appointed January 80 as their day which
the hospital will be formally opened Friends " tao in
stituLion will be invited and Bishop Potter VIII dedicate
the building The sisters intend that their
good work shall wait upon formaliues, ana when a /
TRIBUNE reporter visited the hospital yesterday DO |
found that eight little patients had already been al
United, although the carpenters and other mechanics
we're yet all out Of the building The glimpse that |
the presence the little gave into the operations
OF the hospital discovered The enteness and wisdom
with which institution is conducted. Instead OF u |
picture OF gloom aud misery a. might have been ex- |
pected, the ward presented Of cheerfuness and
c0ntenment- Tue iron bedsteads arranged along the
walls are painted blue and the knobs the
gilt presents the familiar aud pretty
harmony Of blue gold. Only patients was
in bed; the others sitting In little eane-seated
chairs playing with toys. One was fast asleep
in the mid sunshine. The little one
In bed wore red flannel jacket
over her nightgown the others wrappers neatly
trimmed IN bright colors Beside each bed stood table
ed with TOYS and playthings, and the little ono who
able 70 be the oor. had her dolls, and dshes
and big Kaleidoscope resting a shOrt-iegged bed.
table. which stood the ooverlet before her. Picture
books plentiful canary bird sang in his aud
one Of the sisters attending patients. was
preparing medicines Ia tily decorated cups. which
carried from coo 10 cot ON brightly painted tray
" What did yon ask Santa Claus fort" inquired Sister
Catherine who s ia charge OF tue hospital OF the little
one bed a borrow" came the with a smile.
" We always give them Christmas celebration" ex-
blamed the sister: we a tree, and Christmas
Eve they all hang ther stockings after they have
written letters santa Claus telling him Just they
want And the stockings are always filled"
The st. Msrys Free Hospital for Children is supported
entirely BY voluntary gfts. In the Episcopal
cnurces Of tins diocese there are committees OF adde's
with consent OF the rector. solicit gifts and
subser ptIons for the hospital om che parlsnioners In
tns manner year aided by 800 received sup
ported beds anu 500 appropriated " The nosftal by
the Hospital Sunday Committee the sum " 81 $50 SO
was raised which exceeded the expenses S577 % THIS
outside or tho Dgldug fund, ana what ~ called the
oUen Air Fund e.tsnshen 10 enable the sisters 20 tke
tile children the seaside during the summer This |
they have done for two years ana VII such good re-
Suits that friend has offered 70 build for them cot
tage kockawaV. The debt upon the Institution ia
100000. To clear this on the ladies are making
Efforts 10y holding fairs at their homes, selling their
neediewOrk ana their paintings, aud employing the
other res0rted t. by benevolent people TO raise
money for charitable ODects
The hospital Il general one for children; any child
between the OF and fourteen that IL sur
ferng from disease not contagious and neoding medi
cal surgical treatment Is received on certificate OF
any OF the attending staff Of tho physician charge
OF tine outdoor department. Distinctions OF creed or
color not drawn, nud the poor are care for as wen
those whose parents are able and are therefore re-
CURED pay The WORK OF attendance Is done by the
work by servants, ana sometlies by the mothers OF
OF the patients. Nearly TOO children nave been
aTse namber Of dfsat surgical oprrsticns have been
perform In ali such the sisters present
dren are permitted 20 yisiI taeIn. and when taey