The evening world., 1892-04-23
A BABES PARADISE.
Harlem's Big Playhouse for
Children of the Poor,
Adult Sick Treated Free and In
fants Cared For by the Day.
All Sorts Of Amusements Provided
for the Wee Guests.

No. "24g Second avenue is the address Of
the International Medical Mission, considered
by many tho IT. ost beautiu III and praiSeworthy
charity In Harlem.
Tho nelghborhood In which the Mission Is
located Is densoly populated with the poor or
all nationalties.
Doctors, Kings Daughters and LIBERAL
minded and Kind. hearted women divide the
work, and thc misery and suffering they en-
compass with II measure Of relief cannot he
estimated IN ngures or words.
Tor instance, one feature of the Mission Is a
Harvest Home festival, held IN September,
when the men aud women and the boys and
girls get together In BIZ Kitchen. the price
of admission being II package OF fruit weigh
ing not less than one ounce nor more than
one ton, Tor the purpose Of having good
time and canning or preserving the truit, to
he used during the Winter ior the sick pat.
rOas Of the Dlspcnsary.
Thcrt are at least n hundred tree dispen-
saricS about New York where nasty drugs
aud vlle-tasting pills mny be had. but this Is
the only mission on record where sweet
charity prescribcs and provides n cup OF pre-
serves, glass or Jelly or taste ot MARINA
ladc iOr the health-impovcrlshed or feeble
patient.
The Mission House is an old-fashioned man.
sion remoGcllcd and improved to facilitate
the work. In the rear Is a big back yard
where the battles from the day nursery get
their sun baths In nnc weather, aud where
the runabouLs make mud pies In summer.
II there arc no mud biscuits to make then
TO- hn In
creatures to play and get acquainted with
one another, which has better effect than
most medicines.
The rooms Ot the medical mission are on
the parlor floor. 1t Is here that the sick poor
are received and treated, here the aged as
well Us the iuIanJ Is benefited, here cases
come for Investigation and here the business
OF the entire International Medical Mlssio is
transacted.
on the floor above is the day nursery, the
pride OF Il band OF young ladies comprising
, the silver cross Guild.
There, for a nickel, or for nothing. poor
labOring women may leave their children
with the firm COnYic, ion that they Will have
food amusement, medical service and kind
treatment. The suit Includes playroOm a
bathroom and II rcctptiOn-room. where the
ladies and visitors are received, where the
youngsters are washed and COmbed and
where they march and sing and play more
games than you ever heard Of
| The sleeping room, dining room, kitchen
and the private apartments Of the matron
and nurses are on the top floor.
The cribs and cots are all white cnamellcd
iron and very nicely furnished, few being
the gifts OF benevolent persons or circles.
Little Howard romcroy gave Il cradle to the
babies with his "bcst love for n blessing"
Mrs. Lombard OF DR.. Virgins church, donated
J Il cot, and so did Mrs. GOrscher, OF Great Bar
rlngtCn, Mass. one dOwny cot came from Il
"Child's Circle" In Watc!town, Mass, and the
Cu-Workers Circle" of this city, contributed
"nest" and 80, which is the actual cost
Of supporting a child one year In the day
nursery.
And such support, too, as tits!
II VIII pay you to make the long journey "a
No. 2g40 Second avenue some sunny day
Just to see how very, very tcndcrly these
mldgets are cared for, how swecuy they re-.
spOnl to lOvC-naking and how much good
surroundings have to do with good health
and good Eaturc.
The girls who wear the silver cross and
"mlnd these children " all day long do so he
, cause they honestly love the little ones. They
are not paid, except In That medium OF cur
rcucy coined In the heart OF ChildhOod-ca
rcsscs ana confidence.
The first thing in the morning the tots are
washed and put into all-cnvcloping slips ol
aprons Of bright gingham. Those needing
, medical attention are sent to the dispensary
and the rest either 80 to sleep or so TO thei
favoritc games.
kiss me and bath me quick and give m
pinkio !" was the morning greeting OF nit
OF a girl who rushed into the arms OF a King
: Daughter almost breathess with excitement
= "Plnkie" was the new doll, with very brigh
, checks, and the sweet little blonde" love
. her Just as hard as she could"
Most OF the children are less than two year
@ OF age, but they are all kept clean, dry an
comfortable and summed, aired, rubbed All
>. fed so regularly that they sleep most OF tn
-, time. Al noon dinner Is served and the
= there is a general rolling OFF TO dreamlant
U TO avoid aS much as possible the "CrO:
" waking up toy or some pretty playthlng
= laid ON the pillow where the sweet lltt
= snoozcr VIII md 1t soon after opening h
h eyes.
r No swecter lullabies were ever croonc
:. than those heard at the cots and cradles
s the Medical Mission. They are sung In En-
:, llsh, but you err II you think these elnn
: dolls, puppets, chts, Lniputians, hop-o-n.
thumps lambs and chickens from European
Asiatic and African homes do not undcrstaI
u them.
Unfortunately there Is not sufficient mcar
Il back OF the Medical Mi sion to do the wol
Is that should be done. The demands are N
IS only enormous, but conStantly increasn
"a However, the officers and directors are hop
tul OF the liberal patronage needed TO sustai
II not extend the the Mission.
NELL NELSON.
ii sNNNNNNNNA%NvSNNIN
re HOrnhN's OnIN