New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-06
MRS. LATHROP'S FAITH.
SHE SPEAKS HOPEFULLY AND PRO-
PHETICALLY IN REFERENCE TO
THE FUTURE.
HER PLANS FOR THE FREE CANCER HOSPITAL
AND SKETCH OF THE AVERAGE DAYS

WORK-SHE CALLS FOR HELP
1.-The question as to whether charitable under
taking Is to be carried by recourse TO the pub
Hes kindness can. In my opinion. never be an
swered properly II the answer Is In the negative
said Rose Hawthorne Lathrop yesterday to
Tribune reporter. THE public Is always moving
onward, by an instinct that may be as silent and
as difficult to detect the march OF glacier.
but It does progress Any denial OF true charity.
any snub to the general welfare is alien to the
public heart and becomes more so every day.
II feel as safe In trusting to public help In
carrying my intention OF establishing free
cancer hospital as is possible for any one to feel
In this world OF surprises. II tell the unknown
friends OF my how the project Is getting on
IL Is with the firm conviction that they Will give
NE money and influence for the projects success
IF am not helped. II interest Is not kept up In
| the work as and my helpers try to do It, then
shall he certain that 1t Is best for me to fail. II
| In the Of hundred years the kind OF hos
pital hope to inaugurate before l die ceases TO
| interest the public. doubt such hospitals VIII
have ceased to be useful. beg pardon for speak
| ing hopefully and propheticaly In reference TO
! the future. for have my scheme suffcienty al
heart to imagine that everything Will aid H. ana
| that In a hundred years mary free cancer nos
pitfalls will flourish America.
Much depends upon the clearness with which
| the public is kept informed of the condition OF
| charity for the people are like their Government
| In needing diplomatsts to distribute power and de-
| velopmcn springing from themselves
81 will give n little sketch of the day which has
| lust passed. At about 6 o'clock a. m. LETT the
| house for a brisk walk. during which found the
pieasantest refreshment Of the twenty-four hours
with the glimpses Of water and shipping. sky and
| clouds made finer by comparative quiet and early
breezes on my way home called. with helper
upon an old woman who has been near death' put
! has revived through constant care. Lack OF 1000
| and anxiety lest she would be evicted from the
pied for
| killed her Milk was bought for her. and she was
| encouraged with loving words and strengthened
with the best brandy. Broth and fruits were sent
later and an alcohol bath given. She Is TO be
further cared for by a woman employed 70 call
twice day.
after nv breakfas. dressed the wounds OF two
resident patients and Joined my helper and the SIX
| teen-yoar-old maid In setting to rights the TWO
floors we occupy. The helper then set out 10 MAKE
two calls upon patients. and went out 10 ouy
lotion for a patient who is almost constantly oeo
ridden from severe sores and to buy her the daiy
allowance Of food and fuel as she Is wholly de-
rendent upon me- | visited her and was made
happy for the day by finding her greatly improved
II next ordered the express to take rocking
chair TO a patient now able to sit up, attended 10
the purchases for my own Housekeeping, ouht
fire in refractory secondhand stove for one OF my
ohilly patients and cooked apples and MADE soup
for several others. then arranged my cottons
ard linens for dressings in the afternoon sewing
some into harnesses as call them
"After our neon dinner / set off TO dress the
wound OF a patient who cannot leave her room anu
bought alcohol to battle her aching neck. chance
scene in the liquor saloon made me pensWe LOT
half an hour afterward. I then called upon
working girl who IS couch-ridden and In need OF
everything and debated with myself as 10 no"
could supply money. food and bed OUT OF my
lessening fund for daily work. On returning nome
settled which bed was to be devoted 10 ner sei'ice
and sent IL TO her at once.
..I mt in order and stored in my little room for
sunnlies the thick clothing sent me too late Tor
present use and al o'clock was ready LOT the
outside patients who cali upon me-
81 dressed the ucerous arm of a man whose other
sores had succeeded in curing. and for whom
surplv medicine and fruits. / then dressed the
canccrous lip OF an elderly man whose board am
y, nrescrt having An old beggar woman VINO mas
been n constant visitor for six months. and whose
face has the chdke sweetness OF religious sincerity
came in as usual to have two terrible sores
DIRE ssed and to receive her quarter OF doiiar'
which Is her barrier against the landlord
AN oil Jcwess for whom have bought eye
ola sses after series of strange happenings at dis
pcpsaries called to express her continued gratitude
10 show me how empty her bottle OF cough meoi-
Gre had become and TO look her appeal for cash
There was none of the popular medicine left on my
shelves and money was too scarce just then 10 he
distributed. except in cases of starvation or eN-
IRENE disease
"A most estimable and refined woman OF middle
age whom had long known to be out OF WORK
called for my sympathy, as she was on inc verge
~ desperation though she did not show 1t out
wardly about her rent and daily provender she
honed as usual for sewing TO do for me. but
could not give her work money just then
slight but threatening sore OF long continuance
mon her face makes me fear that lack of nutrition
and anxiety will bring on an attack Of cancer
zone of my resident patients now needed TO nave
bod 1'hnn
upon the top floor OF the house came to have
severe sore upon her arm dressed The sixteen
year-old pillar Of the housekeeping In our lnformal
hospital was at this point struck on the head
by a ball from the rollicking band OF boys In the
back yard and l took her in hand for repairs
"The last visit | received before supper was
from real estate agent. who Is anxious TO sell
mo a reighborng piece of property, close to the
water in Corlear Park. The price Is moderate
and the terms easy that wonder cannot al
once close the bargain. Many discussions and
much thought have been devoted to this matter
and 81 900 would secure TO my work the most favor-
able LOT have or could desire.
.'Will the public aid me to obtain 1t? My re-
ceipts have been trihng Of late that | am
Obliged to use w so week being needed for the
moor | serve constantly. As | write $lW check
Is handed to never sss sah
ance is rare though am convinced 1t Is my want
Of in mRg he ref f of my af so
s sn Whenever am assisted it is with fervor
that shows me the public is ready.
After supper | dressed again the wound or
resident patient and went out on several errands
NV companion was also busy. giving baths on
returning home at o'clock p. IN. summons came
70 see what | could do for woman living In the
rear OF the house who had suddenly been taken
seriously ill., a sad scene followed | sent for the
Joctor who came ut once with his assistant, and
AZ II o'clock I retired to be up at . o'clock the
..Whatcver the limitations OF the work ! try to
do | ace that so far 1t goes IT Is blessing and
so beg to be supported In It. Before the well-to-
do leave town for the summer VIII they SEND me
the means 10 keep on with my care Of those now
daucndent upon me through the months that are
NJ rdest for cancer sufferers? shall not abandon
them in any case. for have come TO live and die
amnrg them as a servant Of relief But II Is I'm
nossiIle TO see them In need without calling over
The wires for help and II will be as painful to me
as II will be unexpected II my venture withers
during July and August.
w Tba benefit given for Mrs Lathrop couple Of
,orn,bs ago n the Fifth Avenue Theatre was not a
financial success owing TO the Abbey benefit on the
sarna er.lIIny The lattcr was arranged alter the