Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-29
VISITED POOR CHILDREN
Statement of Presidents Sojourn at
Coney Island Yesterday.

President Roosevelt returned to Saga
more Hill last night and dictated a state
ment concerning the trip and his reasons
for taking it. The statement follows:
Il went down to see the hospital for
children suffering from bone troubles.
which is managed in conjunction with the
fresh-air fund of the New York Associa-
ton for the Improvement of the Condition
Of the Poor The hospital is at the Sea
Breeze Home Coney Island. About 2S0
children are taken each week to the Sea
Breeze under the fresh-air fund, and over
5000 during the season.
THE hospital has room for only forty
five children, and there are more than
1900 cases OF bone tuberculosis in the tene-
ment-house district of New York. Now
the trustees are trying to raise a fund for
a hospital which shall hold four hundred
patients The fresh-air fund people are
obliged to refuse admission to 1900 or 5000
applicants annually.
THE sea-air treatment of bone tubercu-
losis has been found to be marvelously
successful in France. Here also 1t has
proved so successful that at the Sea Breeze
Home they have not lost a single patient.
All were benefited, and most of them were
cured.
Now about three weeks ago, Miss
Laura Wilmington, who had been private
secretary to DR.. LYMAN Abbott, and had
taken a great interest in the fresh-a air
fund. was dying of cancer in st. Luke's
Hospital, New York. When she learned of
the need for increased hospital facilities
for the children at Sea Breeze she wrote
letter setting forth the work and the
needs in the Outlook, signing only her mi
tials.
"A certain gentleman. whom I know to
be large giver in charities, but who never
allows his name to appear. saw this letter
and asked Mr. Riis to go to Sea Breeze
av,1 70 fxNyva +txrof -
facts. Mr.. Riis investigated and reported
so strongly the good being done, and
that the need for additional facilities was
so great. that the man in question SUBJ
scribed $4,000 for enlarging the hospital,
and pledged himself to give $1,000 annually
for ten years for maintaining 1t. Another
man also subscribed Sc, 600
MIR Riis at once sent word to Miss VIM
mington, telling her what her article had
accomplished, and 1t cheered her last three
days. She died last Wednesday.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Riis had asked me to
be sure to come down to his home and see
mensely impressed by the work being done
there. Senator Crane of Massachusetts
went with me- feel that there can be few
more beneficent works than that which is
being accomplished with the fresh-air fund
and this seaside hospital for tenement chill
dren suffering from bone tuberculosis
ION the way home the Sylph went up
the Hudson, and when we passed the bat
tie ships I signaled them not to salute,
but did want to see the formidable squad
ron, which / believe to be collectively and
individually as fine a fighting fleet as the
finest in the world. / was immensely pleas
ed at the way In which Admiral Evans and
the officers under him have performed their
duty in maneuvering this great fleet, and
also with the target practice and tactical
efficiency shown by the fleet maneuvers. I
feel that every American should be proud
of that splendid fleet. splendidly differed
and manned. as 1t lies there in the Hud-
son."