The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-29
PRESIDENT AT COMFY ISLAND.
INHERALDED, HE VISITS THE
CHTLDREN'S HOSPITAL THERE.
Sails Down From Oyster BAY on the syiph
with Mrs. Roosevelt and Cheers Up
the Little Sufferers the
shows and tho Press Agents Mourn

with Mrs. Roosevelt and Cheers Up
the Little urerers-Nesiects the
shows and tho Press Agents Mourn
Tho President Of the United States visited
Coney Island yesterday. He didn't 90 there
TO see the shows. as most people do He
went there because Of the personal interest
he has taken in new institution on the
island, which isn't at all a part OF the Coney
Island that most people know.
This institution is the hospital established
by the New York Association for the I'm
proyement Of the Condition Of the Poor
for children crippled by that dreadful
disease tuberculosis OF the bone. And the
work that the sunshine and the breezes
blowing in from the OCEAN is doing for these
little tots was helped along nightly yester-
day by the visit Of the President
There are forty-six boys and girls in the
hospital, all Of them taken from the tene-
ments, where the germs find their victims.
In another part OF the place, known as the
Sea Breeze Home, $50 children and ninety
mothers are enjoying a weeks vacation.
When the little sufferers in their beds on
the piazzas and the mothers and children
on the sand suddenly saw the President 30
close that they could touch him they had
to look twice to decide that it was all real.
Coney Island wasn't expecting visit
from Mr.. Roosevelt any more than the
mothers and the babies were. The press
agents we're getting breakfast when he
arrived, and most of them were still dazed
when he left. Some Of them were reported
seriously i'll last night.
Just how the President came to make
this sudden and unexpected descent on the
island is an interesting story. As 1t was
told yesterday, he had his attention called
to the institution by letter in The Outlook
signed Il. W." in which an appeal was
made for financial aid. While there are
over 1000 children in the tenements sup
posed to be suffering from this form OF con-
sumption, the hospital accommodates only
forty-six. The letter was written by
Miss Laura Wilmington, who was dying OF
cancer in the cancer hospital. 1t stirred
up the President and it stirred up others.
Miss Wilmington died few days ago,
but before she died she heard that one
man had given $4,000, and that to TINS
Jacob H. Schif had added 5000. The
President correspondent with his friend
Jacob Riis, and others interested in the
hospital, found out just where 1t was and
said he would like to visit it.
The greatest secrecy had to be observed,
for the President particularly asked that
nothing about his visit which might at
tract crowd be given out. Practically
the only person taken into the secret be-
sides the hospital managers and few IN
vited guests was Police Inspector Cross,
and be didn't let his men know what was
on the program.
So when a strange yacht was sighted
approaching the island from the Narrows
at Ii 80 O'Clock yesterday morning it at
thcted no particular attention. The yacht
was the Sylph, which had left Oyster Bay
with the President and Mrs. Roosevelt at
7:3O O'Clock. The Sylph slipped down the
East River so quietly that nobody recog-
ni1ed her, for all that the President had
announced at Oyster Bay was that he was
going for days cruise.
Awaiting the President at the yacht
club pier were the officers of the associa-
ton and the guests invited to meet the
President They were r. Fulton Cutting,
president OF the association; Howard Town
send, chairman Of the associations fresh
air department.; DR.. Herman M. Biggs,
chairman Of the executive committee OF
the medical advisory board, Charlton
Wallace, attending orthopedio surgeon,
1.insly r. Williams. attending physician;
Alice Page Thomson, superintendent, and
DR.. William H. Allen, general agent.
The guests were Jacob A. Riis. Miss Riis.
Henry X. Mollarg and son. I. N Seligman,
H. H. Flaglsr, John Arbuckle, Commits
sioner Thomas Darlington. Eugene Delano.
Hoffman Miller, John Bancroft Devins.
D. D.. Theodorus B. Woolsey, Albert G.
Mibank, Augustine j. Smith, Constant A.
Andrews, John Seely Ward. Jr., Dr. Walter
B. James, chairman medical advisory board;
Isidor Stratus. Dewitt Seligman and Frank
@ Barstow.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt came
ashore in the launch without the accom-
paniment Of any salute or the dipping OF
any fags. Almost q mile away, down
Surf avenue at Twenty-f1fth street, Capt.
Dooley had received orders to stretch his
men across the avenue and let nobody
through.
The President got in Mr.. Cuttings auto
mobile and Mrs. Roosevelt got in Mr.. Bar
slows. An automobile filed with Secret
Service men and two carriages with Central
Office detectives and Inspector Cross went
in front. By this time q lot OF people had
seen the police coming, but they didn't
know what was up. In few minutesuthe
President was inside the home and the police
we're keeping the people we'll away from it.
The President first visited the hospital
part. dozen or more OF the children
we're in beds on the piazza. Most Of them
were stretched on frames made to fit the
curvature Of their spines and they could not
see the visitors until the latter were very
near. The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
ratted tho cheeks of one and stroked the
hands Of another. little yellow haired
slip n girl bent double on her bow shaped
frame, looked up and saw the strange man
and stretched out her arms.
Why. there's my papa, she said. The
President laid his hand on the child's head
and said something that was inaudible
Mr.. Riis told him that the child called every
man her papa. The children. not being
able to move, had to wait their turn, but
the President and Mrs. Roosevelt had some
thing to say to each OF them Jimmy
Retz years old. wanted the President
to take him up. Jimmy was supposed to
M d,,;n nv,l tha