The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-29
PRESIDENT PRAISES CHARITY.
Dictates Statement Telling Of the Good
Done in the Sea Breeze Hospital.

Dictates a Statement Telling Of the Good
Done in the Sea Breeze Hospital.
OYSTER BAY, July 2s-The Sylph, with
the President and Mrs. Roosevelt aboard,
arrived here at o'clock this evening, and
after dinner the President told the cor
respondents of the three press associations
how he came to make the trip to Coney
Island. He paid high tribute to Jacob
Riis for calling this charity to his aten-
ton, and dictated the following state
ment:
Il went down to-day to see the hospital
for children suffering from bone tubercu-
losis which is managed in connection with
the Fresh Air Fund Of the New York As
sociation for the Improvement Of the Con-
dtion Of the Poor. The hospital Is at the
Sea Breeze Home, Coney Island. About
$50 children are taken each week to 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 4. 1000
cases OF bone tuberculosis in the tenement
house district OF New York. The trustees
are trying to raise fund for hospital
Air Fund people are obliged to refuse adj
InlSSlOu " Z,UVU Vi c,UVV uppHCdAbS dh-
nually
1.-THE sea air treatment of bone tuber-
culosis has been found to be marvelously
successful in France. Here, also, it has
proved 30 successful that at the Sea Breeze
Home they have not lost single patient.
All we're benefited and most Of them were
cured.
About three weeks ago Miss Laura
Wilmington, who had been private secre-
tary to DR.. Lyman Abbott and had taken
a great interest in the Fresh Air Fund, was
dying of cancer In st. Lukes Hospital
New York. When she learned Of the need
for increased hospital facilities for the
children at Sea Breeze she wrote a letter
setting forth the work and the needs in
The Outlook, signing only her initials. A
certain gentleman whom know to be a
large giver to charities, but who never
allows his name to appear, saw this letter
and asked Jacob Riis to 60 to Sea Breeze
and to investigate and report to him on the
facts.
.Mr. Riis investigated and reported 80
strongly on the good being done, and that
the need for additional facilities was SO
great, that the man in question subscribed
$40 900 down for charging the hospital
and pledged himself to give 81, 500 annually
for ten years for maintaining it. Another
man subscribed 5000. Mr.. Riis at
onoe sent word to Miss Wilmington, tell
ing 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 visit the home and
see things for myself. / went down to-
day and took Senator Crane. Of Massa-
chusetts with me. I was immensely i'm
pressed by the work being done there.
/ feel that there can be few more benefi-
cant works than that which Ia being ac-
oomplished both In connection with the
Fresh Air Fund and this seaside hospital
for tenement children suffering from bone
tuberculosis.
sOn the way home the Sylph went up the
Hudson, and W hen we passed the battle
ships signal ed them not to salute, but
did want to see the formidable squadron
which believe to be collectively and in
dividualiy az fine iignting feet as the
finest in the world. l was immensely
pleased at the way in which Admiral Evans
and the officers under him have performed
their duties in maneuvering this great feet
and also with the target practise and tao
teal efficiency shown by the feet man
euyers. feel that every American should
be proud Of that splendid fleet, splendidly
officered and manned as 1t lies there in the
Huda0n