The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28
ROOSEVELT GYMNASIUM OPEN
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT AND
WHITE HOUSE FLOWERS.

Mrs. Roosevelt Sent Bowl Of Roses 70 Dedi-
cation OF Annex to Jacob RIis Settle
mcnt H0use-IHard RaDs At spelling
Reform Rich Childrcns Temptations.
President Roosevelt sent a letter in re-
formed spelling and Mrs. Roosevelt sent
flowers to the opening Of the new Roosevelt
gymnasium In connection with the Jacob
A. Riis neighborhood settlement yester-
day afternoon. The flowers, a large bowl
Of pink and white roses from the White
House gardens, were placed on the speakers
platform. President Roosevelt's letter read:
October 20, 1905.
MI DEAR RMS: May I thru you send a
very warm welcome to the children OF the
East Side? l wish I could be with You at
the opening OF the gymnasium In the Henry
Street Settlement. As l cannot, may j thru
you extend my h~eartiest good wishes to the
boys and girls Of the settlement? That they
may thoroly enjoy themselves while young
and grow into useful men and women and
true American citizens is the earnest wish
Of their friend. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The gymnasium is built in the rear OF the
settlement house at 48 to so Henry street.
A tablet bears a bas-relief Of President
Roosevelt and this inscription:
BETTER FAITHFUL THAN FAMOUS.
This gymnasium was built by friends OF
Theodore Roosevelt, citizen OF New York and
President OF the United States. and given to
the children OF the Jacob Riis neighborhood
house on his forty-eighth birthday. October
twenty-seventh. 1909.
Mr.. Riis in his short address told some
thing of the work Of the settlement, and
concluded:
Il wrote the President that I thought
his letter was fine and his spelling vile"
Bishop Potter and Mayor Mcclellan
were asked to be present, but neither was
able. Seth Low, the principal speaker,
said that although he had no authority
from Mayor Mcclellan he believed he
could say the city was delighted with the
work of the settlement.
Speaking of the admiration of Mr.. Riis
for President Roosevelt, Mr.. Low said:
Il think Mr.. RiiS agrees with the Presi-
dent in everything except spelling. Mr..
Riis does not believe in spelling badly any
more h in doing anything else badly"
Miss c. B.. Spence, representing a number
OF uptown private schools whose pupils
have promised to support the gymnasium.
said of these more fortunate children:
The temptations are nan TO pursue
amusement as though to nave a good time
were the chief aim of life. to waste time,
to conform to certain conditions which can
only degrade, to become srtifcial, super
fetal, self-wiiled. snobbish; the temptation
to believe in the efficacy and power of
material possessions, to believe in the value
of external things. houses, clothes, jew
elry; TO be tempted to judge a mans worth
by what he has and not by what he is
these are the many disadvantages with
which the boys and girls whom I represent
have been surrounded
The Rev. Robert l.. Paddock, Who dedi-
Gated the gymnasium. raised a laugh by
asking his hearers, most of whom were
women: Has Mr.. Riis ever put his arms
around your I'm not ashamed TO ask il.
Your husbands. brothers and lovers ought
TO rejoice If he has done so
The gymnasium has a floor 30 by SO feet
and cost $4,000. The donors are named
only as friends of Mr.. Roosevelt" The
pupils of two wealthy schools equipped
the building and those of ten other schools
are to pay for its maintenance.
A general ~overhauline and refunishing
Of the settlement house has accompanied
the finishing OF the gymnasium.