New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-23
HELPINGSICK CHILDREN
FUND IN COOPERATION.
Sends Little Hospital Patients to
COuntry to Complete Cures.

Court. were sent In the care of their big Broth
ers'' to camp IN New England. A greater oppor-
tunity, however. Is given the fund in identifying
Itself with the work of the hospitals dispensaries
and clinics which have many children in their
whose physical welfare they carefully watch. The
medical attendance given here is well supplemented
by sending the children away into the country for
three or four weeks. The doctors and nurses often
find themselves greatly handicapped by being
forced TO send the children back to their nl-kept
homes In the tenement houses after they have left
the hospital Here the conditions are not suited
help them convalesce quickly and often all that has
been done for the children by the nurses Is lost
when they return to their homes
The Tribune fund In the last few years has been
devoting attention to giving vacations to con-
valescent children There at present three
homes devoted entirely to this purpose. One is at
Shokan. N. Y. where one hundred children are
accommodated at time. The children here
all Of tuberouar parentage. and while not being
sick themselves, weak and undernourished so
that they carefully watched by the hospitals.
new home was opened recently at Deposit, y. T.,
where children are taken directly from the hOspi-
tails and kept there until they have recovered en-
tirely from the effects OF their illnesses. The third
home is at Goshen. n. Y The visitors here are
those who have been in the hospitals In the winter
and not healthy and strong.
The home at Goshen Is maintained by the Prot
estant churches OF Mlddletown and Goshen. The
carfare OF the children and the expenses OF two
attendants paid by the fund.- and the churches
house the country road between the two towns
is rented each summer and here the children
spend happy vacation. The home is planned to
accommodate fifty children. but many sixty
three have been cared for when the pressure the
hospitals has been great. 1t is a typical farm
among the rolling hills OF central New York. There
is brook running through the premises and the
hay fields and pasture lands make up a veritable
paradise for the little boys and girls who enter
tained there.
DISCIPLINE NOT so STRICT.
The conditions different from those at the
other homes. Strict discipline and a scheduled
running time not necessary. and fexibility
IS allowed In conducting IT'S affairs. Generally six
or eight particularly needy children OF each party
are kept for three four weeks. and occasionally
one two will stay all This season
there two boys who will stay the full twelve
weeks. No regular hours set for rising and go
ing to bed On dark cold morning the chill
dren are allowed to sleep until or 7;3O o'clock.
while on bright. sunny day they generally
get up about 6 80. Unless some special form OF
entertainment Is planned. they go bed about 8
o'clock. An effort is made TO give them exception
ally good food that their bodies will be built up.
Bread and butter and milk with cereal is the
regular fare for breakfast; dinner generally con-
ssts OF meat eggs. two vegetables and sub
stantial well appetizing dessert, while for
supper they have fruit IN season. plenty OF bread
and butter and milk. sometimes baked beans and
cake.
The results Of this food in generous quantities
along with plenty OF sleep almost performs miracles
with the children. There are many distressing
cases OF illness which the home receives. and by
constant the children nursed back health
and happiness. While they are at the home they
receive all the medical attention which Is necessary
DIR. c. l. Redfeld. OF MddletOwn. gives his services
TO the children in any emergency. and the home is
well stocked with supplies for all minor ailments.
The majority OF children who go there are anRmc
and show the ravages which improper nOurishment
and often the lack OF food have worked. But
some afflicted with nervous disorders eye trou-
bes. and often there is boy girl who has been
afflicted with tubercular bones and recovery from
the operations has been slow. But the fresh air,
sunshine and good food which they get in the
try does much 70 bring them all back 10 health
Another feature OF the work is that Of taking IN
well children whose mothers or fathers in the
hospitals II is often great comfort 10 a mother
who has been forced 70 undergo operation 20
know that her children are being cared for during
her Illness OF the Fresh Air homes The
hospital authorities have often told how much II
helps mother to know that her little boys and
girls are happy. Her recovery is often more rapid
this account.
HOW CHILDREN ARE ENTERTAINED.
The same attention Is given children here as at
the other homes Every effort is made 10 entertain
them and keep them happy and eontented An
attendant Is constantly with them leading them
in their play. telling them stories taking them
walks through the woods and fields and devotng
her entire time toward making the children happy.
In the morning the children generally go for a long
walk through the country. In the afternoon they
go In bathing in some small shallow brook running
the farmhouse. This is the particular de-
light of the boys. The banks thicky with
alder bushes. and make ideal setting for Indian
games. There large stones In the bed OF the
brook suited to make dam with. Here the boys
spend the greater part of their time swimming.
padding and playing games. Occasionally some
original boy initiating the country boys. will
fishing for frogs with bent pin and a piece OF
red flannel. but this plan has with little sue
cess date. In the evening the children often
take a trolley ride go some entertainment
Middletown Goshen. They get up their
tertainments many times. and never fail 70 please
their audiences. On rainy nights they have shadow
pictures and story telling. with and entertain
ments TO amuse themselves. There is well
summer house the farm. with organ in IL.
which contributes much to the happiness of the
little visitors.
There is little boy at the home this summer
that has had many operations that he has begun
20 accept them matter OF course. He
afflicted with tubercular limbs wien he was very
young and while he is only he has had
five or six operations. AS though this were not
enough trouble for him. about year ago he fell
down and cut deep cash In his forehead. which
stii bears the mark. In the effort to make him
strong and healthy the home has kept him all
summer and he has shown considerable improve
ment from his long vacation.
Another boy eight years old has been at Goshen /
all summer and he doesn't want TO so home at
all. He has mother or father. but lives with an
aunt His sister. who is twelve years old. takes
care OF him She was able stay at the home four /
weeks this summer. and the two had happy time I
together.
The attendants at the home are particularly wor- !
ried at present what is going TO become or
Lily AIussman. Lily is thirteen years old little /
over age for the home. but her case was so press
I'm that take her In. She has