Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-21
Children. Play Under Trees.

The camp ground, which is located at
18th and Upshur streets northwest. is
shaded by big oak trees and naples, under
which those children who are strong
enough play many hours. The main house
of the camp, built with two big wings
which have one entire side open all the
time, is constructed of wood, raised high
above the ground, SO that the air is I'M
der as well as around the house. The
War Department lends several large
tents each year for the use Of the camp
also. and when these are pitched the camp
looks like large settlement, peopled by
children. Comfortable reclining chairs
with canvas backs have been provided
for the patients, and many of them sit
in these chairs for hours each day, drink
ing in the health-giving fresh air.
Some of the children are permitted to
play light games, such as crOquet as
they show improvement in condition
There are flower gardens in which the
children work as they are able, enjoying
themselves to their heart content, and
watching eagerly for the sprouts and
buds Hammocks are swung under the
trees, and swings for some of the strong
er children.
AT the camp last season 5000 hot din
ners were served and 1900 hot lunches
and 2,4CO dozen eggs, with other things.
The permanent staff at the camp con-
sists of nurse, cook. helper and teach
er. In order that the children who are
poor and too weak to walk to the camp
might not be keIt away, the camp fur
nished 1O,CCO car tickets during the season.
Many of the children have written let
tiers to the camp supervisors since they
left there last fall, telling Of their i'm
provement and appreciation of the treat
ment given them. There Is much pathos
in the little details enumerated by the
children. One Of the letters, written by
a oi - inn lan To
follows:
Soon Began to Improve.
II have been going to the Red Cross
day camp, and 1 thought you would like
to know what 1 think about it. Il have
been going to the camp for three years.
When I started I was very sick girl,
and my mother thought would not live
six months. But as soon as began COM
Ing to the camp I improved. I slept by
myself, and got plenty of fresh air and
good food. Lately / have had no tenn
perature, and have had so much milk
until don't like it any more Now /
weigh eighty-one pounds, though at first
l weighed only sixty. have told you all
] know"
Another letter. from one of the boys
Frank Quinn. Is as follows:
L have been coming to the Red Cross
camp Two years, and have improved q
lot. When I first began coming to the
camp weighed eighty-six. and now I
weigh ninety-nine, and I had been oper-
ated on five times before 1 came to the
camp. aid since then l have not been
operated on once. Ny temperature was
80 and 100, but now 1t is normal. When
the Aoctor first examined me he said I
was not able to go to school, but was
examined this year and he said I could
go back to school all the year. This
year I am going to sleep by myself at an
open window. and I am going to eat all
the eggs I can get and drink all the
milk can get at home"
The committee In charge Of the camp,
appointed by the District Red Cross So
ciety. consists of Mrs. Theodore North
Mclaughlin, Arnold Hague and w A.
Slater. Miss l. L. Strong. superintendent
of the Instructive Visiting Nurses So
ctety. 10 also the superintendent Of the
camp.