The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-27
JACOB A. RlIS DIES
AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Author nnd Social Worker. Rcccntly
Out or Sanntnriun. Expires
at Summer Homo.
VARIED CAREER COMES TO CLOSE
"Most Useful Citizen" OF New York,
According To Tribute Once Paid Him
by Theodore ROoscvelt.

Barre. Mass. May 26-Jacob \ Riis,
author and social worker, died at his
summer home here to-day. after u
long illness.
Mrs. Riis and son were ut Mr..
tsiis's bedside when the end came at
about l:3o o'clock this afternoon
Mr.. Riis was brought here two
weeks ago from 4 sanatorium at Bat
/ tie Creek, Mich, where he had been
patient for several months, taking
treatment for heart trouble OF long
standing.
"MOST USEFUL CITIZEN
ACCORDING TO ROOSEVELT
Jacob August Riis became, through
| his work in behalf Of the poorer people
in New York. the most useful citizen,
OF the metropolis, according 10 n
tribute once paid TO him by Theodore
Roosevelt. his intimate friend.
As an almost pennilcss immigrant
he obtained knowledge OF the slums
! ~ first hand and found conditions
there so repellent that he consecrcatcd
MS whole life 10 warfare against
wrctchedncss
hiis Was the thirteenth child OF Il
Latin teacher in Ribc. JutIaud Don
mark lie was born in lS4a. Protest
! nG ~ the literary career which his
rather had cut out for him, young Riis
decided to work with his hands and
became a carpenters apprentice. The
vocation he had chosen did not pre-
vent him, however from falling i'm
love with Elizabeth Nelson dau.rhtcr
OF one OF the richest men in his natiyc
town But she refused him, and when
ltils was twenty-onc years old, huy-
Ing learned his trade, he embarked for
New York with only SO In his pocket.
He spent half tho sum Tor IL heavy
navy pistol as soon as he landed TO
night Indians ana dcsperadocs"
III! LEADS VARIED CAREER
DURING SEXT SIX YEARS
Kiis led 4 varied career during the
following SIX years. lie built miners,
huts in Pennsylvania construction
camp. mined coal. made. bricks. drove
team and peddicd flatirons and
books. AT twcnty-scven he spent his
last cent in reaching New York. hon
ing 10 enlist through the French con
SUI IN the French army against Ger
many for the Franco Prussian War.
but his services were refused, and RiIs
was forced TO accept II beginners place
as a reporter for New York news
bureau. AT the very first he made his
most conspicuous success In the study
OF conditions on the East Side of Now
York.
WIN only $40 capital and notes for
500, he succeeded in buying the South
Brooklyn News" which was on the
Verge OF bankruptcy. and made such 4
success with the property that he was
few years latcr. lie returned to
Denmark and married the girl who
had refused him when he was IL car
pentcr'S apprentice. This first wife
died IN 1905, and two years later Mr.
ieiis married Mary Phillip, OF ST. Louis.
rs NEPO5tTI;R, TAKES Up REAL
WORK ~ SLIM FIGHTING
rs reporter on the New York Tri-
bune and later on the New York sun.
itiis took m his real work In slum
lighting. While attending to routine
duty ns police reporter. he worker
the need of improved living conditions.
against the impurity Of the city water.
{, the purchase Of the Croton water
shed 10 assure safe drinking water for
New York
He brought sunlight to the teno-
lIcnt districts by forcing the destruc-
ton OF rear tenements. IIc entirely
cleared Mulberry Bend, one Of the
worst tenement sections in the city.
ami replaced the squalid homes BY
shady parks.
Theodore Roosevelt was police COM
missioner OF New York when Kills az
tackled the evils OF police station lodg
ing-houscs. Iio won his point. and in
cidentally Il strong ally in Mr.. Roosc-
volt aiis drove Dakeslops out OF ton
cmert easements; no fought for laws
abolishing child labor. and was large
~ instrumental in getting the pass
age of "the bricfest, wlsest. and best
statute on tho books OF Now YorK.