Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-04-25


monk then brought us a volume of
prayers, in twenty FIVE languages trans.
lated by himself. We bought copies,
and upon some remark of one of the
ladies upon his requirements, he ran
from one language to another, speak.
ing English, French, Italian, German
and Dutch, with equal facility. His
English was quite wonderful; and la
dy from Rotterdam, who was with us,
pronounced his Dutch and German ex-
cellent. We then bought small histo-
ries Of the order, written by an En-
glish gentleman, who bad studied at
the island, and passed on to the print
ing office-the first clean one | ever
saw, and quite the best appointed.
Here the monks print their bibles and
prayer books in really beautiful Arme-
MAN type, besides almanacs and other
useful publications for Constantinople
and other parts Of Turkey. The monk
wrote his name at our request pascal
Aucher) in the blank leaves of our
books, and we parted from him at the
water-stairs with sincere regret. | re-
commend this monastery to all travel
lers in Venice.
On our return we passed near an
island, upon which stands single
bullding--an insane hospital. was
not very curious to enter it, but the
gondolier assured us that it was com.
mon visit for strangers, and we con-
sented to go in. We were received by
the keeper, who went through the hor-
rid scene like regular cicerone, CIV
| ing us a cold and rapid history of eve-
ry patient that arrested our attention.
The mems apartment was the first,
and | should never have supposed them
insane.--They were all silent, and eli.
Their read or slept like the inmates Of
common hospitals. We came to side
door, and as it opened the confusion of
hundred tongues burst through, and
we were introduced into the apartment
for women. The noise was deafening.
After traversing a short gallery, we
entered large hall, containing per-
haps fifty females. There was a SIM
ultaneous smoothing back of the hair
and prinking of the dress through the
room. These, the keeper said, were
the well behaved patients, and more
innocent and happy looking people |
never saw. If to be happy is to be
wise, should believe with the mad
philosopher, that the world and the
iuaatic should change names. One
large, fne-looking woman took upon
herself to do the honors of the place,
and come forward with a graceful
curtesy and smile of condescenslon,
and begged the ladies to take off their
bonnets, and offered me chair. E.
ven with her close y -shaven head and
coarse flannel dress, she seemed
lady. The keeper did not know her
history. Her attentions were occasi-
onally interrupted by stolen glance
at the keeper, and shrinking in of
the shoulders, like a child that had
been whipped. One handsome and per-
fectly healthy looking girl of eighteen,
walked up and down the hall, with her
arms folded, and sweet smile on her
face, apparently lost in pleasing thought
and taking no notice of us. Only one
was in bed, and her face might have
been a conception of Michael Angelo
for horror. Her hair was uncut, and
fell over her eyes, her tongue hung
from her mouth, her eyes were sunken
, and restless, and the deadly pallor over
features drawn into the intensest look
of mental agony completed picture
that made my heart sick. Her bed
was clean, and she was as well cared
for as she could be, apparently.
We mounted flight of stairs to the
cells. Here were confined those who
were violent and ungovernable. The
mingled sounds that came through the
lgratings as we passed were terrific.
Laughter, of a demoniac wildness,
means, complaints in every language,
lscreams-every sound that could ex.
lpress Impotence and fear and suffer-
ing, saluted our ears. The keeper
opened most Of the cells and went in,
rousing occasionally, one that was
asleep, and insisting that all should APP
pear at the CRATE. demonstrated, Of
course, against such piece of barba-
rity, but he said he did it for all stran-
lgers, and took no notice of our pity.
The cells were small, just large e.
though for a bed, upon the post of
which hung small coarse cloth bag,
lcontaining two or three loaves of the
|coarsest bread. There was no other
furniture. The beds were bags of
lstraw, without sheets or pillows, and
leach had coarse piece of mating for
a covering. expressed some horror
Iat the rnisara HE nrov;sion made for