Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-11-25
MISGNlLLANYs
SCENE IN an INSANE HOSPITAL

The editor of the U. S. Gazette has lately
visited the Pennsylvania Hospital for the IN
sane. He speaks in terms of praise of the
construction of the Houses, the arrangement
of the grounds, and the general management of
she Institution. The following scene occurr-
ed there:
One young lady, on being presented to DIR.
Kirkbride, (the principal physician of the In
stitution) persisted in calling him by the name
of the writer of this article; and no means
that he could adopt would convince her that
he was not her teacher fifteen years since,
(the Doctor must have been young them but
when we entered the room, the Doctor deter
mined on little triumph.
DWELL, Mary" said he, "here is Mr.. Chan
dler."
$50 it u.s." said she, looking up with smile
to us.
DWELL now, Mary" said the Doctor kindly,
"you will admit that am DR.. kirkbride since
you acknowledge that that is Mr.. c."
"Not at all, not at ALL" said Mary; "you
are the Mr.. Chandler, though that gentleman
bears the same name"
"But,'' said the Doctor, "you see he was
teacher at the time to which we refer.'
"That may be,' said Mary, '.but so were
went to school had not those wrinkles on his
face, nor those gray hairs in his whisk ers-he
was not old"
Beautiful, if not perfect compensation, for
impaired intellect, is that remembrance which
lives in the sweets of childhood and has all
around it young and spring-like as it ever was.
Let others grow old-gray hairs and wrink-
led skin belong not to that estate. 1t knows
no fading-it acknowledges no affinity with
decay Time rolls on, but it bears it not for
ward. Like the cuckoo bird, it sings its eter-
nal notes among spring flowers, and hastens
away with the sun, before a color fades, or
leaf trembles OH its stem. And if the con-
seriousness of that mind is only of the inno-
cence of childhood, and most innocent and
lovely was it, 1--WE remember,) may we not
hope, (why indeed, should we doubt,) that all
of earth, which Mary sees SO pleasant will be
to her only an opening to state where the
mind shall expand towards perfect happi-
ness?
We turned away, not panied, though mel
ancholy-for cheerfulness does not beget pain
Melancholy, not more that the mind which
we had sought to direct, should not have ex-
banded; melancholy, not that time, which
had only developed her form, should have put
his finger SO rudely on our face and hair-but
that, spared what she had been called to suffer.
we had improved the favor SO little.
We turned away to the front windows, and
the midday sunlight lay upon the landscape
around; and the green fields, dotted here and
there by flocks of sheep, stretched out at ease,
wore an appearance of tranquillizng repose.
Numerous female patients were looking from
their windows enjoying the scene, which
soothed their mind, and led them to healthfu
contemplation. The voice of the physician
seemed in harmony with all around, and as
the gazers lifted their eyes towards him, we
could see that he was assocatedin their minds
with pleasant thoughts and friendly interfer-
ence. How high the privilege to do good =
How great the reward in having that benefit
acknowledged !!