The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-09-11
Albany.
Correspondence of the Herald.]
ALBANY, August -, lS42.


last week, arm in arm with an entertaining friend,
we paid visit to the Aims House. After we ar
rived and rested awhile, we held socable chat
win Its obligng superintendent, from whom we
gathered some knowledge of the various characters
inmates OF the establishment We then stroed
throughout the grounds, taking a view of the or
DERBY arrangement ia which every thing was kept.
In large square, enclosed by the building, we
halted, to look at the singular beings that were
walking to and fro. The old, young, halt blind;
lame, ugliness, and beauty vice and virtue, ali
combined in one motley group, each acting part
in the great drama OF life. We were then ushered
IN the different apartments.
The first was the refectory. Here was scene
long tables, in lines, reached to the end of the
room, on which were placed pewter dishes filled
with rough but hardy fare, oatmeal and molasses
The bell rung as a slgnal-now came paupers from
all directions. Men, women, and children, moved
IN body, no doubt thinking themselves quite as
happy as those whose boards are ladened with the
richest prsfusion. Afterwards we were taken into
rooms where shoemakers were at work, women
sewing, &c. Low beds were placed around, in
some OF which were invaids; over the head of each
was ticket giving the name of the person, where
born, and what disease In of these apartments,
the hospital we believe, was one poor soul struggling
in the last agonies of death; an old man with
wrlnkled visage and care worn countenance, whose
locks showed the frosts of many winters, and bent
over with age, reclined his staff by the bedside.
young stranger and held cup of water to cool his
parched lips. His disease fever, that was sapping
his strength, had left HIM out of the power of his
medical attendant. The windows were open, and
lures, which refreshed him much, and threw back
his raven curls, displaying of the finest and
most intellectual foreheads we ever saw The
countenance was quite familiar, and as we leant
over the couch, calling to memory the calendar of
names we had known in past years. thought struck
us as to who 1t could be; perhaps a young man of
superior intellect, an adventurer, who, after having
bueted with the rude storms of adversely, had left
home and all that was dear to seek fortune in the
western wilds; probably once the pride of his family
the fondest hope of parents-whose boyhoodi
days were full OF sunshine, and bright antcipations,
only TO be blasted in future years by the cold neglect
Of an unfeelng and heartless world; for when he
would speak of his native home of all the associa
tons connected with it-of brothers and sisters with
whom he had passed such happy hours, the big tears
would st steal dGTn ms wihered and banched aee
it for one to die from among his kindred! 70 Then
quickly the countenance would tighten upas if some
faint ray of hope had glanced through the mind
but alas for the vanity OF earthly wishes death had
planted his icy sc eptre in the bosom of his victim
II was useless to repine-and as gazing that me-
lancholy picture we could not but drop tear over
poor human nature-in tn mixing what shadows
a9d nst each hd h his %
ferent story to rel late, which no doubt would have
been both interesting and amusing, had we the time
to listen-others seated on beds and benches were
hummng songs-others again, more reflective and
observing, were turned towards the bed of the poor
invalid to see him die.
Our next stroll was through the building set apart
for lunatics. It is fitted up something like prison
locks and chains secure the doors-fastened ia
the walls are huge iron gratings for the poor
lures to look through, afiording them view Of the
glorious sunshine AS 1t throws its beams in their
dark dungeOns-At our solicitation the keeper open
ed the DOORS My God, what a sight, The first
Uyro oh he Cf <Io
chalned to the foor-on looking at him he quailed |
It the sight of human being and crouched hur- |
,edly behind the door. The next was one more
.ane-he got up and sat upon the bed-he was about |
ory years of age, of handsome exterior and pre-. |
possessing in manner, and from wnat little converse
ion we had with him, gave evidence of once hav- |
ng been man OF superior intelligence. but like
many bright spirits, had fallen victim to
conversation we slightly alluded to this, when he |
walked across the room, if it painful TO his
ceilings; said something we could lot distinctly
near, then throwing himself on the bed, buried
attracted our attention-we should think sc.rce
eighteen years of age, whom we understood had
been confirmed lunatic for some years. his fea.
lures were strikingly handsome, but the eye was
large and wandering; in fact, the countenance
showed predlsposltion to lunacy, and as we have
since heard, that pretty nearly all his relatives were
Of the same class of unforunates He asked for
food, which when brought, he grasped with avidity,
then seated himself in a dark corner on bundle
of straw, where he remained until the door
Closed. But what interested us most, was the
appearance of two females, one about 20 years of
age, the other of scarce seventeen summers, both
victims of the base Vaccinations of the lbertine =
The elder one kept wandering from the cell to the
hall, talking in hurried and incoherent manner,
ger and anon humming verses OF little ballads. She
was beautiful, and in figure perfect sylph: She
look us by the arm and led us to seat. Said she,
eaks Ea rs1 fond ov s'e s as
'sd Shall give ;yS YOU history Of
you please" said we aud hen we had to sit and
listen patiently to her tales, which indeed were, in
some parts quite affecting. She pointed out a little
,ury-headed urchin that was playing in the garden.
. That is my sweet little Frederick, and Susan yet
hopes to live to see him great man." Thus would
she run on, sometimes speaking OF herself, and at
times muttering how Ill she had been used. "Ah"
she would say, Poor Sue nobody cares for her
now. Susan has no father nor mother; they both
died broken-hearted. When poor Susan lies cold
in the grave, Iwonder if any one will shed tear
Tor her - and then she would walk about restless
and uneasy. AT last she became more calm and
seated hersef-placing her hand to her forehead
rocking herself-she sang plaintive air, go touch
ing full ofmeody, that il entered the very abv-
rinths of the heart The following are some of the
"My peace of minds ruind,
My bosom is sore;
ne'er see him now,
shall neer see him more.
When he is not present.
A dark grave see,
For the universe round
Isaprison to me-"
The other poor girl sat calm and silent, an I'M
moved spectator to all that passed, like Patience
on monument, smiling at grief" She wore a
pale and melancholy aspect, bat the expression of
The countenance was such as conveyed more than
words could tell. We left, bidding them all fare
we'll, but with the promise that we would, at the
first opportunity, pay them another visit.
On our way to the city. the sun was just declin-
ing behind the dark blue mountains clouds gather
ed thick and fast, rolling on like waves meeting
waves, then breaking off, left large spaces of blush
white, tipped with gold and gray. Settling in the
east were some white clouds, that seemed 10 touch
The highest mountaintops. The distant rolling
thunder, and at intervals vivid flashes of lightning,
bespoke storm, and gave notice to hurry home.
As arrived at the head of Capitol Hill, the streets
wore singular appearance, OF a dark sombre hue,
ike the early gray of the morning, when all at
he storm passed over the city, the heavens changed
heir hue, old Sol family threw his beams on