The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-05
VISIT TO THE INSANE

The Editor of the United States Gazette is
one who has nourlshed the kindly feelings of
human nature, and in his frequent sketches thew
are thrown forward in beautiful relef-Recently
he visited the Pennsylvania Hospital for the in
sane, near Philadelphia, and after giving highly
interesting description of its arrangements, re-
lates the following incident Ii is hard to zen
whether 1t owes more 10 the facts detailed than
the simple and touching dress which he had
given them.
One young lady on being presented to DR..
klrkbride persisted in calling him by the name
OF the writer of this article; and no means that
be could adopt would convince her that he was
not her teacher fifteen years since, (the Doctor
must have been young them but when we enter
ed the room the Doctor determined on little
triumph.
"Wel, Mary" said he, here is Mr.. Chand-
ler'
$50 IL IS, said she, looking up with smile
TO US.
=" Well now, Mary" said the Doctor kindly
you will admit that am Dr. Klrkbride, since
you acknowledge that this is Mr.. c.
Not al all, not at all, said Mary syon are
me 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.n
THAT may be, said Mary, "but so were YOU
likewise. The Mr.. Chandler to whom went
70 school, had not those wrinkles on his face
nor those grey hairs in his whiskers-he was not
old.n
+ Beautiful, II not perfect compensation, for
impaired intellect, is that remembrance which
lives in the sweets of childhood and has an
around 1t young and spring like as it ever was.
Let others grow old-grey hairs aid wrinkled
skin belong not to that estate 1t knows no fad
lng-it acknowledges no affinity with decay
Time rolls on, but 1t bears it not forward Like
the cookoo bird, 1t sings its eternal notes among
spring flowers, and hastens away with the sun,
before color fades, or leaf trembes in its
stem. And if the consciousness of that mind
is only OF the innocence of childhood (and most
innocent and lovely was it, we remember) NAV
we not hope, (why, indeed, should we doubt)
that all on 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 melan-
fcholy,-for cheerfulness does not beget pain
Melancholy, not more than the mind which we
had sought TO direct, should not have expanded:
melancholy, not that time, which had only de
veloped her form, should have put his finger so
rudey on our face and hair-but that. spared
what she had been called 10 suffer, we had i'm
proved the favor so little.
We turned away to the front window, and
the midday sunlight lay upon the landscape
around and The green fields, dotted here and
here BY tlocks OF sheep stretched out at ease.
wore an appearance Of tranquilsing repose.
Numerous female patients were looking from
their windows enjoying the scene which sootAed
their mind, and led them TO healthfu contempla-
Itlou. The voice of the physician seemed in
hal nony with all around and as the gazers
lifted their eyes towards him, we could see that
be was associated in their minds with pleasant
thoughts and friendly interference How high
the privilege TO do good How great the re-
ward in having that benefit acknowledged