New-York daily tribune., 1845-03-19


these children have over those of poor families liv-
ing at home. They may pass the night in healthy
sleep, and have thereby a chance TOR innocent and
active days.
We saw with pleasure the little children engaged
in the kind of drill they so much enjoy, OF gest-
culation regulated by singing. 1t was also pretty
TO see the babies sitting iu circle and the nurses
in the midst feeding them, alternately, with
spoon. 1t seemed like nest full Of little birds,
each opening its bill as the parent returns from her
flight.
Hence we passed to the Asylum for the
Insane. Only a part of this building is CON-
peted, and il is well known that the space Is ia
sufficient. Twice as many are inmates here as
can be properly accommodated. A tolerable de-
gree however, of order and cleanliness a preserved
We could not but observe the vast difference
between the appearance of the insane here and at
Bloomingdale, or other Institutions where the num-
Der Of attendants and nature of the arrangements
permit them to be the objects Of individual treat
ment that is, where the wants and difficulties Of
each patient can be distinctly and carefully al
tended to. AT .Blooningdale, the shades of char
acler and feeling were nicely kept up, decorum Of
manners preserved, and the insane showed in every
way that they felt no violent separation betwixt
them and the rest Of the world, and might easily
return TO it. The eye, though bewildered, seemed
lively, and the tongue prompt. But here, Insanity
appeared in its more stupid, wild, or despairlng
forms. They crouched in corners; they had no
eye for the stranger heart TOR hope, no habitual
expectation of light. Just as at the Farm School,
where the children show by their uniformed features
and mechanical movements that they are treated
by wholesale SO do these poor sufferers. 1t is an
evil incident to public establishments, and which
only more intelligent public attention can OBJ
viate.
One figure we saw, here ase, OF high poetical
interest. Ii was woman seated on the floor, in
the corner of her cell, with shawl wrapped grace
fully nrousd her head and chest, like Nuns veil.
Her hair was grey, her face attenuated and very
palid. her eyes large, open, fixed and bright with
still fire. She never moved them nor ceased chant
ing the service of the Church. She was Catholic,
who became insane while preparing 10 be Nun.
She is surely Nun now in her heart; and
figure from which painter might study for some
Of the most consecrated subjects.
Passing 10 the Penitentiary, entered one
of the gloomiest scenes that deforms this great me-
tropos. Here are the twelve hundred, who receive
the punishment due to the vices of large portion
of the rest And under what circumstances! Never
was punishment treated more simply as social
convenience, without regard TO pure right, or
hope of reformation.
Public attention is now so far awake TO the state
of the Penentiary that il cannot be long, trust,
before proper means ofclassticatisn arc devised,
temporary asylum provided for those who leave this
pursatory, even now, unwilling TO return 10 the
inferno from which it hasi time kept them, and
means presented likely to lead some, at least, among
the many, who seem hardened, TO betterviews and
hopes Ii must be that the more righteous feeling
which has shown itself in regard 10 the prisons al
Sing Sing and elsewhere, must take some effect as
to the Peutentiary also. The present ouperintend-
ant enters into the necessity of such improvements,
and, should he remais there, will do what he can
TO carry them into effect.
The want of proper matrons, or any matrons, TO
take the so necessary ior the bodily or mental
or even decent condition of the seven
hundred women assembled here, is an offence that
cries aloud. 1t is impossible to take the mos, cur
sory survey Of this assembly of women: especially
ii is impossible 10 see them in the Hospital, where
the circumstances are a little more favorable,
without seeing how many there are in whom the
feelings of innocent childhood are not dead, who
need only good influences and steady aid 10 raise
them from the pit of nfamy and wo into which
they have fallen And, if there was not one that
could be helped, at least Society owes them the
insurance of decent condition while here. We
trust that interest on this subject will not sumber
The recognized principles OF all such institutions
which have any higher object Than The punishment
OF fault, (and we believe few among us are so igno-
rant TO that as the only object, though they
may, from want of thought act as il it were,) are
Classification the first step, that the bad may no,
impede those who wish 10 do well; ID Ius;ruc-
ton, practical. oral. and by furnishing books which
may open entirely new hopes and thoughts TO
minds oener darkered than corrupted; 3d. A
good Sanitary system, which promotes self.respect,
aud, through health and purity of body, the same
in mind
Ia visiting the Torabs the other day, we found
the air in the upper galleries uncomfortable, and felt
great regret that those confined there should be
constantly subjected 10 H. Give the free breath CT
Heaven TO all who are still permitted TO breathe
We cannot, however, wonder at fiadiDg this bar
bariy in prison, having been subjected 10 it at the
mos, fashionable places OF public resort. Dr.. Girls
com has sent US his excellent lecture on the health
OF New-York, which we recomme nd 10 all who
take vital interest in the city where they live,
and have intellect 10 discern that cancer on the
body must in time affect the head and heart also.
We thought, while reading, that i, was not surpris-
lns typhes fever and op,halmia should be bred in
The cellars, whs the families of those who live in
palaces breathe such infected air at public places,
and receive their visiters on New Years day by
candle-lisht. tThat was sad omen ior the New
Year-did they mean to class themselves among
those who love darkness rather than light?)
We hope 10 see the two thousand poor people,
and the poor children, better situated in their new
abode, when we visit them again The Insane
Asylum will gain al once by enlargement, of accom-
modations but more attendance is also necessary,
and, for that purpose, the bes, persons should be
selected. We saw, with pleasure, tame pigeons
walking abou; among the most violent Of the insane,
but We also saw two attendants with faces brutal
and stolid Such cherce IL tno delicate IN he in