New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-25
I'm April ls4. the frs, month ae- my connection with
the prison, there were ,,s "a


at will be observed that in the early months the nnu
punshmeuts fell far short of the number Of
violations Many of the offenders were admonsheo anu
warned Of the consequences that would follow repeon
of their offences This treatment often secured all tha
was desired and where ;aed the second act was prompt
" followed by the penalty hitch had been previously prom
seG Some Of the punishments have been very sneHs'
such the deprivation of meal: OF BOOKS tie pronio
lion of exercise &c. In very few cases they have been
severe. such are the long terms OF solitary coHHne
and TIE cropping of the hair THIS last mas been re-
sorted TO in but one instance but with excellent effect
"Thus II will be seen that the whole number OF viola
lions for the past ye,T exceed those OF the nrst month v
only ten result which IS doubly gratifying wheH Ine
character Of the offences is considered.
An immense majority Of those running through the
year. was of the ghest description; simple inractons OF
arbitrary rules arguing neither depravy nor rebeon
spirit SO much as supremacy of natural law, over those
imposed By the unnatural condition OF the offender
The following beneiicent plan will commend itself
10 every unprejudiced mind
But il is not to be supposed that state Of feeling
favorable to the growth OF better principles can DC pro
duced and sustained without the expenditure OF mucn
labor and the use Of various chosen for the pur
pose Those which esteem efficient have been
the use of books the daily chapel reading and personal
instruction
Tbe State makes no provision for books other than
The Riba 4 few old volumes were found in an attic
storeroom which put in Iequsltlon on my hrst
coming here but they were for the most part Ill adapt
ed to the taste well the condition OF our readers
Our great need in this respect wns mace known 10 d
few phsnthropic ladies in New-York and Boston, who
soon collected several hundred miscellaneous Volumes
the private charities of their friends. But theee sour
Goa are entirely inadequate any permanent supply of
sound reading. And the larger number OF persons IN
the male prison to whom such reading would be srli
more valuable than the female convicts, are depend
the same precarious beuntes In view oi ihese
facts. would beg leave 10 suggest plan ~ whcn d
small fund nigh; be raised for increasing the hbrares Oh
both prisons this is TO gran. 10 our better cas5 Oh IT,
male convcts half holiday at the close Of the week,
which should be spent in manufacturing various fancy
articles to be kept for sale the prison 10 visitors and
others The advantages of This plan would be manifold
As IN Indulgence the holiday would be highly priced
but it would be enjoyed only by those whose conduct
had been uneXceptionabe during the week. and who
also bad accomplished the largest amount OF WORK re
auired from them. Thus. instead Of diminishing the
productiveness Of their labor for the State It would IA
Their stimulate them 10 increased exeron BESIDE many
OF the females have husbands or iriencs IN tne lnG
prison. and there is strong feeling Of sympathy owaj
the inmates of that institution generally winch Wouid
find very pure and generous graicatlon in conlerrlns
this kind of benefits upon them it is thought that the
adoption of this similar plan would enable US
TO fund sufficient to add TO both libraries several
volumes each month, object which, in the absence OF
all other means Of procuring them, would be oil no sna
importance.
We have put under this head reports from the
Utica and Pennsy lvana Asylums for the Insane, be-
causa we do believe that advancement III thought
and wisdom of treatment in both these departments
are and will be simultaneous. When there Is
well.digesied system of treatment for the one, that
for the other will not be far behind. We have no
fear of the consequences. We dc not think men VIII
seek the causes of excitement that lead 10 insanity
because The disease becomes, by judicious treat
ment more easy of cure. Weare sure that the bet
Ter man is by this means led to understand his own
constitution, the more he is likely to avoid these
causes And we believe that anxiety to call
sinners TO repentance instead Of casting them down
to perdtion for the first offence yea and for offences
seventy times seven is just as little likely to pro-
mote sin as the angel.like ministry now bent on
nmelioraing the condition OF the deaf end dumb or
socalled idiots oenarge hose unfortunate classes
These reports correspond in the more impor-
tant features with that OF the Bloomingdae Asylum,
which we noticed some days ago. Two or three
suggestions, however, they bring 10 us,
II is stated that some patients have left the Asy-
lam even improved in mind either from the favora-
BILE crisis in their health or the discipline to which
they have been subjected. Whichever way this be
viewed the hint may be turned 10 vast profit.
We see with pleasure the tendency to provide
something like home for incurable cases We do
believe that under still more intelligent regime
even the incurables will pass the years without
profit, as well as happiness, Surely their chance is
fairer than that of the miser egotis sensual man
whom the world does moi characterize as insane.
The projec, lin the Pennsylvania Hospital of Civ
ing the patients interest in the care Of trees is
worthy all attention Dr.. Kirkbridge says:
We have continued steadily TO carry out the system
originally adopted. of each year planting considerable
number of and shrubs ami already have some OF
the results of this labor become strkugy conspicuous TO
every visitor and resident Of the Hospital The variety
on the premises is large and has been in many cases
much interest to patep's fond OF studies Of
this description. II would be easy In lew wears TO
have within enclosures specimen OF every tree that
will live in this climate and knox Of no spot near Phil.
adelphia where complete ar0orenm could be estao-
shed with less trouble be subject OF greater inter-
es, or utility than upon the Al scres which compose
pleasure grounds.
He also mentions that animals have been added
10 the Park.
Whoever has experienced the need OF renova-
ton when the mind has lost its force and serenity
whether from irritation or exhaustion, will Ind
nothing SO heal,hful as the care and companIonshlp
of trees and animals The thousand charms OF their
spon,ane,y, of their instructive life and feed
lust those sympathes that are needed to restore the
injured nature to It's balance. The care OF flowers
is rather more anxious and often leads 10 stoop-
ing therefore is less safe but their presence has the
same baimy, restorative influence.
The name of Amariah Brigham Newly rk State
Luna,ic Asylum eNcites to mention of debt OF
gratitude. He will be glad TO learn that, from
writings of his one at dangerous crisis, received
admontion that saved the best hopes OF life from
shipwreck This person, originally OF mind zoo
arden, and willing for the bodily strength, fed IN
youth with the poisonous names OF julius Cesar
aud other such worthless who scarce needed sleep
gave no moment to leisure, or that though'iess
growth, without which in fact, no genius ever
came TO flower This poor young disciple, seized
with the fever of thought and study, believed thai
constant tension the only fit for IN immor
tel spirit, and went on, with daily increasing IN
petus an intellectual that neared the precipice
when writings Of DR.. Brigham, describing the
causes and symptoms Of congestion of the brain ar
rested attention JUS, in time save from the worst
effects OF these mistakes, and ransom for the pupil
H.