Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-23
THE LUNArc ASYLUM OF WESTERN VIRGINIA
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.


couple of days, have employed portion Of my time in
visiting its chief attraction, the Luna'c Asylum of Western
Virginia. and purpose briefly to give the result Of my
observations.
In passing however, ought say single word in behalf
of the ITSELF II is PROFESSIONALLY Of the most in
terestng and thriving the State beautifully located in
valley and the terminating point of large number of impor
roads. Churches handsome private residences
quite abundant and its inhabitants particularly intelligent
and minded To give you idea of the style which the
people ve may mention that the principal hotel of the town
would be honor the far-amed Broadway of New
York not only with regard TO its outward appearance and
furniture, but with regard to the table, which is constantly
supplied with all the delicaces of the But TO con-
tinue
come now to speak Of the asylum founded in tho
year 1885, and the various buildings, which Of brick,
handsome in appearance and charmngy located within
enclosure Of ten acres originally cost about With
in the past year appropriation has been made Of OO0
which being expended upon number Of new build
ngs, which to include chapel The total number of
persons who have here for relief since the institution
founded is rated at 67G and nearly all Of them from Virginia
alone The present number of inmates is 22O about 100 of
whom females With regard their civil condition, is
estimated that only onethd of the entire number mar
red and reference their age, is somewhat remarka-
fifty years of age, and consequently in their prime And here
may not be unnteresng notice the which sup
posed have brought these unfortunate people here Re
gous excitement rtempeance, and natural i'll health
questionaby the principal but in looking the
cords find the following statistics namely Hard study 10
Scotch snuff, want of occupation, 2 of tobacco,
unequted love, ID loss of property 81 Witnessing death Of
neighbor, domestic trouble, IA loss Of children, po
cal excitement avarce, and deserion by husband a.
In walking the various departments Of the asylum,
particularly pleased with the neatness and comfort which
every where prevail The experimenting physicians Drs
Francis T. Srblng and Richard H. Gambil; Mr.. Samuel
woodward is the steward and Mrs. Frances A. Douglass
the matron the directors Samuel Clarke, N. G. Kinney
Col James Crawford, d. w. PattisoD, William Kinney, r.
Brooke, t. L. Niche, Kenon Harper Alexander II. H.
Stuart James Points, and L. L. Stevenson and The rea
is John B. Breckenridge Under the management of
officers the establishment has reached envabe eputa
ton; and, when remember the heahfuness of this
tin of country be considered invaluable home for
all those whose minds bewildered oppressed As
mater Of course every thing done here promote the ply
sled comfort Of the inmates bul particular attention is devot
ed their mental and moral culture. Workshops Of various
kinds connected with the Dstituon and many of tine in
mates have produced pieces of mechanism which truly
markable. gentleman from Richmond, this State, (who
voluntarily resides in the um and has been greatly dis
tresd by religious doubts is the distinguished mecha
nca genius, and for beautiful writng desk that he has
made number Of gentlemen have offered him the
thousand dollars. 1t great curiosity, and very beautiful
and ought to be added the national museum II is made
of black walnut twenty inches long, and resembles the
gothic pulpit of church than any thing else think Of
1t made with penkn and every column and arch,
every enclosure and recess and every ymbolca
nfs n their
raj culture it may be stated that the inmates regularly
supplied with religious instruction by gentlemen of
denominations and, when assembled together the Sab
bath, silent and circumspect in their department tie
most Generally speaking they fond of reading,
aud well selected library constantly at their command.
good deal Of attention also paid to music, and there
three ladies in the asylum who indeed brilliant perform
the piano. One of them mingles with her fel
lows in afcon and has richly furnished room expressly
for her accommodating where she spends the Of her
time playing and singing, ard therefore may be considered
Byron would say, the queen Of musical well as fan
taslic realm"
The expenses Of the asylum for the year s47 amounted to
S22 545 III and the Of s23 OCO has been voted by the
State to deay the expenses of The year. During the
past year there hundred and twenty applicants
for admission the asylum and Of these only thirty mine
could be received Of scarcity Of ROOM In view
Of this fact the directors have called upon the State
its annual appropriations and they add that the sum
Of 600 per annum instead Of s23 co., would enable this
institution accommodate hundred and eighty patients
more than il can at the present time
Another paragraph of statistics that think worth giving
you exhibits the number Of patients brought % this institution
since its organization from the unfortunate counties Of
the State. For example, find that Augusta county has sent
IS, Rockingham and Rockbridgc % eacb Loudoun a. Al
bemae 10, Louisa l6, Ohio 81 Pitsylvana u.s. Nelson
Charlotte is, Boetour IL, Frederick H. Harrison IA, Han
over 49, Hampshire 10, and jefferson IL. goody num-
Der Of countless however have only one OF wo but there
is not single county that is not represented.
Dr. STRIBLISG informs that the law Of kindness il the
principal in vogue at this institution, and the managers
have endeavored impress upon all the inmates the convc
ton that they the friends Of the patients The Doctor
also informs that is Of the importance that the
should be to the um the earliest period prac
cable alter the disease shall have been developed With
regard to the effected this asylum is said they will
in point Of NUMBER compare favoably with those Of any
other institution in the country and, with this remark bring
my letter 70 a close
p ). did think Of giving you Of the Tns.iu
ton for the Deaf Dumb and Blind, also located in Stanton,
but find that il is pacaon with them, and am de-
pved Of that pleasure. Their home, however, can
is very handsome one, and told tina, the number Of
pupils is about sixty including all the departments together