The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-15

4 LITTLE CHILD AMONG LUNATICS.--A day or
two since gentlemen whose official duties re-
quircd him to visit a large Asylum near The CT
ty, devoted to the INDECENT insane took with
him a little boy some three years old, and it
was an interesting study to watch the effect
which the presence of the young visitor pro-
duced among the lunatcs of every grade. An
unsual degree of quiet prevailed in every hall.
and touching manifestations of the softenng
and subduing influence of childhood were ex-
hibited by those who were ordinarily most in
tractable. This was particularly the case with
those who had passed the season of youth
One man incurably insane, approached the lit
tie boy with a cOuntenance for the moment
full of gcntlcncss and kindness, and with a pc
lite gesture, handed him straw-bcing all
that he had to givc-and showed great salts
faction when it was accepted, and borne as if it
had been of value. Almost all approached and
shook hands with the infant and so mild was
their bearing that he did not for u moment hes
itatc, and although abashcd at what was to him
an unusual crowd, he cheerfully yielded his
little hand to their caresses. But the most in
teresting scene was in the women apartment.
They were ready to devour the child with their
caresses, and yet when they observ ed that their
crowding and vOlubility annoyed him, instinct
lively withdrew a little and modulated their
voices to tones of tenderness, to which many of
thChh LOU pScu StidiScIs. ouC VI VIC wv
men, bersclfa mother. enquired with tears in her
eyes-'Dear little fellow, is his mother living?"
An affirmative reply seemed to relieve her APP
prehenSions. and her expression of interest as
sumed more cheerful tone. The most violent
closely confined i'm cells, watched every move
ment of the boy with interest, and some beg
ged. by all the affection for their own offspring
which insanity in its worst form had not Grad
icated-to be permitted to embrace him. The
tod TO
patty felt for the most unfortunate class who
were the object of the visit. and to show how
strongly the society of children is calculated
to win back TO gentleness those who. from any
cause, have passed that indcfinablc line which
separates the sane from the insane. Such
soothing effects are of course transient, but was
some thing to obtain for those poor veXcd souls
even moment of calm ight.-Courier s.
| Enquirer.
! PRACrICAL WORKING OF THE MAINE LAw.-The
Rhode Island Freeman thus notices the opera
ton of the prohibitory law in Providence
"The rum traffic in this city has retired from
public life. The tottering evidences of its ex
istcnce are now no longer to be observed
| in our streets 1t is wonderful to notice how
much better some men look, walk and behave
than they did some weeks ago. We know they
are the same men, for we have met them daily
in our accustomed walk. They have now
steady gait and an elastic step, and seem every
way improved. The secret is, they cannot &c
liquor-some of them are glad of it, and all o
them will be, in time. One man, an old patror
of the bars in the heart of the city, tried ut iv'
or six of his old haunts the other day, bat cOult
not get drop to burn his tongue. The pro
hibitory law is being enforced and we hope
if we do not prophesy, that the liquor traffic il
the city of Providence will at no distant da,
come to it's final end"
The Philadelphia Bulletin refers to the ope
ration of the ordinances Of the city against Sab
bath drinking shops a. follows: