Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-02-01
huNAT1c AsYLuM.

hyNATIC ASYLUM.
We are particularly requested TO copy the
sabjoined extract from an excellent article pub
si,llcd in the Caro!iaiaa, over tho signature of
Howard"
* With all it's disadvantages, this
sn.itu,iun will rosnpasc favorable with The other
inaiiu,iun. of the coaatsy II Is defective in it's
architectural arsa,,Scanentsi- aud in its limited
grounds but i, .rGMirett Tic new revelation to
make these f:rc,r knowA'tc The Regents. They
have long trt, strn, Ssd proclaimed them to the
Legislature ams ,hrpubc. And here must
.xkc uccacun 10 rrervyc the spirit of unmeasur-
vi abuse in whic2 nulne have indulged in refer
sncc 10 ,lr Asylum. As one who has right to
know s"n,c,t,itS Of it. and whose opinions, from
the circumstances of his life, worthy little
norv, PERHAPS than these Of writers for newSpa-
rsra generally, do assert that it has had large
sNrccss, sud is entitled TO the confidence OF the
stasmun,y.
'l'hst there src better institutions is true; but
eh1s there are others i,ir worse ia equally true.
No one can walk through it without being salts
nud that the officers, and ALL have done their
duty. The moral system of management,
mrsn the system opposed 10 that Of force, has
long bc, haa"p!cd, snd is carried out to the iut-
leat extent po.sbe. The intelligent and aFatss-
BILE superintendent, DR.. Parker, has s nature and
education prc-eminen,ly sdaptcd TO his painfully
responsible position; and the love and affection
90 freely indulgvd towards him by all under his
ui,xege, declare more strongly than any language
the high ability with which he discharges his du.
iiea The keepers are as orderly, as faithful, and
virilant IN elsewhere: and if there has been
death from burning, accidents Of character
equally melancholy have occurred in the best
Institutions; and lie knows nothing Of the dllfl.
uulties of the matter who believes that it is pos
aib!- to prevent them altogether. That the pa
iients are .op much crowded is conceded by
ALL and year st,rr year has the Board implorcd
The Legislature TO remove the evil. The houses
vryctcd scroSs the street were designed 10 meet
il to some extent and with all due Difference to
others, | Insist .,at when used they will con-
tribute greatly to the general comfort. But
with singular Inconsistency, the very persons
who mike loldes complaint of crowded rooms,
aud badly ventilated apartments and grounds al
general insist most ntrcnu"usy that the houses
be not occupied, and that the inmates be made
10 ,uffrr these cnornou. evils until ut least ano.
ther session Of The Legislature. All the while,
,oo, the numbers are increasing, and under thu
advice Of the physician. I'll arc 70 be received
who offer The new buildings would relieve
the Asy um If its present pressure, and forty
ps.ien,s can BE- most comfortably provided for
in them. di,claim all personality, and freely
accord to the physician the greatest integrity OF
purpose. know him to be in earnest. But
ye, there i. lurking in the minds Of many an ap.
p.ehrnsion that the transfer of any number OF
patients to the new buildings will settle the CUES
ton IF remorai torerer; having 4 zeal without
charity, they would rather subject the poor sui
isrrrs TO all the horrors Of another black hole OF
Calcutta, than endanger their darling project.
i, is not the fact that the wealthy patients Of
our own State are placej in this institution only
NJ long rs may be necessary 10 make provision
for their reception in i foreign one. Msny re-
msn here for wears and years, and there is never
time when our own Asylum has not TAR por-
ton of lhcm There ;rc other reasons WIZ The
wealthy in our own borders seek distant instl-
,utons. First. insanity is painful and m"rll-
frins fact, which the friends of the insane care
no, 10 proclaim in the community where they
reside. SECONDLY, the chances Of recovery are
increased by il; for present associations must
be broken up ~ mich an possible, and the mind
purpcd Of iis delu.i,inns by. the collision OF
new scenes, new rsriely, and consequently new
iraS
The per ctntage OF rtcoysries, IS exhibited by
tnc reptrtS, cOuIpafrS H''SI hs'o'"o'y W." ''N
best institutions, nf the land and the Asylum
has sustained it.cIf, ever siuce its foundation,
without one dvllsr of cost TO the State, except
for the erection Of additional buildings With
all these facts, however, il is q future, and re-
s.u,blcs more the collection Of wild beasts in
geological garden than an assembly of hu-
man beings. What next! Surely the enemies
.f the present Asylum have at last rcached:the
vlims1 of abuse, and its friends may take to
,heusrvs. sor, of consolat ion in the reflection
thai evil h:,s done its worst. IN sober earnest.
il this the way 10 advance a work OF charity !!
Ioa gentlemen not TO be- permitted to. have an
sone.i opinion. in regard TO the location Of the
buildings! Is it reason igF which he Is Ato
be hung, drawn, snd quarcrcl," if he thinks
that the cruund, on. the east of the present To-
ss,ion. and containing, think, a least fifty acres
will sGord very good site for it! Let ME say
30 these person. tha, their iIl-iempcred zeal can
~ them no good that already the spirit OF
prescriptions has begun to produce reaction !;
shat there i. y suspicion thst with some, at least
N,are are other motives than those which should
uovyrn opinions; aud that all their efforts cam
uot work u forfeiture of confidence in this body
~ honorable gentlemen. who, Willis Others arc
indulriny in rain.loruns dia!ribcs upon the du-
ties of lore snd charity, toiling, with dsinter
es,ed b.nrvolenre, for The good of the most un.
fortunate Of mor,sls.
CORRESPONDENCE of the Baltimore Sun.