Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-01-05
A Pleasing Scene.

Christmas at tie M.nne A$:yiam.-Th
good people in town were not the only one
in our region who greatly enjoyed last Mon
days time honored festival The unfortu
nate victims of insanity now residing at
the State Hospital also found it day ot
cheerful pleasure aud perhaps to some Of
them it forms the only bright spot il
months of mental darkness and suffering
For several days before Christmas, tn,
officers and attendants, assisted by such O
the patients as were permitted to take part
in the matter, were engaged in decorating
one Of the Museum buildings, PREPARING il
for the reception of presents from the
friends Of the Institution, and for the 1is-
tribution of gifts to the patients. An ample
supply of "good things" having been fur
nisLed BY the ohiccrs and scme of our ci-
tizcns, the Museum was made dur!n. the
day place Of great Interest to all. Ap-
pcaring here At different hours, in compa-
MES from the various wards, the patients,
to the number OF upwards Of two hundred,
had ali opportunity Of viewing the curiosi-
ties contributed for their amusement, and
then at their departure received each Il
"Christmas Gift from the articles proyid-
cd. At ten o'clock, y. NJ, the National
Guard Band, who, at tie suggestion Of
Capt. j. ID. Murphy, had cheerfully con-
sentcd to lend their service for the oecas-
sion, were taken out in conveyance fur
nished gratuitously by Nr. Colder Ar
ranging themselves i'll the main hall, the
doors into which from TIE wards were
thrown open, the Band performed num-
Der Of tunes in fine sly 3; after which, they
formed themselves into procession, and ac-
companied by the visitors, marched through
the various parts of the building. The
scenes witnessed during this musical march
were interesting in the extreme The re-
c,p;ion given the procession by the pa,
,icnts was not that which might have been
expected from insane persons but on the
contrary was, with one OF two unimportant
exceptions, such as to lead one unacquain-
ted with the true character of the place,
to believe that he was surrounded by those
who, thoug b somewhat cnfeeblcd in body,
were sound in mind Two females, whose
insanity renlers them 50 gloomy that dur
ing the year they have seldom been seen
to speak, were 50 enliycued by the sound
Of the music, that they seized each other
by the hand, and while the band remained
within hearing they danced most vigorous
ly from one end Of the ward to the other. |
In one Of the apartments devoted to the
male patients, man Of powerful frame,
from the Western part of the State, who /
at his admission into the Asylum was so
violent that he had to be chained, instead
Of assaulting his visitors, listened for
to the music, and then in high
giee began series Of feats in "ground aud /
lofty tumbling' which amused and aston
lshed all who saw him. After finishing
The circuit of the building, the Band and
the visitors present were invited by DR..
Curwen to partake Of refreshments provi-
led for them; after which they took their
leave, well pleased with all the saw; and
feeling amply compensated, no doubt, for
all the efforts they hal made to light up
the dark sky Of the insane-XarrisLuy
IkralU.
-..---------- ------------
4 NrwSp,prp 1t -r,r H;sLcn Uor