Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-02-09
A Visit to the Utica Asylum.

". d. Wilkinson, supervisor Il
the town Of Marshall, one Of the el
itors Of the WateryilIe Times, write
bis paper the following account of tb
Supervisors visit 10 the Asylum:
A glorious old lady insisted ths
the first two letters of her nam
were G. o. d. Her husband and SD
we're "tbe Divinity" and her famil
"the Trinity" A young lazy of l,
years was decked in paper gewgaw
and fnery, and very anxious to sho,
her proficiency in dancing to the Wis
itOrs. One lady apparently 80 year
of age, was continually smiling upoI
iallwho arrested her attention. Ia co
versatioh with her Learned that she
had long been engaged in reading the
stars, aud ascertaining the future des-
tiny of the human race. We were
next introduced into a ward where
the inmates were in much worse, al
though not hopeless, condition.
Here | found Miss Jeffers, formerly a
teacher iB the Wateryille Academy.
She looks feeble, is very much ema-
ciated, and will probably never recoY-
Ter. We next entered "BedIam."
Here were women cursing, raving,
and furlouoly striving to free their
hands and arms from the necessary
confinement. never saw such God
foraaken, baggard, wild. uneartbly
eeuntenances. Heaven forbid that |
shall ever see such a spectacle! Ia
this ward was female who, DR.. GRAY
informed me, WAS a Spiritual pa
tent" She was the happiest erea.
turs | ever saw. The DR.. said she
uever ceased smiling, had always
been brimful Of genuine salfsatisiac-
ton, and apparently the most blissful
of the blessed. But such eyesI /
God grant that those orbs mas never
again be turned towards me. 10 an
hall were confined to in
terrupted seats" several females who
we're past cure. One lady. the wife
Of distinguis isbed clergyman, has
been in the Asylum the past six
years, during which time her husband
md children have died, but she eau
lot be made to understand word of
hese truths. She was confined to /.
eat, her hands being encased 10 a
Gather shield, from which it is impos- :
ible to extricate them. These
,uerds or shields are like small
nun and the hands are thus coufiu- Z
d to prevent the patient ftom tear
ng her clothing or injuring her per. Z
on. | saw several g in bed" These :
atients are placed in a box-shaped :
ed, with a cover, which is made Of :
lats and is securely locked over :
hem. The patient when tbuscoDfn- =
d appears to be lying in box With :
rack for a cover. One beautiful =
oung female with long jet flowing
urls was thus confined. / saw two !,
instances Of complete de- :
lentia. Two patients have lost eve- y
Y particle of intellect they ever pos :
9ssed. They have not spoken a
ord in fifteen years, and are in eve- q q
Y particular mere animals. DR. Gray +
aid these two demented, darkeued :
eings appeared to I" take naturally Z
, each other. They viii sit facing,
nd look each other in the face for a
ours, sometimes smiling in a very :,
lily manner. Taking hold of each y :
theirs hands, they will walk up and 8
own the hill for tiIae. then look :
sch other square in the face for half +, 5
day, They eat heartily, are iu r
ood flesh, and improve 10 animal j
eight continually.
-$-s><<>N~><