The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1864-09-09
The Mississippi ASYLUM for the Insane.

The Mississippi Asylum for the Insane
During a recent visit to Jackson W.
had the pleasure of being introduced tt
DR.. Robert Kells, the courteous and en-
ergeiic Superintendent Of the Insane
Asylum, washing with him through
those commodious buildings which oul
State has prepared as n haven Of refuge
and restoration to those unfortunates who
have been deprived of Gods greatest gift
to man and even after q lifetime spent
inthe State, we will not pretend to deny
our former Ignorance of the workings oil
this institution, or the surprise and pleas
ure we experienced in contemplating its
elegance and comfort, and heremarkable
adaptation, both as to location and de-
sign, Of its buildings.
Situated some two miles north of Jack.
son on gently rising knoll, The beautiful
champaign country for some miles around
is spread out most delightfully."- before the
eye, while the bills which encircle the
grounds are, we imagine, sufficient bar,
AASAS atitApS1 tlAe suuucH AHQ luNttIlcib
visits Of winter. The buildings, designed
and executed, We are told, BY an eminent
achitect, are very much after the style of
similar institutions both in Europe and
America, combining in Situation every
requisite Of health, in interior arrange
ment every comfort known in the most
comfortable home, in neatness, cleanli-
ness and order everything essential for
] the welfare OF lis inmates, and in general
management and supervision everything
needful for tie contentment and com
Portable existence Of its unfortunate in
mates.
We are sorry that we have not at hand
the means of giving some statistical infor-
NATION OF our subject, and must content
ourselves by briefly glancing at the APP
proximate number of patients, and the
business management Of the place, afford
ed us by only short visit. There are
now there about one hundred patients,
male and female, and we were surprised
to see the cheerfulness pervading every
thing. In the apartment allotted to the
males, we found some walking arm in
arm up and down the long halls which
separate their sleeping apartments, others
sitting in their neatly kept rooms on
either side, and others engaged in reading
from well selected library, with an ear
nestness which would do credit to more
healthy minds and we must not omit to
mention the polite and affectionate de-
pertinent of our friend 'Noah the sin
gular saneness on some subjects 81 the
"Doctop--or the military knowledge
of our distinguished friend ''the General,
Commander-inChisf Of the armies Of the
World" In the female apartments, built |
in exactly the same manner, we found |
very much the same order Of things !
though with the marked differences Of
instincts, formation and character. All
seemed as cheerful, happy, and free from
care as is ever permitted in this world,
and the industry, order and real neatness
in dress and general surroundings pleased 4
us more than we can describe. In their
usual sitting room we found some Of the
ladies sewing, and were shown some spec
linens of their handiwork, the taste and
of which would he the pride Of
any woman in the land. Many Of these
specimens we were told had received
prizes from our former State fairs. Nor
must the musical taste and requirements
Of one or two be forgotten, for they play
ed with q skill and reason that delighted
and astonished us; one having an elegant
md beautiful piano in her room, her own
property we believe, while the sitting
DOM is also provided with one.
We shall long remember the kind
lthntion which those ladies offered us,
md we could not when among them help
neditating upon the unhappy causes that .
AVE in some instances deprived Gods t
nost bountiful creation of that "great c
balance, ruling ALL" All of
hese apartments, both male and female,
re provided from "cellar to ceiling 0
18th hydrants, washing and bathing APP Z
aratus, &c. &c. Not less favorably too, !.
oes the outer arrangements strike the n
yes. The best and most finely ordered Y
srdens surround the place, in great
easure planted and cultivated by the
ale patients aI-l affording no incon- N
derable revenue, and the orchards of
re and choice fruits, selected and grown
ter many years Of experience, are mod e
in their way. We were shown through E,
lie well kept kitchens whore the cook 81
g for the entire establishment is done CT
steam, the workshops, where shoes, W
ooms, rope, soap and other necessaries p
e manufactured, the Mushrooms, also in
lnaged by steam, and in word, found re
astonishing degree of skill, energy ell
d perseverance over difficulties. every ev
lere displayed. And before closing this "a,
viii not forget TO mention the evident Co
lily evinced in the management pr
this institution by its polite and clever Pr
'seon, Dr.. kells, who, amid the many de
vations of war, both in assistance and Off
terial, has not only kept up but aug de
nted its general comforts, or the kind de,
sntior we received at the hands of his -.
omp'ished and hospitable lady. In ia,
ID, we would be glad to mention by del
ne cVerv ona IF ia agta,t;va ,,,.,,o be