Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1866-01-05
[corrcs pondence of the Indisna American.
LETTER FROM REV. w. w. HIBBEN

you! CO, nero nHi on this IMPLY
beautiful Christmas morning This In
stitution il one Of the three Asylums
which nro certainly an honor to the
/ State. As have the honor Of being
one of the five Trustees who helped "a
devise the plan Of these Institutions in
tho year 1915, feel that have some
humble relationship to them, which
leads me once in while to visit, more
particularly and perhaps properly, the
Lunatic Asylum. For here have y
number Of aequaintanccs and old friends
for whom I feel as one feels for kindred
aflinities. As your readers have, no
donbt often hoard from this Institution
there is no necessity ofmorc than merely
abiding TO its past history.
The present Superintendent is w
LockhaIt, NJ d, very respectable
looking aud social gentleman, with
whom bad not the pleasure of forming
any special acquaintance. as tho ID 1ctor
and his family on yesterday, which was
the Sabbath. attended the Christian
Church in the city of which learn
they are members Through the polite
ness of Col. Wm NJ French, l was in
vited to occupy the pulpit of the Asylum
chapel in the morning and evening OF
the Sabbath, where | bad the honor and
pleasure Of preaching TO such of the
patients as are permitted to attend pub.
lie eervices.
Mrs Dr. Cravens presided at the me-
loGeon and lead the music. which was
far superior 10 that which we often
hear in many of our Churches The
audience, Of course, was composed Of
poor unfortunatcs-those whose intel
lecls were more or less in state Of wreck
But they sung with good time and in
harmony, and then listened TO the ser.
mon with an interest and feeling which
showed scarcely any sign of mental dc.
rangcment Indeed the interest mani
tested by them In hearing sermon,
would be credit to many audiences
that do not profess to DO crazy at oil.
The services at night were still more
interesting than in tho morning, and tho
audience much larger, Dr. Lockhart,
the superintendent, was present with
his family and the singing as conducted
by Mrs. DIR Cravens was such as to
please all who were present.
The officers of the INSTITUTION certainly
merit the high respect of the public for
the system and good order which are 80
thoroughly carried out in every part Of
the establishment.
DIR. Cravens has been connected with
the Hospital ls first assistant Surgeon
for numb of years, under DR.. Wood
burn, and now under Dir, Lockhart-
His admirable qualifications for the pc.
sition, together with his constant and
benevolent attention TO the patients
mako him IN essential officer in the In
stitution. Col. French is the Steward
OF the Hospital, and while he performs
all of h,s duties with the regularity o
a clerk, be often serves as Chaplain, pre-
pairing himself with well written ser
mons which are delivered to his pecu
liar and unfortunate audience with a
fervor and zeal worthy Of any audience
The Col. is an active and energetic
man, and fills his place with that kind
of faithfulness which will never be ex'
ceiled, perhaps, by any man who m J
come after him. He wastes no time and
often writes when others sleep. Hi'
popular life of Gov. Morton, attest:
this fact, and, by the way, he is nov
about ready to publish u new editioa
to this work,as the old and first edition,
has oil been sold months ago.
Mrs. Gov. Bigger, find, is still here
and the best matrcn, perhaps, the es
tablishmeht has ever had. She is the
right woman in the right place AND
though somewhat advanced in years
she seems as young, active and cheerful
Ms when twenty years ago she did the
donors OF the GuberDatorial Mansion
The patients all love her as u Mother
aod her influence over them is such thai
it is but seldom she has any trouble with
a single one.
Mrs. French, Mrs. DIR. Cravens and
Mrs. Lockhart, all contribute cheerIully
and affectionateIy in assisting tho mat
ron, in masking the condition of the pa
tients az tolerable and pleasant as pos.
sibIe.
| find In the Hospital, many whom
have met and known in different parts
OF tbe State--formerly members Of some
Of the best families of the State. lcould
not but feel sad, 10 meet among the most
deeply afflicted patients, a daughter OF
the lnment,d Gen. HDekleman. Hcf
case 10 severe one, and the probabii-
ties are lhrt she il incurabe.
Insanity is a mos, terrible disease, and
loudly calls for the heart sympathies OF
tho citizens of tho whole land. Some
-of the patients, 1t ia true, appear lively
and fall of fun, but then their cases are