Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-20
THE SITUATION OF THE BAY VIEW
HOSPITAL

THE SITUATION OF THE BAY VIEW
HOSPITAL.
NO improvement was ever made in the cen
tire building of the old Almshouse after the
property was purchased for public purpose.
1t had been erected for private residence,
by one OF the most enterprisng citizens and
financiers of Baltimore-the late Dennis A.
Smith.
The old paper, representing hunting scenes,
which he had placed upon the walls, still hangs
there; not gas pipe, nor a water pipe, nor
speaking tube. nor a bell, was ever put into
the building. All the advancements in domi-
ciliary construction, including convenienceg
and comforts Of every kind, were utterly dis
regarded. The round rooms furnished beauti.
full places for entertainments, which were en-
joyed, and the square ones happy homes for
fer students.
Here, in this secluded place, near Sc
questered road-no car, or boat, nor engine
near to disturb the quiet; empowered amidst
signing pine trees, and the constant box always
in view, dwelt for half century, unchanged
and Interchangeable, three blessed sisters
"Faith, Hope and Charity-and the greatest
of these was Charity
The ceaseless roll of time at last has reached
this humble spot, and with its magic wand
transfers the scene. What now remains to tell
of all those years of toll, of means expended,
and sGferings endured? What records stand
to show that even liberty was there-the liberty
of action, or, in the recent definition of the
term, ''the right TO work." Shall charity bid
us hold our pen, and let her remain there still
entirely unchanged; folding within her mantle
all the faults that may have happened, Or that.
from the appearance Of the ruins, may be sup
posed to have existed? No; but let her divide
herself, and with one. and the better part, in
the freshness of the morning of the nineteenth
century, let her depart, and show the radiant
faces of her twin sisters upon high hill in the
east and shine far, and bright, and long.
Can any thinking man, cognizant Of the cir
cumstances, look at this contrast and disre-
gard the lesson which it teaches? And here
is another contrast-when the old AlmshOuse
was built, it was the journey Of nearly week.
by the cypress mail, to reach New York.
Now, the same engine which receives the re.
Elected light Of the morning from the Bellevue.
Blackwell's Island, the Emigrants, the Nur-
sery, and the Childrens' Hospitals of New
York, and which passes Blockley, the Penn
sylvania, and st. Josephs Hospitals, speeds
at mid day past the doors of the Bay View.
Why has charity left her more humble
abode, and sought this shining "city npon
hill?" Has this change of situation no sig-
nifcance-is it not suggestve--is nothing 10
be done to keep up with changes which have
preceded it in the State--is liberty again
threatened-and is the palsied hand Of thc
old customs from which we have Just emerged.
to be yet felt pressing upon the minds and
hands of our citizens? We cannot and will
not believe IT. we know the changed wishes,
and the deep and fervcnt aspirations of our
people better We showed a spark from the
altar in our issue of Saturday, and the bright
countenances of Faith and Hope, as they shine
from the elevated situation to which they have
been transferred, tell all the people, from the
lowest to the highest, to wait in patence-the
time for action is at hand. Maryland has at
tached her car to the wheel of progress. and
strong must be the arm, and hard the heart of
any one of her own citizens who tries to ston il.
If the site upon which this hospital has
been placed, is suggestive from It's elevation,
as we'll 40 from the works of art which are in
full view from it, is not It's commanding water
prospect, from its strong contrast with the
situation which has been left also DESERVING
of attention? The tides swelling up the largest
bay in the world and entering the PataDsco
river, would strike the sands upon the shore
below the hospital almost in vain, did they not
bring some suggestions to intellectual men.
They tell, far more eIoquentIy than any words
can convey the idea, of the ceascless roll Of
time and the countless number of beings borne
along in its current Can anything be more
clear than necessity for changes to be made
from time TO time to accommodate this cease
less stream Of life? The passengers on YES
sells coming from other lands, where GUYS
and St. Bartholemew's, La Charlie and the
lnvalid's Hospitals are as well known as the
lands themselves, see this sign of the civiliza-
ton of Maryland as they approach her shores,
and read the character Of her people at dis
lance.
1t is no striving after effect, but in the legiti-
mate line of our duty and argument that these
prominent points in the situation of this hos.
pital are mentioned at this time. They must
have suggestive force to all practical as well
as to more imaginative minds No one pre-
tends to deny the effects produced by external
appearances, and no sensible person will
undervalue them. The site selected was not
a mere chance, but intended for some wise
purpose to benefit the city and State. We
know how those having the matter in hand
have been banned, and many reasons have
been given why censure should attach to them.
Whether the situation is in itself unhealthfu
remains to be seen, and even should it prove
so at first we believe an advanced science can
remedy the evil in time. Nothing should now
hinder its proper organization as q hoSDifQl
and school Of the first class, to compare favor
ably with similar institutions in other cities of
equal Importance and size with ours We are
assured the Mayor and Trustees have the mat
ter under considera ton, and they have our
best wishes for complete success. 1t is a rare
opportunity offered to them for lasting honor,
and we hope it will not be lost.