The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-12-31
THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT

InS mdudR0HOut. JdkluS UpOu ueIS6II
the direction of the culinary and
household matters. Their position is
not an enviable one; and the faithful
discharge Of its manifold duties leaves
them scarcely a moments leisure.
The Asylum could not be in better
custody, as the good order and clean
ly condition pervading the institu-
ton, everywhere, amply testifes.
TWO CLASSES OF INMATES,
The destitute sick. who are received
for medical treatment, and the incur
ably insane. The former either die
or are cured and discharged; the lat
ter are a permanent charge on the
county. OF the first category, there
are at present but five or six critical
cases. The number of the second
category is fourteen, seven males and
seven females. Chronic diarrbea,
typhoid pneumonia, intermittent fe-
yer, acute rheumatism, may be men,
sick. We shall close this commuDi-
cation with sketches of the peculiari-
ties of those whom we have classed
as incurably insane, giving whatever
information we have been able to
collect of the previous personal his
tory of each individual.
AMANDA
Has been so long a resident, and the
Asylum has changed hands so often,
that all record of her first appearance
in her present character is lost. We
have observed that in cases of confirm
ed mental alteration, the memory is
almost entirely gone, and among the
group of demented creatures, we are
errand or carry message ten steps
garrulous, can give no connected ac-
life has been spent within the walls
of the County Asylum, and now, with
her locks prematurely gray, her frame
bent and debilitated, she spends her
days scolding and finding fault with
every one. When not so employed
she holds imaginary conversation
with some one she supposes to be
present. As there is a division of
labor in the household management,
it is her duty to roast the coffee, at
which business she is an adept, and
while engaged in this business she
will suffer none to Interfere with her.
She is clearly in her habits, and
gentle in her manners.
NANCY
Is large, stout woman, with coarse
features, grey hair, and rheumy blue
eyes. She is a native of Tennessee !;
has been married, and has had fam
| lily; but where they are or what their
condition, cannot be ascertained. She
is quite imbecile. and if set to do any
thing, requires constant watching; is
quite docile, and much addicted to
soiloquy. Her especial task is to
look after a little idiot boy, to keep
him clean and keep him out Of
the fire; and it is everybody's
business to see that she does not neg
lect her charge. She appears to have
a wonderful spite against some Mr..
Brown, living on some indefnable
creek, who, she declares, robbed her
of large property.
CATHERINE,
Ahas Mrs. Kinder, alias Mrs.
| Washington, is lady of short stature,
dark hair, and in her day was some
thing of beauty. Years ago she was
happy as wife and mother. A fend
in the shape of perfdious baker
won her confidence, prevailed on her
to rob her unsuspicious husband and
elope with him. She abandoned her
child as we'll, and came to Evansville
with her paramour, who, very soon
firing of her, neglected her. This
treatment, and remorse for what she
had done, deranged her, and now,
with hardly recollection of what she
has done, she imagines herself the
! only well-bred woman in the country,
possessed of immense property, the
title deeds to which she constantly
carries in two immense pockets, one on
each hip, fitted in her skirt. It need
scarcely be said that the title deeds
consist Of old scraps of paper
which, from time to time, have been
given to her. So much does She
pride herself on her gentility, that it
gives her mortal offense to call her by
| her christian name, and she puncFil-
liously exacts her full dignity Of Mrs.
Kinder, or Mrs. Washington. Her
province in the household is to
| iron the washed clothes, and to assist
in the labors of the scullery Among
other Authorizations is one which
causes, at times, much merriment
She imagines she is mistress, and in
terferes absurdly with the household
arrangements of Mrs. Reader. When
thwarted she becomes greatly incens-
ed, and scolds at the top of her voice,
with the utmost volubility, for an
hour at a time.
| BASHABY
Is a short, thick set woman, with
light hair, blue eyes, and light com