The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-12-31
| ANNALS OF THE POOR.
Our County Asylum
Its location, Management,
and Eliminates.
Brief Sketches of haracter.
Correspondents Of ] ournal.l

anu YOU ) 70 pEOQt11 -1GdA AOL will a
The short and simple annals of the poor"
Those who are blessed with health,
with prosperity. and with the society
of affectionate relatives and sympa-
thizing friends. are apt to forget that
within the circumference of a not
very large circle around their own
happy homes, may be found many
afflicted with all the wretchedness of
extreme indulgence. This is but nat
ural, for with every desire satisfied,
the mind deli2hts to dwell only on
thoughts that are agreeable, and
should other images of an unwelcome
character obtrude themselves, they
are unceremoniously smothered. At
this particular season, however, we
would fain believe that all in affiuent
circumstances, both old and young,
in this goodly Christian land of ours,
do, in compliance with the sacred
precepts of Him whose advent
on earth was to secure the
eternal salvation of the human race,
and whose birth is so joyously eele-
brated by all Christians at this time,
allow their attention to pass for
brief period from the contemplation
of their own felicity to the consider
alton of the suferings of their less
fortunate fellow creatures. In read
ing the life of Jesus Christ, as set
forth in the New Testament, what
strikes US most, and compels our be-
lief in His divinity, is the tender con-
Germ He ever manifested for every
species of helplessness. The sick, the
lame, the blind, the ignorant, the I'M
fortunate and innocent childhood,
were especially the objects of His care,
and when His mission on earth was
ended, His solicitude in their behalf
was undated, and He solemnly COM
mitted them to the merciful protec-
ton of His professed followers The
anniversary Of the birth of the Son of
God, is an appropriate season to re-
mind all who hope to enjoy the rich
inheritance He came to secure for
| them, of their obligations; and in or
der to do so, we shall present to the
readers of the JOURNAL, in our
humble way, a description of the
County Asylum, its management and
its inmates. An old song says, 1.-The
poor make no new friends" and, alas
how true the remark? We hope,
sincerely, however, that those who
shall read the following sketches, will
acknowledge the claims the poor and
afflicted have upon them, as at least
they are human and journeying on
the road to eternity, though unpro-
vided with everything calculated to
cheer them on the way and that they
Will not permit the opportunity to
| pass, which this joyous festival offers,
without improving it, in some manner
mitigating want or alleviating distress.
THE COUNTY ASYLUM
Is situated on the continuation of
Main Street, at the northern boundary
of the Longworth Tract. and com
prises in extent-orehard, garden,
farm land, house lot, yard and GENE
tery-about forty acres. The soil of
the farm is low, wet and of very poor
| quality The buildings for the ac-
commodation of the Superintendent' S
family and the other inmates, were
erected when the architectural skill
and taste of the Commissioners of
Vanderburgh County were undevel-
oped, and consequently nothing can
| be imagined more unsuitable and in
adequate for the purpose for which
| they were erected, in material, plan,
| construction and conveniency of ar
rangement. than the conglomerate
| batch of edifces constituting the
County Asylum. A more judicious
economy of space, and scintilla OF
more skill in its distribution, would
! have furnished twice the accomm0da-
! E--rv nj hof
can be crowded within its walls; and
when so packed with persons, men,
women and children, affected with
each a different disease. it is extreme
| ~ difficult to minister to their wants,
or successfully aid in their restora-
ton to health. This is particularly
the case IN the fall aud winter. At pre-
sent there are about thirty eight per-
sons, inmates of the institution, re-
| ceiving medical treatment, the incur
ably insane included.
THE OvERsEERs or THE POOR
Are the several Trustees of the Town
! ships in the County, who are er off 10
! Overseers of the Poor. But 1t Is on
/ Mr.. Chris Hedderich, the Trustee OF
| Pigeon Township, that almost all the
care of the county poor devolves.
| His Office is on Sycamore Street, be-
tween Third and Fourth. He is con-
stantly at his post, is kind hearted
and urbane, and no real object of
charity is sent unrelieved away.
THE COUNTY PHYSICIAN
Is Doctor Sigler, whose office is on
Third Street, between Vine and Di-
vision. By the terms of his contract,
the destitute sick Of the county are
entitled to medical treatment at his
hands. His visits to the County Asy-
Inn, ora dnilrr rrSnnllu In the fore