The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-23
Inside RnlInm.
SCENES IN BETHLEHEM HOSPITAL.

The London IeCgrdOh describes some of the
scenes in the Bethlehem Hospital for the insane
IN EDglaDd:-
"In Bethlehem Hospital every effort is used to
make the life OF the inmates cheerful. As you
walk down the corridors you hear the coOing OF
pigeons aud The quick, jubant notes of singing
birds fitting to and fro in large and Well-teLded
ayiaTies, Presently you come to an aquarium;
anon to a stand OF flowers, while there are satu-
cites and engravings on the walls. Everywhere,
light; every where, elbOW-roOm and breathing
space. Hence, you are led on from stage to stage
you gradually get into Il state OF mind in which
1t is not IN the least surprising to you to ind
yourself with some very gentlemanly luua.ics
playing billiards nor DO you feel at all aston
ishcd by.and.by TO hear piano in a nelghboring
room, an recognize a bit of Beethoven. Parts
OF Bethlehem seem more Ikea club than mad
house. Every man is allowed TO smoke after
dinner; and IL Is with a strange feeling of semi
Dewlderment that you stroll into a reading
room and see gentleman quietly enjoying his
tobacco over number of the Illustrated Ne1CS.
'MadH Certainly; has been mad for Years: will
be mad for years; but not tor all that miserable
not tor all that cut oil from the fellowship of
his raCel IL is hardly the sufferers from acute
mania, perhaps. that alilict one the most.
Here and there, over fine and proud face,
you see shadow pass like thunder cloud, as
the mans houI oil torment comes upon him; but
in that there is still some courage and manhood
left. lOuder, stricken by the worst kind of
melanchoia, poor creature, his hair all gray
or griZZled, rocks himself necessarily to and fro
upon his seat, shrnks from touch as from fire,
and gives no answer TO a kindly salutation but
moan. II this be hls state at midday, what is it
when the night closes in? Pass on; and now,
how OLD, think you, IS the rosy gentleman half
asleep in 8 chair by the chimney corner? The
rosy gentleman looks up with a surprising
amount OF briskness, as he hears the question,
and answers, Ninety, SIR lie is not dreaming,
not rOmancing. He came TO this hospital
think of it!-ln January, 1927, already forty
eight years Old and there is still a color on his
cheeks. Less cheerful, but robust in his Ian
guage to degree which is almost terrific is an
old sailor in the neighbOrhood. Our men sWore
terribly in Flanders, but this grand old veteran
would OutsWear thirty troopers Never was
there an old gentleman so utterly unit for
publication.
in the female wards, situated in the eastern
part of the hospital, we meet with many more
cases of chronic and persistent delusiOn than
amongst the men. The very first lady, for in
stance, whom we aCCOst soon describes herself
as Queen OF Heaven and EBrth,' and speaks of
her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria in q
sighting tone aud do hQW en- 6QS. poor
unhappy gentleWOmau has been here for years; ;
! she has grown old and sharp and Wrlukled; her
! white halr hangs in great tangled heaps about
! her; and there is an awful look, like that of
! hunger, 10 her eyes as she presses to wards the
| COOr oI her little room, and would fam pass on
! ana hustle by you, IuVOluutauly, man shrinks
! nom the touch for just second; and it is not
! your first impulse, but return of your reason
! and your reverence for woman, which makes
! you accept and press the hand that she offers
! you. An, 1t is a thin, worn hand! Honestly,
| one is glad enough TO mount to the upper gal
| leries, where the more hopeful, at any rate the
| quiCter, cases are TO be met with.
! "DecCrOus as a private dIawlpg-rOom are
| many OF these apartments, whore some OF the
/ patients sit reading, others working, Others,
again, practising at the piano. a poor girl
| who is in the strict conventional sense, young
! lady-eagerly aCCOsls US as we pass. As one
might guess, It is the Old story Of love that
came to nothing. The face is bright still and
pretty, though the fine eyes are troubled, and
there is painful little catch in the.yoice. Sem
sibly and quietly, with a kind of subdued eager
ness that is wonderfully touching, she
pleads for her release; She is quite well;
She would be quite safe; she can take
care Of herself perfectly. A crucial
question is then asked and she cries,
All but shall I tell you truth, or not the
truth When tell YOU the truth, you keep me
here And the truth Goo help us, is that she
is engaged to young gentleman and that the
greater part of Europe belongs to him. The
so but earnest voce-a lady's, in every tone
-trembios down into tears, but the eyes, though
sunused, look proud, and have Il touch of anger
in them, as She says, You keep me here, be-
cause | tell the truth" No quieter voice could
you hear; ana you must be strangely constitu ed
| II You can turn away from such an interview
without pain and sickness at the heart.n