The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-12-18
Tenn. FRIDAY, DECEMBER is. 1868, n


gentlemen doIied hats and overcoa.a. and in
the pleasant Offices, parlors and sitting rooms
| enjoyed for three-quarters of an hour the ge-
NAL calorp OF the interior in such pleasant
contrast with the outside air-raW and un-
comfortable, Then, under the guidance Of
| the Superintendent DR.. w. p Jones, the en-
tire party went through the whole building,
visiting MI the wards, and making in fact ~
general round Of the entire editce Most of
the patients were out of their rooms and
seated in the corridors. The spectacle WAS
one of the saddest we ever saw, Human
faces of all degrees,of blAnkness, from that
of the monOmaniac TO the apparently con-
6rmed idiot stared upon one as he passed
Some were siiehtand grinning, others voluble
and CHEEKY, while some looked upon the
crowd in blank amaSement or laughed silly
heartess laugh, thnn which nothing is saa-
der in all nature. There was the fierce hom-
icidal patient, who glared upon the throng in
gloomy silence his hands meanwhile work
ing convulsiyely, and there was the HARM
less creature who looked up with silly
smile, even more moumtul, more sad to the
! heholder than the fierce vindictive counte-
nance Of the former. That was a solemn
march through the wards Of patients and
suggestive Of the deepest woes to which the
soul of man can be subjected. All, their
blank, werd, awful faces, we see them yet
how like the countenances that gather about
US in oar night mare dreams, and glare down
upon us with inexplicable stony gaze or saw
age yindictlveness
The corridors of the institution are all
| well lighted and kept, as are the patients
rooms, serapulousy neat and clean yet,
with all the attention paid to ventilation, to
disnfesting, there is ever present sickly,
penetrating odor above the fumes of chloride
of lime, largely used rs snabsorbent,) which
is said to be an unfaiing attendant upon the
disease Of insanity. 1t is smell rs of uric
acid and penetrates everywhere through the
building whe-e patients are confined. 1t is
not the common sick-room smell, but some
thing more dense, more sitting. g..
Everything is done to promote cheerfnlness
and to inspire pleasant thoughts in the minds
Of patients The walls Of the corridors are
covered with ENTHUSIASTICALLY covered
landscapes, historical statues, portraits, etc,
in colors and PLAN, Of all sizes imaginable
There must be several hundred of these pic
lures. The windows, too, look out upon
pleasant scenes Of distant slopes and wooded
hills, and the ever pleasant stretch of the
open cAaatry calculated By IFS very ideas OF
extent and liberty TO inspire the heart OF man,
though ieen in the bleakest season.
There are now in the Asylum 258 patients
OF these IA are females and l44 males. The
Superintendent informed US that the institu-
tion had as many as il could well contain,
and was, in fact, crowded.
lnpassing through the building we visited
eha obonaI trhara sarvirae ,ra baId f,y, G.,k
baths in the month Also, the museum,
which contains a largo number of curiosities,
many Of skillful and curious workmanship,
done by the inmates. After having made the
round Of the large Asylum, the Superintend-
ent piloted the party across the grounds
about one-eighth ofa mile, to gentle elsva-
ton, where stands the
HOSPITAL FOR THR CoLoRBD INSANE,
or rather portion Of the edi6ce as il will be
when Il is completed in its entirety. It is Of
a plain style Of architecture, built Of brick,
and is three stories high Although opened
but short time, il contains thirty patients,
which Is, we believe, its present capacity -
The party next visited the hydraulic rams,
now in progress of construction, designed 20
furnish the two buildings with water.
The greenhouses next came in for large
share Of the attention Of the visiiors, after
which the party returned to the Asylum.
rt eff p1ssER.
At2 o'clock dinner was announced and
the pnrty filed into the diQing hall, whore
was spread splendid collation., which GER
tainly demonstrated the skill OF the culinary
department Of the institution and the good
taste Of the management generally To say
that the patty did justice TO the oysters, the
! yenisOn, the turkey, the chicken, the NAM
moth baked hams, and all the list Of ct eStera
Of confectionery and cake, would be useless
We heard one sturdy Senator, who is noted
| for his aldsrmanic proportions, regretting
that slight indisposiiiou would prevent him
| from enjoying that dinner as hs would like.
A number Of ladies were present, and gtaced
the occasion with their presence.
VINO coaPosEp THE PARTY
While at table we glanced an oye down the
double line aud took list Of members and
outsiders who composed he party. II was
as folloNsi Fromthe Senate, Msssrs Speaker
Sentsr, Parker, Mathews, Smith, Underwood,
Eaten, Fuson and Lindsey. From the House,
Messfs Bloom Ailen 0ordell, Hacker, Ghilas,
Inman, Poston, Taylor, Of Perry, eagle,
Shepherd, SingletAry, Myhast Mason, McFail,
! Gilmer, Turner, Hamilton, Williams, Wines,
ledlih, Griffith, Sparkmpn and Col Grishan,
the Principal Clefk in the House. (Msssrs.
Mynatt, Hacker and Grisham were accompa-
MED by their wiyes.) Outsiders, Judge An
drews, Dr.. SAndford, Of Knoxville, Hon.
Charles Mckinney Capt lIJherger, Supfrin-
tendent Of the Capitol, A, 8. Bsyless, Esq,
- Mayor Of Union City, Dr. Carpenter, Of
Memphis, and Morse, Reporter OF the Senate.
TIE RETrHN.
Shortly after dinnsr the party started back
to Nashville, where all arrived without an
accident 10 mar the enjoymsnI OF the oeea-