Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-09
THE TENNESSEE HOSPITAL FOR
THE INSANE.

Unique and Highly Interesting Spec
tRcIe.
Dr. W. P. Jones, the very able and die
tingnished Snperintendent Of the Stat
Hospital for the Insane, on the last VISITING
day, Tuesday, invited a number Of thu
most eminent amateur musicians of Nash
vile to the Asylum, with view of giving
a musical entertainment 10 the unfortunate
patients under his charge A few othel
visitors were present, swelling the number
to twenty or thirty.
Near ten o'clock, A. NJ, about two hun
dred of the patients we're conducted TO tbs
Chapel and seated for the entertainment
A piano and organ were the Instruments
The performers and vOcalists were Mrs
Fitzhugh Atkinson, Mrs. Neal, Mrs. Golf
Miss Euniee Diggons, Misses ScoVill and
two or three others, Whose names are for.
gotten in the sweet recollection of their
voices, Messrs. Dorman, Atkinson, Thaieh-
er, Vain, Campbell, Mueller and Ross. A
number of pieces were given, embracing
operate, sacred and lyric music equal to
the best in the country. The listening Wis
itors we're delighted. The unfortunate
persons for whose pleasure the entertain
ment was given, were variously affected.
Some appeared elated others deeply af-
fected, some simply entertained, and still
others wholly Indifferent.
At the close Of the morning matinee, the
patients were returned 10 their respective
wards, and soon after the visitors we're con-
Quoted throughout the building, viewing
the structure and its inmates in their usual
condition With a few exceptions, they
we're quiet and docile. Occasionally a
man, in the male wards would bid the
party good morning and Heem disposed 10
offer the inequalities Of the mansion but
no rudeness of any kind was exhibited.
Ia the female wards the inmates were neat
and tidy, and appeared to be in as good
condition as their circumstances would
warrant. One was found in an i'll humor,
and upon being told that the ladies AMI
gentlemen had called to see her, replied
that she was not prepared TO see company /;
that she was thinking over the loss of $500
and some Vafable property. Another was
diligently reading the Bible, paying no
attention to her guests, while others looked
listlessly upon their visitors, and still
others darted into their rooms to escape
observation.
After passing through the building, with
his attentive and efficient assistants Drs.
East and Beauchamp, DR.. Jones conducted
the party through the grounds, the con-
serVatoTies, gardens, gas works, laundry, TO
the lake (which is a most lovely and use
ful sheet Of water and to the building
lately erected for the colored insane, situ-
ated some three hundred yards west Of the
main buildings, on beautiful eminence,
surrounded by lovely scenery and splendid
forest trees. 1t happened that it was the
hour for bathing and dressing the twenty
six inmates in this department, and the
visitors only inspected the ample corridors
aud the clearly rooms Of this branch of
the institution.
Everything about the premises was found
in perfect order, and all were satisfied that
this noble munifcence of the State is be-
ing worked 80 as to secure the very best re-
suits.
While the buildings and inmates, which
now number in the aggregate some two
hundred and seventy-fve, are of the first
importance, the Superintendent consults
the interests of the State in producing such
supplies as can be on the grounds, for the
maintenance of the institution. He has
carefully cultivated the provision staples,
corn and wheat, oats, etc, besides hogs and
cattle. He has omitted nothing that can
contribute to the success of the institution
in any respect.
The ornamentation of the grounds, the
cultivation of flowers, vegetables, etc, I'M
der the immediate supervision Of Mr. Owen
Sharkey, afforded the party of visitors the
greatest pleasure. His skill and diligence
in the several departments of his vocation,
has not only given him an enviable repu-
tation as a hortiCulturist, but is making
the gardens and conserVatories Of the Hos
pital the completest and richest in this lati-
tude. Among other results of his scien-
ti6c skill, he has, during the present
season, produced three new, original
and distinct varieties of Verbena, which
are pronounced by connoisseurs TO be
most superb. We take greater pleasure
in noting this fact for the reason that these
new and exquisite varieties Of this admired
flower are named for three of our most
worthy home people-the first, a royal
purple and white, is named for Rev. Philip
5. Fall, the President of the Tennessee
Horticultural Society; the second, carna-
ton red and white, for Mrs. A. F. Gof,
whose. eminent talent is only equslled by
her generous social nature and her unosten-
tatious goodness; the third, most delicate
pink which fades imperceptably into white,
for Miss Euniee Diggons, no less lovely
than the flower which bears her name.
Ripe clusters of grapes, golden oranges,
and other fruits-the bursting bloom of the
Victoria Regia-an infinite variety of
flowers aud exoiics work exhibited 10 the
party.
By the time the party had gone through
all this varied and mixed exercises, they
were ready to rest under the delicious
shade of the trees, to lounge upon the grass
and to enjoy the play of the fountains that
play in the sun and seem to defy its power,
A brief rest brought them to dinner. To
say truth, this was also most ENJOYABLE, as
was testified by the zest with which il was
consumed. In this part of the days en-
joyment, the company-in addition to the
thanks they owed them for the very elegant
and kind courtesies with which they were
received-extended to Mrs DIR. J. and Mrs
DR.. f. grateful thanks from heart and
stomach. The fruits of the tropics and the
ice of the poles united on the tables to
nentralize the heat of July sun, and the
thermometer was forgotten. .t,
[ Adiourning to the front green after din
ner, the party engaged in a game of GRO
quet--a game which we win describe for
the benefit of our country readers as a com
promise between crochet and base ball, or
the old fashioned school ground town ball
"a game for both ladies and gentlemen.
This ended, the bell rang for the evening
concert, and the chapel was again filled
with the lunatics and the visitors. Some
splendidly rendered sacred music, sue
ceeded by songs and chorusses were given,
TO the delight Of all. The violin was ia
PRODUCED with a piano accompaniment, a
lively air when an elderly patient receiv-
ing CLEAN ofsane life, rose and danced 10
the music. This attracted the attention of
the other unfortunstes, who laughed
heartily, when she sat down with evidences
of confusion.
At the conclusion of the evenings en-
tertainment the patients were retired, and
the company again returned to the grounds,
and spent an hour lettering, 10th TO leave.
BY this time all the inmates Of the hospital
that hoA - L., e l. L,.1lH