The New York herald., 1868-11-08

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Who is there however small has been his experi-
ence, that cannot summon from the storehouse OF
his memory the face and form Of some early friend
or companion whom in days gone by he cherished
with anectionate regard, and linked with whose
name are such associations OF past pleasurabe ex-
periences that the very mention OF It, let 1t be
SO indiferenty, vtvidy recalls scenes and recollec
tions buried else In oblivion, OF days OF jolity
and frolic and nights of revelry and wassai, with
him the remembered as the central ngures Who 80
brilliant at the festive board as her Whose
voice the loudest in the roaring chorusf His.
Where eloquence and wit shone forth, his the
palm OF excellence, and when beauty graced the
mirthfu gathering to whom her brightest smiles and
winning words OF badinage for gay devoir but nimY
COurted, petted and distinguished among his peers
by greatest solicitation Of ais society," he moved the
bright particular star Of select coterie envied ana
admired, the subject OF the farest prophecies OF fu-
ture greatness and distinction. But soon 1t began
to be whispered that riot ana debauchery were OBJ
scuring the high qualities society held In such re-
gard, and wasted, dssipated life marring the fu-
ture once OF such fair promise. Friends who held
him In too great esteem to look idly and see the
wreck Of such noble nature uttered words
or caution in his ear. Shocked that he had
fallen so low to call for their advice he hestated
the brink OF the abyss towards which his generous
qualities OF mind and disposition had insensibly led
him and vowed reform. For few days, while yet
his manly heart beat Indignantly within his breast
that he should be deemed drunkard, he Stunned
the fatal cup, but his life cast in the mad whrl
and excitement OF crowded places and ere he had
time to retrace the few stray steps he had taken he
was swept again into the vortex, and, no longer
fighting against the current, rode boiserousy upon
the billows, the widest of the doomed voy-
ayers. Friends gathered around him again
and earnest words OF remonsrance poured into his
ear again he listened and strove to breast the strong
tide that was bearing him to destruction, but this
time less resolutely, and was again overwhelmed
Often was this repeated, until those who had known
him In his days Of pride one by one dropped Off
and from distance watched with sad hearts his
futile struggles against destruction, having the will
but lacking the means to save him. untn finally he
oated out Of sight into that great Of wretched
ness and misery where memory, home, self-respect,
honor, every thing engufed and he drifted Idly,
the sport OF every changing current, common
| To save such as he-and there are legions-who
would not be willing to give their best endeavOr and
welcome with approving hand any means that Offer
| ed? Towards this end and In response to an en-
lightened consideration OF the causes which lead to
conditions which affect those suffering from this
| evil, and as consequence their reform, the Com
missoners OF Public Charities and Correction have
recently added to the pubic buildings under their
| care magnificent structure as an Asylum for lne-
opened to the public in July last. At that time ION
| July 22) the HERALD published a full description OF
the building its exterior appearance and interior ar
rangements, which need not here be repeated.
ITS INTERNAL ECONOMY,
/ however, now that 1t has been in operation some
three months Is peculiarly interesting And here it
may be said by way Of parenthesis that yet only
one half OF the building is given to the uses for
which 1t was designed the other half being occupied
as an Infants home, pending the completion OF the
new house on Randali's Island, now almost ready
There are two primary inquiries in connection with
! such an effort rs this for the recovery OF the
| Incorporate which naturally occur to the public
mind
| Frst-will any considerable number Of persons
voluntarily surrender themselves to the care OF an
/ Second-Is there any law IN existence whereby in
temperate persons who are not willing can be COM
mitted to the care and keeping OF an institution
As general affirmative answer to the first ques-
4 tion we have the records OF inebriate asylums in
nearly 1000 inebriates have Voluntarily entered the
| "Home," at Boston, suffering under various forms
Of alcoholism, OF which number the officers furnish
| cured.
lively as all nebriates are committed to the custody
or the Commissioners or Public Charities and Cor
recuon, who may, at their option, confine them in
this connection, however, 1t may be said that the
plan Of On institution OF this kind c0mprehends the
consent OF the party TO be treated as q necessary
element IN working hts cure, and as consequence
there no likelihood OF any diniculty on this head.
based upon the assumption that inebrety Is the
suit OF q weakened condition OF mans mental ma
temptation. Every nebriate wishes TO reform; with
him constant battic is going on between
appetite and inclination until the latter is perverted
by the poison OF alcohol sleeping the senses and
duling all perception. In intervals OF sobrety the
triumphs Mind and body are both weakened by
the undue use OF stimulants and In their abnormal
condition present the true cause OF the drunkard's
their normal state is the whole philosophy aud prac
ice Of an inebriate asylum The first thing secured
In nf md q Qaua <rf antNn
| ing associations, q separation from temptations
to over-lndulgence. This being accomplished
Here pleasant rooms, neatly furnished well lighted
and ventilated offer attractions either for solitary
communion or interchange OF social c0urtesies. In
order that the restriction Of abstinence from ntoxl-
eating drinks may be as little felt as possible the
use OF tobacco IN moderation Is permitted, the in.
| mates being allowed to smoke either i'm their own
rooms or In rooms especially furnished and provided
for that purpose. Having secured this much. care
is taken TO build up the system by generous living,
| In order that the physical organization being
recuperatcd the mind may recover It's health
ia made for the amusement and entertain
| ment OF the inmates, that opportunity may not be
given for nursing the sombre shadows which hover
| over the mind In this sudden change. reading
| room, containing some three hundred volumes, ls
attached to the institution and the leading daily ana
weekly papers and monthly magazines, together
with ne best reviews, are regularly received II IS
also designed TO provide billiard room and bowling
alley as means alike OF heathful exercise and bene-
fetal distraction. Nothing certainly could be better
conceived than this, but where tho Commissioners
/ these recreatvc additions have not already
| been made. In the comprehensive and extended
plan OF the building they are but small items but in
the scope OF ITS usefulness and the application OF the
| principles which gave 1t birth they are much. Men
are inmates OF the institution who feel the want
OF some such means OF diverting their minds froIn
gloomy reveries, and Tor the successful inauguration
OF the establishment and to its prestige the
start they should not be deprived Of these resources
IL would also add greatly TO the attractions OF tho
institution, and by securing IL larger patronage
crease its revenue while at the same time furnishing
excellent addition to Its stock OF moral lnfi-
/ ences, II the Commissioners would place q piano
I'm nj nav In far 10 Of tha