Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-18
PrObabls cruslty--Impropsr Discharges.

disgraeefal but actually infamous.
In der to satisfy ourselves as TO the truth or
falsiiy OF the charges thus boldly made, we on
Thursday visited the Almshouse and insane asy-
lam, to make our own observations. We went in
company with one OF the attendant physcians,no
one else having any knowledge OF our coming, and
the managers OF neither institution knowing any
thing OF our presence, SO we had fair oppor-
tunity TO fair specimen of the every day life
of the inmates of both.
The enclosure within which the buildings are
situated is surrounded by high brick walls and is
divided into several yards and large vegetable
garden.
The buildings consist of the large white stone
building in the centre q handsome pressed brick
building on the south, and brick wing TO the
stone building on the north. There is also
stable, carpenter shop and other outbuidugs.
Looking toward these buildings from the older
parts OF the city, as they stand uncovered in
trees, they have quite pleasant look and present
n better appearance TO the world than they do on
closer examination.
THE ALMsHousE PROPER
is the commodous white stone building in the
centre OF the group, and Is visible from the Della
ware River and for miles around the country. II
is new (having been tuilt since the fire which
destroyed the buildings some years ago) aud in
most respects well adapted TO its purpose, so far
US ucTc gOes. IL mas, however,
many important defects. There Is no uniform
heating apparatus and each room Is heated by
separate stove. The disadvantages of this are
self evident The dirt and dust OF dozens of fires
are scattered Throughout the building, and the fires
being generally under the control aud regulation
| OF the paupers, the rooms are kept unwhol-
| somely close and warm. Besides ali this the
| present plan is much the most expensive in the
| long run. The building should he heated
| throughout by steam.
IT,. t....tIe frt..
| been source OF trouble and annoyance for years.
| but, as we have already stated, it will shortly
| cease TO be SO, as water Is now being Introduced
from the main on Broome street.
| There is not proper ventilation. In this build
ing this is as much due 10 the ignorance of the
paupers as 10 the construction OF the building for
though the ventilating apparatus is by no means
complete or In accord with modern ideas on the
subject, the means provided are not made use Of
The attendants would do well 10 exercise their
authority in compelling the keeping open Of the
ventilations.
The internal arrangements OF the building in
other respects seem complete enough. The men
and women occupy different sides OF the building
and have separate siairways leading from their
dining and sitting rooms TO their sleeping apart
ments The kitchen is n fine large room fur
nlshed with an Immense range and other neces-
sary convenlences, and its udors were not at all
+ unpleasant, and would have been the reverse had
r the man who was cutting the bread for dinner
} Everything appeared quite neat and clean and
the inmates were cheerful or complaining. &c.
cording 10 their dispositions. We conversed
with several, and they all said they had plenty Ia
eat and were comfortably clad aud housed, and
we saw no reason TO doubt that such was the
case.
THE coLoRED DEPARTMENT..
! Where The colored paupers are kept adjolns the
main building, and is situated in the brick wing
already mentioned; It Is quite old, being the
only part Of the old building not destroyed by
the fire. II is kept cl0an aud decent, and some.
thing more than comfortably warm though this
We believe is not the opinion of its inmates who
regulate the warmth 10 suit themselves and think
!, about right.
Tie onildiug Is I'll adapted 10 the purpose TO,
Eliehii : used. the ROOF. having low ceilings and
t'--g entirely without Other means OF ventilation
: ilsu : a-of,e1 by tie fragment opening Of thei
cpu.s - those passing 10 or cut. No pfope- mo
rfsios -gF az ferIrgfloa II ne se<ss L made Tn,
tnen ano women III and eat in common. and theIl
s4eSiins apartments though separated by q larti
i-on are BOTH heated by tie same stove standipa
II hole cut in this partition, and around It ar,
spaces through which an observer in either room
81 see al over the oiler. Persons could no
pass through this place without removing III,
. stove. TIE general looseness ofthe arrangement
. SlVe almost nnbounded opportunities for undu,
Intimacy which II would be unreasonable, from
the Characters VI the inmates, 10 suppose are no
taken advantage of aud thus the pauper popula
ton Is increased By sin.
{ THE FOOD OF THE rAUPERs
/ Is the same for botn white and black, and SEEM
: to be wholesome and sufficient for all who ar,
2 well. We were there al dinner time and saw tha
each person was furnished with three large slice
OF bread, and bowl Of what they call hash. bul
Wllch wasrealy mare Ike soup, made very thicl
with boiled corncd beef and potatoes, and which
seemed to be much relshed by those partakinl
} otit. They have three meals day, the last con
slstinE OF bread and coffee only, but ut the moor
meal they always have meat OF some kind.
Taken MS whole we think the Alms-house Il
about as well managed as 1t could be with III,
present lnconvenieDt mode of heating, except il
the matter oil the proper separation OF the sexe,
IN the department for colored.peope, but this cx
ccpton is SO enormous a one that no amount Of
goou MANAGEMENT IN other respects will excust
or palliate it,
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
The Insane Asylum of the Aims House appear
; from the old part of the city to be a handsom,
pressed brick building embowered amongst tree
ana standing in the midst o. handsomely laid gu
grounds 1t and its grounds are separated from
tue Alms-house proper by a high wall. and ia,
casual visitor to that institution who does no
WISH the Asylum will probably 70 away with III,
Impression that the unfortunate inmates are sur
rounded by all possible accessions OF comfort fo
the ameloration of their condition
We entered il from the side entrance thronph
neatly, and even handsomely furnished hall. from
which doors opened into the superintendcnt's de
partlnents and into the main building, mainly an
pr0prlatcd TO the use of insane bonrdcrs All
opening out Of this hall is door through whic
We pass igto the
, DEPARTMENT or THE INSANE poog,
= which is the part of tue building really used.
+ IL are the day APARTMENTS Of all the insane an
The sleeping apartments Of the insane paupers
Il Is an od brick building, long and low, whic
. t9rMr "Iug 70 lhr handsome pressed brio
i, building already alluded 10. Oa the fret lpc
Z are lumber of sleeping rooms the Keeper
I rom, ani little -itlng-roOm. about 10 by l
. ie.i- unYen,l!4ied, and heated BY large stoy,
. ANNA WA.c4 were h1ddied eight or ten men an
I 80 Asa one wOinan In all stages of ipsnut,
Hun s!ppefing id.ocY NJ TO q dangerous insabii
N-ich ils1e i necessary to keep the hands of on
. Fl w fA'!eh,- csustantly lnanacled This is N
y 10y fs2il PROVIDED Tor the accommodation {
2. .--sE tsyp.s Ia dag time. Tn stairs IL IN, W,
tit' .lilay rOiul, a long low cclied room. hrn
. y - utpfD,tcled stove, but wearing a fnor
e,l--:t-..e ~ tean the miserable little hul
-'"r t.alfs IL II were some Six or eight wornt
j. fsrloas -.e2s- ~ insanity
4, r. rlssp.Gg Apartment: 10 this building n,
.l.ils GEM tU2gi BY feet, Ia come Of which N
i@'i5W not beisiesG=, aud IN others nothing hi
. i.-es u tif1~. tncn as would be throw down t,
~ vel y " silNel These latter are the room
~ p49ee WHO persi-tenty tear up all tie beddir
y, llftrtle' tnenl 10 The centre Of eacn room Is
~ ein-4t fA9iu ~ wAicp III cnse of necessity II
"a met s,'.-ra. are fastened by the ankle The
=. 'iLs La's ~ ventilation except such as In
o.. ; BE running aipuy near the ceiling. Ibron,
~ t4siA AL u iact they are not really heated
+. Z! aso ye. ~ item must lie. without covert
- Di-ef .-+t ofdirsrg clothes, all those who are
- y 2-eli tA1t iaey cannot BE- furnished bedding.
~ IN ont oi these cold AID dismal dens we ion
- young woman OF Ispr 20 who is subject 10 81,
H. It u violence that ste cannot he nut In the rn1
along ~iiil tho otter women she had no Md
Il. dung md sat croucled On her Pile Of glrt
T. bFoodiug and snlleu.
~, u hen the weather l. fiji the wpfneD have mr.,
Is - really pleasant yard, and the men Il, one
~ "hieh lhtre pre- no trees or grass, it not faci
~ towards the city. 1t sceIn- 10 huyu been the vi
IN. n Ill The arrangements to make things look "
I'D from tue ely. Over in tae main building.
W 7aes me =nperlntcndentE apartments, arc
an Sleeping apartments Of the insane bpardo
i,i mar Iooias nil ueat looking, have higher q,
II. iugs, better ventilation and good bedding.
,n are IN other re-pecis better than thuse Ylrrs
ID described as tAcy not heated and arc con
M, qaentIy unit - be occupied by those who bay
I'D luanl4 for tearing up bedding
,,t itc management OF the whole business ape