Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-16

bread, pork, bean bread, but.
coffee, soup, pota- ter, tea.
| WEDNESDAY. crackers, toes, pick dried APP
butter. les beans, pies, crack
ham, butter
Mackere Corned Dried an.
potatoes, beef, pota- piles, beans,
bread, but toes, tur- butter tea
THURSDAY. ter coffee, nips, beets, cheese,
ham, eggs bread, cof crackers.
crackers. fee, butter.
Salt Ash Fresh fish Ginger
with sauce potatoes, cake, bread
potatoes, boiled rice, butter, tea
FRIDAY bread, but bread, cot dried
| ter, coffee, fee, cold apples,
cold corn meat, but crackers.
ei beef. ter.
Fish hash, Roast beef, Mush and
bread, mashed syrup,
coffee, potatoes, bread but
SArU RDAY. crackers, bread cof- ter, tea
pickles, fee, butter. cheese,
butter. crackers.
The purchases for these departments are
made by Gen. Tilton in Boston, Gardiner,
Augusta and elsewhere; the articles are OF
the first quality, and after reading the bill Of
fare, the reader W i'll not wonder that inmates
are satisfied with their board. The hospital
wards are roomy and clearly. The GONZALES
cents partake of food in an adjoining dining
room. Near by are bath rooms and all appli-
ances for use in sick room and everything
calculated to administer to the suffering
ones. This department is under the efficient
charge of DR.. Isaac II. Stearns, who recently
assumed the responsible position. When he
came to the Asylum, he found forty patients
in the hospital. One half of these believed
that they were past all cure and that their end
was nigh. The Doctor was convinced that
the most of those who complained were suf-
fering from ennui or want of employment,
and set many of them at work in the open air
and to-day there are men earning Sl5 Il month
on the farm who were at the time we speak OF
lying upon their backs in the hospital, pictures
of hopeless despair. The Doctors success is
shown by the fact that there are now but
twenty-five confined in the hospital wards,
and but two or three of these are seriously
sick. Dr. Stearns' long experience in the
medical profession, both as a surgeon in the
and courteous demeanor, eminenty fit him
for the position which he holds.
When sick man reports himself to the insti-
tuition he is given weeks time to himself, that
he may feel that he is to make hims elf at home.
At the end of this time, unless he is unable to
work, he is put at the trade for which he has
been fitted by previous experience and A reg
ular salary paid him. Large numbers Of men
are working in this way, some of them receiv-
ing, including their pensions, $50 or $40 per
month (some less, according to their capabili-
ties) besides being provided with home.
board and clothing. They are thus not only
enabled to lay up little store of money for a
starting capital upon which to rear the basis
of a comfortable business when they shall
leave the Asylum. but are perfecting them
selves in their various callings, which will be
of incalculabe use to them in time to come.
In this respect, the institution throws open its
doors not only a home, but as an educator
in many of the departments of the useful
school of labor.
The chapel, which is capable of seating
500 persons, besides being used for preaching
service on the Sabbath is also made use of by
the debating society which has been organ
lied and the members of which display much
which have staggered statesmen and philan-
thropists. All the debates and lectures given
in the chapel are enlvened by music from the
Military band, connected with the Asylum.
1t is composed of twenty members, and under
the leadership of Mr.. Alex S. Davis, has made
great proficiency in the art of music. Rev.
NJ. j. Kelly is at the present time the accept
able chaplain. He takes deep interest in
the spiritual and temporal welfare of the
manned boys and knows how to sympathize
with them, having shared with them the dam
gers and deprivations of the battle field.
There is preaching service every Sunday
morning, bible class in the afternoon, and
religious exercises in the evening. About two
thirds of the inmates are foreigners, and among
these are many Catholics, but they take
a deep interest in the religious exercises
and receive the ministrations of the Chaplain
kindly.
The reading room, which is supplied with
new spapers and periodicals from all parts of
the country, is the place of public resort for
all those who have trained minds and have
cultivated taste for reading. The publish
e,s throughout the country gratuitously sup
ply this room with the best of reading, and we
can assure them that their contributions are
appreciated, As all the newspapers are kept
on file and the magazines carefully preserved,
the publishers will at once see that this is an
avenue for advertising their various publica-
tons which may yield rich fruitagc in the
years to come.
The ''Wood" library, so named in recogni-
ton of the services of Mr. III. f. Wood, late
Chaplain. who secured large portion of the
books, now numbers upwards of 2000 vol
umes. Among them are the standard publ
cations, and also light reading to interest those
who do not desire the solid and substantial
The school room is supplied with desks of
the most approved pattern. There are now
about twenty scholars seeking instruction
from the female teacher, daughter of the
Chaplain. The soldiers who come here to