New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-22
HOUSES OF REFUGE-1N APPEAL.

To the EditOr Of The tribune.
SIR: Can you tell me of place IN this whole
vast city where for few daysa week or fortnght-a
moor victim of strong drink may flee or be
led by who pity him. for refuge from the pursuing
demon Some comfortable honeke house, under wise
superintendence and good moral influence, where man,
waking up to the horrors OF long debauch and for the
first time realizing that lie is stared In the face by mania
D0u ruin to soul and body, drunkards death itself
eanTun and stop himself before 1t is forever TOO
latel Where good attendance can be had-not neeeS
sauy professional for the worst cases TO whch
physician might be called from without as in any mans
private home but sufficiently experienced and scientific
TO know the proper physical and moral appliances for
wardng off the dreaded attack Of derum, soothing the
system, and gently unkeying the tremendous nervous
tension until that condition Of anguor from which
patient gradually be toned back to healthy ygor
and the nope Of a life During this last stage Of
debility how open the unfortunate drunkard to all ill
that soften and lead toward repentance and how
many man dated from the fearful selfcommunings
the unreproachfu pleadngs Of friends, which came at
this hour the struggle and the victory which made him
new creature
grieve TO say that know Of no such place Nothing
came nearer my ideal OF it than the Washngonian Homo
in Boston, formerly managed by tie nOblehearted Day
now at the head OF Binghamton and the good done by
the institution and the man can only be estimated III
Heaven where surely its record Is But here, unless
man Is willing give up all control OF his affairs and
person by official act has friends who. wisely or
not will take the responsibility OF such demssion for
him-uuless he will consent TO his own seclusiOn for
minimum Of several monthshe can get into neither an
insane asylum nor any institution specially devoted to
the inebrate In either case he has to go some dis
lance from the city; and have been told by patient
recently asylum on the Island that by brbing
subordnates liquor easily and habitualy procured
there and that it is place TO reform. whether THIS
sad statement be false the Island Asylum too
r1,oh o,,,a Iau rNiaur
should be immediate OF to any who wakes to
the drundards horror in city streets and should
possess control OF the patient only un the danger was
over, so that might be willing to go there in the
earliest part Of their downward career and find secure
place to pause before drunkenness had become habtua
and protracted restraint necessary. II public and pr
yate philanthropy could but unite to establish on an
economical but comfortable basis such home this
in all the great City OF York, what untold misery
might be saved TO muudes who, hopeless OF any help
I'm the beginning go to the bitter end say one
I'm the city; but, our eyes enlightened, we should
see the public wisdom of establishing one or more m
every ward.
What godsend such place as describe to the
many unhappy wretches who are every year taken up
intoxicated in the streets by our police, and In con-
ditiOn where the highest medical skill and tenderest
nursing arc demanded TO avert bran-dsease or DEATH
are unfeengy plunged into narrow subterranean dun
geons TO die of nlanid potu waking upfrom utter
nuCOQsClOuHnB69
iron and masonry go mad with fear and shame, and
hang themselves to the bars Of their crate. Scarcely
month passes that awful tragedy like this does not
90 ont of the public notice with line in the morning
paper and another on the COroners book; and many
time have shuddered agony at reading It, But the i'm
mediate stimulus the present communication the
fact that this very evening friend OF mine has been
searching in vain for blessed house OF refuge like
that above described, to which he might take young
man OF naturally the nOblest gifts and most generous
spirit who frendess in the city but for him, came TO his
Office in horror, and told him that he had been on
mad spree since New.Years Day; and unless he could
helm him stop knew no end TO his but insanity
death Had we been In private house. at any
expense of trouble should have taken him home with
us. But what hope We have for him now, save IN
Gods final mercy, when after irutessly searching for
hours a resting-paee where this Young mans body
and soul might be cared for, my friend was compelled
merely TO give him money for his nights lodging, and
promise TO him In the mornngf What mercy
woud house OF refuge DO To this young nan-and how
many man tonight IN our Newiork streets Is like him
1T saddcns my soul to think as sit down at my own
happy nresde with my own loving family Ia comfortable
gings. Cannot you help me to hear OF some such
refuge the love Of God and man warm our
hearts establish suehi nasmuch ms ye unto one
OF the least Of these my brethren, ye did unto me-.
Nou- York. 9th January, 1870 G. D. D.