Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-29
HOSPITAL FOR THE
tagE~F INSANE.
official visit of the Legislative
Committee.
Concert and Tableaux.

ON last Friday the Legislative Commit
tee on the Tennessee Hospital Tor the In
sane pajd an official visit of inspection to
that institution, leaving this city at z
o'clock p. NJ. In addition TO the Senators
and Representatives composing the COM
nittee. we're several Legislators who felt
an interest in the institution, and also
few of the citizens of Nashville. The
committee and the entire party were hos
pitabIy received and entertained by DR.. >.
81 Calender, the Superintendent OF the
Hospital, and by those in charge.
Several improvements have lately been
made at the institution, all of which the
committee inspected, as well as the entire
Hospital, visiting every ward; and APP
peared to be favorably impressed with all
that they observed The wings Of the
buildipp where these afflicted beings are
domiciled, have been extended, and when
| the improvements have been finished, 1t is
| estimated that Mt least one hundred addi-
tional inmates can be provided with COM
Portable quarters.
After the party had finished their tour Of
inspection, they were invited to attend
| fine musical soiree given by select party
of amateurs from the city, under the d.
rection of Prof Dorman. The music Sc
lected for the occasion possessed high
order of merit, and was rendered in
manner that gave evidence of good musical
taste and ability, which was evinced by the
| respectful attention and appreciation of the
| audience.
A bounteous repast for the inner man
| had been prepared under the direction of
the Superintendent, which next engaged
the attention of the party. fine table,
| spread with the good things of this life,
| arranged in tasteful and elegant manner,
| gave ample testimony of the fact that those
Immediately in charge were no mean pro-
fessors of the culinary art.
After supper, some interesting and
somewhat comic tableaux were given by
ladies residing in the neighborhood and
members of the family resident, assisted
| by some friends from the city. Both the
| concert and tableaux were witnessed and
enjoyed by about $50 Of the convalescing
patients, as well as by the committee.
These improvised tableaux, under the man
agement of Mrs. Sc, and her able assis-
tants formed one of the features of the oc-
casion, and were heartily enjoyed and ap-
preciated. The inmates of the Asylum
seemed to be very much pleased with the
entertainment, while some of them gave,
soto goee, quite amusing comments and
criticisms.
Soon after the conclusion of these exer-
cises, the committee returned to the city,
which they reached about Ii o'clock P. NJ.
1t would be obtrusive to anticipate the
report of the committee, but we are. GER
tainly justified in stating that all seemed
highly pleased with the efficient manage
ment of the institution.
These concerts and tableaux, or at least
entertainments similar to them in their
general character, are, as we are informed,
given monthly for the benefit of the in
mates of the institution, not only to fur
nish them with an agreeable recreation,
bat also for the purpose of leading to a
recovery from their unfortunate condition.
In medical and remedial point of view
such amusements cannot fail to have, in
most cases, a very salutary effect 1t is GER
tainly gratifying to all lovers Of humanity,
and especially to the friends of the pa
tents themselves, to know that so much
is being done to ameliorate the condition
of this unfortunate class of our fellow.
beings. The institution itself, as well al
everything appertaining to its manage
ment, reflects credit on the State of Ten.
nessee, which has made such ample pro
vision for this portion of suffering hu
| manity