Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-13

A LEGISLATIVE VISIT. - Members of the
Massachusetts senate ard house of representa-
tives, comprising the legislative committees on
public charitable institutions and education,
visited Worcester on Saturday to inspect the
state lunatc hospital and see what advantages
this city possesses as site for the proposed nor
NAL school.
The party consisted Of Hon. Messrs. Munroe
of Boston, Bartholomew of Southbridge and
Pierce of Maiden, of the senate, and Rev. DR..
Hill of Waltham and Messrs. II. S. Washburn
of Boston, Baldwin of Worcester Vihbert of
Rockport, Stedman of Boston, Parmenter of
Cambridge and Poore of Boston, of the commit
tees, and Rev. Mr. Foljambe, chaplain of the
senate, Hon. Adm Thayer of Worcester of the
senate, and Messrs. G. L. Putnam of Worcester
and r. o. Fuller of Cambridge, of the house.
They were met here by Hon. Edward Earle,
mayor, and member of the board of state chart
ties Hon. Henry Chaplin, member of the state
board of education and one of the trustees of
the hospital, Rev. E. Il. Hall of theschool board,
Messrs. Williams, Aldrich and Stoddard of the
committee of the school board on the normal
school, Mr.. A. P. Marble superintendent of
schools, Hon. Stephen Salisbury, Prof. C. 0.
Thompson of the Technical school, DR.. VIM.
Workman. and Mr.. Daniel Bcmis of the hos
pital.
DIR. Merrick Bemis, the superintendent of the
hospital, conducted his visitors over the institu-
ton, which in every part gave evidence of the
neatness and order that peryades this we'll man
aged institution, over which DR.. Bemis has pre-
i I.
humanity, for many years. The site on Bel
mont street, extending to Lake Quinsigamond,
to which the hospital is to be removed was visit
ed, and DR.. Bemis explained how he proposed
to locate the buildings in the development of the
modern, humane, and family plan on which it
is intended to manage the institution in future.
The general principle of abandonment as far as
possible of the old system of herding together in
one immense building, persons of all degrees Of
insanity, will commend itself to every thought
full and humane person. Returning to the
hospital to dine, the land at the corner of Null
berry and East Central streets was pointed out
as a desirable site for normal school. 1t forms
part of this estate of 107 acres owned by the
state.
The afternoon was devoted to the educational
institutions of the city, and the gentlemen from
abroad, many of whom had not comprehendcd
that Worcester was city of over forty-one
thousand inhabitants, freely expressed their sur
prise and admiration at the public spirit and in.
tellgcnce of our citizens, as manifested in their
various schools and libraries, and provision for
the education of the people. They were es
pecially pleased with the new high school house
and the technical school, Prof. Thompson and
Hon. Stephen Salisbury at the latter place ex'
planning the plan and progress of this pioneer
institution ofthe kind in this country. The public
library and reading room were visited, and
caused many favorable comments, all to the
glory OF Worcester. The party fingered awhile
at the Antiquarian library, where they were
greeted by MIR. Haven, and expressed regret
that they had not a day to devote to that at
tractive spot alone. The Highland military
school, Holy Cross college, Worcester academy
aud the Dread school for young ladies were
pointed out to the visitors, but there was no
time TO devote to them, as most of the party
were to return in the afternoon express train.