Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-06-30
IA Talk with the Insbriates on Ward Z
1llaud. rff


A writer in Appseton'sJournal describes
visit to the temporary asylum for ine-
briates on Wards Island as follows:
The building. ostensibly the Soldiers
Retreat, is also public asylum for ine-
briates who can pay, or whose friends are
willing to pay, for their keeping. It is
under the control Of the Commissioners Of
Charities and Correction, but as all the
inmates, except the soldiers, have to pay
or be paid for, it cannot be truly called q
charity institution. There are none .oi
the class called common drunkards here.
A man found in oxicated in the street aud
committed. for drunkenness. is sent to
Blackwells Island and compelled to work.
None 60 to the Inebriate Asylum but those
who can pay or be paid for. as has already
been said. Those who become . public
charge are placed on the same level with
convicts. aud required to labor as they do
And if an inmate Of the asylum runs out
Of funds before bis term expires. and nc
one comes forward to pay his weekly board.
it is the rule that he, too. shall be senI
down to Black wells Island, put Oh prison
fare. and obliged to make return for it in
work. The enforcement of this rule is
frequent, but not inyariable.. - ge4q )
Each man pays hisway as be would .,
a hotel or boarding house, and is entitled
to privacy if be desires it. No visitor is
allowed to pass beyond the reception-room
-at least he cannot enter any other apart
ment. though he may view several others
at a distance sufficient to prevent possible
recognition Of some person whom he may
know, and who may prefer to be unseen.
We drop into conversation, and learn
much that interests and surprises. The
substance oft is noted in memory hs
"A pretty comfortable place, isn't It r
Eyes, capital. We have everything
we want. It would have been we'll for
most of us if we had come here long ago.
Nothing to do but to amuse ourselves and
pass the time as pleasantly as we can
''How do you manage that"
"There are various ways. Down there,
you see" (nodding toward the, end Of .
long corridor, leading to aspacious. we'll
lighted room,) sis the library. All the
city papers are on fle, aud we know what
is going on everywhere, better. perhaps.
than you do; for you have little time to
read. while we have plenty. The library
is we'll supplied with books besides, and
we have free access TO them all day. We
could not be better supplied with reading
matter by the Mercantile Library than We
are here" 3 5.9 s ssas 5ss lses1sa
You have recreations. too. / supposer'
Certainly There is the billiard room.
Those who wish to play may DO 90 any
time they please. You can hear the balls
now. They are hardly ever still. When
we tire Of billiards. We have dominoes.
checkers, and chessLalmost every game.
in fact. It is easy to Gil up the day in
the library. playing billiards and check
ers, or strolling around outside 81 = e
but you cannot leave the Island" 40
''No, unless the doctor gives pass, and
atany rate. we are better 6f here. Those
who do 60 to the city occasionally gain
nothing by it." sit sal sSisaE
'.Do all pay the same amonDtw heas
'.Oh. no, those who pay $5a week
sleep in q ward-about . dozen, in one
room. Some have rooms, to themselves.
and pay $40. The rooms are we'll furn-
ished, and as comfortable as hotel parlors.
A few have rooms en- saite. and their
meals are taken to them These pay $40
or $25. They would not Be better '6f IN
a fashionable house 10 Fifth Avenue !.
''They must have means to psy 60
much" .'.is.3 I ~ -. : ~,
means! Why, some Of the men il
this place are rich. But they cant oopr
troll their money. Before any rich man
comes here some one must make an ,afi.
davi. that be is incapable Of managinytis