The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-08-10
A TALK WITH THE INEBRIATES ON WARDS
ISLAND.

/ cribeS visit to the. temporary asylum
1 for inebriates EDWARDS Island, as fol
lows:
The building, ostensibly the Soldiers
Retreat, is also public asylum tol
]inebriates who canpay. or whose friends
are willing to pay, for their keeping
It is under the control of the Commits
sioners' of Charities and Correction
but as all the inmates, except the sol
diers, have to pay or be paid for, il
cannot be truly called a charity insti
tuition. There are none of the class
called common drunkards here. A
man found intoxicated in the street and
committed for drunkenness, is sent to
BlackwelPs Island and compelled to
work. None go to the inebriate asy.
lum 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, and
required to labor as they do. And if
an inmate of the asylum runs out OF
funds before his term expires, and no
one comes forward to pay his weekly
board, it is the rule that he too shall be
sent to BlackwelEs Island, put on pris-
on fare, and obliged to make return for
it in work. The enforcement of this
rule is frequent, but not invariable.
Each man pays his way as he would
at hotel or clearinghouse, and is en-
titled to privacy if he desires it. No
visitor is allowed to pass beyond the
reception room-at least, he cannot en-
ter any other apartment, though he may
view several others at distance suffi-
cient to prevent possible recognition
of some person he may know, and who
may prefer to be unseen. We drop III
to conversation, and learn much that
interests and surprises. The substance
of it is noted in memory:
"Apretty comfortable place, isn't it. 2"
eyes; capital We have everything
we want. 1t would have been well
for most of us if we had come here
long ago. Nothing to do but to amuse
ourselves and pass the time as pleasant
ly 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
spacious, well-lighted room), is the
library. After breakfast we go there
to read the papers. All the city pa
pers are on file, and we know what is
going on everywhere better, perhaps,
than you do; for you have little time
to read, while we have plenty. The IL
brary is well supplied with books be-
sides, and we have free access to them
all day We could not be better sup
piled with reading matter by the Mer-
camille Library than we are here"
"You have recreations, too, | sup
pose?p
Certainly. There is the billiard
room. Those who wish to play may do
50 any time they please. You can hear
he balls now. They are hardly ever
still. When we tire of billiards, we
nave dominoes, checkers and chess
almost every game, in fact 1t is easy
o fill up the day in the library, playing
billiards and checkers, or strolling
around outside"
"But you cannot leave the island"
"No, unless the doctor gives pass,
md at any rate we are better off here.
Those who do go to the city occasion
lily, gain nothing by it."
"Do all pay the same amount"
ooh, no. Those who pay S. week
leep in ward-about a dozen in one
DOM. Some have rooms to themselves,
nd pay $40. The rooms are well fur
lshed, and as comfortable as hotel par
Ors. A few have rooms en- suite. and
heir meals are taken to them. These
ay $40 or $25. They would not be
etter off in a fashionable house in '
fifth avenue"
"They must have means to pay so
luch."
Means! Why some of the men
l this place are rich. But they can't
ontrol their money Before any man
ONES here, some one must make an af- ,
davit that he is incapable of manag-
lg his affairs, and the person must be z
ne who has a direct interest in him. :
While he remains here, his property is