Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-06-05

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cd lie following resolutions:
''eso,ced, That this association re-
/, CARDS inebricty as "a physical disease
which, in the great majority of cases,
can only be combatted by medical
treatment, and that inebriaie associa-
tions arc beneficial, inasmuch as they
afford the means of hospital treatment
and necessary restraint"
Also the following:
Resolced, That in the opinion OF
this Association, il is the duty of the
legislatures as a measure of State
economy to provide means for the
erection and encouragement Of hospi-
tails for the detention and treatment of
confirmed inebriates.
These resolutions contain the delib-
crate judgment of one of the most
learned, and in every way respectable
bodies Of men in our country. Medi-
| cal men have everywhere taken the
lead in this movement, and we may
very properly ask ourselves the ques-
ton, What can we do to forward the
work in our own State We need not
wait in expectation that the recently
enacted prohibitory law is going to
leave nothing further to be done in
this direction. Such well-meant en-
deavors are creditable enough to the
hearts of reforiners, but can hardly be
considered as affording much evidence
of any great amount of knowledge Of
human nature, or the effects of forced
legislation. The chief value of all
such impracticable, prohibitory laws..is
to be found in this, that they arc tes-
timony against an evil and, therefore,
exercise an educating influence upon
the public mind and conscience. But
ip spite of the most stringent laws,
aud the most vigilent police, there will
always remain a large work for the
scientific philanthropist.
Altogether there are not more than
nine or ten lnebriate Asylums in this
country, private, county or State. The
institution toward which experience is
pointing, as best adapted to secure the
end in view, is State Asylum with
legal authority to commit and detain
confirmed inebriates, the same as luna
tics are committed and held in insane
hospitals, until, in the Judgment of the
superintendent, they are cured. 1t is
claimed that the social influence exer-
ted where large number is brought
together has most wholesome effect in
banishing melancholy and inspiring
hope.
In providing for such an institution,
our lawmakers may take hint from
the law of Minnesota, passed last win
ter, which requires that all keepers OF
saloons, groceries, restaurants, drug
stores, wholesale and retail liquor
stores, hotels. breweries, and other es-
adjustments where liquors are sold, or
kept for sale, shall pay into the County
Treasury the sum Of ten dollars to aid
in establishing an inebriate asylum.
That such institutions are to become
fixtures in our social fabric may be
considered certain. Whether drunk
enness is disease, or crime, or both,
are questions that need not enter into
the consideration of the establishment
of asylums for the treatment of inebri-
.ates. A we'll regulated institution min
listers to both soul and body, and not
unlikely it is here that the pathogene
sis of inebriety is to receive its full
solution. Certainly nowhere else does
science encounter it under circumstan-
ccs so favorable to its investigation and
treatment.
In conclusion, gentlemen, our title to
honor and usefulness, in corporate
and private capacity will very much
depend upon the readiness with
which we take hold of these
great questions of scientific philan.
thropy, and seek to elucidate their san
itary relations.
Let us, therefore, be faithful to our
selves and to our generation.
A Ten Mile Aerial Ride In a Paper ship
The Reading Times gives the fol-
lowing account of the daring ascen-
sion of Professor Donaldson on the
18th inst:
Donaldson, the irrepressible, the in
trepid aerial gymnast, has again as
tonished his neighbors and fellow-citi-
zens. On Saturday morning he tele-
graphed to Mr.. John ID. Mishler, from
Bethlehem, from which place he had
made an ascension on Thursday even
ing, that he would make an ascension
in his paper balloon, "John ID. Mish-
ler," on Saturday afternoon from
Reading He arrived in this city on
the 80 New York train from Bethle-
hem, in the afternoon, and Immediate
ly commenced preparations for the in
flatation and ascension.
The paper balloon, "John u. Mish-
Ter" been manufactured for some time
1t ls made of the same material as
that in which goods are wrapped, and
of course ii is very frail in its siruct-
ure. The Professor has made several
attempts, and had met with SO many
reverses from windy aud wet weather,
that it was doubtful if this attempt
would prove successful. However,
the word fail or cowardice are un-
known in the Donaldson vocabulary,
and consequently the preliminary pre-
parations were commenced. Mean
while several thousand people had as
sembled in Peru Square. The process
of imitation was somewhat slow, and
the condensation of gas after the sun
had gone down added somewhat to
the detention, but at fifteen minutes
| past seven everything being in readi-
ness, the command "let so" was given.
and the balloon rose gracefully and
WdJcstlCAlly. IfOI. DOnaluSOn was
seated in the rigging, having dispens-
ed with the basket and appurtenances,
which could not be carried along.
lie rose to considerable height
and sailed in an almost direct souther.
ly direction. The balloon presented q
grand appearance in the departing
rays Of the sun, which had Just sci
when he left the earth. 1t was visible
for about fifteen minutes, and appear.
ed to be almost stationary, the wind
having lulled to an apparent calm
At intervals he waved his handker
chief, and was greeted with hearty
and prolonged cheers from the en-
thusiastic thousands of lookers.o on
He landed fifteen minutes before
o'clock in field about 10 miles from
Reading. The landing was accom-
plished successfully and with but lit.
tie difficulty, although the balloon wa.
much torn and left on the field. No,
being able to obtain conveyance, he
had to walk back to Reading, ar.
irving here few minutes before II
o'clock.
For the first time in his life, Prof