The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-25

prison life is made as light as possible.
After glance at the liOrary-the custO-
dian of which is a patient, who informed
| the reporter that few books but novels,
magazines and illustrated works were in
demand-the Chronicle man returned to
the office, where he found DR.. Shurrletf
ready to attend him through
THE FEMALE DEPARTMENT,
the inmates of which numbered on May |.
343. Posted cOnspicuously over the doors
is the notice, male visitors not admitted"
a rule strictly adhered 10, except in the case
of those who have relatives there. when
they can see them in one Ofthe many recep-
ton rooms. The oldest part of this build
ing is much newer than the one devoted to
the use of the men, and the north wing has
just been completed. 1t is not yet furnish
ed or occupied, but will be within a fort
night, when there will be an abundance of
room for all the female patients likely to
be sent here for some years. The two
thirds of the whole building now in use is
over-crOwded, but not so badly as in the
male department.
The house is divided into wards, as in
the one first visited, though being more
modern it contains many improvements.
1t is heated by steam, and the ventilation
is simply perfect. IN the capaciOus kitchen
ut the rear the cooking is done, much so
as may be, with steam, and on a railway
running under the whole building on the
cellar floor, light trucks convey the pre-
pared food to numerous ''dumb walters"
which convey 1t to ali the wards In the
house, and the dishes are conveyed to the
kitchen by the same means.
4 SAD CASE.
This entire department is presided over
by a matrOn, whose only superior officer
is the Superintendent. She has in each
ward two assistants, whose duties are the
same as those in the mems department.
In the first, or receiving ward, the report
er visited the room of one who, in the five
years she has passed there, has employed
all her time in the adornment of her apart
ment. With engravings and cOlored prints
from magazines, with many-hued paper
and water-cOlOr paints she has decked her
room with almost every device under the
sun, showing i'll many of her groupings
taste and rare ingenuity. She is always
glad to see visitors, and spoke in a pleas
ant Way of the Suhday-sChOol people who
had visited her the day before, saying
''they brought good spirits with them"
Standing behind the door was middle
aged woman, who would no sooner catch
the eye of the stranger than she would
drop a profound courtesy; she seemed to
shun observation, and the moment one
looked at her she made the Old-tashioned
Obeisance in timid, deprecatory manner.
Far different was the low AMI not ungrace-
full sweep of the head of one who, with
vacant smile, saluted the visitor. She was
seated On bed in her room, in precisely
the same attitude as the day before.
HER FEET, BOUND TOGETHER,
rested on a chair, and her leather-muffied
hands were in her lap, as she slowly bent
her body backward and forward in time
with the never-varying tune she was hum
ming. Afterward piercing shrieks were
heard from her room, and the reporter
was informed that it would be necessary
to keep her in bonds to prevent her from
denuding herself. TO all Of the patients
the Superintendent had some pleasant or
cheering words to say, in this ward, and,
with one exception, relevant replies were
given. The exception was woman Ill
straight-jacket necessary to restrain her
from tearing her clothes to tatters), whose
only reply to his inquiries was the most
savage, vengeful smile the reporter ever
saw on the face of human being. The
reporter aflerward saw this patient at din
ner. where she was fed by an attendant,
and as she looked up she had still that vim
dictive expression. A sad, distressed look
ing woman, who was only admitted the
night before, was kindly addressed by the
Doctor, and in hesitating, broken words,
she tried to tell him where her home was.