, 1874-03-13


There will doubtless bo timo for fow moro
remarks and suggestions concerning this inBti-
tuition boforo tho muci,-nocded reformation takea
place.
Ono pleasant aay Inst week visit was made to
the County 1naanc Asylum and tho Aims House
by delegation Of four members from tho
"Trion4s' Missionary Committee Of tho Twon-
ty-sixth Street Moosing, viz: Joseph Jones',
Ruth Pickering, Ann si1nmes and r. p. Clifford.
Wo wero kindly received and shown to tho diff
1oront apartments Of eacl1 institution, there
boing no reluctance on tho part Of the managers
to assist ua in our observations.
The Asylum Rnl its arrangements gaye
na much satisfaction, mud tito steps
in progress for its further improvement
aro encouraging. But tho picture
presented by tic Alms-Houae. was gloomy
enough, and filled our minds' recolloctiotls. 1t
is not our purpose. in offering these remarks, to
charge oltr county authoritioa, or any one else,
with neglect Of duty, bnt we desire to submit d
few suggestions to our thoughtful and earnest
renders, hoping 1t mny bo the means OF awaI1cn-
lug sympathy and prompting to moro definite
holped 10 largely to roploniBh tho County :Hroas-
ury during tho past foW months, should now
como forward with thoir petitions for the right
expenditure Of these contributions.
Tlo condition of Our Allna-HouHo calls loudly
upon every oitigon to speak aud act, not only
from considerations Of sympathy for the suffer-
ing and dying, but for considerations OF right
policy for tho living.
As liye and progressive , county and city. lot
to our progression. Lot us be wise 10 our de-
oisou, whether grand aud expensive Court
House will command moro respect for us than q
commodious ind woll-regulatod hospital. For it
Ia the hospital We waut to speak Of n our talk
about the Aims House., believing TINT tho first
stop Of improvement will be tho removal Of tho
sick from tho close and unhealthy confinement
tllcy aro now subjected to in the latter place.
Tl,e rcaaon for thoir being thero is.: perhaps,
very well known, from the fact that tho present
accommodations at tho Arnold Street Hospital
aro altogether insufficient.
We desire first to call attention to the impor.
tance Of helping those who cannot help thon-
selves, and IL this ia dono ut tic Aims House
tho results will DO favorable to all otler condi-
tions Of extremity which we tlud there. II the
space now occupied by the hospital casos could
be cloarcd to-day for tie accommodation Of tho
crippled aud tho aged, the benefits OF even this
ono step would be great. Tho officers, plysi-
cial.s, and carctakers labor under many disal-
yantages in providing for tho sick by thus
crowtng paupora and hospital patients undor
oua roof.
Tho cooking department Ia carried on for
A!ma-llotso purposes, On Hcalo adRptod to tho
wants Of paupora, aud it cannot be expected
that snell an arrangement will ever meet tile
necessities OF the suffering sick.
Tho medical department. presents tho Same
picture OF inconsistency, and the long, wakeful
1ours Of days aud nights, Of months and years,
find no solace in appropriate prescriptions, bo:
cause tho suirorcr Is III tho Alms-Houao, aud moi
III the Hospital
Would that moro Of our Christian people III
Chicago were visitors at our ao-callad public
churi1y institutions to 500 for themselves. Read
ing reports may tend to help our opinions move
forward, but to be eyewitnesBes Of the suffering
within our limits III ROmothiuR which DlnYs upDJ
the bottor chords of our natures after tie news.
paper il thrown aside.
Follow-citizonB, lot us plead for now los.
pital which shall stand as q monument to ahoN
that Cook County il not without n great sylnpa
thizing heart in the midst Of llor commercial
proEress.
Then, aftor NO shall have visited our new
hospital, wo will cali Mt tho Aln1s-IIouso ngal
and suggest more space and better Ventilation
tlrst, and then woll-organizetl System Of agri
cultural and mechanical industry. Gu behalf oi
tue Comuutteo. RUTu p1oKER1sa,
Il. =. GIER0nD.