Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-05-02

ward, where we were received by the
matron of the establishment, and con-
Quoted into the presence of It's inmates.
Here we found several of the most
hopeless cases of liocy and insanity.
An aged lady sits bent over, resting
her hands on her knees, muttellng con-
tinually, and even the presence OF Wis
itors fails to elicit the slightest indica-
ton of recognition OF interest. times
she becomes violent. and the toughest
oath, take the place of her feeble NUT
.clings. One bright faced, ,idlle-aged
woman busics herself with number OF
pieces of cloth, which she rolls and UNI
rolls. and twists into every conceivable
shape, while Ter tongue keeps up con-
slant flow of incohorent speech, the
burden of which appears to be the holy
spirit. The saddest case of all how
ever, is that of girl, ten or twelve
Years Of age, whose actions are so VIC
lent that her hands are kept constantly
confined in leathorn bag. She never
utters an ineligible sound, but initiates
at times the barking of dog with won
derful distinctness. Her atlliction has
been from birth, and is utterly hope
less. Another patient, named " Mag
gie,' is afforded quarters outside the
ward where, she does the washing for
many of the other patients. She is the
most valuable inmate of the Asylum,
and Mr.. Harmon admits that he scarce
ly knows how he would manage with
out her. AS long as she has plenty Of
work to do she appears happy and
contented, unless aroused by some fam
cied slight, when she is exceedingly vi
client and breaks through all ordinary
means of restraint. Her pet and con-
slant companion, is a small swapping
turtle, which she fondles and nurses
with all the affection of a parent for a
child. Her insanity is likewise of a
"relisious' type, and her loquacity is
something wonderful when she gets
fairly started on her favorite theme.
When not at work, she makes graves in
which she buries hundreds of imagin-
airy friends and relatives, setting up
boards to mark their final resting places.
A short time ago it became necessary,
in making certain improvements, to
pillow up portion of her graveyard,
when she became frantic in her protests
against the sacrilage.
A new female ward is being fitted up
in separate building, which will soon
be ready for occupation. This will
greatly enlarge the capacity of the Asy-
lum, and give the patients much more
freedom than they now enjoy. The
Dispensatory, the Store room, the Skat-
ing-rink, and various other objects of
interest were visited, and finally the
beautiful spring of pure water, at the
foot of steep hill, several hundred
yards from the Asylum, which supplies
the large tanks of the institution, from
which it is distributed in conduit pipes
under the ground. Two large hydrau-
lie rams are kept constantly at work,
furnishing an even and ample supply
at all times.
no, FOR TACOMA!
About five o'clock in the evening, the
Governor and ourself drove down to
Lakeview Station, and took the even
ing train for Tacoma, the city Ito beg
on the hill, and the harbor of prodig-
ious depth. On the cars we met Gen.
Sprague, Captain Ainsworth, and sew
eral other railroad magnates, on their
way to Tacoma to confer with Vice
President Wright, as to the ways and
means of keeping the speculative bub-
bic afoat. We found Col. Sprague a
very affable gentleman, and felt dis
posed toignore the rolling androllicking
motion of train over an unballasted
road, when he nodded to the conductor
that our fare was call right" Had
he followed up his promise of a pass by
a tender of the veritable piece of
board, this favorable opinion
would probably have remained I'M
changed; but when the same conduct
or, on the return trip, deliberately
charged us double-fare, our sympathies
experienced quite as positive a chill as
did those of our people when the ter
minus was held up like a golden apple
upon which to feast their eyes, and was
as suddenly withdrawn when their sail
vary glands were excited by the pros
It Il