The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-11-28
FROM ANNA.
Thank sgi ~ ing nt the Insane AsyI linn
How the Inmates Passed the day.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS INSANE ASYLUM
ANNA, ILL.,, November 20, '75.
EDITOR BuLLETrS-Thanksgiving day
has come aud gone, and thinking per.
haps description of how such day is
passed in "mad-house," shall under
take to tell your readers what was done
here to-day. The leading feature of the
occasion was, Of course, the usual
Thanksgiving dinner" in which the
time-honored turkey took the prominent
part, supported by u species Of the bird
which is said to have done an important
service on certain occasion for the citi-
zens Of ancient Rome, also duck and
other fowl, vegetables, fruits, ETC., with
out limit and to say that the unfortunate
insane
"EAT AND WERE WELL FILLED"
would scarcely do the subject Justice. OF
course all work was suspended for the day,
and at 3 o'clock the inmates, all decked
in their best attire, were ushered into the
new chapel 0ust finished and dedicated
last Sunday, where the evenings enter
tainment was commenced with the grand
march. followed by cotillions and the
usual round dances, in which
PATIENTS AND EMPLOYEES,
Unfortunately mixed up, fairly "threw
themselves away" This kind of amlisc-
ment appears the only one in which in
sane persons generally seem TO take an
interest.
After the dance the audience were IA
vored with some very fine vocal and in
strumental music by the members of the
choir OF one OF the Jonesboro churches,
followed by some very fine piano and
organ music by employees and others.
THE SUFFER- HOUR
having arrived the patients returned to
their various halls where more luXuries
were partaien of, and at I o'clock again
went to the chapel. where dancing and
music was engaged in until o o'clock,
when the festivities of the day were
brought to a close, and the
INMATES RETIRED
for the night, apparently with feelings OF
gratitude to DR.. Barnes, the superintend
ent. and his able assistant, DIR. Mercer
tor the treat provided for them.
When il is known that nearly
ONE HUNDRED INSANE PERSONS
were engaged in these amusements, ant
that not single unpleasant incident oc
Cured to mar the pleasurers of the day
it will no doubt be matter OF surpris.
to those of your readers who
have formed their ideas OF a "mad house
after reading such descriptions of them
as are to be found in such novels as
"Hard Cash." and publications of like
character. venture to assert that i
would be scarcely possibly to collect to
gether miscellaneous crowd Of san
persons in any community that woult
behave themselves in more decorOu.
manner than did this crowd OF almost
hundred crazy people. The days Of chain
and straight jackets and padded rooms
has passed by and Kindness and gentl
| tIcuthicul 10 INV tuc htuile IVsoitcu "
to cure these victims of the most fearful
disease to which man Is subject. Although
this asylum is comparatively a new one
and many difficulties had to be overcom
to get 1t into good running shape, tina
end has been attained, and your CORES
pendent can safely say that a bette
MANAGED institution would be difficult [
find, and the unfortunate insane of Souti
ern Illinois may congratulate themselve
that they have fallen into the hands {
men so considerable of their comfort an
we fare, as are Drs. Barnes and Mel
Ger. O.. Il. ..