The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-10-11
Correspondence Of the Wheeling Register.
THE ASYLUM.
HowitLooksto aStranger
HOW IT IS MANAGED, Sc.

Mr.. Isaac II. johnson, tho cores
pondeu, Of the Wheeling Register, du.
ring bis visit to our county at the
recent Fair, called ut the Asylum. and
in q late number of that paper, prints
the following letter:
WESTON, W. Va, Sept. %.
After the Fair here, it was my sad
privilege to visit the Asylum say
sad privilege, for it is impossible for
ME to pass through such an institution
without being moved with tho deepes,
pity and sympathy for the unfortunate
victims Of insanity.
The very gcutlemanly Superinteu.
dent, DR.. 7. b. Camden, with bis genial
assistant, Dr.. A. H. Kunst, took plea.
sure, | am sure, in showing us thrS'
tho extensive buildings-a structure
with q most beautiful aud imposing
front Of l. $50 feet, when completed
and two retrea,iug wings Of $50 feet
each-explaiuing to US in detail. all
points Of interest in the practical work.
ings Of the institution.
While it can but make one most sad
and sotrowful a. hear. to meet with
the numerously different phases Of
mental arrangement, in moving about
from ward to ward, it was with the
deepest interest aud admiration that
noted the perfect arrangement through.
out, and tho liberal provision in dc.
tail, for the comfort, health. and all
possible enjoyment Of each individual
inmate.
am aware that there is o mista.
ken idea abroad amoug the uninforsn.
cd, in regard to this grand charity Of
our generous young Stats. There are
many throughout the country-and
many. too. who ought to know better.
who tlilk Of the asylum rs q great
big iren barred jail,-simply a place
to ,afely confue crazy folks and keep
THIN fr,m killing people. They as.
sociate it in their minds With their
miserable county jails, into which it is
often ih ought necessary to thrust their
ntighbOrs suddenly beref. Of reason
only they think Of it as much larger.
stronger building, and kept at State
expense,
They are accustomed to hearing i,
called the climatic asylum" and the
impression conveyed, among the com.
mon people, by the term "lunatic,' is
synonymous with raving maniac, aud
you might as well speak to them OIL
sending their insane friends to the
mad.hOuse, as 10 the luuatic asylum.
1t we're great poin. gained. l i'm.
nginc. If We would aceus,om the pco.
plc, whose charity it is, to the better
and more accepted term "lIospital for
the Insane" The word "hospitar'
bears with it the tender idea of sympa.
thy. care, comfort, nursing and medi.
cal treatment. and wins the heart in
its favor. Then let the press, officials
and everybody call i, what it is and the
people will soon learn to know nud
feel that it is not prison, bu. beau.
tiful. comfortable home. place, provided
especially for the care and treatment Of
the mentally sick, aud conducted in all
its details with tenderest care and So.
licitudo for their comfort and enjoy.
mcnt. Then there will not be that re-
pugnancc to sending subjects from
their own homes hero, where they can
have infinitely better care and treat.
ment.
1t would doubtless be of interest to
many Of your readers to hear the par.
ticulars Of the vas. extent and magni.
tudc of this most beautiful and praise.
worthy monument to Yves. Virginia's
grcat.hcarted humanity.
nigh, take up a whole side Of tho
Register in setting out arrays Of details
10 facts, figures, dates. dimensions.
&C., which the ready officials were
pleased to give US, but It was not my
purpose in writing to burden your col.
umns with statistics and niuusin. !
wanted rather to express some general
sentiments deeply impressing myself
while being shown through The hospi.
tai. and il possible. make some sugges.
tons that might tend toward enlisting
the earnest sympathy and support Of
the whole people in this behalf, and to
press upon tho Legislature as we'll as
its constituents, the importance and
necessity Of keeping well up to the
needs aud demands Of tho asylum. in
whatever provisions and appropriations
may be requisite to its moro efficient
management. and tucccsslul accom-.
plishment Of its whole end. that Of
comfortably caring for relieving. and
rs far Us may be, curing all the States
insane. Ono must 60 through The
building, ward by ward, department,
by department, examine closely and
study its inside workings. to cOmprs.
hend or even get faiut idea of the
executive talent demanded, aud closely
applied labor required. to successfully
direct and carry on such an immense
And the State has Ger.
tainly been most fortunate in finding
10 Or. Camden and his associates, and
securing, those peculiar qualities of
ability, taci and devotion SO essential
to success go Taught with weighty re.
sponslbilties and consequence.
FR,t