The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-05
INSANE WOMEN DIVERTED.
Amusement rs Remedy Given TO Patients
in the BiRckweii's Island Asylum.

in the BIackweirs Island Asylum.
or the 1879 women In the Lunatic Asy-
lum on Black wells Island, over one-third are
susceptible Of cheering and improving infu
ences through amusements which distract their
minds from their decisions. In August last,
the male epileptics, occupying a long one
story wooden building about one hundred
yards from the asylum, were removed to a ward
In the Charity Hospital. and the place they had
occupied was transformed into an amusement
hall by direction OF Com missioner Brennan and
Warden Aare. The machnist Of wsllack's
Theatre built a little stage; Matt Morgan
painted a drop curtain some simple fats, SKY
borders. and wings we're provided. and on Oct.
the first entertainments ooncert-was given
hero. Since that time some kind OF entertain
uent has occupied the stage one evening OF
each week one afternoon weekly there is a
dance by the patients. and every day the hall Is
used for calist henic exercises. There mas been
no lack Of volunteer performers. Trained vo-
calists. negro miustreis sleight OF hand pro-
fessofs, actors, and readers have given their
The crazy women have a triple enjoyment,
first In the encer pleasure OF HnticipatiOn, next
In actual realz ,tion OF their expectations, nd
lastlV In the fond delights OF memory over what
trey nave heard or witnessed to an extent few
sane peOrle evr know after childhood Care Is
exercised 10y Dr. Parsons and hrs assistants IN
selecting those who may he trusted to control
themselves during these exhibitions. This their
study Of each patient enables them 20 DO alnios
unerrlnglv. Some there are whose mental night
f. So dark tina. naught can arouse a CLEAN OF In
tercst or pleasure IN them, and some who would
rave and b. violent " subjected to the un-
wun'ed excitement Of the new and vivid I'M
presstons produced by music and numerous
company. These must bs carefully excluded.
AmorR the Others stil sane enough
meas, the hope OF amusement Il
n strong iuhuence fr control. do you not
wish to attend the concert to morrow night,
MaeeieY" "On, yes, Doctor, to be sure ! do;
wouldn't missit for The world" hen, Maggie,
20 II you are not good" Forthwith Maggie con
Of the concert is fun OF docie happiness, for
that she feels Is her reward for Temporary re-
striint in tue assertion Of her glory as the Queen
on last Tuesday evening a concert was given
10 the amusement ball ny the following artists {:
Mrs. Louisa Kocns, Mrs. Sophia Altschul, nile.
Josephine Devere, Messrs. d. i. fully, e
Bederman Charles Hogg, A. Blum, IL. Schu-
pert, j; Weinlich, and tue Philharmonic Quar-.
tette Club. AT quarter past o'clock the pa
tients III rched out OF the asylum and the pavil-
ions In The Immediate vicinity 81 the hall. Their
female keepers accompanied them, but avoided
all appearance OF restraint, and the maniacs
moved slngly, by pairs. and In groups toward the
centre OF common Interest. The hall seats com
fort bly eight hundred. but only four hundred
and MY occupied the plain WOODEN settees
with which ~ Is furnished. When they
were seated, no casual observer would have
noticed nught TO distinguish them from any
audience dawn from the humber classes. They
waited as patiently fOr the opening OF the per
Torrance, and behaved as decorously as sane
people. Perhaps, as their only popularity. their
appreciation Was somewhat more hearty than Is
usual among audiences OUTSIDE asylums. Every
thing delighted tnem, out the entertainment
was so generally good thai their enjoyment was
by no means strange. Strength and virlity Of
tone seemed to touch the most readily. When
Blum sang, IN arch, baritone voice, the song,
My love is like the red, red rose" they laughed
and cldpped their hands, and some were
seen shedding tears OF happiness. oornet
solo 10y Mt. ID. Il. July stimulated them so that
they laughed and applauded with positive en-
thusiasnl. But none the less did they appreciate
very dele ito and beautiful Trio. sung by Mines.
Koch and Atschul aud MIR. Laugenbach, and u
quartet by Messrs. LaugenbAcb. Medel, Blum,
The "hiserere," from ii Trovatore,'' In WHEN
all the performers participated, pleased them
So well that they demanded IA repetition. The
love Of lunatcs for bright colors was observa BILE
In their general delight over tue appearance OF
Mr.. luly who came on-in an amusing little
operatta OF his own produCtion-in a grotesque
soldiers uniform, in which bright red was glar-
ingly predominant. over that tuey laughed out
right aud clapped their hands, and some OF them
stood up to get q better view OF him but their
excitement was controlled In an instant; all re-
sumed their seats and listened TO the lit le
piece and TO the taking snatches Of song, by MIR.
Tully and Miss Devere, with which II was inter
spersed. Very quietly and happily. without any
disorder or man station OF Individual eccen-
tncities, the audience, us soon AS the concert
WIS over, permitted Its keepers and nurses TO
sort II out and lead II OF IN sections TO its Gus
tonlAry resting places.