The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-20
PRICE TWO CENTS.
A MOCKERY OF CHARITY.
SHOCKING CONDITION or TIE AIMS
HOUSES ~ MfRYLAND.
Many OF Them shown to he Dens OF Fiith and
Prostitution. and Nurseries OF Pollution
Discoveries that Dir. Chancellor Made.


BALTIMORE, Aug. 19.-Dr. Charles w.
Chancellor. who was requested by Gov. Carroll
to visit and inspect all aims institutions in tho
state, has submitted his report. In Introducing
his report DIR. Chancellor said: II is painful to
report the shocking condition in which many Of
the public institutions were found; and 1t il
difficult to conceive that anything worse ever
existed in n civilized country" "Thcro ara
now he says within the amshouscs and
Iais OF our State over five hundred insane and
idiotic people. for whom there exists no proper
provision. and who are utterly cast down and
neglected. half fod and ghastly in their wretch.
edncss"
In Allogany Coal County Almshousc the sane
and insane were indiscrimnatcy mixed with.
out proper means Of separating the sexes Mos,
of the insane were harmless. Ono colorcd girl
an cpicptic Of feeble mind. had three children
with her. two Of whom had bccn born in tho
almshousc. The youngest. an infant six months
of age. was undoubtedly tho child of "a white
man.
In Anne Arundel county the almshousc is no
abode Of misery. The keeper and his family
are comfortably quartcrcd in the first story oi
the building. while the white inmates dwell to.
gcthcr in unrestricted coIcubinagc in the scc-
ond story. One woman. aged about 40. has
borne thrce children in the house. all bcgottcn
10y inmates. These innoccnts had fortunately
been Sent 10 an orphan asylum. There WIS not
in any room of this almshouse u bed or pillow
III Tor U.s.. ana surh as were found were dls-
gustngly filthy. The negro quarters. if pos-i-
bic, re- even worse than those occupied by th'
whit y, Every room was in Il dirty condition.
tn" h'ds filthy. without shce7 or pillows. and in
several rooms NO beds. The common Jail OF
this county il as illthy and objectionable aS Tho
nmShuusr, prDmiscuous association Oi all
| clas~rs visiting.
In the Bnltimorc County Almshousc the male
q tho
room. bnth rooms. and even the water closets
| were used for lodging rooms.
| Tho CarOlinrtOunt Am-hpuS Is a mOckcry
| oi charity nni nursery OF pollution. not tho
| slightest attontion being paid to tue moral OF
| mates. On" woman WA The mother Of two chill
| dIcn. and another of six. all said To- have been
| hrgott.n and born within the HuShouso. II
| the colorcd department. should be- ~'munrcd to
| n iilthy pE-iv. II would be an injustice tO tho
rHsy; In on" small room wrrc found four
| m"n iiy. women. two children, any quantity II
| cais and dogs. and other living things too uu-
! meruu- To- mention. OF the ive women, ono
/ was '"ni"nnri two wcr' mothers with in
I iants in their arms. and two were young girls,
/ aged rospc, lively II and 10 years. one Odd
! bed ON which to rest hisaching bones. Another
! though siiins upright To pariuk" of the conrSo
/ nui badly cooked dinner Just served him, WAS
/ tpu weak to defend his rrplty meal against tho
| III 'ur-ion of "A dog that quickly Eulprd it down.
| In thr Cecil County Aln,hous". IN both build
/ ing- th" departments for mai : and females arc
/ separated only 10y II narrow passage. and the
! EVIL result " the fire." rominuni'aton on hrtwecn
] inc save. l. ONnll ~i'tl IN lllr nuilihfN Nl ill'-
! g.timatr children born in IA" house. Their" nro
| two Instances in this aiu.sJ.u-e IN which tho
/ mother and childr n w"rr born in hn~turdy
under its roof ono. an idiptir white woman.
/ 40 years Of hgr. herself born IN tn uim~housc.
has given birth t. six children IN This n-titu.
! ton. Another. an insane white woman. aged
| 30 years. whose mother stlll resides IN the
| Lon-". has borne two children here; and still
| another insane white woman Is the mother Of u
| half-nrgrO child. hcgOttcn and born IN the inst-
I'm Washington tho county almshouse siinato,
| srutrl rs "A common nuisance. The details Of
| lis condition nrc. If possible. more revolving than
| os Cecil anl Baltimore counties.
Tho total number Of imliGrni insane in the
Stai'. in county alm-hou-os. ias. nnd ho-pi-
! ials i- given u- follows. Nhue-Malrs. 3l3
femal-s $50. Colorcd-Ma a,-. jO females, "a.
Total. AZ.
The Niitr institutions are managed hy hoards
| ~ trustees us urr also Che uim~hou-o- in srv-
| rral counties Charles and others hul in most
/ ruuutlD tl"y are under the control ol The
County Commissioners. who appoint ih' keep
ere. No doubt this exposure iN Dr. Chancellor,
! lar kod with @n indignant public opinion vii.
| lead 90 imm"iint" and sweeping rciormhtlon Oi
| the county Institutions.