The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-08-25
9 Maryland BarbaritiOs.n


We publish an abstract Of DIR. Chancel-
lor's report on almshouses. The picture
he presents Of these institutions is not at
all rose-colored, and we are forced to be-
lieye il is slightly overdrawn. He should
have remembered that it is not always
possible, with the limited resources Of
almshouses aud jails, to prevent the natu-
rally foul habits of idiots aud imbeciles
from giving an appearance of filth and
neglect to their surroundings. Take, for
instance, the almshouse in this county, of
which he makes most favorable report
There are inmates Of that institution who
defile their rooms in the most disgusting
manner, and no amount Of care by the
steward can prevent it. He can only have
the room cleansed whenever it is so de6led.
And although this report says that even
the odor so peculiar to these institutions
is not found in the almshouse of this
county, which is a fact noted by many
others besides DR.. Chancellor; yet, there
are times, during the vagaries Of some Of
these irresponsible inmates, when, if he
were introduced into some of their depart.
ments, he would be glad to beat hasty
retreat. 1t is only by vigilance and scru.
pulous cleanliness that the house is kept
in such excellent order as it is. But all
the almshouses Of this State may not have
Traey's for stewards. No doubt much
Improvement could be made in and about
them with the means at hand. Some of
the evils pointed out in DR.. Chancellor
report admit of remedy, but not all. Clean
illness, ventilation and sanitary care, aud
precautions against improper relations
among the sexes, should be enforced but
some of the things that touch the sensi-
bilities of DIR. Chancellor are inherent in
the nature of poverty, disease and restraint
of liberty, and do not admit of cure. DR..
Chancellor's report has called forth much
compassionate criticism upon the institu.
tons Of this State by the journals of other
States, who doubtless ascribe the condition
of things set forth in that document, as
due to the location of our State south of
Mason and Dixon's line, and the condition
Of standardization in which the State was
left by the institution of slavery. A Penn
sylvania journal, however, has the frank
ness and candor to admit that county
almshouses in that State are not one whit
better. But this is poor consolation to US,
if our institutions are really obnoxious to
the representations this report has made Of
them. We should see to it that they are
so no longer. But we must think that
this document is highly colorcd or some
thing else than strictly true representa-
ton Of these institutions. One thing we
are satisfied ereport is at faultin, and that
is, that the inmates are half fed, If that
is true Of any almshouse in this State, we
make sure it is an exceptional case, and
that through inadvertence or some excus-
able cause. The almshouses of this State
have not only fed their own poor to reple-
ton, but thousands upon thousands of the
vagrant poor of the whole country. 1t is
the business of our grand juries to visit
these institutions twice year, and although
it is possible that these visits of inspection
may be made in merely perfunctory way,
it is not likely that complaints of this char
acter could be kept from their ears, and a
corrective applied.