Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-16
LOCAL NEWS.
A Concert for the Cra.v p.o,,,

INTERESTING ENTERTAINNENT AT THE GOV.
ERNNENT INSANE ASYLUM.
Last evening the OrpheuS octetta, assisted
by Prof. Waldecker. Mr. NJ Koechling and
Miss Cora Chase, on the invitation Of Or. w.
w. Godding and STAFF, visited the Insane aSy.
lum and gave very enjoyable musical enter
tainment i'm the hail Of ihe iuStiTErion A.
irving AT the asylum about - O'Clock the yisi.
tors were nj once conducted 10 the stage The
musicians lthree patients and a narsel were
ants numbering in all about go had iuSt taken
their seats in the auditorium. The ASYLUM
musicians at once surrendered 10 the visitors
and the exercises opened with the musical
charade :. u, by Miss Chase and MsSSrS
Daniels and Boswell, followed by a piano solo
hy Prof. Waldecker; the Gay Pilgrim" by
the octette-J. Milton Buchanan and James
Richardson first tenors; HI. %. Simons and
Geo. McMurrey second tenorS; W. IA. Daniels
and n. A. Forsman first bass Geo. III. Paddon
pianist. Three CafRrS," hy the ortefte solo
"PerpleNity' by Mr.. koeckling; Miller's song
by the octette; duet Fishermen F" by Daniels
and and Bnehanan piano sole Carnival of Nenice)
frot. Waldecker; solo p" Then Gou'rl Remem-
Der Me- by Prof. koeching: and sComrades
i'm Arms" by the ociette.
THE AUDIENCE
were very attentive. and at times broke ont
in applause as heartily and with as much dis
elimination as audiences outside the asy
lum. During the piano solos by Prof Wal
decker, the dropping of a pin could have been
heard in the hall. The eyes of many of the
patients were riNetted on the fingers of The
professor, and IL was difficult 10 determine
whether they were more attracted by the
sound or by the professors agile lingering
Nearly every piece on the programme was en-
cOred, and Mr.. koechling'S singing received a
greater compliment even, for many OF the
afflicted ones were melted by the words of the
song Then You'll Remember Me- and shed
tears.
But FEW SIGNS OF INSANITY.
1noSe on the stage stale that they could moi
realize that the audience was comp6Sed mostly
of insane patients. Only by careful observation
could be seen here and there some peculiar
facial expression or eNtrayagant gesture
denotlng mental alteration. Side by side
were two brothers-in-law tone OF whom has
spent over twentythree years in the instim.
tlOn, and the other few months and near
them their nephew, all insane, but apparently
in good bodily health otherwise, and seemingly
enjoying the concert TO the fullest extent
One poor fellow kept up a continual rocking
OF his body while his fingers were neTvOuSly
playing about his mouth. An elderly female
patient was there who is said TO have accom-
pllshed The unheard of feat-for wOmam-of
not speaking a word for over ten wears
Lately she has resumed the use OF her
tongue. She was grave and sad however i'm
consequence OF her protracted penance, and
not smile Illuminated her SOrroWIul face aS
She sat mOtiOnleSS and noiSeleSS as a statue
Once or twice during the performance very
tall cOlOred female patient broke out into inn,
moderate laughter, but was soon quietel
WHEN THE CONCERT CLOSED.
the patients marched back to the wards and
with but very few exceptions, they were as
orderly and decOrOuS as the most fashionable
assemplyS, with none OF the unSeeming
haste 10 get out of the room sometimes seen
IN concen rooms and theaterS. even i'm intel
lectual Washington. Only in one or two in
stances did patient take his foot in his hand
and essay To walk on one leg.
REGULAR ENTERTAINMENTS.
= Dr. G0ddlngS the superintendent of the aSy-
lum, has DrS. Chase, Wilmer and Stock as his
assistants, and the latter supervise The enter
tainmentS-VlewS with a lecture ON Mondav
evenings. adance on Wednesday evenings. and
theatIicalS or concert exercises on Friday
evenings.
Ii is rather singular fact, that among all
the patients there now, there is but one claim
ing great dIStinctiOn-a party with the idea tha
he Is the father of all the Presidents There
coins, or kings, such rs generally abound ian
these institutions