The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-25

A yisrr TO THE ONO COUNTY ISrrR-
MARY.-The official visit Of the Commit.
tee on Poor House and Farm Of the
Board Of Commissioners 10 the county
Intrmary, on Saturday last, was ofmore
than usual significance, owing to the
presence Of a number Of invited guests.
Capt. r. 7. Deyries, the popular agent Of
the B. d o. Railroad In this city, had
kindly placed n special train at the dis
posal Of the Committee and their guests,
and at 2 r. N. the train left the depot,
with that gentleman In charge. There
were in the party Mr.. James NJ. Ewing
Commissioner from Union district. wife,
and daughter; DR.. L. D. Wilson,
county physician, and wife; Mr.. Joseph
Speidel, Commissioner from Madison
district; Mr.. John Frew, Com
missioner from Clay district; Mr.. John
McCulloch, Commissioner from Triadel.
phia district; Mr.. NJ. Roth, Commissioner
from Richie district; Messrs. John 30.
ring, James NJ. Todd, Simeon McCulloch,
John McCracken, Frank Hildreth, and
representatives OF the three daily papers.
At the Infrmary the party were re-
ceiyed by Poor Agent Stanley and his
estimable spouse, and given a cordisl
greeting. The entire establishment, from
garrett 10 cellar, was thrown open to them,
and the majority Of the party took the
opportunity TO examine the workings Of
the various departments Of the institu.
tion. Some two hours were spent In this
pleasant occupation, Mr.. Stanley himself
accompanying his guests through the
house, and explaining everything to their
satisfaction.
The Infrmary and lie surroundings
having recently been described at some
length in these columns, we will not go
into details upon the subject. AS is
always the case, the committee found
everything about the institution in "apple
pie" order. The floors were as white as
soap and water could make them, the
ceilings and walls bright with fresh
whitewash, the bedrooms clean aud tidy,
and quite cheerful withal.
We noted some Improvements about
the place. Neat gravel walks have been
made from the bridge to the building by
pauper labor, and portion Of the farm
Is being cleared of and made ready Tor
planting. OF the one hundred and sixty
acres called the "Poor Farm" only about
thirty-three acres are tillable, and the
Poor Agent employs those Of the paupers
who are able 10 work in burning brush
and otherwise improving the property.
There are at present seventy-one pau
pers In the Infrmary, about two-thirds
Of them males. They are queer lot, and
nearly every one has strange and event:
full history. Several are idiots. Two OF
the inmates are so filthy that they are
compelled TO sleep in the basement Of the
building. One OF these is more like an
animal than 8 man, and he Is perhaps
the strangest character in the institution.
We found him lying on his face, on low
cot in basement room. Our escort in.
formed US that this peculiar parsonage ia
known by the name Of Andy Beecher, but
whether he Is rightly entitled TO this APP
pellation he could not say. Beecher ia
about forty or forty.tiye years OF age, and
has been an inmate OF the InGrmary
for the past fifteen years, during
which time he has never been
known to speak. No one knows any
thing about him, any more than the
length OF his stay in the Poor House. He
has great aversion to human society,
and will not remain moment in the
presence Of man or woman. His time Is
mainly occupied in roaming about over
the hills in solitude.
Another queer character is an ancient
dame who sought out our reporter, who
was making himself agreeable with the
company in the large dining room, while
the inmates were eating, and insisted that
be should pray for her. Our representa-.
tive confessed that be was slightly of
color in that line, but the old lady insist
ed upon the adoption OF the original mo.
ton, and followed the knight Of the pen.
Gil about with persistence which indi.
Gated her entire faith in the efficacy Of
his prayers. It was with some difficulty
that he at last escaped her clutches, and
took himself safely out OF the building.
Shortly before 4 P. NJ, notwithstanding
Mr.. Stanley and his good wife pressed
their guests 10 remain to tea, prepare
lions were made for the return. The
train was waiting at the Elm Grove de.
pot, and within a few moments all were
on board and en- route home, which was
reached In due time.