Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-18
Insanity in the PoorhouSe.

An article III the New York ItH2es,
speaking of the condition of the insane
in the county poor-house at Syracuse,
brings to mind some remarks on the
same subject, which the U0Wk Eye has
made and more than once, heretofore.
Insanity is rarely fault. 1t is gener-
ally misfortune. 1t cannot be called
crime, and, consequently, it does not
call for punishment. But the consign-
ment OF such unfortunates to county
almshouses instead of to places made
expressly for them, is a punt hment,
and one which is criminal.
People who have never seen the diff
ference between an insane asylum and
Il poor house can hardly understand
how great and sad that difference is.
No matter how much care the manager
of poor-house may take with these
people, he is not educated in regard 10
their disease. However willing he may
be to ameliorate their condition, he
don't know how to do it. They re-
ceive but partial attention there. They
should be constantly watched, and
every advantage taken TO improve the
condition of their minds. This is
labor that must be done by itself. The
only hope of recovery, or even OF COM
fort in insanity, lies in an almost con-
slant occupation of the mind during
waking hours. Books, music, games.
and other attractions must be constantly
resorted to. In hospital for the in
sane these things are furnished as IL
matter of necessity. In the poor house
they are not furnished at all. There
the mind and the body are both loafers.
This perniciOus practice is now, I'M
fortunately, in vogue i'll our own State.
The reason given for it is that our two
insane asylums are inadequate. The
officers of our asylums are not RESPONSE
BILE for this, but our legislators are.
The public pay for the support of these
people in one place as we'll IL the 9th
er. The one is their home-the other
is their prison. Provision should be
made to put them by themselves. to
take good care or them, and to minister
to their minds Observation-Disclosures Eye.
WALTER SCoTTs MONEY TROUBLES.
The external course of SCOTS life,
says the Republicans genial Saun
terer," was in the main wonderfully
pIlllluDu ouCSCool III uulll IOWutuo
its close, when there fell upon him the
complicated shock of financial ruin and
domestic bereavement. 1t was Just be-
fore these troubles that lie began pri-
vate journal; and tie quotations from
this make the most profoundly interest
ing portion of the biography. Here is
a characteristic passage, written when
the cloud of bankruptcy was lowering:
Nobody in the end can lose penny
by me that is one comfort.
Sad hearts, too, at Darwick, and in the
cottages of Abbotsford. | have half
resolved never to see the place again.
How could tread my hall with such a
diminished crest? How live u poor,
indebted man, where / was once the
wealthy-the honored? l was to have
gone there on Saturday in joy and pros
perity to have received my friends My
dogs will wait for me in vain. 1t is
foolish-but the rights of these dumb
creatures have moved me more than
any of the painful reflections I have
put down. Poor things I must get
them kind masters. There may be yet
those who, loving me, may love my dog
because 1t has been mine. l must end
these gloomy forebodings, or 1 shall
lose the tone of mind with which men
should meet distress. feel my dogs
feet on my knees. / hear them moan
ing and seeking me everywhere. This
is nonsense; but it is what they would
do, could they know how things may
be-"
A French duel resulted fatally the
other day. The horses of one of the
duelists ran away as he was returning
from the frontier, and killed him. This
ought to moderate the French enthu-
siasm for dueling.