Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-06-18
Our County InfirmarY.

Eds Tel business with the Superin-
tendent few days since, called me to pay
visit to the County Infirmary at Kings
vile, and for a night myself and wife were
the guests Of Mr.. Curtiss and his very am
liable lady, who were kind enough, during
our stay, to show US thoroughly over the
institution. During that visit saw much
to commend, and | am sorry to say, some
things to severely criticise.
The official management, both Of the
domestic and hospital departments, is un.
exceptionable. The medical department
is under the control Of DR.. Webster Of
kingsyille, than whom there is, perhaps,
no better qualified physician in the coun-
ty. Indeed, the authorities may we'll
congratulate themselves upon the assist
ance OF so able professional services.
The domestic and general management
OF the institution is equally as commenda-
bic. Indeed, few hours Of personal OBJ
seryation cannot fail to convince the OBJ
server that Mr.. Curliss, as Superintendent,
is prominently the man for the place and
Mrs. CHrtiss, as she moves quietly around
among the members Of her charge, is
truely "mother in Israel" with kind
word for every complaint, and smile Of
sympathy for every sigh. They have a
keen appreciation Of the faults of the in
stitution. and take an intelligent view of
the means of correcting them. and were it
not for the shamsfully deficient financial
support rendered them by the commission
ers, they would be enabled to affect a
much needed reformation in its practical
workings.
So much for its commendable features,
and now cannot better present its faults
and needs, and what in my judgment is
deserving of criticism, than by detailing
what observed during my visit to the in
stitution.
I Iobserved that the dining-room was fur
nished with uncomfortable chairs and rude
wooden stools unfit for any place except
an Indian wigwam, or a South Australian
hut, and upon these stools old men and
women, whose sober, quiet air and general
bearings, gave evidence of better days in
the by-gone past, were seated side by side
with loathsome epileptics and drulng i'd
lots whose glutenous gormandizing would
sicken the stomach OF a dog; and promis-
ing little children were learning table
manners from imbeeiles, vsgabonds and
tramps; all for the want OF sufficient means
to seperate and classify the bOarders.
observed in the side-rooms on the sec
ond floor several old ladies whose better
days have been spent in patient toll help
ing to reclaim this county from bowling
wilderness, and now in the helplessness of
age and deserted by friends aud kindred,
they have sought refuge here. l observ-
ed, too, that the stairways and halls lead
ing up to and past their rooms, as well as
the rooms themselves, we're entirely un-
carpeted, and the constant tramp of heavy
pauper shoes over uncovered floors grated
on their sensitive nerves like a tOrturing
hkhhlY anu aAA Aul NuN h1hI VI . NAtAAlAlE
appropriation.
1 observed in the common sitting-rooms
below, all classes without respect to moral,
social or physical condition. crowded in
discriminantly together. There, little
boys In the initiative years OF childhood,
are subjected to an atmosphere Of vicious
and immoral sentiments, low, vulgar rib
aldry and blasphemOus profanity; and in
nocent maidens Just weaving the subtle
fabric of their future characters from the
associations around them, forced by the
existing conditions of social equality TO an
indiscriminate aud baneful association
with the vice hardened "WOmen of the
town."
observed number of helpless insane
persons incarcerated in dismal and un-
healthy cellars, all for the want OF few
humanely constructed apartments above
ground in which to give them better
home.
1t will be readily seen that the remedy
for all the faults have enumerated will
be found in a more liberal appropriation,
and il the officials entrusted with our pub
lie charities would take the matter home
to their own firesides they would see their
duty clear. Would our commissioners be
willing under any circumstances to sub
ject their own lovely daughters in the bud
ding years Of childhood's purity TO such
degnlding associations2 II not, then may
they remember that it is written, ''Do ye
unto others even that which ye would that
others should do unto you"
But it is urged that any action OF the
commissioners in this direction will meet
with violent opposition from the tax-pay-
ers. This may be true Of few miserly
stoics, but it is not true Of the great mass
of tax payers Of the county. cannot be-