Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-20

the men from East Florida, where the surface
is as fiat as table
The asylum is situated about a mile and a
ha from the station on the apex of q hill of
considerable altitude, up which the honorable
Senators and Assemblymen gallantly toiled
The buildings themselves of which there are
several, arranged in a large square, once the
parade ground. were erected about the year
1884, during the first Seminole war for the plr.
poses OF an arsenal. They are constructed OF
brick made in the vicinity, and were erected
when there were such persons as honest United
states contractors They are solid and sub
stantial, and still in excellent repair General
Andrew jackson was at one time in command,
and some OF the old citizens can yet remember
the martial figure and stern features of that
great soldier.
Several noble live oaks spread their broad
and massive limbs over the parade ground.
which is carpeted with thick and luxuriant
growth of verdure. A high, stout brick wall
enclOSeS the various structures.
Shortly after the close of the late war this
property was donated by the General Govern
ment to the State of Florida, and was used for
several years as penitentiary This was in
the halcyon days of Republicanism when all
sorts of jobbery existed.
The institution, as then conducted was a
sort OF snug harbor for criminals, and refuge
where they were fed and cared for at the ex-
pense of the tax payers Once in a while, when
so disposed, they would take French leave go
to visit their friends, and would then return TO
their comfortable quarters They had little to
DO, had an easy time, and were d customers
upon the bounty of the people. A great many
queer tales are told about the conduct of this
pleasant retreat for the unfortunate ladies
and gentlemen" who in a moment Of absent
mindneSs, had violated the rights of person and
property These tales are familiar to many of
your readers and as such condition of affairs
cannot exist again it is just as well to put them
away with other ugly things.
Inc main building has been converted into q
ward for white male patients. On the first
floor are the kitchen, sitting and dining rooms
The sitting room is a large apartment
warmed by big stove, around which were
grouped several of the patients. Some of these
we're quite voluble. and appeared to be highly
delighted with the irruptlon of visitors. One
who held beloved Cremona under his am
played a series of jigs with a skill and vivacity
that would have set the feet of auv deyotea Of
Terpsichore into involuntary motion. There
were others whose stolid faces vacant express
sionS, and utter indifference to their surround
lnGs, indicated too sure y that the light of
reason had forever departed, and that nothing
survived save what was earthly and animel
The roof OF this building is surmounted by a
cupola, from which fine view is obtained of
the surrounding country
The bedrooms contain each a single bAj
WaShstand, looking glass, comb and brush, and
were cleanly and in neat order The dining
tables were provided with good crockery,
KNIVES and FORKS, and the appearance of the
patients showed that they did not suffer Tor
want of provisions.
Several took me aside and inquired if could
not have them discharged. Il am well now,
an expense to keep me here longer Please
tIy 10 get me out as soon as you can, and let
me go home"
could only console the poor fellows by tell
ing them that, the doctor would release them SO
soon as he was assured of their entire recovery
which hoped would be speedy.
Thence to the apartmentfor white females.
Inc parior here Is an attractive room, fur
nished with an eye to taste and comfort. and
lore genef al air of cheerfunesS Uoon the
vans were several engraVings and chromos,
ana handsome Bible was lying on the centre
table. here some were chatty and comnuni-
cative, and others apparently dead to all inn
pressions. The matron took me into the room of
q patient, who, though often violent, was then,
tering with some trepidati%on % and put t-
ting on my most benevolent smile. I
extended my hand, with the original remark
dS dnst II was rather s cold this morning Gold,
I've got sixty thousand dollars in the Spanish
bank" expressed my delight to hear that
she was SO well provided for, when to my cha
grin. she glanced up into my face and remark
ed with vehement emphasis "Oh. psbaw. I
don't like old pen nor blue eyed men eitherr'
AS happen neither to possess youth nor dark
optics. beat speedy retreat.
soon was among group of negro men
one OF whom, stalking up with stately car
riage, pom. .1ously announced that he was Gen
eral Grant, and in command of the premises
Shofty afterwards he made speech, of which
recollect g portion. You see desc niggers.
gentlemen said he; 'dey amt a bit more
crazy dan me. Dey knows when dew cot q
gooo ting. Dey too lazy to work, and jess so
long IS dey can git plenty to eat and can keen
from work. dey gwine to stay here
Another sable individual, with a 1nournflll
vlsage and in 8 stage whisper, confldentially
informed me that he had got "buste1" in q cot
ton speculation.
You see, Boss, when cotton fall two cent a
pound IN our day, it play de debble wild fell
Another, an ex-preacher, reckon. snpalled
me by announcing that he was the Holy Ghost
The minds of several OF this class appeared to
run upon the subject of religion There was
among them boy of fifteen or sixteen years,
whose delight at seeing SO many strangers was
expressed by grinning from ear to ear, and by
shaking hands r peatedly with all the party.
be was the busiest and most friendly chap /
nave ever encountered.
Rather humorous incident occurred DURING
the visit While walking about Mr. mel
one or his former constituents, an inmate. who
recognized him, and expressed his sincere re-
gret at finding that his friends had been rom
PEELED to place him there for treatment
very favorable impression was produced
upon the Legi lature, and there Il but little
douot that the increase OF appropriation asked
Tor VIII be granted, and that additional ACCOM-
modatons will be provided All of the mem
berS expressed entire qualification with the
condlton and management Of the institution.
fortunates. -
DR.. Foreman, surgeon in charge, fills his
responsible position admirably, and is gentIe-
man whose skill, hrmness and Kindness
qualify him fully for his irving duties 1he
books are carefully kept, and show, as far as
can be obtained, all the facts of interest con
nected with each patient.
There are now ninety seven under treat
ment, about equally divided es to sex Two.
thirds are whites, the remainder negroes
Duval county sends the largest percentage,
about one seventh of the entire number
My thanks are due Mr.. Speer one of the
members from Gadsden, who resides in Chat
tahoochee. and whose familiarity with the
grounds enabled me, under his guidance to see
everything deserving notice.
bountifuI repast was served nm for the
guests, who did ample justice to the hospf-
taiity. The Georgia line is only three or four
hundred yards distant, ard a few walked over
to press the soil OF tho Empire State of the
South A Large garden and some forty acres
or rich lands are attached to the asylum
which are worked by the patents and furnish
supply of corn and vegetables
At p. m. the train left, and at d. m we
were safely landed in Tallahassee. The dav
had been pleasantly and profitably passed and
the result OF the investigation was a Unanimous
VeFqict IN favor OF the institution, and the
fidelity OF those to whom its management had
been entrusted.
General Barnes, the new Comptroller. met
with severe accident few days since. from
q fall, which has prevented him from taking
charge OF his office. He is expected shortly
There il some Sickness among the members
and Or. Stringer, of fernando, is sufferine,
from violent attack Of pneumonia
The House Committee en- Privileges and Elec-
tions have reported In favor of the sittinp,
members from Alachua county.
Senator Jones arrived this morning and re-
celVed the warm congratulations of his numer-
Gus friends. He will address the Legislature
tomorrow, Immediately after the result OF The
joint ballot. -
In the preliminary ballots taken this morn
ing Senator Joaes recaiyed in The SeSata
twenty five votes and fifty-two in the House
ihe Republicans held caucus last night and
decided 70 cast their votes for Gen VIM. NJ
Ledwltn, OF jacksonville. He received ac-
cordlngly seventeen il.the Assembly and four
in the Senate
The dull, cloudy weather still continues. and
exercises depressing influence. w. W.HB
The formation into battalions of the
DuDIla helOnpinr 10 the Cnrnr,anral