The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-11-29
LAMpERrvlLlE. Nov. 81, 1889.


LAMBERTvlLLE, Nov. 81, 1889.
TO the Editor of the Lam5ertgille Record :.
1t seems impressed ON my mind that
must write something in reference to a
subject that is very imperfectly under
stood by the great mass of people. /
refer to the condition of the INDECENT in
sane who are now confined in the N. ].
Lnnatic Asylum. Many of these poor
unfortunates-nearly all of them-have
heretofore been provided for either at
home or IN the country, at an expense to
the County of about So 90 per week. In
nearly every case they bad been dischaig-
ed ~ Dir. Ward, not as entirely cured,
but their insanity had almost disappeared,
so much SO, that they were entirely
harmless and DR.. Ward himself adpised
their remocal from the iastitution. The
plan worked admirably for years until
some one with more brass than brains,
introduced bill in the Legislature that
no money should be paid by the County
for the support of such unfortunates, IN
less confined In tue Asylum Upon this
act, Chat was railroaded through the
Legislature to give some plausibilty or
reason for building the palace at Morris
Plains, which cost the State nearly three
millions of dollars, and which we really
did not need hundreds of these poor
people, entirely harmless, and many of
them with but faint trace of a shattered
intellect, have been hunted up like stray
sheep, at an expense to tho County Of
about twenty dollars apiece, and hurried
off again to this eminently respectable
prison, with scarcely a ray of hope of
ever leaving its wallis again until carried
out in pine box. Not very long since,
the writer was solicited to sign docu-
ment handed to me by one of our Judges,
to return young man TO this institution.
He had most excellent home near here
with kind family, for which the County
had been paying a small sum. Before
signing the paper l went 10 see his
mother. "Oh I! F" said she, "can not he
be kept where he is ? am afraid that be
will staivo if they take him back. He
does not know even when to ask for food.
We are too poor to maintain him." And
SO they were. Poverty comes in at the
door and yet love does not always 60 out
at the window. 1t il only when the
gaunt wolf enters that the little cherub
dashes through the window sash. Another
Case know of where poor woman ran
away into the country, going from house
to house, like the poor hunted slave in
the times we remember, when 1t called a
blush to the face of an American travelling
in foreign lands when questioned as to his
nationality, The land of the free and
the home of the brave" This poor wo-
man had been told that she must go back,
aud her terror was indescribable. Home
less, tired out aud helpless, she was
found at last, and as the poor thing pass
ed through our little city, her cries were
pitable to hear. Now, in the name of
God, let us have this infamous law re-
pealed. Inasmuch as yc have done it
unto one of these ye have done it unto
me-" and If zee are careless and needless
Of the cries Of agony and the painting for
liberty going up from tie hearts Of a thou
sand Of God s poor, zoe soitl most certainly
and surely be held accountable. Death
will free them at last, in any event, and
by turn of fortunes wheel we may be
filling the places they occupy. All !"
says one, they have plenty to eat and
have good home" Do you think so?
You might enjoy it. Well, as far as
bread and meat are concerned, doubtless
they have enough to eat, but there is
something besides good food that the hu-
man soul hungers after and desires. The
society of kind friends in preference to
the rawlings of madmen (; the quiet of the
country rather than bedlam of never
ending confusion the rights of liberty
guaranteed by the constitution to know
that you are free the privilege of seeing
the beautiful sun, moon and stars when
you please, instead of having key turned
on you at the within of selfish, hard
hearted keeper, perhaps who is infinitely
beneath you in every way. In pecuni-
airy point of view the County can save
money by repeating this infamous enact
ment, abhorrent alike In letter and spirit.
commend it now to the three gentlemen
lately elected to the Legislature from this
county. In the interest Of humanity aud
freedom earnestly ask that they give it
the attention IL deserves. As they deal
Nth The subject, and as ,eo all of US do, 30
ioiH lie deal NTH as uho wW not '.epen
altoU little sparrOp to JaiI to TIE ground
WITHOUT His notice" Iventure to say that
ninety nine one-bupdieuths of our citizens
take the same view of this as do. Now
let petitions he got up and have them
signed by everybody, aud if this thing
can be remedied we shall be doing deed
that will rhine in letters of light for all
tine, and my appeal will not have been
made in vain. AMINIDAB.
Ladies' ready made Coats, Coatings
and Cloakings--new goods, new styles
handsome pushes for trimming the same,