Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-11-18
A LETTER FROM THE ASYLUM AT
t'si FULTON.

|
. FULTON.
EDITOR IHTELLIGENCER:- deep
v.le shut out by Alpine Hills," ls not
more beautiful than the quiet land
,cape before me. A lovely plateau of
sbout twenty. five acres. slightly basin
shaped and terraced nearly all around
its margin with gentle hills, which
{ covered with all the subdued varie-
ties of autumn foliage) are so evenly
by nature that view
with wonder aud admiration her e1-
Quisite workmauship. On the south
ern slope q small clear stream. re-
fecting the glories of u western sun
set, ripples ut their base. which by
the fading light as dream of my dear
Lafayette shimmers with lovely
imagery. In natural depressious on
the eastern emiuence are two large
ponde, held III reserve for accident or
drought. These are fed by pipes
leading from the running water and
HI .artesian we'll that eeuds her ever
flowing stream to fish Of the finest
varieties, frolicking in the limpid
waters. AZ tile sound of footsteps
they dart to tho, brink for food, aud
with the coyness Of 3 pstted child.
seize. i and glide away. Coming
down from this easy slope are the veg.
etable aud small fruit gardens. loaded
this season with everything that was
good and. delicious. But OF these
aud many other things 1 shall write
hereafter; knowing how the pressure OF
politics must crowd you l forbear.
On the west lies the city of Fulton
with domes aud spires glittering In
the sunbeams, while the smoke from
her solid manufactures goes curling
to the clouds. God bless her good
people,! OF them and the public in.
stitutions you shx l hear iu the future.
Here. at the front entrance, arc two
large gates opening into AL Eden OF
trees, eyergreens aud aowers dripping
from the spray of little fonnta alns,
burdened with the reiolence of their
balmy sweets.
:.Oh, 1t comes upon me like the sweet south
That breAthes upon y bank of violets.
Stealing and giving odOr"
Mesndering through these lovely
grounds are clear white gravel walks.
with snmmer-houses, mounds.swings
and rustic seats, everything to charm
tho wandering intellect and elevate il
to It's former place. A broad carriage
way, circiing round third Of a mile
(wAsre may be seen at all hours OF
the day; carriages, buggies, sul kies
&C., with the fine trotting blo0ds OF
Csllaway) brings you to the steps u
the brave old Lunatic Asylum No. l
Having withstood the wrecking o
. our intestine war, the storms anc
| cyclones Of subsequent years, she sit
s.6rm as the base OF Gibraltar" Krant
aud colossal in her mighty proper
ttions.' The symmetry of her ponder
GUS architecture impresses every
stranger. My eyes filled with iprid'
WHOM j remembered my own county
men, who long ago had labored Oh
these very walls. At first approach
thought in fancy of our AMf erica
eagle, which having abandoneh he
perilous eyrie swoopedr down int
this enchanting. place. aud csutiously
carefully spreading her wings owe
her clamorous brood to sit in safet
for ages yet,to come. The breast o
main building stands out in column
of bold relief from story to ;story
eliminating at the fifth In beautif'
dome with gliltering minarets, msje
tic as her ststely neck, defiant as be
wind.tossed head. Stretching far ou
on either side are her immense pit
ions. tucking in as it were her nnfol
tunste inmates. ten derly as 1.-The he
gathereth her chick ens," as mild {
g mothers lullaby. Lips once unbri'
died are gentle now hands once a
customed 10 the rough warfare of ljf
soothing the Affections Of their haple
wards. and whatever towal
sounds ruffie the stiffness are but Il
[ravings of delusion, the horrors
diseased mind. "Beurye one anothe,
burden, aud SO fulfill the law
Christ" is the precious mandate her
The great wheel of Kindness al
order revolves patiently upon
axis; a head light of more than
quarter of a century is standing
its helm. FURNISHED by the burd
~ Of a life long work, silvered DER vi
r. years of toll aud danger;a a taithi
engineer, looking to the great tres
work in future, or to the dark III
- nels through which sn institute
~ ~; like this must pass, he moves slowl
but nobly on to meet his "summo1
at 10 wrap his mantle round him and
do WI to pleasant dreams."
be :. T. j. IL