The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-07-26
surssIssIPPI INSANE AsY-
GUM.
An Interesting Description Of
the MnstiGutIon-Hhnrd
Women who Become znsnne.

Catherine Cole in n. o. Picayune;l
The Stately stone building with
its fine central tower and five turrets,
known rs the State Lunatic Asylum,
is situated on the top of a hill. "A
magnificent park planted in blue
grass with clusters OF fine trees ana
long shaded avenues and graveled
drives sweeps off from the imposing
structure. A hundred or so women
were scattered over the park. Here
a little group of them chatting thtlr
maniac thoughts To each other.
There kne.t one in the sweet scented
clover washing her hands with i'm
pcrccplible soap in imperceptlble
water. Still another lay at inil
length under an elm tree staring up
through the quavering tangle OF
leaves at the luminous sky bending
aboYe her. Her outstrelched arms
were buried under the tall clover
blossoms. DR.. Thos. j. Mitchell.
one ,f the most polished men and
successful physicians, has been super
intcn dent of the asylum since 1878.
Bv him we were shown over the
building. from the handsome pail
with its fine engravirgs to the spot
less wards of the inmates, through
the dining rooms, kitchen and sta
bles.
There are 46l patients in the hos
initial who cost the State each per
wear the small sum Of Sl46. Th"
asylum has an immense farm, work
ed mostly Wy the men; enough
peaches, Strawberries, melons and
vegetables are raised TO supply all
# the inmates. Last year 5000 hush
els of sweet potatoes were grown.
The patients are encouraged to out
door life and work rs the best
phvsic for them. Their room are
neatly furnished many of them hav-
ing pretty little fancy work of the
inmates making scattered about.
There are pictures on the walls, and
books, papers and magazines for
such as wish them. There is fine
dairy, and plenty Of milk, butter and
wholesome food. This asylum looks
like some grand old residence Of a
country gentleman, with its fine
orchards and pleasure grounds.
Thus does Mississippi care for her
paupcr insane. Forty per cent. of
these people recover their reason,
mostly among the whites.
We all are won't to talk earnestly
and grandlv about homelfe for
women-Gov. ShardS at Brookhaven
spoke eloquentiy Of 1.-THE majority
of men will tell you that it is
woman's duty t. look after her hous :,
vet the statistics Of insane asylums
in the North show that the majority
of women who become crazy are
/ farmers wives; the statistics of the
Mississippi Insane Asylum, which is
undoubtedly the model asylum of the
south. show that more housewives
g. cay than any other class OF
women, and after the m come farmers
wives anl daughters! 1t is years
and generations of driving, endless.
stubborn labor that thus Furnishes
our W ,,nen. Cooking, washing, iron
ing. sewing, scrubbing, mending for
five, eight, ten persons, year IN ana
y,ar out, life "a drear as a desert,
that is the main feeder of our insane
asvlumS. In one room, rs we mnde
our rounds sat a white-haired women,
bent and wrinklcd and old. Not an
eyclid even quivcrcd as our noisy
party stopped t. look in at her. Her
clasppd hands were rough f,om such
heavy work that not even years q
rest in the asylum had smoothed out
the horny wrinkles, She hal been
a housewife, had given the best OF
her life, nay, all of her life to hnS-
bl.d and children, shaving as only q
women can slave, each swift step she
took over her own cottage home
bringing her nearer to the paupel
asylum of maniacs. The floor Of hel
bedroom in the asylum shone white
as scrubblng with soap and water
could make it, and by her bedside
from the door to the pitilessIy barred
windows ncr restless feet had worn
deep hollows in the hard floor.
protest that in each of these ho!lows
one might have found almost half q
pint Of water. A sadder ght eyes
never gazed upon.