Milford chronicle., 1883-08-10
PEACH PARINGs.


THE Sussex County Aims House has beer
vastly improved since the time when DR.. David
son SO pungenily wrote Of its filth and bad man
agement.
In company with Captain r. A. Rosonbaum
Of the Brick Hotel at Georgetown, We visited the
Institution on tue 3Jth. inst. Alter paying our
respects to the yesy aifable matrOn, Mrs. Stock
ley, by whom we were welcomed in our visit
we took stroll through the dormitoues Of the
poor. The buildings and their surrounding,
were as tidy as the broom, scrubbing brush and
whitewash could make them. The paupers. Of
whom there were a reported at the farm lasl
month, were comfortably attired in thin sum
mer clothing, that in most cases was clean and
becoming. few cases Of personal filth tor
ments the keeper
Sussex county has Outgrown the quarters OF
her iudigeut wards that sufilced for twenty
years ago, aud to her shame will it be il fol
many months longer she crowds nearly a hun
dred men AID women, white and black. into such
close quarters. True, the sexes are nominally
now in separate buildings, which they were not
when before we visited the institution with DIR.
Davidson, but they are a-too-close and too
crowded.
From the quarters Of the poor we went to the
insane department, where there are nineteen in
confinement, a few being kept close only Oc' a
sionally when they are boisieroos, but most Of
them are confined regularly to their cells This
number is the largest that has ever been in this
department.
Philauthropists will find much IN this institu-
tion to excite their sympathy. If no greater
comfort can be assured to our readers ia the evil
hour than las betallen these poor creatures,
there is not one but would vote summary death
a blessing. And yet we are persuaded that Mr..
John SiOckley, the Superintendent, is doing all
for them that his authority and support will war
rant. The criticism We make is directed at the
conduct Of the County. Why send some OF our
Insane out of the state at au annual expense Of
5000 each, and try TO make this score Of misera-
bles exist on less than 800 each? II with all
the knowledge and the many facilities possessed
in the Institutions Of the larger states it requires
5000 to maintain a crazy person comfortably,
how can Sussex county expect to make these
comfortable at home on less than 800? On the
other hand. if any one shall advance the claim
that we cannot do what we ought for the insane
at heme, then why torment these poor creatures
by trying TO keep them here? If all our moaey
were spent in one place would not the average
result be an improvement over the present?
The county can surely afford to spend the neces-
sary money to make its unfortunate as cOmiorta-
ble as is the same class in other communities.
Citizens OF Sussex county who have the inter-
ests OF their fellows at heart will do well to visit
the Aims House occasionally, and thus will be
difused more liberal sentiment for the treat.
ment Of the poor.
Mr.. John Stockley, who had been IN George
town, returned before we left and was very
cordial. He recalled the fact that DR.. Davidson
and "anOther man" had once visited the insttu.
tion and had handled it numerically through
the papers. We acknowledged that we were
with the doctor at that time, but claimed that
we had only stated facts, the same as we should
do this time. Our object was rot to create
sensation, but to keep the people thinking, and
thus do good. From our former visit there da-
ted a better epoch in the Sussex Aims House,
and we only hoped that our present visit might
as much good.
Without having time to look about the farm
and farm buildings, we bade Mr.. Stockley
good night"