Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-09-06
steps, in chairs end on the various ap-
breaches to the buildinp. indulpinp in n

steps, in chairs end on the various APP
proaches to the building, indulging in .
sun bath under the watchful eye
of the superintendent. Mr.. Clark
Craig. Some smiled pleasantly and
nodded as we passed and seemed to
take an interest in our presence,
while others remained in an i'm
mobile position, gazing vacantly
into the blue sky as if seeing something
afar off and they visit not what. Oc-
cupying large arm rocking chair in
the vestibule, gently moving it to and
fro. sat a gray haired woman, appar-
emily seventy years Of age and SEEM
ingly Indifferent to all around her; her
sallow features, her deep sunken eyes
glowing with more than earthly bril-
liancy, her fixed and changeless atti-
tude as if her mind were brooding over
the friendlessness and solitude Of her
situation. or wandering far back through
the dark shadows of her bygone life,
bespoke at once the hopeless patient
whose reason will return only when the
soul abandons its shattered and worn
tenement and returns to the God who
gave it. This woman approached as
l knew her well in former years, and
extended my hand toward her in friend
ly greeting. She raised her cold and
paid fingers and placed them in mine,
as if still remembering the forms due
civility. When this was done her hand
dropped back again into its former
position and remained motionless as
before. no words escaped her close
drawn lips, and no sign of friendly in
telligence kindled up her wan and
solemn features. With a few more
fruitless attempts to gain her recogni-
ton and have her speak my name, /
passed on to another part of the ward,
impressed with the conviction that the
light of reason had forever fled and
and thislpoor, frail, demented woman
would soon be at rest with her Maker.
Scarcely had / left this sad spot,
when bouncing. rolicking, crop-haired
woman grasps my hand shakes with
all the enthusiasm of an old friend. As
| did not recognize her l was told this
was Miss Buchacker, of Potosi, sim
pleton or idiot from childhood, and
the mother of three fatherless children,
and who was sent some years ago to
the Mendoza asylum at Madison to pre-
vent a further development of this kind
of insanity. l am happy to say the
disease was Intercepted and she is
again a staid and continent matron of
many useful qualities.
Opening out from this high and spa
cious hall on the east side are the DOR
mitories of the patients, now seventeen
in number, three having recently been
sent to other quarters for treatment;
Mrs. Scharcbach, of Dickeyville, MIR.
John Gabriel, from Michigan and Cath
airline Koltz, from Galena. On the west
side. or main front of the building, are
the apartments of Mr.. Craig and his
lady, under whose care and treatment
Grant county has placed this unfor-
tunate, and rapidly increasing class Of
its people. A brief introduction does
not allow me to speak of the qualifica-
tons and fitness of Mr.. Craig and his
wife for this highly responsible position;
but forming crude opinion from APP
pearances and brief conversation, l
am inclined to think them the right
persons in the right place; and if kind
ness, cleanliness and a variety of whole
some food properly cooked, take any
part in the treatment of the insane, our
county asylum will prove success and
hereafter, no General Batters will at
tempt to make political capital out of
its management. A look into the cui-
sine where dinner was being prepared
presented most favorable and orderly
appearance, and convinced me that no
first class hotel was being conducted on
a more systematic or liberal scale.
Here, as in the Poor House, large guam
titles of vegetables were being prepared
and fresh-pots were boiling upon the
ranges, while on opening the door to
the pantry, a gross. or more of apple
and berry pies we're disclosed to my
astonished view. showing an honest'l
dinner was under way and that a
diseased mind did not interfere in the
least with an empty stomach. While
here, MIR. Petty remarked parenthetic-
ally that an insane man or woman
either, could eat as much as sane one
and relished equally as well the good
things of this world, and for this reason
he tried to get them all they wanted.
Going from here into the south apart
ments where the men are quartered /
found Mr.. Chas. Langrish, not quite as
insane as he formerly was on politics,
busily engaged in completing the spiral
stairs which wind from attic to foun-
dation stone" These stairs are mid
way between the two departments and
will prove convenient and useful orna-
ment to the structure when once COM
pleted; though 1 fear some madcap
less wild than Capt. Webb, who lost
his life in his insane attempt to swim
the Niagara rapids, may take it into
his head some day that it would be
wonderful feat to leap through the cen
ter opening from the upper floor to the
cellar, and try the exploit. 1t would
prove as fatal as those attempted out
side the walls of asylums. The next
inmate I encountered was Mr.. George
Budd, who seemed no wilder than
usual, but was spreading paint on door
and easement with vigorous hand,
and seemed intent on doing a full days
work. He will be out in few days
ready for another job.
Opening a locked door in the rear of
this hall, we entered into the room of
DIR. Newell who was sitting gazing in
tently toward the east out of his barred