Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-09-06
COUNTY CHARGES.
Giimpse Of Their Home and Its Surroundings,
As 1t Appeared TO . Correspondent
One Sunny Day.

On returning from the Soldiers re-
union last week. an inclination led me
to stop at the Poor-farm and spend a
brief half hour, looking through Grant
county's charitable institutions. Driv-
ing through the open gateway leading
to the building for the insane, which
has recently been erected, l found q
number of visitors were already present,
and that not less than one hundred had
been shown through the institution on
the previous day. This waiting on
company and escorting them individu-
ally, and in groups over the premises
and returning answers to all the trivial
and grave questions asked, is quite O
tax upon the patience and politeness Of
those in charge. Nevertheless they all
seemed willing and ready to crafty the
curiosity, and impart all information in
their power to every newcomer. On
our first arrival, Mr.. Joseph Pettey,
the contractor, was not present and We
were placed in charge of his son Mr.,
James Petty, who kindly showed us
through the several wards of the poor.
house. First entering the kitchen the
savory smells indicated that dinner was
in progress a large kettle of fresh meat
was simmering upon the cooking-range
emitting its grateful flavor to the
hungry palate while two or three clean
ly dressed servants were busily engaged
preparing vegetables of various kinds,
to add and give zest to the abundance
and substantial qualities of the dinner.
Passing out from here we took look
into the dining-hall on the east side OF
the building. where the open windows
admitted the fresh air and morning sun,
giving pleasant and healthful tone to
the room, and where everything APP
peared neat and tidy. House flies,
which usually swarm at this season of
the year and are strong indication Of
a want of care and cleanliness, were here
and their absence was at
tributed to the domestic culture of Mrs.
Petty, whose early training and good
housekeeping qualities, win not tolerate
these facts of the unkempt household to
enter her presence.
Ascending the stairs which rise from
the hall separating the dining-room
from the male apartments, found my
self in the rooms occupied by the fe-
males. These consist of large sitting
room which you enter on the left at
the head of the stairs, and a number
Of sleeping apartments on either hand
Of the upper hall, which extended
through the whole length of this build
ing making them airy, healthful and
pleasant. There was nothing in the
upholstery or super-animated appear
ance of the furniture of these rooms to
indicate that the present occupants were
once in possession of wealth and high
neither was there anything on
the other hand in the meagerness and
of the furniture, to show
the depth of poverty and restitution to
which the cruel hand of misfortune and
had reduced them to be-
come the inmates and sojourners in this
place of public charity. There was an
agreeable absence of all these reminders
OF their former struggles with the ups
and downs of this changing world.
The long, unequal strife for living is
here ended. and the poor probationers
Of eternity can spend the remainder of
their days in peace and quietness, as
sured that all their wants will be fully
provided for out of the abundance of the
land. To me, the sight of these unfor-
tunate creatures, thus humanity and
comfortably cared for, was source of
supreme pleasure and l could not but
help thinking whatever may have been
their former condition Of suffering and
deposition. at last their ''lines have fallen
upon pleasant places"
leaving these pleasant chambers, we
returned with our conductor to glance
ut the apartment occupied by the men.
Unlocking the main door that leads out
from the lower hall, you enter q spa
cious room, with windows and doors
opening in an easterly and westerly
direction. letting in full supply of
Gods free air and sunlight, but with
II, the moment you enter them there
IS sitting odor reaches your nostrils,
which is anything but agreeable and
you feel that you are in the presence of
diseased mortality, and are breathing
The foul darkness of the prison hospital.
And you are not far mistaken. for here
Ire found some poor wrecks of hui
nanity in the last stages of suffering
md disease, sitting in oaken chairs mus
Dg their iniirmities, or lying upon their
pallets seemingly all unconscious of
heir sad condition. silently passing to
he dark and sullen shores, beyond tho
liver. To look upon a fellow mortal,
hus shut out from the CHEEKY world,
,sHsncr his -
rom the scrutinizing gaze of passing
strangers. struggling alone with the
ell disease which will soon end his
earthly existence, is indeed a pitable
sight, and we turn from it with sad
md aching heart, thinking that death
would be q sweet 6eliverance from such
/ fearful life.
In this division, | met with two of my
'ormer friends, whom the vicissitudes
If life have reduced to this extremity.
They appeared contented with their lot
receiving their daily bread from the
hand of the bountiful Giver, and pa
iently awaiting the coming of the time
when all distinctions are abolished and
III ranks unknown. The one, lawyer
with firm mental endowments, who
studied his profession forty years ago
in the law office of VIM. III. Seward, at
Auburn, N. Y. and came west and en-
tered into most successful and lucra-
tive practice at Madison, Wis, the
other, a miner of early days, who