Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-05
JACK PLANE
Spends Pleasant Day With the Insane
at MiI1edgeVilIe

| MACON, June AT the invitation o
Col. L. n. Whittle, President of the BoarC
of Trustees of the Lunatic Asylum.
| visited this noble Institution on Thursda,
last, 1t being the day appointed for the an
nual picnic of the inmates. This institu
ton is appropriately called ''Georgia's
greatest charity" No one after careful
or even casual investigation, will dis
pute this declaration.
We were met at the door of the main
building by DR.. Thos. II. Kenan. the first
assistant physician, the Principal. DR.. 7,
v. foWell, being indispOsed, and not able
TO leave the room. Our party was atOnce
conveyed through the main hall and ont
INTO large area, surrounded by high
walls. Here was a beautiful grove of
shade trees, a spacious dancing pavilion.
push arbor, under which, as well as
under the shade trees, were long tables.
These tables were being filled with every
thing to satisfy the appetite. Here we
found four or five hundred patients eniov-
ing themselves in all manner of ways.
Ihe coming of visitors was welcomed by
these unt0rtunates in the most cordial
manner. They gathered around us. and
shook hands with us and gave every evil
dence OF qualification at our presence.
through the courtesy Of DR.. Harris
Hull, DrS. kenan and HaIIinsbed. we
were carried to the pit where twentv-slx
carcasses We're being barbecued for the
table. 1t was novel sight.
individually, L was turned over to that
most courteous of gentlemen, Capt, Will
cox, the chief engineer of the institution,
He carried me through all the
machinery halls. explaining every
piece OF machinery and the part it
plays IN the running OF this great institu-
ton. so numerous were the different
pieces of machinery that it would he i'm
possible IN newspaper letter to 90 into
details. But every belt and every wheel
had It's peculiar work to perform, and the
lack of which would be felt in every
department of this immense in
stltutIon. 1t requires an active brain
as well as constant labor to keep all this
vast machinery in motion and in working
order. Captain Wilcox moves about
among 1t with as much cOmpOsure as one
would look at sewing machine work.
Yet his attentive ear would catch the least
Earring sound, and his hand would touch
the right spring or lever to remedy it. He
showed me tWenty-hOrSe power engine
made IN 1890 In the repair shop. 1t had
undergone thorough overhauling, but
was doing as good work as when
1t frst came out of the shop.
The most interesting and in many re-
spects the most important of all the ma
chlnery is to be found in the kitchen. 1t
is one OF the most complete outfits to be
found in any institution in the United
states. Capt. Wilcox visited a great
many OF the largest asylums and
public institutions in the country
De1Ore completing his arrangements
IN this department, and availed himself
OF every improvement known. The prin-
clpal part of the cooking is done by steam,
Inc machine for kneading the dough and
making biscuit and crackers is of the
latest pattern. The Captain is proud of
this department, and he has a right to be.
When we returned to the picnic ground
we found the crowd had greatly aug
mented by the incoming of patients and
visitors. The dance and the music were
at their highest pitch.
This day is looked forward to bv the in
mates with great anticipation and salts
faction. l never saw children enjoy a
1estal day more heartily; old and young
enter into the sports of the daV, and theV
are greatly benefited thereby. And must
confess my own astOnishment at the re-
suits. entered the yard expecting
nothing but melancholy feelings as /
looked upon these children of distress.
but this gloOminess was dispelled bv the
cheerful faces and the gladness with
which the inmates enjoyed the occasion.
am glad to learn that the authorities
are erecting an amusement hall, where
these unfortunates, as they begin to be re-
stored, can find cOngenial cOmpanionshin
and recreatiOns calculated to hasten their
This is wise provision,
and the beneficial results can be readily
dlscerned by the improvement of the pa
tients.
Time will not permit me to speak of the
wonderful improvements going on. and
especially for the colored department.
Inc mousse is something like the main
DulldIng now occupied by the whites. 1t
rooms. The frontage is about $40 feet.
ana has two wings extending to the rear
OF 271 feet. 1t will be furnished com
fOrtably. The ventilation, it is said. will
be superior to the building occupied bv
the whites.
There are now all told 1,045 patients in
the asylum. The accommodations are not
equal to the demand. At times the num-
Der OF applications on file for admittance
reach nearly 200. AS soon. as the new
building is ready for occupancy there will
be room to receive the unfortlinates now
conhned in jails. The number of dismis
sails are increasing which shows what
being done for the permanent cure of these
inmates.
The recent visit of the Joint Committee
Of the Legislature has caused considera-
bic comment. They made very thorough
investigation, but the management are
of being fully sustained. know
nothing OF the points at issue, and shall
await the committees report in July.
There was meeting of the Board of Trus-
tees ON Friday, and perhaps some changes
may be made.
must acknowledge my Indebtedness to
all the officers for their many courtesies,
and the day spent in the walls ofthe insane
asylum will long be remembered.
JACK PLANE.