Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-04-18
AUSTIN LETTER.
History and Antecedcnts OF the new
Internal Revenue Collector.
4 Picnic at the Asylum Tile weird
Dance of the Insane.


sps,ial correspondence of the Gazette,
AUSTIN. April l7.-News has been
received here from Washington IN OIL
eating almost to certainly
The appointment of Mr.. j. Il.
Fleming of GAINESVILLE as collector OF
internal revenue in the Fourth district,
to succeed Umbdenstock. This will
be very gratifying to the large circle
of friends of Mr.. Fleming all over the
state. and the business interests con-
pected with the workings of that
office. He is a native, not an imported
Republican, having been born in Red
River county when 1t was part OF
the republic of Texas. His is apioneer
family, Junius Titus, his grandfather,
after whom Titus county was named,
coming to Texas in 1878. Mr.. Flem-
ing has resided in Red River county
since he concluded service in the
Twenty-uinth Texas cavalry, COM
manded by that gallant veteran and
patriot, Col. DeMorse. He has fire.
auenily held Office in Red River, never
being defeated, although the Demo-
cratic majority ranges from three to
six hundred, attesting well the conf
dencc and esteem in which he is held
among his home people. He is con-
nected with the Red River County
bank as a stock holder and director,
and also has large cattle interests in
Western Texas. OF course he is free
grass man, believes in keeping the
lands for actual settlers, opposes the
lease system, and has an abiding faith
in North Texas. He is very partial to
Fort Worth, and thinks that the in
ternal revenue Office should be moved
to either that place, Dallas, Paris or
Sherman, which are contesting for it,
and one of which will very probably
get it. The nomination of Mr.. Fleni-
ing to succeed Umbdenstock, which
is anticipated daily by those on
the inside of Texas af.
fairs at Washington, would
be put down as one of the most excel
lent federal appointments made in this
state, and give general satisfaction.
Yesterday THE GAZETTE reporter,
in company with other representatives
ofthe press, at the kind Invitation of
DIR. Denton, superintendent, attended
n picnic and barbecue at the park in
front Of the lunatic asylum. The
female inmates, liz in number, were
brought out in the morning, leav-
ing about forty in the female wards,
who, on account of sickness or danger
Gus tendencies, could not be trusted
on the outside. The occasion was
somewhat novel and exceedingly in
teresting, being the first of the Kind i'm
the history Of the institution. IL was
evidently enjoyed by the poor unfortu-
mates for whose pleasure it was
given, as was evidenced by en-
phatic testimonials in the shape
of lively chatterlng, singing songs, re-
citing sketches of some half-forgotten
lore and swinging about to the music
of the band with weird, unconscious
motion. Benches were arranged in a
circle, on which they were seated, and
on the inside the grass had been
cleared away for dancing. The sets were
composed of eight cou pies, half sane
ana half insane, an insane woman be-
ing placed with sane man, and vice
versa. The lunatics are ali graceful
dancers; it seems to come TO them in
stinctively, and in several cotillions |
did not witness single blunder, al
though the prompter gave but slight
assistance.
AT one o'clock the picnickers were
all marched toa long array of tables,
where an excellent dinner of barbe-
cued meats and other edihles had been
prepared. The evening was con-
sumed in dancing, and at four o'clock
the inmates We're conducted back to
the wards. The occasion presented IA
picture of the life OF the insane in its
least revolving aspect, and showed that
by humane treatment and kindness il
may not be Invested of all pleasures.
10 the excellent management of DR..
Denton, who is continually inventing
new methods OF employment for his
unfortunate wards, the cause of hui.
manity, as well as the interests of the
state, are greatly indebted.