Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-08-16
Our Lewis County Letter.

WESTON, August 10th, 1884,
Sitting this morning after the
duties of hall have been finished,
with heavy shower prevailing,
which compels all to be within
doors, I more fully realize the ben.
efits and grand features Of this
Institution to unfortunate human
beings than usual. Within my
view are probably forty or fifty Of
its inmates-under my immediate
charge with an assistant. There
are twenty-five convalescent pa
TENTS, many of whom are appar-
emily fully restored and in full use
of their faculties. Some are adj
vanced in years, others middle
aged and some young men. The
patients generally on this hall ap-
preciate their situation and sell
dom express impotence. 1t is
one of the certain marks of return
ing sanity, when patient will adj
NIT the fact that they have been
affected in mind and begins to
talk about their full recovery and
return to friends and home. When
we'll I doubt if a writer would be
capable of describing or delinea-
ting in words Ineligible, all the
vagaries of mind exhibited at an
asylum. 1t appears that every
imagination which the human mind
can compose or impression which
it can receive developes itself
among insane persons. One thinks
he is always dusty and will not
speak a word, but if youpass near
him or touch his person will inn
mediately commence brushing him
self from head to foot, another inn
magines he has been bit by snake
and is constantly asking for his
clothes, and to go home and cure
the snake bite.
I met lady walking with others
in the grounds, who imagines her
self Mary Queen of SCOTS and all
her company waiting Maids OF
Honor. Her manner, dignity and
style all indicate without language
what is passing through her mind.
I supplied patient with suit Of
new clothing with which he was
much pleased. He came to me re
marking "Well I have finished
my work and will leave for SYRIA
cuse next week" I asked him
what work. He replied, pointing
to the building, "don'tyou see the
white rain-b bow over the wing, and
the sun in the north, south and
west, 1 just finished them last
night 2" I told him / could not
see them. He looked all around
the sky, remarking, swell, it is
cloudy as soon as it clears of
you will see them" The same
person has quite a love for pets
and will prepare at each meal pro
visions for number of rats by
spreading butter upon bread and
distributing for their use at each
hole, also scattering in the grass
bread for the birds. He will
| watch them and as they consume
it he will laugh with great glee
We have an interesting patient
who is a perfect artist, He has
lately drawn all the photographic
plates found in DIR. Kane's Arctic
exploration, and does it very per
fectly. He is generally engaged in
drawing and painting a front view
of the asylum building and
grounds. He is now finishing one
which 1 design framing and send
ing to you, Mr.. Editor, for exhi-
bition at our county fair this fall.
1t will astonish your people to see
the work, and / can assure all that
it is a perfect outline of the build
ing and grounds.
General health of inmates is
good. There has been two deaths
the past week, one white female
and one colored male. There was
one white female admitted ant
several patients discharged.
p. G.