Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-08-15
our Lewis County Letter.
WESTON. w. Va, Aug. II. 'S5.

Asylum has occurred during the
past week. Our neighborhood is
represented to be remarkably heal
thy. My individual duty requires
close attention in and around the
Asylum building, hence, ! know lit
tie of the surrounding country. Wes-
ton is environed by sharp, abrupt
hills in every direction, and the out
look is limited. / have previously
stated that the inhabitants number
ed about two thousand, or less. The
houses, even in the important bust
ness centre, consist mostly of one
story buildings, with gable ends
fronting the street, giving depth for
business purposes. The general bus
mess of the place is valuable, and
from its railroad facilities, commands
a large trade from q great distance.
Dry goods and grocery stores are
generally on scale of size beyond
expectation when compared with the
town and it's inhabitants. The var
ious churches are represented by
organization, but only three church
es are now occupied, Catholic, a
brick building; Methodist f., also
brick; and Protestant b., modern
structure. The prevailing religious
sentiment appears to lean to, if not
directly identified with, the Catholic
church. The Methodist Protestant
element is now preparing to erect
q brick edifce to be called Clawson
Chapel.
This county withholds license for
the sale of liquor, and yet, in COM
parison with counties in your region,
where license is granted, it is my
firm conviction that more vile liquor
is sold and kept by irresponsible,
careless and vile people, who care
not for consequences, their only aim
being to secure the profit, and for it
giving encouragement to excessive
drinking and it's attending evils. 1t
is unfortunate that the law is not
made universal by the State, thro'-
out its entire limits, granting license
to only such as can give assurance
that they will observe restrictions of
it's traffic, under oath, with severe
penalties OF imprisonment and heavy
fines to all who engage in its sale,
and do away with the system of
county action, only so far as to give
county authorities power to place a
tax upon its sale, for county purpo-
SEES.
During the past few days party
arrived here from Wheeling, named
Nicholas Able, who had been an in
mate OF the Asylum over fourteen
years ago. Upon arrival, he inquir-
ed for DR.. Kuntz, formerly associate
physician, but now President Of our
w. & G. r. r., and practicing his
profession III town. 1t was soon dis
covered that his mind was disturbed.
He claimed the Doctor as his father
He discovered the Doctors resi-
dence and Immediately went and
made himself at home. The Doc
tors good lady was very much an
nOyed and alarmed-the Doctor be-
ing absent. She called upon friends
for aid, and the party was sent to
DR.. Bland, without proper legal pa
pers, and he could not receive or
care for him. The poor fellow wan
dered around and finally action was
taken, and he was arrested by the
sheriff and put in Jail. Tuesday his
wife arrived and took him back with
her to Wheeling, but he bids fair to
become an inmate of the Asylum
again. l have had occasion from
time to time in my letters to refer
to recurrent insanity. Such cases
are far more frequent than is gener-
ally supposed. We have many such
in this institution. On Saturday
last gentleman who has been an
inmate for about three months, al
ways very quiet, with no absolute
evidence.of insanity about him; care
full of his appearance and attentive
to himself and others with him, with
out warning broke out in violence,
destroying everything in his reach,
and necessarily making himself sub
ject to confinement, temporarily, it
is hoped This is a sad, yet God
appointed house for the relief and
comfort of poor distressed humanity,
and what is here witnessed calls out
the best sympathies Of the human
heart.
Messengers are now absent for pa
tients from Barbour county, and will
arrive the latter part of the week.
One dismissal, on bond, of male
patient. One admission, an aged
female from Wood county. No
deaths. Health of inmates general