Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-05
CITY AND DISTRICT.
EAMUsEMENTs FOR THE INSANE.
Notable Entertainments Given at the
81. Elizabeth Opera House.


Notable Entertainments Given at the
ST. Elizabeth Opera House.
AUDIENCES LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC IF NOT
ALWAYS CLOSELY DiSCRINISATING-INDooR
PLEASURES FURNISHED FOR THE ENJOYMENT
OF THOSE or SHATTERED INTELLECT.
over across the Eastern Branch, located upon
one OF the highest eininences about the city, Is
a pile OF massive buildings surrounded by ex-
tensive aud attractive grounds. The visitor
passes through the iron gateway, and as he
drives along the winding graveled roadway he
Sees here and there, seated under the trees
groups of men and women who appear per-
fectly happy. Pass through the various build.
ings and one meets numbers OF people, some
wandering aimessly up and down the corri-
dors Others gazing forward into vacancy with
aStolid and meaningless stare, and others en-
gagged in ordinary occupations and amuse-
ments. apparently conteuted with their lot
The visitor j. fprcibly struck with the absolute
cleanliness which pervades the entire place and
the perfect system of its management. This is
ST. Elizlbeth> asylum, the government hospi-
tai FOR the insane.
conducted upon more advanced or humane
principles. Everything that science can sug-
Gest Is done Ia ameiiOrate the condition of those
whose reason i dcthrOned and efforts are con-
stantiy made Ia call back the
SHATTERED FACULTIES OF THE PATIENTS.
The old idea of insane asylum was of
strong cells with iron doors, straig mt jacket
the shower bath and chains. All that is
changed The straight-jacket is a thing of the
past. kept now mostly as a curiosity. The
keepers are not brutes. but intelligent persons
who aim To carry out the humane and kindly
ideas OF the physicians. The patients have u
large amount of freedom of action. and are
permitted Ia roam about the beautiful grounds
almost at will. Kindly treatment il seen on
every side, and both physicians and attendants
have secured the confidence respect and willing
obedience Of those under their charge.
H..
the patients, and diuuSeInents are presented
which will attract their interest. Cards. chess
billiards are furnished while those unsteady
Inclined will find piano, organ and other in
strunents at their command. During the win
ter IL LAS been the custom for the past ten or
Twelve years 10 give entertainments in the
chapel every other week, and the very best
amateur talent in the District has PARTED ated
inlhe>c performances.
THE hall is more commOdiOus and better ara
ranged than any in the city, is supplied with Il
stage of good proportions and a fair amount of
scenery. At the rear Is a handsome pipe
organ and the seating capacity is about "a
thousand. This hall has been dignified by the
ST. ELIZABETH OPERA HOUSE,
and those who perform lis boards may al
ways be certain ola large and enthusiastic audi
enee- Sometimes the program consists of read
ings, Rotations, and vocal and instrumental
music, while u; others il includes either
opera. a farce. or a drama. "Pinafore." THE Pr
fateS. aud Otherso Gilbert & Sullivan's operas
have been presented there and very effectively
rendered The Shakespeare, Thalian, Joe JEFF
ferson, and Blackstone dramatic clubs have
given enjoyable performances ut st. EIiZabeth's
Wulle other organizations have also contributed
To the enjoyment oi the patients.
Among some OF the notable entertainments
The Joe Jefferson Dramatic club on November
q 1875, when All that Glitters is Not Cold
was performed with the following east: Sir
1iFtttu LnSSet. Thad Saiiler: Jasper Plum, James
r. Joyce; stephen Plum, Walter Dennis; Fred
ertck Plum, Mr.. Nixon: Tvby Ttcinkle. John r..
Gishurne: Mu-thp Gibbs Miss Townlev: Lndu
LentheTbriige, Miss Cooper; L0dg TuIerid W,esf-
enCifeigh. Miss Wilmington. Miss Ada Moxen
gave piano and organ selections, and Miss Lot
Tie swallow sang several Songs.
On December 18th of the same year there
was varied entertainment, in which Mr.. j.
w. BischoH and Miss Fila Cohen gave some ex-
celient music, while Me>srs. John Tweedae and
John b. Randolph furnished effective readings
and Rotations.
On March 10th, 1877, the Blackstone Drama
tic club furnished the entertainment, the farce
entitled, "a Regular Fix" being the principal
attraction, the east being Huqh de Brass. Jas
T. Joyce; -Hr. SrIi,ts, III. f. Leach; Abe quick,
j. B. Randolph; Charles Stppf,ts. III. c. Under
wood; Shniier. G. F. Mallard: Mrs. S,opius, Miss
man; Mrs. DcbOr0h CJnber. Miss Gabrielle Ran
dolph: Matilda Je,ne, Miss Hattie Towney. The
overture on this occasion rendered by the
~: Elizabeth orchestra Songs We're given by
Misses Emma Kaufman and Kate Goodail
and Mrs. L. ). Chappell.
THE THALIEN CLUB
presented 1.-THE Swiss Cottage on March Nth
1879 which was very effectively given by Jno.
X Gisburne, as NGtz TEX; Hubbard T. smith,
1orpor1 JAR: c. Bailey, FIRST SoIdier f. NJ
Iaber, Second Noldter: Miss lola Williams.
Lizettc. and Katie Frye, Janet.
The following season the Blackstone Dramatic
club gave two performances, the first being on
February goth, at which the laughabe farce en-
titled Boots at the swan was presented with
John Ii. Randolph as Henry TiQQias: Jas F.
Joyce. Frank Freshly Charles f. Mallard Peter
ttPPta: III. T. Leach, Jacob Eiuring: Miss Cor
della Levy, Ntss NoOashine: Miss Emile Levy.
HtSs Emily UoOasiiHe: Miss Hattie Townley
B sz;1 yek1s; The second performance was on
pied the post OF honor, with the following east:
Dr.. hasy,nghan, Pots, Jas. +. Joyce; -ur. JOB
Ms. Jobstock. Miss Lillian Riley; Funny iher
niece, Mrs Dora DufOur. Lucy her maid. Little
Eva Henderson. On this occasion recitations
We're also given by Little Eva Henderson and
r ~ Hay, and songs by Miss Mira Lucas and
The next year Mr.. A. B. Anderson took a del
egation from the Forest Dramatic club over and
played the amusing coTnedietta called Two
Flats and sharp. himself playing Mojor Keye,
MAJOR heye. Era. E Fiat, and Mrs. \. b. Ander-
son as Mrs. Minor. II Sharp. DIR. G. F. John
ston, Nr. e. T.. Rice and Mrs. Dayton S Ward
rendered vocal music, Miss Johnston being the
accOmpanst.
These programs have been selected at random
rom tle large number that have been rendered
at ST Elizabeth, and are presented to show the
character Of the entertainments given and
what efforts are made to furnish amusements
Tor the patients at the Institution which is re-
cognized as one of the most perfect of its kind
In Tue country Dr. Godding, the chief of the
asylum, Is recognized one of the foremost
physicians In the treatment of the insane. The
improvements IN every department of the in
stIullon under his administration have been
most marked His efforts are ably seconded by
III. :" timer MS principal assistant, the entire
medical stan, and, in fact, the attendants and
employees work in Perfect harmony with the
humane methods now recognized as the most
ptheAciatI IN the Treatment of tine insane. When
tbe convention OF charities aud corrections held
Us sessions here last spring many of the mem.
Ders visited ST Elizabeth and all were loud in
their praise OF the excellence of its management
and the ability of it, chief