Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-31
SUNDAY AT ST. ELIZABETK.
Morning Scenes In the GrOands Of ths
Insane Asylum.

| PATIENTS OUT FOR AN AIRIxo-ou.KR CHAR.
AcrERs AND now THEY Acf-AN AMATEUR
SIGNAL BURRAU-THE SAD TALE OF AN IRISH
PATIENT-THE PRESIDENTS" rorR or IN.
SPECTIoN.
Sunday morning STAR reporter sat in the
inviting shade under the trees in the beautiful
grounds OF the government hospital for the In
sane Nature was In one of her loveliest moods
and the sunlight shone In patches on the veil
vety sward, made to put on its most brilliant
green by the recent rains The air was pure
and balmy. 1t was lovely Sabbath morning.
and one could scarcely realize that this was the
house OF unfortunate creatures bereft Of reason,
except fol the occasional weird cry of some de-
mented being imprisoned behind the bars in
one OF the wings of the immense building. I'm
DER the trees on the male side OF the grounds
sat groups OF inmates, chatting, smoking,
o no
connheo 10 the building. Some were undoubt-
edly insane, but only occasionally does their
eyes. They have lucid intervals, when they
are perfectly reasonable. They are made to feel
their Imprisonment as little as possible. some
were on the last road to recovery from their
naliucinationS, and needed only little more
time before being discharged cured. Others,
however, were not insane at ALL unless an un.
controllable appetite for liquor can DE called
INSANITY: Ihey were probably sent TO ct. Eliza
beth by their relatives and friends whom they
t4at institution might in time, break the chains
ofths habit which held them In bondage.
OUT FOR An AIRING.
On the female side of the building the more
tractable patients were out for an airing under
the watchful care of their comedy attendants.
apparently cOntented. In q few minutes three
women came walking along the wel-kept path
Two OF them were chatting merrily together
expression. held fast the hand OF the young girl
at her side in trustiul dependence. II Was easy
charge of one OF them. Shortly afterwards
another couple passed. One was bright and
her companion, clad In black, had q mournfuI
expression and looked steadily upon the ground
az she passed slowly along. II was explained
had committed the objectionable sin. She did
not know what 1t was nor when It was
done; but committed it she had. and
her. At a little distance could be seen the curls
OF the garruious old lady, who was q few years
glibly talking to both attendants and patients
Soon the walks were dotted with the white
dresses Of the attendants and their tractable
charges out for q little walk.
THE PRESIDENT.
Hearing a quick step on the graveled walk
behind him the reporter turned his head and
saw approaching neatly dressed middle-aged
man. He wore tall hat a few seasons out of
date and dark overcoat without any under
coaf, which duttered about as he strobe rapidly
along In his hand he carried u cane which he
swung Jaunttly. His aif was buSiness-like, and
ne wasted no time along the way. AS he passed
inc oiii c by the reporters SIDE hailed him
with cherry Good morning. Mr.. President.
Out on inspection this morning?" ''How you
was, Rotor? replied the pedestrian slowing
up a little. 81 vas yust goin' to look arount =
lettle to see dot efery-ting goes right" and with
an earnest shake OF his head he continued down
the road. The President of the United Statss,"
to f,a SI IL halS-
That he was elected by the census. He
never goes out Of the building during
the week, but every Sunday morning at this
hour exactly he emerges. dressed as you see
MIN. and starts In q regular tour of inspection
OF the kplace, which he imagines is under his
charge. He has u regular route that includes
nearly the whole grounds. After finGing every
thing to his satisfaction, he returns to the hos
pital and is contented for another week."
TRAINING FOR FOOT RACE.
In walking out to Prospect hill, the portion
or the grounds which comm an DIS such u mag
nificent view OF the river and city, the reporter
noticed a young colored man, in army clothes.
trudging along at fair pace. His cienched
hands were swinging at his sides and his face
he passed, but did not let up in his walk "He
Is training for an imag mary foot race" said
The STAR mans companion. He doesn't know
who are to be the other contestants. nor when
the event is to take place, but he is preparing
tor ii, and Is bound to win the championship"
A WANDERERS RETURN.
An Irishman with his dudeen came strollinR
leisurey along and seemed to be enjoying him.
SELF He had been a patient at st. Elizabeth
once before and had been DISCHARGED cured
He was, as it turned out, unfortunate enough
to come into possession of a pension with con-
siderable back pay. He returned to Ireland
was too strong for him. He went on a pro-
tracted spree, and all bis money WAS either lost
or stolen His weakened intellect again gave
way, but In some unknown manner, penniless
and friendless he obtained passage across the
ocean to New York. From there he walked all
the way straight TO the gate OF ST. Elizabeth
He was pitiabe object when he arrived but
was taken in and cared for. Out on the point
OF land referred TO, the reporter saw
A STRANGE SIGHT.
An old soldier was standing on bench VIC
lently gesticulating towards the Navy Yard.
He would wave his arms to aud fro over his
head after the manner of brakemen when sig
mailing to the engineer Of train. By the side
OF the bench q long pole was sticking in the
rags. Every few moments the old man would
turn to his f1agpOle to If 1t was all right and
then renew his gesticulations Suddenly he
clambered down, snatched I'D his pole and,
running some distance, set it firmly in the
ground and continued waving his arms.
What are you doing?~ asked the reporter,
preston, he replied, signaling TO the army
over there, of course"
"Do they answer your signalse" asked the re-
porter.
"Why, of course. There! don't you seer"
clutchng THE STAR mans arm with one hand
and pointing with another to a little column of
white smoke slowly ascending from distant
chimney, they have seen my signals and are
answering them. Pretty soon they will answer
me from the arsenal"
1t was learned that the old man does nothing
and thinks of nothing but signaling, and can
be found at his favOrite occupation almost any
time OF day.
AN OLD SAILORS RETREAT.
Down in the woods, back of the hospital, the
reporter ran across queer character. He was
Russian, and had been q sailor during the
war. He had found an old deserted shanty in
the woods, shortly after coming to the hospital,
which he fixed up and surrounded with a
from the start unmolested. He took evident
pleasure in collecting all sorts OF odd things
which he arranged about his little cabin, and
he covered the building and grounds with
the events which still fingered in his disordered
brain. Over in the corner OF the ground was
"Fort Fisher" while near the door OF his cabin
was sport Royal" He spends his time collect
ing bits of crockery, broken glass; &C., and
arranging them in his curiosity shop, and
He is very incOherent and all efforts of the re-
porter to engage him in conversation were fruit
less All through the grounds this Sunday
m orning were met queer characters, who wan.
were perfectly harmless, but their unbalanced
minds prevented their mingling with the busy
world outside. 1t was evident that they could
find no home where they would be SO well
cared for and humOred In their decisions as at
st. Elizabeth.
900 Miles In Five Days ON . Bicycle.
From the St James Gazette.
Nothing could be much more pitiful than the
story of the gentleman who has ridden from