The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-17
INTERVIEW WITH THE GOOD You've MAN.

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INTERVIEW WITH THE COOP YoUNa MAN.
inquired of the young man regarding treat
ment rules terms, etc. He said;
My dear friend, you are young and look as
if the demon rum may not have completely en-
shaved you. l am glad to say that ! think you
may yet be saved from the power Of the sinful
habit that now has, to some entent dominion
over you"
He was speaking to me when he said this
hut he folded his hands aud really addressed
fly on the ceiling.
81 feel my dear friend" he continued, as
if I may say unto you, HOpe H0pei Hope!
Many more enslaved than you seem to be have
entered here with sadness Of heart and have
left these portals rejoicing with exceeding great
joy"
He made a large mouthfuI of the word Joy"
and seemed TO like the taste Of it 50 much that
he voiced the word for as long a time As he
could and evidently hated to part with it.
But, about your terms?" | said.
''Ah, yes; it pains US to make any charge for
the gee-lorlous work we are doing IN saving
those who are on the downward road 10 ruin;
but, my dear friend. it is necessary; ali, yes
necessary. Our rates are SIS to $50 a week,
four weeks payable spot cash in advance"
Then this painfully good aud pious young
man read TO me from prospectus which now
have before me, and from which ! quote the
following:
"The object Of this Institution is not to seek
the cure Of the Incorporate by medical treat
ment. The Gospel remedy is applied to the
alcohol and opium habit, which are regarded
and treated purely as sins"
In the matter Of treatment the young man
informed me that inebriate5 are talked to daily
by The Superintendent on religious subjects and
Oh the evils of ntemDerance: that three rgli-
k.Fd dali all
are required to attend them. No matter what
the condition Of the patient is, in no case is an
intoxicant Of any kind given him. They do
not believe IN the gradual taperiug-Of system
Tobacco is not allowed, but-and the prospectus
states ii in italics every patient can have
A BATH ONCE A WEEK.
No conversation is allowed after lights are put
out at p. m, and no reference must be made
at any time between patients regarding their
past lives. AZ for recreation, the young man
said that there was a meodeon in the devo-
tional room on which patients were allowed
under certain restrictions, to play at any time,
and to freely use the same IS an accompaniment
TO spiritual songs.
told the young man that l had called on
behalf of a friend, and that / did not think,
from what he had said, that the institution
would care to harbor my friend, because when
sober he liked TO occupy himself in smashing
furniture, and when under the influence of
liquor he tried to bite people on the legs.
If you think | am eXaggeratIng, or that ]
have IN any way buriesqued the Home, Is rules
and methods, or the young man in charge, you
are mistaken.
The institution is chartered is governed by
special State laws aud is supported in part by
donations from most excellent people yet do
j think that it might be better for patients if
/ their thirst for drink were treated as disease
/ as well as being treated as sin; and / do aiso
/ think that u little bromide of potassium in ad-
/ ditun to the singing Of lOug-met hymn.
/ would aid in soothing the shattered nerves Of
! a man recovering from a spree. No man could
/ have more respect for religion or more belief
/ in its good Influences, than / have yet ] re-
/ spectfuly assert that ] can do more good to a
man suffering from delirium tremCns with
/ twenty-five cents worth of medicine, than YOU
/ can do by reading to him the parable Of the
! prOdgal son.
Accompanied by Mr.. Thomas Worth, the art
| ist, next visited the Iuebriate Asylum that is
located at Fort Hamilton, on Long Island. The
/ Asylum building is large aud very ornamental
| brick pile, situated in the center Of a beautiful
| park of considerable extent. Trees flowers
/ fountains and miniature lakes adorn the we'll
| kept grounds The view from the elevation on
| which the building stands is superb. The Mar
rows below, glistcning in the sunlight and fur
| rOWed by the kees Of mighty ocean steamers
/ fussy little tugs, and all manner Of sail and
! steam crafts passing out and ia through the
great gateway Of the Continent beyond, the
green lawns of Staten Island and the hills Of
New Jersey; and, further TO the west, the spires
and roofs of Brooklyn and New York.
| About $50 patients are in this asylum. Most
! Of them are men of means who enter VOlun-
/ tarly, and pay from $40 upward per week for
| board and treatment. The utmost freedom is
allowed TO all within the grounds Such games
as tennis and baseball are played on the
! an fu-dG @ ard Of hos
interest the patients There is d good library
and a comfortable reading room. Concerts and
dramatic entertainments are given weekly. La
fact the whole institution, in appearance, COM
fort, discipline, and otherwise, IS exactly like
frstclass family hotel. There is no more re-
straint on patients than if they were guests at
a hotel, except that they cannot leave the
grounds. No one is received who does not
agree TO stay at least three months The largest
number of patients are between the ages of
thirty and forty.
This asylum is a most excellent institution.
The policy Of the management is to treat the
drlRk and opium habit rs a disease. Patients
are gradually weaned from their fayorite slim
ulant or opiate, and then given treatment.
medicinal aud otherwise calculated to improve
their physical condition. II is generally con-
coded that diseased condition OF body is often
the cause that leads to the desire for alcoholic
stimulants. The physician looks beyond the
mere
SYMPTOMS OF DRINK CRAVING,
and, finding in certain instances dipsomania
resultant from some malady from which the
patient suffers, he directs his remedies at the
seat Of the disease. 1t is claimed that about
one-third of all the patients treated are perma-
nently cured This IS a wonderful and encour-
aging record, when we consider that the ma
jority of inebriates do not apply for treatment
until the habit of drinking TO excess has existed
for number of years-the average is 10, !
think. The number of cures compares favor