The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-07-19

with the proceeds. 1t will surprise the
reader to learn that this large farm is
conducted at an extra cost Of less than
800. The teamster, and one plowman
hired for four months, made these crops
with the help of the male patients. Most
OF them beg for permission To work, aud
all but the widest are allowed to do 40
1t conduces TO their health, quiet and al
innate recovery. In what he makes on
the farm the Superintendent largely
overpays his salary.
THE NEEDS OF THE ASYLUM.
But of all human beings, these poor
creatures cannot live "on bread alone"
The Superintendent agrees with Dr. Viii
liam b. Forman, physician in charge, that
additional rooms, hospital for the sick,
q better water supply, padded cells for
the violent, ten or twelve good Holstein
or Jersey COWS, bathrooms and entertain
ing amusements should be provided, and
more nurses and attendants. Captain
Moseley would never ask for dollar not
absolutely necessary. Hot, tepid, or even
Turkish baths should be erected. Think
Of bathing 240 persons twice . week in
ordinary tubs The races, as well as the
sexes, are safely confined in separate en-
closures, and we'll man could bathe in q
tub and otherwise take care Of himself,
but these poor people sre sent here to be
cured. 1t conduces little to that end
merely to feed and clOthe them comforta-
bly,, and turn them loose. Captain Nose
ley works wonders with the means. His
policy of turning out into the large,
shaded groves every one who is able to
walk around during the day, is admirable.
y one, except the sick, ever see the inside
of their rooms from daylight till dark
With hot and cold baths, with horses and
vehicles for riding and driving, with bill
lard tables, bowling alleys and other
healthful diversions, the per cent. of cures
would be largely increased But the cp-
preparation must first be adequate. Leg
islators will look to their record of econo-
my, and it is pity the poor lunatics, at
least, cannot be taken out of the hands of
the politicians and consigned to a board
of educated and scientific gentlemen who
could not be induced to stand /" for any
office under the Government. Then place
a prerequisite tax of 81 on every voter in
the State, to go exclusively to the Asylum
This tax would add but little to the bur-
dent would be cheerfully paid by every
man fit to WELD the ballot-and would
grow at an even pace as the population
increases, with the regular per cent. of
lunatics. AS it is, in less competent
hands, in the hands Of some one whose
farm management did not furnish so large
a proportion of corn, meat, and vegeta-
bles, and labor cheerfully performed by
the inmates-the Asylum would be finan-
cially wrecked in short time.
The lack of water may be fully supplied
by curbed well now being sunk under
the tower, but hot and cold baths
are indispensable, as are the other
suggested. The rooms
should all be heated with steam.
1t is cold here in winter. A separate
hospital should be provided for epilep-
tics, of which there are thirty now on
ment. Tr-er Republican rule 100 con-
victs quartered here cost the State, one
year, s32, 900, though they were able TO
work daily, in addition We should
cheerfully give these poor unfortunates
one-third as much. Other States are 60
ing ahead of Florida. They supply means
for driving and riding out their insane,
besides Turkish baths, milk and butter
every meal to sick and we'll alike, bill
lards, ten-pins, and every appliance that
can minister to 4 mind diseased" The
world has moved up wonderfully in these
matters the five past years. Other asy-
lums have not only abolished ducking,
beating, and the straight-jacket; for
every cruel torture abolished thev have
added some new device to solace and to
cure. For Captain Moseley aud his as
slstants no one could have other than
words Of the very warmest commenda-
tlon. He lives here in the midst of the
insane with his noble family, and their
every thought is for those in their charge.
There is nothing of an unpleasant odor
about the inmates quarters; the bed
ticks, even, are boiled and washed twice
a week, aud the floors and rooms pure,
white and thoroughly ventilated. The
wonder IS how he does 80 much with so
little. But if the economical" patriot
will come here and listen to the pitiful
wailing Of these poor men, women and
he will return home and say to
his constituents: 1t has been nv pride
to be pointed at as low tax man, but in
Gods name hereafter no tax can be
raised too high, or levied too often, if
only every needed dollar of the exaction
shall go to the relief of those poor, shorn
hives, whose terrible blight of mind and
body, deserted Of gods and men, would
move the veriest brute that lives, in pity
for their terrible fate.''
1t was happy succession of events
which first, in 1884, erected these durable
buildings here by the United States Gov
ernment and finally passed them to Flori-
da. With slight changes and additions
they have become everything needed for
a large asylum, and the State has been
saved many thousands of dollars by fall
ing heir to them. There are several very
patients here, two or three
from Jacksonville, of which more in an
other letter. c. E. M.
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