The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-07-19
rudely set upon. He must get out of the

rudely set upon. He must get out of the
wav.
This asylum is no less fortunate in hav-
ing the services of Miss Bette Moslev as
matron, sister of the Superintendent.
The personal relationship would add
much to the mutual confidence and inter
dependent helpfulness of these two impor-
tant officials, even If either were less de-
voted to the work in hand, but she also
finds labor of love in her responsible du-
ties. The patients all know and call her
by name, and bring their troubles to
" Miss Bette p" a. coafdingly a. little
children-especially the women. From
morning to night this brave women goes
about her holy mission of ministering
to Gods poor-the most helpless and the
most miserable Of all the children of men,
And in return for this beautiful life OF he
roic self-sacri6ce, she receives only the
plttance Of $50 month! do not know
that she has ever asked of the Legislature
an increase of salary, but for its own
sake that honorable body ought not to
give her the opportunity to ask it ought
to be voted without q word, unless some
one should wish to tender an apology for
the long delay.
BEFORE AND SINCE THE WAR
This magnificent locality seems to have
been set apart by nature for an Asylum
"a pure and peaceful retreat for the poor
wrecks who have fallen in lfe's hard strug-
gle. From River Junction depot you
mount up along the red, -bordered
road way due north distance of nearly
two miles to this plateau, covering over
1900 acres of dead-level. At the highest
point on its southern rim President jack
son, in 1884 had heavy brick armory
erected, l3O feet long, 45 feet wide, Of
three stories, surmounted by tower IS
feet from the ground. The officers bar
racks and soldiers quarters, with maga-
zine, ordnance stores, guard houses, etc, {,
were built at regular intervals, all con-
nected and defended by an immense brick
wall, ten feet high, of heavy stone coping
enclosing level court yard of several
acres studded with live and water oaks.
The barracks are models Of strength and
beauty combined, the windows set in
heavy stone frames as befit an outlook
for Indians, surrounded by galleries on
the first and second floors all round. Here
a company of United States soldiers were
quartered till the State seeded. For
while after the war the State disgraced
this grand spot by making penitentlarv
Of it. But in 1877 it was rescued from
the unnatural alliance with convicts, and
consecrated anew to the purpose for
which heaven had so unmistakably de-
signed it. These groves lift their fronded
palms in air as if to shed benediction
down: their very leaves seem intended
g for the healing of the nations"
This neighborhood was settled sixty
years ago, Florida getting it by very
close call from Georgia since the State
line lies only 800 yards north-one of
the highest points in the commonwealth,
as if Gadsden had pushed along to her
EXTREMIST border enough red clay and
fine, hard timbers out of which to build
her lasting monument to the splendid
before the war, and until the State or
ganized this charity her INDECENT lunatics
were sent to the asylum in Georgia at so
much head per annum, paid by the
State. When this asylum was opened in
1877, about fifteen FIoridians were
brought hither from Georgia, and others
gathered from jails of the various coun-
ties, where for want of better equipment,
some of them had long been confined
The total yearly appropriation for the
care ofthe States insane is $35, 900 That
provision of the law which allows the
friends of q lunatic to take care of the
unfortunate at home, commutes to each
800 year in money. Ilearn from Ad
jutant-General Lang that about seventy
insane persons are thus cared for, who
get $1,000, leaving $2s, 900 for the asylum
proper, including salaries of the Superin-
tendent and his assistants. Chattahoo-
chez is a small post-office town on the
west point of this plateau, a half mile
from the asylum, overlooking the Apa-
lachicola valley. Hon. H. II. Spear, local
correspondent of the Times Union, and
member of the Legislature, has store
there, and Mr.. L. B. Wilson edits the
Chattahoochee Adr0nce. No better To-
cality could be found in Florida than
this, and the State had a very lucid in
terval" when she devoted this spot to
a home for her unfortunate citizens.
THE FARE AND THE FARM-LANDs.
OF the inmates 76 are white males, 73
white females, 55 colored males and SO
colored females. That there is no suf-
fering for food or clothing on the part
of those physically well enough to enjoy
their ratlons, and that perfectly we'll
and sane person could fare better here
than most persons, even in good circum-
stances, do at home, will appear from the
following table of receipts for last month.
Capt. w. B. Sims, steward and commits
sary, as shown by his books, receipted
in May for $500 pounds bacon, 1913
pounds lard, 3,034 pounds beef, 500
pounds grits, $500 pounds meal, 592
pounds rice, p barrels grAnulated sugar,
APO pounds coffee, 25 pounds tea, 3 bar
rels crackers, 10 pounds black pepper,
1l3 pounds butter, ll6 dozen eggs, 60
pounds soda, 40 pounds starch, $50
pounds soap, 2 dozen cans baking pow
der, 81 gallons syrup, vinegar, ETC., at
cost for the month of $3.50. Such is
about the regular diet, to which vegeta-
bles, fruits, potatoes, melons, etc., in
great abundance, grown on the farm
lands belonging to The asylum, are added
almost the year round. The most sensi-
tive philanthropist need apprehend no
scarcity Of good food. got here in the
afternoon just as Captain Moseley was
starting on his visit around the buildings
and the nice rolls, rich coffee, butter, etc,
then being prepared would have tempted
IS