The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-03-19
1'EEE INSANE ASYLUM.
n Model Northumberland 10 Flor.
ida

Special Correspondence OF the FLoalpAN
Ole .gr'uh2 "f at the station at River juno
non or me si"ambnat landing near by, if
stranger. would never suspect that within one
mile and = halt rNi~,s one Of the model inst,u.
tons OF ihc kind ot his entire country, AMI To-
Gated on one o the most beautiful spots in Flor
IDA. 1t is rne Ut The highest portions in the
State, and level, alter the summit is reached for
considerable distance. The buildings were
hrst erected Ivy General Andrew jackson Tor
arsenal b ldln5s and stand firm as the day OF
competition, a lasting monument To one OF Amer
lca greatest statesmen aud soldiers. During
carpet bag rule ii was used as Il pcni,entiarv and
served we'll lis purpose iOr furnishing greater or
lesser oElccs los the lrooiy i0il and faithful"
The poor unortunates either lcft at home
rpul in jails, where, after life % filth and ILL.,
treatment, death relieved them while the rob.
bers eased and went clad in fine linen. We
only lecur TO this past but never, never to be
forgotten period in our States history, to show
the present almost incredible contrast. The
stranger will be better prepared to believe what
follows when the statement is made that out Of
something over $50 inmates .verll of " HON
nave murdered members of their family down
to the glbbering idiot and ut the same tune dea'
ana DUMB, not one Is ever struck blow, con
lined IN ] lcket. lock ii uD in cages nor is any
rough treatment resorled to- We were shown
over the male departments, white and black bv
Capt. A. Mo>elev, the superintendent, and Will
lie, his son. GA every side The patients would
run up TO him. throw their arms around him.
shake hands and generally man TEST their love
Tor him. trip through the buildings WAS "A re
veat0n-slch perfect cleanliness and good or
der. We will venture the assertion that not a
Dug or an insect can he found in any of the
buildings from roof to basement, while the bed
ding IS all first-cIaSs and Cleaner can be
found IN any hotel or residence in the country
There is absolutely no dirt or The slightest soil
anywhere. The same state OF afflrs exists out
IN the yards, where all are turned out for eXer-
else during the entire day. All take advantage
of the privilege and walk or lounge around
fancy tree, while The attendants pass and repass
and rarely ever The slightest disturb lnce occurs
A word from the nurses is all that is necessary
10 quiet the most turbulent.
Under the guidance o: Miss Battle NJ )seley
like tour was made through The
female department HIRE was repe-
tti"n OF the hugging and joyful
EXPLANATIONS of recognition The utmost clean
illness and good order existed everywhere
The patients even take an interest in main tain
ing order. They like to be visited by strangers
and will follow them around, asking questions
and IN some Cases volunteering information
about the institution, Tnere many interest
ing cases, some o! whom will be restored, and
others who will gradually grow worse until finally
relieved by death. The statistics and business
workings OF the institution are interesting them
selves. The greatest number of patients come
from Sonth Florida. Nine-tenihs of All are
yves OF O'her States, "a large proportion from the
North. All the vegetables and fruits are raised
on The grounds and by the inmates, who work
from choice, none being forced the wood sup
ply comes the sumo way The sweeping OF the
yards and much of the inside work is also per-
formed by them. Only about forty dollars in
cash was expended last year in the gardens for
extra help and besides supplying the institution
a considerable amount of truck is sold The
same work in the Maryland institution, accord
ing 10 ther report, cost some So 600. Much
more could be said, bu: enough has been to show
to the people th,t their Asylum is model, an
honor to The Stale and those in charge but we
cannot, before closing tins letter refrain from
calling attention To the fact that some additional
buildings are needed badly and immediate steps
should be taken for their erection. 1t is a SOL
emn and most sacred duty which should not be
neglected or put aside for minute. &. NJ u.