Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-26
HIS TALE OF WOE.
A Census-Taker Hunts for Sensa-
lions in Dixmont Asylum, and
Has SOME LIVELY EXPERIENCES.
The Institution is Thrown Open, But No
Horrors Are Found.
HOW INSANITY is OFTEN DISPLAYED

A census-taker for The DISPATCH YES
terday visited the Dixmont Insane Asylum
for the purpose OF enumerating the number
of sane persons confined there as insane.
He first selected three mild-faced
ladies as fit subjects about whom
to work up sensation of sanity
buried in a mad house. In the early part
of the conversation they seemed sane
enough, but Unexpectedly the first charming
lady of over so years sprang a little sensa-
tion of her own. She recognized in the GEN.
sus taker her son from Masontown. With
the wild cry, "You are my Willie" she
flung h.r arms around his neck. and gave
him hug that would discount the grip on a
cable line.
He recovered enough to try it again. and next
got proposal of marriage. The next sane
looking woman shattered the idea by telling
the census taker she was in love with him. She
was the first woman who had ever told HIM so,
aud he did not believe il.
IN THE SAME BOX.
Coming to the conclusion that old ladies were
not good subjects. he then tried younger one,
only to be again asked to play leading man in
wedding, and having the request backed by
another hug and kiss from pair Of rosy lips.
This disheartened him, and deciding that all
women were insane. he started to find sanity in
the male wards. After listening TO innumer-
able tales Of woe from the inmates, the most
sane looking man in the hospital declared the
beardless census taker was his daughter, and
that if she did not discard trousers and return
TO petticoats he would disown her forever.
That was too much. The investigator didn't
believe there was any sanity in that township,
and vanished were his hopes OF sensation
in discovering a sane inmate Of DlXmont.
He was not to be dlsheartened, however, and
at once resolved himself into a sleuthhound to
Tho wi MI 10
pracuced in such an institution. DIR. Hutchin-
son accompanied the transformed census
taker. Every department was visited. Not
door was barred. Any door that looked as
though it might conceal a mystery was opened
as soon as requested. In every instance it re-
vealed harmless looking linen closet. a bath
room, storage room. a fruit cellar or something
else Just as innocent.
Every place was scrupulously neat and clean.
Especially was this true Of the sleeping apart
ments and dining rooms There was nothing
that had the least appearance of a chamber of
horrors, and if the good natured doctor does
run little inquisitlon of his own, it must be
buried deep under the walls of the madhouse.
or concealed IN a cave under the hill.
None of the patients showed the least signs
of having received violent treatment. They are
all divided into wards, according to their mental
condition. All are clean as could be expected.
1t was impossible to keep the more violent ones
neat, but all were dressed as well as could be
expected under the circumstances.
JUST LIKE A HOME.
In the wards where the milder patients were
confined everything was as comfortable as
home. and all the inmates seemed contented.
They had musical instruments. and were play
ing various games, from checkers to billiards
and from old maid to the grand old American
game of draw poker. Others were reading or
promenading on the balconies which lead out
TO the fire escapes. There was not nearly
enough reading matter for all of them, and as
soon as a book or paper was laid down 1t was
Immediately picked up by Some other patient.
In the women's department everything was
on more luxurious scale, and even the parlors
of Dr. Hutchinson would not compare any too
1avorablY with the parlors IN many of the fe-
male wards. There the ladies also had music
and various games, but there was want of
reading matter.
The 'sleuthhound" looked back over his in
spection of the institution and did not have
even shadow of hope on which to base a
story OF cruelties, for even the patients them
selves seemed TO regard the doctor as
their best friend and confdant The
idea that they were poorly fed next
struck him, but glance at the well-rounded
forms of the healthy looking patients together !
with a visit to the kitchens and storeroom soon 1
dispelled this idea. The kitchens were all well |
supplied. and the one for the patients was as |
well appointed as the one for the officers OF the
hospital
The census taker was then at the end of his |
string. His proposed sensations had fitted |
gone. and the only thing left was to talk to DIR.
Hutchinson until tram time, and il was i'm
possible to draw the dividing line between task
and pleasure. The doctor said:
NOTHING TO CONCEAL.
There is nothing in this institution which
needs to be concealed. Every part of it is open
to the public. whenever they want to look at it.
II is true there may be an occasional case of
cruelty, but that cannot well be avoided We
have 7l9 patients to look after, and in employ i
ing nurses there may be sometimes a mistake |
in the man. Whenever any case of cruelty is |
discovered the offender is at once discharged. |
THE only reason know of for the resigna- |
tion of the local members of the State Board |
of Charities is that they were unable any longer
to attend to the work. do not believe they |
could ever complain of their treatment here. |
have visited number of hospitals every |
where and every one see makes me more |
pleased with my own. Our new building |
is almost perfect The only thing we !
really need badly is more reading mat
ter. The patients are all ANXIOUS to |
read, but we cannot get sufficient supply.
Zone thing in particular about our hospital |
is its perfect fire protection. There are fire |
escapes on every floor, and then we have stand |
pipes from which we can throw water to any |
part of the building. This summer we will |
greatly add to the beauty of the grounds by !
doing large amount of grading and making |
some new walks and drives"