The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-30

Mrs. Olphant, in her touching and
graphic account Of the Hospital for In
curables on West Hill, Putney Heath
formerly a grand mansion belonging 20
the Duke of Sutherland, and now con
tanning PIT sufferers from some incura.
BILE disease. besides allowing 600 year
TO 564 out pensiOners-makes the strik
ing remark that lit would almost seem
as if the withdrawal of all hope tended.
in the benefccnt ways of Providence, TO
quiet afflicted nature and to bring about
a cOmposure and calm of soul which De-
proof against many keen temptations.
We quite believe the remarE 70 be true.
though the phrase used as the with
drawal of all hope seems a little mis-
leading. for there are few classes
of persons who are more genuinely
hopeful than sufferers whose only
hope is for new life beyond
the grave. Probably for one pessimist
among these 2l7 incurable pauentss We
should find ten ina the same number Of
persons of the same age taken from
what is generally supposed 20 be The
world of pleasure. Indeed. to any one
who reads Mrs. Ohphant s account OF
the noble institution FIRST founded by
DR.. Andrew Reed. and which has since
grown quite beyond his recognition, il
will seem very doubtful whether. fol
considerable periods, at least. life OF
gained on ground-plan of habitual
suffering, only varied by intervals of
ease and comparative pleasure, does not
issue in better results than life organ
lied on a grOund-plan OF happiness.
only varied By rare intervals Of misery
and comparative pain. Let as hear how
Mrs. Oliphant describes her personal im
preston of the Hospital of IncnraOles.
"A writer, who has before set forth
the claims of tins great work TO the at
tention of the public. has described the
house in which it carrie-0n one part OF
It's merciful ministry as a Palace Of
Pain. l do not doubt the truth of thi,
title. One has but TO see the inmates OF
that house in their pathetic social ar
semblies-One bound in the char which
he has not quilted for more than TWEEN
" years, another laid flat upon the
couch, from which she cannot mOve.
the majority helpless IN their wheeled
seats, IN which alone they can Ice taken
IIOIn OlAt AWUAAA AN' tNARAAANA ~ tH-
more private chambers. where so many
lie incapable Of even the solace OF that
movement. their twisted limbs huddltd
up under their coverings. their p)Oi
distorted hands painfully attempting
some bit of trifiing work to relieve Tie
long tedlum Of suffering days-to be
sure of the Justice of the description.
But there is something else there which
will strike the visitor as we'll as the
pain And ] prefer 10 call tins home
Of incurables a House Of Peace
| have gone through the greater pari
Of those rooms filled with lndescrio
able aches and sufierings that are with.
out hope. and / have found nothing
but patient guietness, a great tran
guilty. peace which fills the careless
spectatOr-cOming IN out Of the fresh
air. out of the sunshily world where
everything Is rejoicing IN life ana
strength and the radiance OF the morn
ipe-with awe and respectful rever-
ence. Some of these poor people are
never free from pain. some are sub
iect to periodical parOxysms Of anguish
one scarce over before another begins;-
many are helpless. and cannot move al
all. even by the nurses aid. And
vet there is Peace breathing
all around us. Tot only no
complaint, but a composed ana
mid endurance, often accompanied
with smiles, scarcely ever with counte
nance of gloom. An atmosphere OF
cheerfulness fills. like the sunshine, the
ouiet chambers. What struggles there
NAV be in lonely hearts or tortured
bodies il Is not ours 20 inquire. Such
struggles there must be, or the suffer
ers would be more than human. But
we can see nothing but patience ana
peace. This is more wonderful than
than the pam, and far less comprehen'
sible. Our hearts cry out Ter them a.
we pass from one bed of anguish t.
another, but from these beds there rise
no cries. All is tranquility, patience, q
great quietEess-the Palace Of Pam Is
also the House of Peace.