Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-01-30
rnE STATE INs-asn asylum.
A Visit 10 the New institution EOr the
Enn.lEls mt EMrnhItrst.


him o. he leaves the institution impress
eions OF unqualified qualification over all
THAT he las seen, for he has lad no cause
to experience those upliddsn spontaneous
feelings sometimes evoked in witnessing
efforts TO pal,iate the misery OF the un.
fortunate human kind inurei In institu-
tiond OF This nature.
The wards and apartments are large,
airy, light, and well warmed. Tho hoo-s
are clean beyond criticism, so are the
inmates and everything around the insti-
tuition. But the walls are bare white
,glaring white-wlthont spot or tint OF
any other color to relieve tho eye. 10
BIO interned within such walls for week,
much less q lifetime (Which may be the
destiny Of some of tho inmataa) would
be enough almost to blind sn ordinarily
eduostod citizen with hia customary
amenities OF tined or papsrsd wallis with
pictures ind other OF the most cCmEcn
aids of civ lizRtiUn Yet this Is tins treat
ment that thsae lunatios mrs reoeiVing AZ
present, And il il 8 opposed that they
are in an institAtion where modern
science rules. II there could ba any in
vention suggested to make a sane man
crazy, nothing 20 the lay mind would be
more Ruccessful than to place tho victim
in completely bare room with walls rs
white 81 chalk, and floor rs apeohlaas and
crsct az the walls. The immediate ra-
suit OF the endless ssmeness and uni
formity could be nothing else than de-
nentia melancholy.
The above is what the reporter felt as
no gRZsd on tire inmates crowaiug nt
their barred ga.ewRys in the various cor
ridOrs.
1t must be quickly explained, however,
shat DIR. Richardson, the phaiclsn In
charge, who kindly conducted the
GAEETTEs representative over the asylum
states that TO expects 10 receive vt the
next meeting OF the Legislature an appro-
priRtion sufficient for such Improvements
Ga nome recognize better than Dir. Rich
ardson, are necessary for his patients.
But 1t is also necessary that the public
and their representatives. be informed of
these needs.
When the insane patients, as the ply
sicinn states, were transferred to the
present building, they were introduced
10 what is nothing but bare walls.
Esnohes are all the furniture in the day
rooms, and the dormitories are furnished
with the necessary beds, and TINT Is all.
The ward and apartments are the bleak
est, dreariest human habitattons the re-
porter ever visited. II may be that the
melancholy expression that seemed to bt
the prevailing form of silmeDt among the
patients uncoDsciously aided that i'm
preston, but il must be recorded that
the visitor Rhuddered as hs tramped the
corridors. The cold, wintfy aspect Of
nature ont of doors, was scene Of att.ac
tive beauty in comparison.
&c NM .tNatn hn
iron. barred gate at the. end OF main
corridor where the day room Of the malt
lnmateD is situate. It Is strange aen
sation 10 find oneself in the midst of ,
crowd of some GO or 20 lnngtios. Thu
fast cannot be Realised at first. Som,
are crouched in rows along the foot o
the Wainscoting. Knots OF solemn look
ing men stand around, most OF then
with sleepy expression. A few gsz
with heavy leaden expression al tn
visitors from whom they never disengRg
their glance Us long "a the strangers re-
main In their vicinity. A gigantic telloS
with q long athletic stride paced tn
room in measured tread like sentinel ol
duty. HIS swung his arms ana snapped
his fingers. His eyes, however, wer
fixed on the reporter snd intently KEEP
there during the whole Of the stay, An
other with cunning, iuquisitive lee
stood in front of the visitors, changing
his position Zach moment so as to kee
face to face with them. He ga2ed an
gazsd az il they we're some novel spec
,uens of the genus homo, visitors iron
Saturn or Uranus.
. Once or twice the sound OF feet quietl
siding no bshind the reporter was ID
cause OF slight nervousness.
Are you not tile alarmed doctor,
she reporter asked Nto be here all aloI
with this big crowd OF insane men 7"
"Oh no. am accustomed to it.
but you cannot be sure but they ma
break out while you are among tn m
"Yes it is possible"
s'How many guards are there ?" the r.
porter continued.
'Only three in the male wards"
lis that enoughH
mo"
At this moment very mild featurei
gray.haired old man came up to Il
physician.
"Who are you" he asked.
Don't you know me {"
s'Oh, yes. You are the physicia
aren't your Well, doctor, I'm going
die" Tears gathered in the old mar
eyes and lie continued in the most pathe'
accents, &c he laid his arm car ssipgly
Or. RiChardson'5: "Yos, I'm going
Gle. And, doctor, you'll see that /
placed 10 Wilmington aud BrRndywi
cemetery"
another ma MP, sharply tapped
physician on the arm, ia that 20
son 2" he asked, in a quick, busnesslii
way, Jerking his thumb in the dlreotl
on the reporter. without waiting fol
reply the lunatic marched off.
MANY of the inmates orcuched on thu
launches along the benches Ike fiocks
h rds at roostipg time, silently ana
Inost inRnimato. They arc almost
uniformly pRllid. This cocred ward Y
not entered. AT the gateway an imbec
orouched smiling incessantiy at
visitors. Along the passage way do2
OF so OF coloted men and youths sto
or sat immoyable. Their motionl
auiatude had almost solemnity about
they absolutely took notice OF nothi
but stood erect or sat In the same pc
ton as If they were awaiting the devel'
ment of some intensely important pu
ness which they Inomentarily expected
be cleared up.
The dining room, with it's tablss, pla
and dishes. was the pleRsHntest room
viaitad No other reason for It's mai
sttractiyenebs eau be given bu. the 81
pie fact that II contained the furnih
mentioned. There are four tsbleB. ABB
40 can obtain meals at the same.
white and colored patients take IL
meals 1T different time.
The female wards are on the 10y