Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-11-05
Ar THE ASYLUM.
\ Journal Reporter Goes Through
That Sad and Funny World
Enclosed with Brick.


day to the state asylum a mile east
of the city and spent few hours
with DR., Rowland, his employees
aud the seven hundred and thirteen
patients who make their home in
those immense rectangles of three
story brick buildings He has visit
ed similar institutions in the east
and in Europe, and comparing with
what he had seen before, he is con
vinced that III respect To cleanliness
comforts Of inmates, politeuess of
all employees and gentleuess toward
patients, he has not seen il sur
passed.
Supt. Rowland and his steward,
Jay G. Smith, received the writer
and escorted him through the build
ing. TWo-thirds of the patients are
males but we did not have time to
discuss this apparent discrimination
in favor of the fair sex nor ascertain
why their reason is so much less
disturbed. We learned that how
ever violent patients may become.
so far Dr.. Rowland has been able to
handle all cases, even under trying
circumstances, without resort to
force or punishment. The new
superintendent seems to unite in a
rare degree kindness and ihtelli
gence. The state is very fortunate
to have secured his services and he
has been equally fortunate in his
choice of employees.
SOME QUEER PATIENTS.
1t is always interesting to study
the peculiar mental phenomena here
manifested Many labor under the
hallucination ef being in positions
of power, Of being real princes and
potentates aud able to carry out all
the most imperious exercise of au-
thority. They make the most ridic-
ulcus commands and expect all to
bow to their DEGREES. Then there
is the opposite extreme of childish
ness and absence of all will power.
One middle aged woman fondles a
doll all day long with the devotion
of a tive-yeAr-old. AS the reporter
was walking through one of the
wards a very pretty young woman
who imagines she is a princess, APP
preached and looking in his eyes
with an expression of innocent
wonder and anxious expectat on,
said:
"Are you the one who has come
to redeem me?'
DR.. Rowland explained that she
WAS constantly under the impression
of being held in durance, prisoner
in castle, and expects to be rescued
by her cavalier prince. She took
the reporters reply as an encourag-
lug one and leaned trustinglv upon
his arm as he walked about the
ward.
THE QUEEN OF OREGON
is by no means queenly figure, but
a very garrulous and abusive old
lady, not in the least inclined to
politeness or gentility. She mingles
German with her English billings
gate and continually complains at
the insqbOrdination of her subjects.
The astrologers and sootbsayers,
and doctors, prime min
listers and world-coming- to-an-
Projectors by the dozen are far more
agreeable subjects TO observe.
IN THE KITCHEN
baking and cooking was going in
cleanly and wholesome manner. A
baking of bread was just taken out
that any bakery or housekeeper in
Oregon might he proud to equal.
The institution is becoming terribly |
crowded for room and unless the
laws admitting persons here are
radically changed all additional
y ing will have to be built at an
early day. This will bs inevitable.
Millions outside Of the asylum who
could appreciate the food, bedding
aud care here received, would be
only too glad 10 get what the gener-
osity Of the stale here supplies TO Its
wards.