The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-30

When the false alarm OF IRE was
pulled In" from Pine street yesterday
IL was was as deserted a. street well .hi
hot paving stones and scarcely anyone
was In sight. A moment after an engine
came swinging around the corner from
Dyer street. A little after came a second.
The first dispersed the huddle OF teams
that was about the corner; by the time
the second came along the street aud
sidewalks was full Of people. They had
poured out of the high buildings all
around like magic, and there were liter
ally hundreds In sight. 1t was q revela-
ton OF the numbers employed there
abouts.
Up on Broad street there is tree that
has been cut away In u very peculiar
fashion to admit of the passage Of electric
wires of one sort or other. 1t must origl-
nally have had a fine round top, against
ss s IN middle Mosk OF Which there sss so
right through the middle big enough to
drive a carriage through. and dense ring
OF foliage all around 1t like the handle OF
q basket.
Next to the sane the most curious study
OF life Is the mind of the insane. The re-
tention OF memory, the retention OF past
skill and knowledge is something incom-
mental alienation or decay. At the asy-
lum at Cranston a pleasant-faced. whole
some looking, ,middle-aged woman touched
the arm of visitor the other day.
Wont you get them to send me home
to my own old manp I've been here seven
years and want to go home TO my hus-
band"
"l'll see about it." said the visitor
equivocally.
"Do, that's dear soul. was in the
Butler Hospital a year before came
here, and when they took me out
home, but instead they brought me to
Cranston. Pm homeslck for my own
house, my own trees and flower garden,
and I've stayed long enough in an asylum"
This woman was in as full possession of
her identity, her past and her present as
her recollection perfect, and yet she was
incurably insane.
They have an insane photographer at
the asylum, whose work shows very
con,iderable degree of artistic feeling.
Mechanically it Is perfect, and proves the
man capable Of connected thought and
continuous exertion. In one of the hospi-
tai wards stands an oak cabinet OF charm
ing design and beautifully carved. 1t is
the, work OF an insane patient,
originality of conception and skilled
aud steady hand. No long time ago
raving maniac was admitted VINO gave
his attendants more work than they
wanted to keep him within bounds. When
not violent he sank into an apathetic con.
dition bordering on idiocy. 1t was learned
that the man had been an engineer, and
he was taken into the engine room, whence
power is supplied for some of the depart
ments of the State institutions.
The place had a tonic effect on
and proved himself a reliable and most
but as efficient as he ever could have been.
The story books tell about such cases but
it sets man thinking when In real life
he meets them. What marks of the diff
ference between sound and mentally un-
soundf
The RHODE ISLAND Veterans were
marching through Custom House street
this morning on their way to the reunion
at Rocky Point Perspiring humanity
paused on the curbstone to watch the
procession and smile and bow TO acquain-
tances Ia the ranks. One big six-footer
in general and nobody In particular:
"Who would think now that those fell
lows stole chickens thirty years agof" He
must have known what he was talking
about for as he walked away the lapel of
his coat was thrown out and revealed u
q. A. X. badge.
Many persons in the Pawtuxet Valley
stop the NEWS reporter daily and inquire,
"Where is the best place TO get good
shore dinner Y' (which il the best boat
TO take 2" what time do the boats sail
from PROVIDENCE in the afternoon 2" and
numerous other questions. IL they would
leave their names at any news stand in
the Valley for a copy OF the NEWS every
evening and consult its advertising col
umns. the latest particulars in regard to
Transportation, shore dinners. arrival aud
departure of trains could be ascertained
and all connections between various
points could easily be made.
A gentleman who has resided In one OF
the principal villages OF the town for
many years, hearing similar questions
asked last night. said, IL take the NEWS
especially for its advertisements and by
ascertaining through It's columns the ar
rival and departure Of trains aud boats
have not missed an imDortant engage
ment since the paper was started and L
visit the different shore resorts upon an
average of three and four times week.
Before l subscribed for the NEWS /
was continually behind on account of
asking questions and depending upon old
time tables and books.
"The NEWS is a great paper" said the
of the party I've voted for over thirty