The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1893-12-30
CHRISTMAS AT WARM SPRINGS.
How DR.. N1ussigbrod Treats His Employees
and the Patients.

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How DR.. N1ussigbrod Treats His Employees
and the Patients.
From the Inter Mountain.
Situated in the Deer Lodge valley |
where the. bleak December winds have
full play, is the Warm Springs insane
asylum Within its walls are housed
some two hundred unfortunates, far away
perhaps, from home and friend, many Of
whom are in utter oblivion Of the glad
Christmastide. But there are a great num-
Der who even in their uneven mental
condition live to realize and appreciate
the happy time. Doubtless many people
who speed on the railway train by this
apparently lonesome spot utter some
words Of sympathy for the unfortnnates.
But they are unmindful oil the warm,
Christian heart that dwells there within
the breast of one OF natures grand men,
who, without ostentation but solely in
the goodness and kindness of his sympa-
thetic nature, makes exultingly glad the
feeble minded souls that are in his care.
Christmas at Warm Springs, with DR..
Charles F, Mussigbrod generously MAX
ing light and happy those insane people,
is an experience, to enjoy which, will for
ever remain Il happy recollection on each
succeeding Christmas day.
"The Lord loveth a cheerful giver,"
the scripture tells US, but. love and re-
spect which the people of Warm Springs
entertain for its master are ample reward
for any human in this life.
A party OF Butte men accepted DR..
Mussi igbrods invitation to spend Christ
mas with him. When they arrived they
were received by a warm grasp of well
1>come from their host. AS evening ap-
| preached the guests were bidden into the
| dining room. At one end of a long table
stood a Christmas tree in case on which
were the words "Merry Christmas and
"Iome Sweet Home" The tree was
beautifully ornamented and illuminated
in the good old-fashioned way. Spread
out along the table were presents for the
employees of the nstitution--twentyfi five
I in number, men and women. The recip-
tents stepped into the room and each
found his name on top of his gifts. For
the men there were useful articles OF
wearing apparel and luxuries, such as Il
two pairs Of gloves and a glittering
gold coin. The women each received q
! gold coin also. complete material for two
dresses and a number Of dainty gifts.
Little Tim Sullivan, the newsboy friend
of Erich Mussigbrod, deceased, was there
also, by invitation from the doctor, who
had not forgotten him. Tim got gold
coin. q suit OF Clothes books, etc, and
the doctor told the lad that whenever
Tim was ready he would send him to
school and educate him. DR.. and Mrs.
Muss gbrod (their countenances beaming
with as much happiness as could be eX-
pected, in contemplation Of the absence
by death of their much beloved son.
Erich received the thanks and good
wishes of their host Of employees. The
matron, Mrs. r. A. Brown, also distrib-
uted presents among the employees under
her. In addition to the gifts the table
was literally filled with refreshments and
delicacies and the health and happinebt
of DR.. and Mrs. Mussigbrod was heartily
toasted.
In short time afterwards the guests
were led into a large dining room where
the patients have their meals. Here was
Il sight not soon to be forgotten. A grea
Christmas tree was fully lit up and thu
hall, over 100 feet in length, was tillet
with queer collection of men. There
were perhaps eighty patients in all. Th'
room was brightly lit up. The patients
were looking among the great array o
packages for their presents. The table
were filled with these and piles Of candy
fruits and nuts. Some gleefully snatche'
their packages and eagerly opened then
Some were morose and apparently unin
terested; others were comparing note
and showing their presents to each Other
There was young fellow gorging himsel
with fruit, and at the same time goini
from table to taple filing his pocket
with candy.
"Who is that man with the fine lookin
head?" asked some one. "He was for
merly probate judge of Madison county
? and has brother who was many times
/ member of congress, but whisky brough
him to this"
sand that old gentleman there, wit
6 the distinguished appearance?' "He wa
3 prominent citizen Of Bozeman not lon
: ago." and there he was as simple as
5 child, cutting up pranks over his present
! "Here is a man who went crazy on music
: He is greatmusician at attimes-but wal
!, he is going to play" This mans nam
. is Hermann. He went to the far end {
: the room and got his cornet out. Hi
. playing was somewhat erratic at first, bl
later on in the night his music was trul
t inspiring. "Egotism is what sent tn;
S man here" said one of the patients. Th
J. unfortunate man wears blue glasses a
!: the time. He fears that if people loo
into his eyes they will take his music
r genius away from him.
N ''There is a middleaged man with q
old gold watch he just received from tt
DOCTOR" said DR.. Warren. "He thinl
the king Of Bavaria sent it to him fro
1t the Worlds fair. He says the king WI
j, going to call On him but didn't have Il
y time and sent him his own watch instea
DIR. Mussigbrod knew he was expectir
$, watch and bought it for him. The san
man has halucination that Marc,
Daily is paying his way at the asylum"
While these conversations are going
y all is merry among the patients Tho
who know enough shake hands with T
'e Mussigbrod. There is Il keg OF beer I
> tap and the beer is being handed o,
- Pretty soon a patient mounts table on
= . chair and plays for acountry dance. Son
: = of the patients dance a jig. The wom'
n ~ who work about the place and men for
- quadrille and have merry dance viii
~ one of the natients does the rallinn=aJ