The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-10-30
TREATING TAINTED MINDS,
Affairs at the Asylum Under the
New Regime.
Several ImproVenents-EoUt OF the
Place->ome Peculiar Cases Among
the seventy five Inmates.

There are now seventy five patients
in the Insane Asylum. Under the adj
ministration of Superintendent her
| bert and Manager Cutter many inn
provements have been made at the
place. Other needed changes are un
der way. A practical plan by which
al the inmates may be quickly re-
moved from building in case of fire
will soon be perfected. The vexatious
water problem is as good as solved.
Under the new regime the expense of
conducting the place has been materi-
ally reduced. All about the institu-
ton there is an air of cleanliness and
good order. The grounds are, even
after the drought, inviting. There is
q fine lawn and plenty of shade. The
guard system is well organized. In
mates rarely leave, though there is
nothing like prison discipline. The
grounds are pra ctically open and there
is little restraint on the unfOrtunates.
The asylum produces its own poi
and some vegetables and fruits are
grown. There are twenty-one taro
patches under cultivation. These are
cared for by patients and the latter as
well cut wood and perform yard duty.
More than enough men are anxious TO
work.
The entrance TO the Insane Asylum
is through q narrow lane beginning
opposite the Boys Reformatory on
King street. At only a few points on
the lane can teams pass. On either
side are q number of creditable cot
taEes. The residents want their only
rhorOuCbfare widened
Interest naturally attaches to every
person in q retreat o. this sort. Num-
bers of them will eye visitors closely.
If encouraged at all most OF them will
speak. William Henry Harrison
Hiram Wheeler, for instance, will
give his name at once and then endow
you with q name and birthplace. He
saws that be was actually only an
adopted child Of the Wheelers. As
matter of fact, he ayers, he is the only
son Of George Washington and at the
age of two years signed the Declare
ton OF Independence. Harrison is
writing a ible. He says there are
few mistakes in the accepted edition
and that his revision will be perfect.
Harrison is allowed all the psper and
pencils be requires and writes sew
ersl hours daily. His stuff can be
read, but there is neither rhyme nor
reason to it. Harrison is a great
smoker and raises rumpus unless he
gets double allowance of tobacco.
Another life patient is "Old Nike
He has q "bad tongue and his only
diversion is to "roast'' Harrison, who
tries to keep away. Mike is usually
quiet and is q hard worker. He was
at one time interested in Waimanalo
plantation.
In the female ward are two Chinese
girls-sisters. One of them lies under
a tree all day and will fight wildly
when approached. She has several
times assaulted her sister, who is
quite docile and who is improving.
One but one occasion were they ever
friendly. Then they conversed with
earnestuess for several hours.
One foreigner is called "the statue.m
He poses splendidly by the hour. For
a rest and change he emits a yell,
kicks Up into the air aud falls 10 the
ground. After a breathing spell be
strikes another attitude.
\ big Chinaman is named 1.-The
orator." Regularly after each meal |
he makes q speech. Very often his |
remarks are Ineligible and con-
nected. He stands in the center of |
the lawn, at the fountain. His voice /
is not unpleasant and he always has |
interested hearers. Lately he has |
been reading of the Oriental war and |
he talks Of it with deep concern. An
other Chinaman is called the wand |
ering Jew He is in town nearly |
every day. The instant this chap
finishes a meal he takes his bundle
and goes for a walk. For years he
has never failed 70 report on time.
He is harmless and looking compass
sionately at his fellows says it is a
great pity that people should lose
their minds.
A picturesque, black Bengslese
helps in the kitchen. There is story
that he murdered two men with a
knife or board a whaleT.
1t needs close attention to keep
these seventy-five persons in health
and care for them properly. In every
case where there is hope DR.. Herbert
is giving the inmate careful special
treatment