Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-05-24


asylum has an ominous sound. 1t
jackets, manacles and subterraneous
dungeons, brutal keepers, with sinis-
ter faces, armed with clubs and in
struments OF torture. The air is
resonant with shrieks and moans and
clangs OF chains.
How different is the reality! To
dispel the gloomy picture of tho i'm
agination it is but necessary to visit
Longview asylum, now called Long
view hospital. located at Carthage,
its sloping lawn. Us you enter the
grounds, wearing its mantle
OF green smiles and inviting well
come to the visitor. The fountain
playing at the entrance to the build
ing adds to the general attractive
ness, and here Cincinnati Enquirer
representative stood surveying the
front of the colossal structure, which
shelters S99 unfortunates Of both
sexes from all parts OF the state. who
are bereft of heavens best gift to
mana sound mind.
When contemplating the scene a
man approached, who looked to be
about 60 years OF age, dressed in a
black Prince Albert suit, black tie
and hat His white hair and beard
added to his professional appearan ce
and gave him general air OF cul-
ture.
"a pleasant afternoon" ho said,
and continuing he began pleasant
conversation. He gradually turned
the subject to military affairs, and
spoke about the war like a man who
had been through many thrilling OK
periences. Suddenly he took out his
watch and looked at its face his own
assuming a startling change. His
features became livid and distorted
as II with pain.
"Ah! just to the minute. Don't
you hear it cacklep"
The reporters establishment could
not find expression in words. but sud-
denly the truth flashed upon him
that the man was not medical at
tendant but an inmate, and before
the reporter recovered his equilibri-
um the man continued.
"You see l have q chicken in my
stomach, and every hour that chick
en- lays an egg. and that is what
gives me this excruciating pain"
Superintendent DR.. Harmon Just
then stepped out upon the piazza.
and, recognizing the visitor, came
forward.
II SEQ you have visitor, Mr..
Jackson" said DR.. Harmon to the
professional looking gentleman.
"But, as your dinner is ready, l
know your friend will excuse you. !"
Mr.. jackson withdrew with q Ches-
terfieldian bow.
This is one OF tho saddest cases
we have in the institution" said DR..
Harmon when Mr.. jackson was out
of earshot. "He came here ten
years ago, and in all that time has
given us very little trouble. He is
mild, courteous and perfect gentle
man, except at times when his
strange halmcination overcomes
him." DR.. Harmon led the way to
"a" ward. In the dormitory iron
bedsteads ranged along the wall,
and the bedding was as white as
driven snow. The floors were waxed.
and strip Of heavy carpet running
through the center deadened the
football Handsome steel engravings
hung in the corridor, and at the OK
treme end stood a lot of potted plants
beside an open piano. Miss Bishop,
the supervisor, as she is called, un-
dertook the task of telling the his
tory OF the most peculiar cases in
that particular ward, which con-
tains about forty women patients,
all laboring under a different hallu-
cination.
This is Hannah" by way of in
PRODUCTION, going up to a girl in a
wheeled chair. who sat in a pensive
attitude with her hand supporting
her cheek. When Hannah raised
her head, the reporter was struck by
the marvellous beauty OF her face.
She appeared about 20 years old, and
her manner was SO mild and gentle
that the visitor could scarcely be-
lieve that out of such a casket its
most precious jewel was gone.
This is one OF Hannah's good
days" explained Miss Bishop, "and
she is as gentle as q lamb. But
when she has her spell, in which she
believes herself pursued by evil
spirits, who, she imagines, lock her
up in q cage of red hot Irons, then,