The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-10-29
TREATING TAINTED MINDS.
Affairs at the Asylum Under the
New Regime.
Several royements-Routine OF the
PIace-some Peculiar Gases 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 i'm
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
a 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 practically open and there
is little restraint on the unfortunates.
The asylum produces its own poi
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 a narrow lane beginning
opposite the Boys Reformatory on
King street. At only few points on
the lane can teams pass. On either
side are a number of creditable cot
tages. The residents want their only
thOroughfare widened.
Interest naturally attaches to every
person in a retreat OF this sort. Num-
bers of them will eye visitors closely.
III 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 a name and birthplace. he
says that he 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 Bible. He says there are a
few mistakes in the accepted edition
and that his revision will be perfect:
Harrison is allowed all the paper and
pencils he requires and writes sew
eral hours daily. His stun can De
read, but there is neither rhyme nor
reason to it. Harrison Is q great
smoker and raises a rumpus unless he
gets a double allowance of tobacco.
Another life patient is "Old Mike"
He has a chad tongue'' and his only
diversion is to "roasp' Harrison, VINO
tries to keep away. Mike Is usually
quiet and is hard worker. He was
at one time interested in Wa1manalo
plantation.
In the female ward are two Chinese
girIs-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
earnestness for several hours. :,
One foreigner is called "the statue"
He poses splendidly by the hour. Fol-
a rest and change he emits yell,
kicks ND into the air and falls to the
ground. After q breathing spell ne
strikes another attitude.
a big Chinaman is named 1.-THE
orator. Regularly after each mea
he makes a speech. Very OFTEN III;
remarks are Ineligible anu con-
necte0. de SLanuS III Ihc CChICA "
the lawn, at the fountain. His voice
is not unpleasant and he always hai
interested hearers. Lately he ha:
been reading of the Oriental war ant
he talks of it with deep concern. An
other Chinaman is called ''the wand
ering Jew" He is in town nearl.
every day. The instant TINS chal
finishes a meal he takes his bundl'
and goes for a walk. For years IL
has never failed to report on time
He is harmless and looking compass
sionately at his fellows says 1T is
great pity that people should los
their minds.
A picturesque, black Bengales
helps in the kitchen. There is stor.
that he murdered two men with
knife on board a whaler.
1t needs close attention to kee
these seventy-five persons in healt
and care for them properly. In ever
case where there is hope DIR. Heroel
is giving the inmate careful specia
treatment.