The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-05
DANCED WITH ANNA.
AN OHIO LEGisLAToR's EXPERIENCE
IN AN IDIOT ASYLUM.


or Had Cause to Consider Hin, the Great
est Idiot In the Asylum.
You have no doubt noted how COM
plctcly the fclon man looks the moment
you charge him with crime and lock him
up:' 1t was congressman from Ohio
who asked tho question. Without waiting
for reply, which was bound to be in the
Affirmative, he went on
Many years ago, in Columbus, whilo 1
was member of the legislature, IL couple
of fellow statesmen, who were on COM
nittco which had to do with tho institu-
ton, were called by dint of business to
pay visit to the State Asylum For Idiots
IT was an evening enterprise, and rs was
without any programme l accompanied
them. 1t CHANGED to DO field day, or
rather field evening, ut tho asylum. Tho
inmates were in u long hall with hard
floor, u cross between u ballroom and u
gymnasium.
cat tho far end of the hall, on several
tiers of seats, much like that luxurious
upholstery ono finds ut circus were hut-
died tho moro irresponsible. But down in
the body of tho big room wcrc probably
100 persons of both sexes, ranging from 10
years to 40 and so years, and who wcro
equal in mental way to going through
kind of drill in calisthcnics with wooden
dumbbclls. And they did it very nicely,
us L noticed from my place, with my fellow
visitors up in front. There was u brass
Oand, too, tho instruments being managed
by inmates who had II taste for the mclo-
dious l am bound to say that it was a
good band far better than many which
might boast moro brains. Tho zany who
operated the b flat cornct was Il wonder.
L was much interested in all saw, and rs
many of these wcakmindcd folk were
girls, and pretty ones at that, my rciec-
tions, as ! gaZcd on tho scene were not
without II cast of melancholy. 1 felt sorry
for them; their fatcs seemed very hard.
To be born into an easy world like this one
OF ours and then not to be granted suffi-
cicnt wit to take advantage of it was hard
Perhaps an hour was taken up In the
dumbbcll exercises of the boardcrs and
the music of their band. The meeting
then lapscd easily into an informal dance,
quadrillcs being rapidly arranged Every
now and then n waltz or round dance OF
some sort was pulled off. 1t all went
smoothly enough, too, the 'gcntlcmcn'
seeking their partners with tho most stud
led, if not laborcd, politcncss, and the Ia
dies conducting themselves in all respects
like bellies of the first water.
My fellow statesmen had been over
there before and appeared, like the horse
thief i'll Louisiana, to feel perfectly Mt
home. 1t was no time mt all when be-
held them, each with II partner, take their
places in quadrillc. And to their credit
be it said, they did ycoman service and
danced every bit us we'll ms the idiots.
While was feeling proud of them Mrs.
Doren, the wife of DIR. Dorcn, the supcrin-
tcndcnt of this home of little light, and
who felt somewhat responsible for my en-
tertainment, asked me if ever danced 1
admitted that on one or two occasions,
casting caution to tho winds, had in tho
teeth of the advice of my friends given
way to this frivolity.
Why didn't you tell incg' cried Mrs
ID. III get you partner in n moment
And before could restrain her she called
to very beautiful girl, seemingly about
20 years old, who was dancing with still
younger girl for partner.
" Here, Anna, said Mrs. d. in q pleas
ant sort of haste, here is Mr.. c. and he
has no partner. Won't Maggie excuse you
and let you dance with him?'
Anna seemed in nowisc loath She
approached with smiling eyes, and the
next moment we were n part of the waltz
just then raging.
Il was very much pleased with Anna.
She was such dainty, beautiful creature
that her mental shortages were made all
the moro blow. 1 paid no heed to tho
rather informal introduction which Mrs
d. bestowed upon us, rightly concluding
that where the wit of Il person might be
measured by child of s elaborate social
obscrvanccs would only serve to tanglc
and abash.
AS Anna and were circling down the
situation we convcrscd. l hammered nv
observations down so ms to keep them
within Annals reach, and wo got along up
top. After the waltz Anna and prone
naded the hall with the others 1 asked
about her homo and her parents and pro-
posed such other topics as Il child of
might safely struggle with. didn't want
to overload Annals brain.
Perhaps was with her half an hour.
and it was the most sorrow bitten 80 min
utcs ever added to my life. was young
CT then, and moro capable Of the softer
sentimentalities. Anna was so beautiful
and so unfortunate Without that lustcr
OF the soul, wanting that rich warmth of
color which springs from intelligence,
what could Anna be? My heart wcpt for
her.
But 1t was time to go back to the Neil
House. There We're divers cares of state
waiting for mo to plunge into them led
Anna to u seat, where there was quito a
SiustcF vi iulots, anu Wncrc she, therefore,
would not feel so kecnly the pang of my
absence. Then l shook her poor, inanc
hand, and after gently patting her on tho
head told her to be good, and that before
long would see her again. She thanked
me nicely, and there was % smile in the
corners of her mouth which made her APP
pear almost intelligent.
How did you find Anna as n partners
asked Mrs. d. while we were busy with
our coats in the reception room
Excellent, l said, excellent Then I
launched into eloquent regrets over the
twilight fate Of one so fair and so afflicted.