The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-07-16
DANCED WITH ANNA.
AN OHIO LEGISLATORS EXPERIENCE
IN AN IDIOT ASYLUM.

pletely the felon man looks the moment
you charge him with crime and lock him
up!" Ii was a congressman from Ohio
who asked the question. Without waiting
for a reply, which was bound TO be in the
affirmative, he went on:
MANY years ago, in Columbus, while
was a member OF the legislature couple
of fellow statesmen, who were on n COM
mittee which had to do with the institu-
ti0n, were called by dint OF business to
pay visit to the State Asylum For Idiots.
1t was an evening enterprise, and as was
without any programme i accompanied
them. 1t CHANGED to be field day, or
rather field evening, at the asylum. The
inmates were in long hall with hard
floor, q cross between q ballroom and q
gymnasium.
"At tho far end Of the hall, on several
tiers Of seats, much like that luxurious
upholstery one finds at a circus, We're hud
died the mors irresponsible. But down in
the body Of the big room were probably
100 Persons of both sexes, ranging from 10
years to 30 and 80 years, and who were
equal in a mental way to going through q
kind Of drill in calisthenics with wooden
dumbbells. And they did it very nicely,
as 1 noticed from my place, with my fellow
visitors up IN front. There was n brass
band too the instruments being managed
by inmates who had Q taste for the melo-
dious. I am bound TO say that tt was .
good band, far better than many which
might boast more brains. The zany who
operated the y fat cornet was wonder.
l was much Interested in all / saw, and as
many Of these weakminded folk were
girls and pretty ones at that, my retiec-
tons, as / ssa1ed on the scene were not
without a cast of melancholy. / felt sorry
for them; their fates seemed very hard
To be born into an easy world like this one
of ours and then not TO be- granted suffi-
Client wit TO take advantage of it WAS hard. |
Perhaps an hour was taken up in the
dumbbell exercises OF the boar,iers and
the music of their band. The meeting
then lapsed easily into an informal dance.
quadriles being rapidly arranged. Every |
now and then a waltz or round dance or
some sort was pulled off. 1t all went
smoothly enough, too. the gentlemen |
seeking their partners with the most stud |
led, II not labored, politeness, 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, Ike the horse |
home 1t was no time ut all when i be- !
held them, each with a partner, take their |
places in a quadrille. And TO their credit |
be it said, they did yeoman service and |
danced every bit as well as the idiots. !
While was feeling proud Of them Mrs. |
Doren, the wife of DR.. Doren, the superin |
tendent Of this home OF little light, and |
who felt somewhat responsible for my en- |
oil N Il u
admitted that on one or two occasions, |
casting caution 10 the winds, had in the /
teeth of the advice Of my friends given !
way TO this frivolity.
Why didn't you tell mcY cried Mrs. 4
D. I'll get you a partner in a moment. 1
And before could restrain her she called 4
20 q very beautiful girl, seemingly about /
90 years old, who was dancing with still /
younger girl FOR partner.
Here, Anna, said Mrs. ID. IN pleas
ant sort Of haste, here is Mr.. g. and be /
has no partner. Won't Maggie excuse you 1
and let you dance with HIM
Anna seemed IN novise loa.h- She I
approached with smiling eyes, and tie !
next moment we were part Of the waltz 1
Just then raging
Il was very much pleased with Arna I
She was such dainty, beautiful creature
that Ter mental shortages were made al
the more a blow. / paid no heed to tie i
rather informal introduction which Nrs
ID. bestowed upon u, rightly concluding
that where the wit Of person might be
measured by n child Of elaborate social
observances would only serve % tango
and abash.
As Anna and were circling down IRE
situation we cOnysrsed- I hammered ny |
down "a as 20 keep them
within Anns's reach. and we got along Up |
top After the waltz Anna and ! prone
naded the hall with the others I szke1
about her home ard her parents. and pro
posed such other topics as u child % :
might safely struggle with d5du't wsfst
10 oTe-iosd Anna's brain
PeAsps vas with her half an hour /
and Is was The NOS: sorrow bitten 90 min
utes ever adtlsd 20 my lie wss young
- thea AID more capable &c the softer
Anna vas - tsau;lfrl
and 80 unfortunate Without that lusfsr
Of the soul wanting that rich warmth q
color which springs from intelligence,
whai could Aria be- Ay ke-z-t we.ys igr
ter
" But IL v~ tire t. Y hsck % TIE Nil
EoCs=- 1he-e were diver. cars q srs:@ !
= rating for ne 20 plunge intotAs-a- ] se<i
Anna 20 ssz., vh<<e tks-s wzs gzise n I
r.rs-er q .fsos.. and zhe-. ssse ri.s-r,o-p
sord rot ts,sl 80 sssniy tie Esszx q sssv
ss=rf-oe- Then 7 skook by p1or. sr..-ss
is-s1- AID stter Esnfiy 5.aftlnz kssr ca tie
Trad tod s~r 20 t% god. ed ,I..s f.efssrr
ioos void see her szzia 80 thzazeSs
1s- nicely AID Tkerss a. a sgzlte IN -
z5rne-s u Der fnngfh sAsch ss-ssss ler AZ
IA~> Acsozf isE3lA