Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-27
An Omen Letter from DIR. f"rHer W
the LeRisiature.

RICHMOND. VA, November 20. 1885
TO the Members of the Next legislature
Gentlemen.-First, ! ask permission 10
.ddres. Won briefly on several subjects
In which /. In common with many others'
,eej much interest offered Dill 10
restrain drunkards two years ago, OUT
there was no time for its consideration
I uiu hiring II to your notice this winter.
7 am no extremist; don't think prohioitio"
10 the remedy for this vice. out puhish
ment may be-not a fne or IL or ~ pu'
solitary confinement, so that chin i'
Election and a true view OF the shame on"
DEGRADATION can be realized or III ".,Ip
ture phrase, the man may come 10 n'il'
self. like the Prodigal, and resolve 10 w
better. | have seen this Tried with success.
The present law is without reason, anu
certainly is no remedy. 1heh WHY "ot
change It? This dreadful curse ~ upon u.s.
and we must try some new anu nioie
vigorous remedy. The abuse OF the par
room has no effect upon the VIII OF the
appetite of the unfortunates. III you
change or destroy this the bar-room VIII
close itself. II any one can think OF
better plan, let us have 1t early.
2 Another subject | call your atten-
ton TO ia the insane asylums OF the state.
THE committee appointed by the last Lee
gislature will make its report | hope II
will adopt the suggestions proposed Dy
the committee appointed BY Governor
Mckinney. and endorsed by his EX-
cellency, separating the chronic from the
acute insane, thus saving thousands Oh
dollars 10 the State and mitigating the
condition Of this large class. TINS lded
has, / think, been partially carried out
at stanton 1t should be the rule every
where Also, put the hospitals under the
management of a commission of three
compeyent persons, who viii unify the
whole system. as is done in New YORK
and many other States. In so new anu
great a matter as the care OF the insane
it must not be expected We have reacheu
perfection.
3. | also recommend that IN these nos
pitals there shall be department LOT
inebriates. Some are now sent there I'M
properly, but there is no other pace III
the State to send them. they are ohly
Temporarily insane. There is no reason
that the family history should be dam
aged by this. but such is the idea, ana
some people refuse to send their friends
on this account, and valuable lives are
thus lost. This charity-work might De
made almost self-supporting
There should also be n ward for
imbeciles. Now the only place for them,
IL poor. is the dismal county poor-house.
Alas, Alas Their must be $40 OF TINS
class in the State about half of them fe-
males. Can any mother with heart IN
her send her daughter 10 the almsnuse!
Forbid IL. Almighty God. No tongue will
ever tell OF the anxious watching OF the
mother day and night. for long, weary
wears. of that "crucifixion of the soul.
when the sckening thought, who VIII
care for Mary when mother is sone?
comes over the bleeding spirit. already
falling into an untimely grave. Shall not
the son hear this cry OF the mother
IT may be your mother (some day., my
fellow-citizen! | believe YOU will. | am
prepared TO show that their girls viii be
as safe from harm in this hospital as
in their mothers chamber. Light work
would be both healthful and comforting
TO these people, and would aid in their
support Such homes have long been es-
tablished in some of the states. com
mend the above subjects to your car iul
consideration. Consider what ! say. ana
NAV the Lord give thee understanding in
all things.
Respectfully and fraternally.
W. W. PARKER.