Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-26
DANCED WITH ANNA.
AN OHIO LEGISLATORS EXPERIENCE
IN AN IDIOT ASYLUM.
He Is q Congressman Now. but He VIII
Never Forget the Time When the Teach
er Had Cause to Consider Him the Great
est Idiot In the Asylum.

est Idiot In the Asylum.
"You have no doubt noted how COM
pletely the felon man looks the moment
you charge him with crime and lock him
up?' 1t was congressman from ONO
who asked the question. Without waiting
for reply, which was bound to be in the
affirmative, he went on:
''Many years ago, in Columbus, while
was member of the legislature, couple
of fellow statesmen, who were on COM
mittee which had TO do with the institu-
ton, We're called by dint of business to
pay visit to the State Asylum For Idiots.
1t was an evening enterprise, ana as was
without any programme l accompanied
them. 1t CHANGED to be field day, or
rather field evening, at the asylum. Inc
inmates We're in II long hall with hard
floor, cross between ballroom and
gymnasium.
''At the far end of the hall, on several
tiers of seats, much like that luxurious
upholstery one finds ut circus, were hud-
died the more irresponsible. But down IN
the body of the big room were probably
100 persons of both sexes ranging from 10
years to 40 and 90 years, and who were
equal in mental way to going through a
kind Of drill in calisthenics with wooden
dumbbells And they did it very nicely,
as l noticed from my place, with my fellow
visitors up in front. There was a brass
band, too, the instruments being managed
by inmates who had q taste for the melo-
dious. 1 am bound to say that it was
good band, far better than many which
might boast more brains. The zany who
operated the B flat cornet was wonder.
was much interested in all saw, and as
many of these weakminded folk Were
girls, and pretty ones at that, my refec-
tons, as l gazed on the scene, were not
without 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-
cient wit to take advantage of it was hard.
Perhaps an hour was taken up in the
dumbbell exercises of the boardcrs and
the music of their band. The meeting
then lapscd easily into an informal dance,
quadrilles being rapidly arranged. Every
now and then waltz or round dance Of
some sort was pulled off. 1t all went
smoothly enough, too, the gentlemen
seeking their partners with the most stud
led, if 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, like the horse
thief in Louisiana, to feel perfectly at
home. 1t was no time at all when 1 be-
held them, each with partner take their
places in q quadrille. And to their credit
be it said, they did yeoman service and
danced every bit as well as the idiots
While 1 was feeling proud of them Mrs.
Doren, the wife Of DR.. Doren, the superin-
tcndent of this home Of little light, and
who felt somewhat responsible for my en-
tertainment, asked me if l ever danced. l
admitted that on ono or two occasions
casting caution to the winds, had in tho
teeth of the advice of my friends given
way to this frivolity.
"'Why didn't you tell me?' cried Mrs.
D. I'm get you partner in moment
And before 1 could restrain her she called
to very beautiful girl, seemingly about
90 years old, who was dancing with a still
younger girl for Il partner.
Here, Anna, said Mrs. d. in a pleas
ant sort of haste, here is Mr.. g. and he
has no partner Won't Maggie excuse you
and let you dance with him?'
Gamma seemed in nowise loath. She
approached with smiling eyes, and the
next moment we were u part of the waltz
just then raging.
81 was very much pleased with Anna
She was such il dainty, beautiful creature
that her mental shortages were made all
the more u blow. paid no heed to the
rather informal introduction which Mrs
d bestowed upon us, rightly concluding
that where the wit of person might be
measured by child of elaborate social
ol,scrvanccs would only serve to tangle
and abash.
"As Anna and were circling down the
situation VIC convcrsed. l hammered my
observations down so as to Keep them
within Annals reach, and we got along up
top. After the waltz Anna and l prone
nadcd the hall with the others l asked
about her home and her parents, and pro
posed such other topics us a 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 30 min
utes l ever added to my life. was young
err then, and moro capable of the softer
scntimcntalities. Anna was SO beautiful
aid so unfortunate. without that lustcr
OF the soul, wanting that rich warmth of
color which springs from intelligence,
what could Anna be? My heart wept for
her.
But it was time to go back to the Neil
House. There were divers cares of state
waiting for me to plunge into them. led
Anna to u seat, whore there was quite n
cluster of idiots and where she, therefore,
would not feel SO kccnly the pang Of my
absence Then l shook her poor, iEane
hand, and after gently patting her on the
head told her to be good and that before
long would see her again. She thanked
me nicely, and there was a smile in the
corners of her mouth which made her ap-
pear almost intelligent.
How did you find Anna as a partnerF
asked Mrs. d. while we were busy with
our coats in the reception room.
Excellent, / said, excellent Then !
launched into eloquent regrets over the
twilight fate of one so fair and so afflicted.
why, surely, You didn't take Anna
for one of the inmates? said Mrs. y, and
there was horror in the lady voice and ire
within her eye.
~ certainly did, replied, while alarm
began to curl at my heart.
"'Why, DEAR dear!' said my hostess,
What horrible mistake! Anna is our
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