The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-09
HEALY INSTITUTE.
First Grand Reunion OF lis Grateful
Graduates.
The Stories Told by the Young Women
who Have Enjoyed Its Benefits.

"
halls was well filled last night with the
graduates OF the Healy Institute and their
many friends. 1t was the occasion of the
first anniversary Of the graduation OF
the young ladies who had first availed
themselves OF the advantages and bless
ings of this new institution and their
bright animated countenances as COM
pared with the drawn and emaciated faces
of the young women who had but just
entered but who had been invited to the
reunion, were in themselves significant OF
the great good that has and will be ac-
complished.
The exercises were opened with an over
ture by the Institute orchestra, composed
of the young ladies of all four classes, or
degrees, as they are styled by Prof. Hea-
ley and the members of his faculty. Then
the president himself gave brief history
OF his institution, and told of the suffer-
ings in his own family that had induced
him to exert every effort to find the cure,
which he had afterward given to the pub
lie that all might seek its benefits. The
president was loudly applauded and then
followed remarks by the different MEM
bers OF the faculty, with vocal and instru-
mental musical selections intersperscd.
teresting part of the evenings program
was that participated in by the graduates
themselves.
1t was on the habit itself, based on the
speakers personal experience. She told
how, when but little girl, she was in
duced by school companion to take her
first chew of gum and how that had been
t.ll 49,. ax.A I'D Mt
was the regular thing with her, and as
the habit developed and grew upon her
she explained the different methods she
had resorted to TO conceal the fearful Sc
cret from her family. But indifference
came with the long continuance OF the
vice, and she had lost all desire and
ability TO keep her secret. Her weakness
became known to the family, and In spite
OF q mothers tears and protestations 1t
became worse week by week, until finally
her father had lost all patience, and after
finding a section of gum dregs on the
neither side of the dining room table
one afternoon, he had ordered
her to leave his house. This
had frightened her into reform but 1t was
only temporary. In spite OF her efforts
and the encouragement of her friends she
was again overcome by the fatal desire.
AT first she deceived herself with the
thought she might compromise between
her cravings and her sense Of right, and
tried to satisfy the one without
violating the other by eating
gumdrops" But 1t would not do. The
drops were but an aggravation and for
not more than three days had they been
used before the seductive but enervating
gum itself was once more resorted to but
this time there were no gradual
stages-in "a hours all my old appe-
tite, increased and intensified, had
come back and gave myself
up without further struggle. l will not
try to tell the dreadful story OF the next
three years but will conclude my paper by
saying that two years ago friend told
me OF the Healy Institute and with but
little hope on my own part, consented
to come. My father and mother,
who still loved me, offered
to pay my tuition and
promised them that IL the expenditure
proved fruitiess they should never see me
more. 1 had resolved to go out into the
world alone, avoid those whose respect
had once priced, and drag out my miser-
able gum-sodden existence in obscurity.
But such is not to be. / am completely
cured, and tomorrow / shall go home
a happy girl"
Miss Justis Hez Cumbeck was the next
speaker. She is charming young Scan
oinavian woman about % years old, whose
fair Northern beauty has survived the
ravages of the gum habit. She spoke
very briefly OF her own experience and
dwelt more extensively on the
cure itself She had taken the "ad nau-
seam" treatment and said: al shall never
forget my first impressions as i entered
the apartment assigned to me at the in
stitute, how l was thrilled with an intox-
ication of delight when 1 found myself
surrounded with the stun that /
thought had gone there to
escape FROM. The walls OF my room were
of light brown tint and proved on closer
investigation to be veneered with gum. 1
screamed with Joy and my first hysterical
incoherent cry was Il can eat my very
walls To this hour remember the look
of commiseration on the face of the
attendant as she turned away with
the remark, this Is truly n bad case.'
From my ceiling were suspended scores Of
stalactites of gum, my favorite brand, aud
ali the little trinkets on the mantel were
but dried formations of the same sub
stance. The very knobs on my bed posts
were balls OF gum. The flagree work
on my chandelier was in delicate
tracery OF the gum, suggestive of the
school days when, as little girls, we would
get together at recess and see who could
pull out the longest string without its
breaking. How / laughed at all
this, laughed at my friends who
had sent me here TO be
cured and laughed at my own
resolutions to be good. For two hours /
was left to myself, chewing all the time,
for there was no sim nm warming occu-