Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-12
THE FOUNDING ASYLUM.
Some Reasons for Complaint by One
of the Ncigbbors.

To the E.itAr OF The Evening Star:
The S:lr. in its editorial of Saturday,
counsels "a spirit OF tolerance and pa
tience" to compliments of the Founding
Asylum Oh 18th street, and settles the
weight of public sympathy upon the
asylum. We neiShbors of the asylum by
no means surrender our conviction of The
Stars just public spirit: but its attitude
here seems less than usually in point. We
are used to Il somewhat patroniZing and
reproachful tone on The part OF many. At
tenlant physicians. and ladies bent on 4
little sentimental culture, visit the asylum.
and ride away TO quiet streets and good
nights rests. pronouncing. The babies do
not cry. We know all about it, Or. if they
dC-the least little-shame on you to men
ticn SO bcnehcent an annoyance" These
nt n-resdent theorists are very convincing
and the evidence that seems not to go is
that of the people who do not guess. but
know-because they live there. Yet the
babies do cry. They howl generously by
day, except, through singular defect OF
Providence, when committees. juries and
the like come TO hear. The days are had.
but. OH the nights are worse. Say at = in
the morning. when hear the
Georgetown chimes and steamer whistles
far down the river-then il is that these
infant Macbeths do murder sleep. Crying.
wailing, choking, rasping screaming: shriil
incessant. not to be escaped. battling every
discipline of composure, till one shuts his
hears no less plainly; smothers his head
under pillows and listens keenly, in spite.
to see if he can stlll hear; and at last. with
a eroan, surrenders wholly to insomnia.
Thinking that this is not thing of tonight,
or the next week. or the next month, hut
of the third of a year; how the asylum
strangleS property values about closer year
by year; how rooms cannot be let, houses
sold or leased, except. by moral fraud, 10
some one who believes the theorists. and
dreams that the babies don't cry. Think
ing that eats yield to hootjacks, your neigh
boris Growing cocks or barking dog
Scotched in the Police Court, the nocturnal
clarinetist is not invincible. and that
even the Sunday morning newsboy is mute
by law. to save citizens a daylight nap
But this institution. this convenience in
the Illicit. this negator of retribution. may
without check distance any known assail-
ant of slumber. under the flag OF charity!
We of the Rcghhorhood concede the
necessity for founding asylums. But out
of hundred available sites, this is the
least fit. Not single institution OF the
hospital character in the city that is not
suitably isolated. except this. the most
noisy! And the fact is by no means that
the asylum was set in open land, and af-
terward built near by men who were in
formed and fairly warned. On the contra
~. ii entered a settled neighborhood. to
which scarcely dwelling has been added.
The asylum stands in grounds, II is true.
but wholly Inadequate; II occupies an an
gle; and note the arrangement: To the
north and east. sometnlng OF space: on the
west and south. a street and alley: but on
the south there has been thrown out an
Enclosed porch over the alley, taking all-day
sun and alley air; and here. In scorn OF
what poor humanitarian acoustics tho
building affords. the babies live, leaning up
in the ear Of the neighborhood. and uIi-
derscoring to the fun the bitter infection
Of their presence.
Yet to move is feasible for the asylum
directors. The slightest search and the
least energy are alone required for a new
site and the means to reach it, These
mysterious financial considerations in
considerable. If valid vanish before the
fact that the building was at one time
long offered for sale, and might be TODAY
sold, and the proceeds held solely ava.Ie-
bic for the charity. In view of chronic
managerial lassitude. the neighbors are
for smart application In the rear, and
tolerance and patience" are hardly al
present the watchwo-ds
A NEIGHBOR To THE ASYLUM