The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26

1t IS with mingled feelings of curios-
ity and dread that one begins the shori
walk which takes the visitor east from
Provo TO the state insane asylum
There, two miles distant, on a slight
elevation which has been artificially
leveled from the first raise of thu
rugged mountain, stands q collection
OF massive buildings which enclose 2
new and strange sphere OF life-a realm
OF existence in thls world, yet scarcely
OF it. On both sides of the road are the
asylum fields. Here, four months a=o
were long rows of potatoes corn, tonla-
toes and garden products of every kind
and scattered here and there among
them, trusted patients might have been
seen at work with spade and hoe. Now
the rich brown soil is resting, With only
a. corn stalk or cabbage root here and
there projecting above the snow, to tell
the story oe the Dlenteous harvest.
A Wen filled barn and a collection OF
outbuildings and store houses belong
ing II The Institution. Aside from a
herd oe sleek Jersey COWS, which are
gazing through the bars of the corral
at the setting sun, or perhaps dream
ing o. squash and rutta bagaS-there
X no sign of life; for it is Sunday even
ing No attendants are at work on the
outside, and ii is too cold for patients
TO leave their wards.
The superintendent, DR.. NJ. H. Hardy,
on learning the mission of The Herald
reporter, very cOurteously offered to
act as guide.
Absolute order and cleanliness were
everywhere manifest. The floors were
oiled and polished till they almost re-
1iected or pictures. Mating deadens
The football along every corridor Lace
curtains and pot flowers adorn the
Windows, While paintings and autumn
leaves serve to make the walls cheer
full and home-like. This decoration rep
resents, as lar as possible, the work OF
the patients themselves, under the
guidance Of the attendants.
HOME SURROUNDINGS.
Believing that the phychic effect OF
cheerful surroundings is more potent
than medicine in the cure Of insanity,
DR.. Hardy made it his first concern to
remove every suggestion that the asy-
lun is a house OF correction, and to add
every possible touch that might sug-
geSt q home.
The heavy iron clamps with which
the chair and setteeS We're fastened tO
the floor We're removed, and every form
of restraint not necessary to health and
proper cleanliness and discipline was
institution is spoken OF as a hospital
for mental diseases, and by no word
or act are attendants permitted TO
make patients conscious of their men
tai condition.
A prime condition of the psychic
treatment given patients is to occupy
their mind with simple daily duties.
They are first taught to make their
own beds. straighten up their rooms,
and care for their personal habits. II
sometimes takes many weeks, and even
months to do this but it is rare that
the painstalzing and persistent effort OF
the attendant fails. They are next per
united 10 take part in the duties COM
mon to the ward; such as polishing the
floor, washing the dishes and assisting
in the general cleaning. To be per-
mitted TO 90 into the field as a day
laborer is counted a special privilege.
Exercise in the open air is devised for
every patient able to get out, whenever
the weather is fine.
We first visited the chapel, a. we'll
seated, neatly decorated auditorium
capable oe seating three or four hun
bred people. Here, on Sundays, the
patients meet for an hour to listen to
ten minute discourses, interspersed by
music and singing. These services are
conducted in turn by the churches OF
Provo. Here also, on Christmas eve,
there was a reunion of all the asylum
employees and their families.
IN THE KITCHEN.
In the basement are located the bak-
cry, kitchen, dairy, boiler room and
electric light plant. It is a goodly sight