The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-21
OUT At THE POOR FARM
A SUNDAY TRIP THROUGH THE
COUNTY INSTITUTION.
What Employees Say of Superinten-
dent Meyers COnduct-CIeanIi-
ness About the Place.

ing off the Charlottesville pike to the north.
A Journal reporter yesterday afternoon
drove past well-kept whitewashed fences
inclosing smooth fields that would reflect
credit on any scientific farmer. One grew
some thing was the potter's field, where
men were at work digging new grave for
some friendless unfortunate whose body
may find its way into a medical college
picking vat and afterwards be stretched
upon dissecting table. Perhaps a quarter
of a mile beyond the graveyard the lane
approaching the buildings of the infirmary
was reached. Over the entrance way is an
arch supported by white pillars. on the
arch over the roadway is the inscription in
big black letters: Marion County Asylum
for the Poor" On one of the pillars that
to the left of the road, are printed these
words in small letters: Visiting hours from
10 a. m. to p. m. No visitors admitted
on Sunday. BY order of +. j. Meyer, SUI
perintendent." Stretching away to the west
from this arch is a road leading to the high
brick asylum, a quarter of a mile away.
On either side of the road is row of young
poplar trees bare and leafless in the No
vember sun, planted just within strings of
glazing whitewashed fences. The horses
hoofs sank in drift of gravel and sand
newly laid on the roadway, and the APP
proach to the building was slow, giving time
for the visitor TO take in the general out
lines of the tall five-story red brick asylum,
above which is red tower and behind
which a cloud of smoke arose from the coal
fires in the furnace room.
AS the building was neared there fioated
out through the air from within the sounds
N a al A rse-fI
jacket directed the driver to pass the first
driveway leading up to the big building.
Along the second driveway were carriages
that had been used by charitable, pious men
and women from the city, who had come
out in the bright Sunday afternoon sun
with q message of cheer to the 2S5 unfortu-
mates within. Standing by was a hack with
the words County Asylum on the side.
Within 1t were two carpet covered benches
This the management of the institution had
sent to the city to bring out for the services
people who had no carriages and could not
afford to hire them.
Over the front entrance to the building
there is great portico, supported by huge
pillars, built of stone and brick, and the
approach to it is not unlike that of castle.
The outside appearance is gloomy An at
tendant answered the bell and after usher
ing the reporter to the sitting room-to the
right Of big, broad, oppressively-clean and
tidy corridor. with a strip of jute mating
extending down its center to a big staircase
leading to the floor above-went in search
of Charles Register, who has been acting
superintendent since disgrace fell upon
Flavius ]. Meyer.
THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT.
Mr.. Royster is a man perhaps forty-five
or fifty years of age, with white hair, wear
ing glasses, a pleasing and intelligent man
ner, who impresses a new acquaintance as
one fitted with considerable administrative
ability and an amiable disposition. When
the reporter stated that he wanted to know
all about the institution, Mr.. Register said
that he would be glad to give any informa-
ton, and at once started on tour of the
building with the reporter Turning to the
right from the main corridor, a narrower
one was reached. The first room entered
was the sewing room, provided with sewing
machines, pressing boards and things of
that kind. 1t was large and commodious,
with nigh ceiling and long windows, draped
with snowy muslin curtains. There was an
air OF comfort about the place Here"
said Mr.. Register the sewing is done. We
have regularly-employed seamStreSses who
are assisted by some of the inmates. who
are skillful with the NEEDLE
Across the hall was the kitchen, where
the food for the officials of the institution
is prepared The hardwood floor was
secured white and clean and lacked but the
white sand to remind one of the pictured
kitchens of New York in Knickerbcker
days Along the walls the kitchen utensils.
secured and shining, hung in orderly array.
To the left of the kitchen is a long. narrow
dining room, where the attendants have
their meals The tables looked inviting
Substantial white crockery was arranged
for the evening meal. then i'm course of
preparation. Proceeding down the hall, Mr..
Register opened the door leading into the
wing in which the old women are quar-
tered. The sight here was touching. Along
either side of the hall were rooms, floors
bare but SpotlcSsly clean, and in each were
two single iron beds, comfortable and we'll
provided with spreads and straw mat
tresses, pillows and white muslin sheets as
here was warmer than the ordinary person
would care to endure, but the hin-blooded
OLD women seemed to be perfectly comfort
able. Some were in their rooms reading
others talking and still others sitting with
folded hands gazing downward into their
laps, perhaps dreaming of more prosperous
days. In some of the rooms there were
little pathetic efforts at home-making here
picture suspended and there pot of flow
ers growing. In one room was the dining
table used by the old women. 1t was laid
for the evening meal. Mr.. Register ex-
planned that the old women, some of whom
had once been ambitious hOusekeepers.
tended this dining room themselves, under
the SUPERVISION of one or two of the most
alert of their number, washed their own
dishes and seemed to take delight in this
light employment.
IN THE INSANE WARD.
Above stairs, in the women's wing, the
conditions were less cheerful, although there
was the same air of cleanliness and tidiness.
Here the insane, imbecile and senile were
kept. They are under lock and key. II
would not do to permit them to wander.
And yet they have much freedom Their
rooms are provided with iron-barred doors,
and the outer windows are also barred. The
unfortunate women. however, have the free
dom Of the corridor. They sit in groups or
wander in and out of their rooms at will.
One room, occupied by an elderly German
woman, Is gay and bright with growing pot
ted plants, bright specimens of needle
work, cigar boxes transformed into pretty
handkerchief and glove boxes, while on the
walls many pretty ornaments. showing the
poor wonan's skill in embroidery. are fixed.
The bed was covered with a handmade
the pillow cases would be envied by many
woman with all the sense of her sex AT
the farther end of the hall girl whose
wits are wool gathering had shown consid-
cradle ingenuity in making a big doll of
paper, fantastic as a punchnello. An old
woman seized the reporters hand as he
passed.
She's been beating me to-day" she
crooned. She's been beating me again.
Don't let her do it,"
Who is she?" queried the reporter
There was no answer, only: shes broke
The old woman, perhaps eighty years of age.
held up a trembling arm. The reporter in
spected the wrists. They were like parch
showing not the slightest trace of bruise
or cruel pressure. She seized the reporter