The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-15

pounded his chest with his left hand
and held both reins and whip in the
right. They can't seem to get enough
ont" ~
The Spy man, occupying the front seat
with the. driver and a Boston contract
or, going from the Rutland station to
phe new state hospital for consumptives
and tubercular patients, skunk deeper
into his ulster and shuddered. The mer-
curry had been capering back and forth
froGSten below zero to two above, and
the narrow country road that zigzagged
over the hills for two miles to the east.
seemed as hard and slippery as skat-
ing rink. The whole country, in fact.
seemed to have reverted to the glacial
era.
The. landmark which guides all pill
grims sto this newest Of state institu-
tions. is the great red stand pipe, 11O
feet tall, (which surmounts the highest
pointof land in Rutland, 1850 feet above
sea level. A neighboring tree marks
the geographical centre of the state.
This stand pipe is visible from Oaxdale.
and the 2Central Massachusetts seems
10 keep 1t. affectionately in sight for
mics of the railway journey. 1t is lo-
Gated on the state grounds, which CONF
prise about 200 acres, but the water
~ a. tNs'Cil pCiplI5S " TIE. IOWIl, ana
the state pays $1,000 a year for such
water as is used at the hospital
Not until the visitor is almost upon
the grounds does he get a view of the
buildings. An S00-foot chain of one
story buildings drawn out in a semi
circle, 800 feet long, does not make an
imposing architectural picture at a dis
lance. The first impression is that of
an Immense conservatory As the tur-
fetg and dO111pg q ilnrfiaol
approach, one thinks of an astronon-
zeal observatory. Owing to the neeesz
6lty of constructing an elaborate sewer
system at the behest of the metropol-
itan water board, and the unforeseen
cost OF road building, the appropriation
was insufficient for completing the ar
chitect's plans, and the group is robbed
effect.
As one drives upon the grounds va.
rious 'red-blanketed and flir-clad forms
are seen rowing about in the snow. like
Indians from one of Frederic Re1nine-
tons midwest pictures. On the yer-
andas are others, and there are sounds
OF laughter, which indicate that some.
pody Is having a good time.
An administration building is one of
the luxuries which the appropriation
could not afford. and one of the wings
Which project from the long, central
seml cular corridor, like spikes from
an immense dog collar, is diverted from
lts proper use and made into a series
of offices.
There visitors are ushered by an at
tendant into the presence Of Dr. w. ].
Marley the young but efficient SUPER
1ntendent, who has had a varied eXpe-
rlence IN tho care of consumptives. He
lives there with his mother. The mat
ron IS Miss NJ, L. Thrasher, whose for
mer position at the head of the Keene
hospital, is excellent guarantee for pro-
fiCiency:
Little attempt need be made here to
describe the buildings. The appoint
ments are not unlike those OF other
modem hospitals. though a laundry
ana some other items are sorely need
eu. Except for these deficiencies, the
ESTABLISHMENT Is well organized and
arranged. Especial care is given TO
ventilation, the fan system being one
OF the most elaborate and Interesting
parts of the plant. The outside walls
are made of a composition that looks
at a distance much like granite. THE
white walls viii radiate the heat in
summer, and with the overhead yenti-
Iatlon, VIII keep the temperature inside
comfortable. The steam heat and the
triplesair spaces in the walls are ample
protection against winters cold. The
coal alone costs about $25 a day This
Dill might be larger but for certain
facts Which remain to be told.
The patients themselves, however are
the most Interesting features Of the in.
stitutiQp and about them this story Is
chiefly written. The institution is NOT
30 much hospital as sanitarium.