The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-01

1t is to the working out of those prin-
eiples of kindness to the afflicted and
helpless, which Christian peoples in all
lands have understood to be imbedded in
The life and teachings of Jesus Christ,
that we have our great hospitals for the
mentally afflicted, which are, with all
their limitations, one of the noblest
glo:ies of Minnesota. 1t is a great work
the state has undertaken in caring for
its thousands of insane and feeble
minded persons, without one cent of spe-
.ial charge to the families to whom they
belong; and yet, truth to tell, this liber-
Atty on the part of the state is often
abused, and persons are sent to our hos
pitfalls, because they are free, who would
be kept at home il they had to~be paid
for away Those VINO know well the
results of our laws, who see much of the
insane and incapable, are aware how lit
tie concern in many cases is shown by
The families Of the patients even when
those families are well-to-do. 1t is like
angels visits, few and far between,~ that
they so, or any of them, to ST. Peter, to
Rochester, to see father or mother, or
sister or brother said an expert to me
last week. The insane have few friends,
often none. A visit to any one of our
insane hospitals will afford subject for
wise thought for a life time.
Let US go to st. Peter. We shall find
much to make our hearts glad. We shall
be met by Supt. Thomlinson. A state
is blessed which has such men in charge
of its institutions. A man of large eX-
perience in his work. he IS just wise
and kind. The patients, as we pass
through the wards, come up to him with
the confidence of loving children to
parent whom they trust and revere.
Here is a man who was once a Congre-
gatonal minister; he is as harmless as
a little child, and to look after and sup
port himself, as helpless. l want to go
to a wilderness, away from men; to be
alone away from all the world he says
Yes, he always wants to hide himself
to have paper and pencil, and to write
all the time but his writing always
shows his malady, poor man, helpless
case. Here is a man who has seen bet
ter days. He is a king. This he knows,
of course and makes others know it, if
they listen to his story.
Here is a young man who tears his
clothes all to rags, he has to be in re-
straint. In the male wards are 500 per-
sons, and the work Of those who have
their care is incessant and calls for the
exercise Of all noble gifts. The nurses
are badly paid, considering what duties
they have to do, and the way In which
they do those duties. The buildings
are old. They need repair in many
places, except the plumbing. Exception
can be taken to nearly every part. The
bath rooms are models, and they are
in constant use; cleanliness is apparent
on every hand, and 1T is insisted upon
in every particular possible. All the pa
every week The state owns a thousand
acres of land, and keeps about 20 cows.
The milk they give is all used in the
hospital, and even then the supply is
not enough. Many of the inmates live
almost entirely on milk When mental
improvement begins it is Instantly man
ifest in care of personal appearance, and
d desire to work Suitable work for pa
TENTS who can work is one of the very
best things for the mentally afflicted.
\ Men alone have charge Of the male
wards. In this employment fifty paid
nurses are engaged, and kindness, pa
thence and fidelity are eXacted by DR..
Thomlinson and cheerfully given.
Let US now visit the womens wards;
tread lightly and with reverential step
here. for in them you shall see the young,
but hardly the fair; for pain and distress
and mental disease have marred the
cell, I call it; il is room, light and suit
abe; its windows are out of reach; it has
no furniture; into it are put women who
are destructive or who VIII not keep
their clothes on. Here is a young wom-
an shouting, wild and clear, rambling
about home and love; hers is an accute
case. She will be better soon, and prob
ably when better will have no return of
her evil affliction. Hers is a happy case,
CupI ca0 ho On described We
walk out, the day is dry and warm; on
the grass, under splendid trees, are hun
dreds of women, for there are 450 pa
tents. One dressed in black sees us COM
ing, the superintendent and myself. She
runs to us, with radiant face, to assure
US it is all right now. She is well, and
going home soon. She thought she would
just tell the doctor that he might know
in time, and with a laugh, the laugh of
hysteria, she runs, skipping Qike lamb
in spring., back to her place.
We walk on, and an old woman with a
face which has not a line of intelligence,
comes up and puts out her hand. Have
you any backko," she asks. No, we do
not have a bit, not pipe, not a chew.
She is sorry, so am l.
There is an old woman, more than
ninety years old. She has all the marks
of a veteran pioneer. Her hands are on
her knees. o. my poor boy; my poor
boy, she exclaims, in tones which pierce
my soul. Down her aged cheeks the
scalding tears run like rain, as she rocks
in her arm chair. She never will be bet
ter. Her boys cruel treatment is her
delusion. Alas! Alas! to her it is as real
as If it were fact. There is a young
woman, who takes me for a Roman
Catholic priest. She Is devout and has,
she informs me, been attentive to her
religious duties. She was only, she says
a little nervous; is all right now, and is
going home, but she cannot say her
prayers. How can she. She has nc
beads, poor woman. She is insane; per-
haps never will be anything else.
These are samples. Some cases are
much worse than these. They deserve
well of the state, and they deserve the
prayers and the wisest interest of God
fearing people. They should have a
convenient, spacious pavilion built
where they could go on wet days and al
all suitable times.
The state at this moment has at ST. Pc
ter $50 patients where accommodation fol
zoo only was designed. There should be
a good house, with two entirely separate
departments for the nurses one for the