The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-11-03
WHAT A CONTRAST.

WHAT A CONTRAST.
The Republican puoIIsnes this morn
ing a most interesting interview with
a gentleman now residing in this city
who was for eight years connected
with the State hospital for the insane
at Ukiah. California When this gen
tleman arrived in Honolulu some
months ago one of his first acts was
to visit the insane asylum of this Ter
ritory. As he says. ne was perfectly
amazed to find the terrible conditions
prevailing at the insane asylum in
this city Instead of a modern hos
pital for the insane, such as Is to be
found in every other part Of the
United States. he found a yeritable
mad-house of the seventeenth CEN
fury.
Where this gentleman came from
the inmates are given iron beds with
wovenwire springs and hair mat
tresses. together with clean bed-linen
to sleep on. They sleep in bright,
airy. comfortable 70 ms Their food
consists of the best and most whole
some food products to be found in
the market They are given light en-
ployment on the asylum farm: they
are given various games to play dur
ing the day when not otherwise en-
ployed. and once a week a dance is
given for them. At other times the
inmates are taken for ride in carry
alls.
Contrast this with the care given
the inmates OF the insane asylum of
Hawaii. Here the inmates are kept
in idleness with the exception of
little work occasionally in the taro
patches for few, Here the food is
worse than any ever furnished in the
forecastle of a whale ship. Instead
of rooms light CHEEKY and well venti- !
lated. they have foul, darksome cells. |
Instead of good beds with springs and |
mattresses and clean linen for all a |
portion of the inmates are given beds
without springs. and such a thing as
bed-linen is unheard of.
In California the inmates Of the
insane hospital go to meals in a large.
airy dining room. where they sit down |
to table with all the comforts of
wellappointed hotel
In Hawaii they eat the miserable
food furnished them on the porches
or sitting on the grass. and such
things as knives. forks and spoons
and dishes are unknown. In fact. I'M
til after the Grand Jury made its re-
port the inmates of the Hawaiian
asylum were not even provided with
tin cups to drink out of, but were
supplied with old tomato cans. Think
OF it, Compelling sick people to
drink out of old tomato cans.
But worse yet. think of the indif-
ference of public officials who would
permit such things to be, and think
Of the indifference of the professed
Christian men and women who take
no notice of such conditions existing
in their midst.
Only a few nights ago a meeting
was held in leading church to pre-
pare Christmas box to be sent to
iuam, but no one seemed to think
hat it would be an act of practical
Christianity to prepare a Christmas
box or Thanksgiving dinner for the
inmates of the insane asylum OF Ha-
vail right here at home.
And speaking of HOLIDAYS at the
insane asylum, it is well to call at
ention TO the fact that in California
Ind everywhere else over the United
states special holiday dinners are
,iven the inmates OF the asylums. ,
On Thanksgiving day this consists OF !
! Turkey dinner. Such a dinner is !.
'iven TO the inmates of the insane !
sylum at Ukiah on every Thanks
living day. Who ever heard of !
turkey dinner being given to the in {
nates of the Hawaii asylum on /.
day.
It is indeed well that the Grand c
ury made the investigation of the !
sylum that it did bat The Republi- c
an proposes to follow up the unfn-
she'd work OF the Grand Jury and see
It that the unfortunate insane Of
his Territory are treated like human i
eings and not worse than any planter
'onld permit the mules on his plan Id
alton TO be treated. II proposes to 2
rive home the responsibility for this i
wful condition OF affairs where 1t be- L
'ngs. and it viii see to it that the :
Of the insane asylum OF =
laval reaches the ears and the eyes :
officials who viii act. and act in I,
he behalf OF humanity and decencv. &