Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-05-26
From the sioux city Tribune.)

Cherokee, Ia. Special: A hospital
for the insane to the average per-
son Is a place connected with
thoughts of padded cells, shrieking
m~aniacs in straight jackets and the
harbor OF misery. gloom and melan-
choly. Few know 1t as a place OF COM
for almost luxurious and a spot where
all live in perfect peace and good VIII,
where life is one round or contented
happiness and where the trials ana
tribulations Of the world enter not.
Fanciful as this nay seem II Is the
fact at least at the Cherokee hospital.
In the Cherokee institution there are
now TSB patients, % of whom are class
ed under the head of inebriates, and
Ii would be difficult TO find a place
where so large a number or people nve
together and enjoy life so much as
do these whom the world pities.
All that science can do. every COM
fort that is conducive TO a mans hap
piness these un~fortunates have and.
mad as they are, they are not so mad
but that they appreciate IT.
Looks Like Castle Group.
The asylum lies about two miles from
the town OF Cherokee and Is situated
on a Hill. From far of the group OF
buildings look like the o~utbuildings OF
some baronial castle, but upon near
approach the barred windows dispel the
Illusion.
Two men guard the entrance. They
rose UP when your correspondent walk
"a up the steps of the portico ana
opening the big swinging doors pointed
1ut the superlntendent's room. Neither,
however. left his post.
The interior of the building presented
h handsome appearance. A y hali
mozaic tiled, In the center OF which ran
A soft carpet. reached TO the opposite
end OF the building. On either side
were rooms fitted up In almost luxur-
Ious manner Pictures. books and flow
ars could be seen in all OF them.
The place was very quiet. The mani
.al shrieks and the diabolical howlings
which some ~novelists paint SO wildly
when depicting such scenes were want
ing. The building seemed deserted.
In being conducted around the asy-
iuln your correspondent was struck
With the beauty OF every room. E,iec-
trio lights, soft carpets, books and
tasteful decorations were seen on every
side. The patients were In their beds
when the visit was made. They were
aot locked in their cells as Is generally
imagined, but allowed to walk about
the corridor if they so wished. The
)uter doors Of the corridor were, how
ever, locked. OF course. IL "a patient
axes It into his head TO do midnight
stunts for his health. he is promptly
lissuaded by a watchful attendant and
austled back into his room.
r.ttendants Must BE Dancers.
There arc about forty-fire attendants
IN the asylum and their duties are
many and varied. Among other things
hey are expected to be able to dance,
act and play some instrument. The
asylum has an orchestra and brass
band composed OF musicians drawn
rom the ranks of the attendants. These
discourse music three or four times a
week. There are three or four social
events each week, taking either the
FORM of a concert. s~tereopticon views,
lance drawing ROOM" or amateur per-
formance. III all these entertainments,
he attendant plays an important part.
Al the dances, the women attendants
lance with the male patients and the
male attendants dance with the fe-
male patients. This is found to be ABB
solutely necessary. The patients are
we'll behaved because they know that
heir good behavior alone can give
hem the opportunity OF enjoying the
simple festivities. The dancing stops
4 little before 8 o'clock and light re-
treshments are served. To watch one
If these scenes, one would imagine II
was a ball such as any respectable
samily might have. There is no fuss.
&c .sSScfiiy behavior. Everything Is
Iuiet, simple and orderly and happiness
eeigns over h proceedings.
Insane as Thespians.
One of the best rooms In the immense
building is the theater, or chapel. This
is a beautifully lighted large hall, fur
1ished with all the latest improve
nents and scenery. The attendants do
the acting and DR.. Willheit said that
t Is really remarkable to see the per-
formances these people put up.
No patient is ever late to the per.
Torrance and no one leaves between
acts 10 get a breath OF fresh air. The
ventilation here is so good that this e
,use would not pas muster with the
authorities.
In another hall there are billiard and
POOL tables and more books. These are
FOR the use OF the men, while the wom-
an patients are given an excellent
piano, books and material for fancy
sewing.
All the inmates are up at s o'clock
in the morning and in bed by 5 al
night. An early breakfast is eaten and
then they are set TO work. Some clean
UP Tic DuituilS, diu ~ IL e~ACttuiUSly
we'll. for there is scarcely n speck OF
dust about TIE place. Others work
around the barn, garden, dairy. engine
room or kitchen or do the numberless
Jobs that appear in an institution Of
such a character. Most OF the work is
finished BY 9 or 10 a. M. and the re-
mainder of the day, except for short
intervals, the patients have to them
selves. On fine days they all go out
side and listen to the band. or sit un-
Ter tn trees and read magazines and
books.
No Newspaper Men There.
The men are allowed to smoke II
hey wish, but the use 81 tobacco is
confined to pipes and chewing. Cigars
and cigarets are strictly prohibited,
and those who smoke are ever under
he wat,hful eyes OF the attendants.
The plan is TO have the patients
cad as simple a life as possible, This
system is generally conceded TO be the
o<st one. and. according 10 the annual
reports of h asylum's physicians. nc
less han 26 per cen are discharged
| every year. OF the patients who are
IN the asylum at present, As are farm
srs. III are laborers. Fl domestics, AZ
housewives, l3 farm hands and the re-
mainder lawyers, clerks. trainmen,
teachers. musicians and people OF al
most every profession except journal
.sni. DR.. Willheit could not explain
| his latter fact.
The kitchens in the institution are
immense places and every appliance is
lp TO date and as clean as hands can
make Ii. The food Ii run up to the
lining Q on huge elevators which