The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-12-21
COUNTY HOSPITALS
AND AsYLuMs,


where they have been wasteful; anC
we do not mention it now for the pur
pose of criticism; but merely to an
swer the anticipated argument thai
Maury county cannot afford" certain
improvements we have in mind to sug
gest.
In the first place, Maury county is
not spending its money to the best
advantage; in the second place, Maury
cohnty is rich enough not to live like
some poor backwoods county. Maury
county Is in many respects one of the
foremost counties Of the State; and in
other respects it is one of the hind
most Counties in the State.
In. some respects the County
Court deserves commentator; in 9th
err respects it deserves condemnation.
We do not care to go into either just
now. but we wish TO suggest some
needed improvements for the future.
The Maury County Poor House is a
shame upon the county and a disgrace
to. a County Court that win tolerate
such an institution in a county so
abundantly able to do better We have
no criticism TO make upon the nan
agement; so far as we know it is as
we'll managed as the meagre allow
ance and other circumstances win per
ra1ff hut ha ~ Door
House is a shame and disgrace just
the same 1t is polluted with bed
bugs and body lice, and it stinks; it
is no fit habitation for human beings
There are some people, doubtless
some members of the County Court
who think il impossible TO keep such
lice and foul odors; but they are mis-
taken about that :: and they owe il to
the unfortunates who are compelled
to live at this place to find out their
mistake and to rectify it.
Last summer the editor of the Her |
aid spent week at Waukesha, in |
w iStOhSlh. anu illiC lu6IE Ic NISllEu
the Home for the Poor of that coun- |
ty and he found it as nice a building !
as Their is in this county. private or |
public, and better kept than the aver
age hotel II is large two-story, brick /
building; the beds are all iron. paint
ed white the bed linen was all clean,
oh III |
white bed spread. We went all over
the building, into every ward and
there was not one particle of dirt
nor foul odor The inmates had
just finished their MONDAY meal, and
when we entered the dining room the
chairs were all up on the tables and
the floor was being mopped up; and
that is done once every day. In the
dishroom the dishes were being
given thorough scalding: and the
kitchen tables and floor were being
given thorough hopping off and
cleaning. The house was clean from ,
top to bottom: and We were informed.
and believe, that 1t Is kept in that ;
365 days In the year The :
inmates, weak-minded. querelous,
poor and helpless as they were, were
clothed and well-kept.
they are required to battle a certain q
number of times during the week. and q
ire made TO keep themselves clean. Z
The first treatment given one of these =
when brought to this a
Home, Is a bath: and a shave, IL a p
nan. and thorough inspection of the f.
lair: If there is any lice on the per-
on. they are given special treatment u
Until they are made clean: then they +.
re made to keep themselves clean; q
ONE need bathing oftener than others; Z.
hose who do are made to battle often =,
+ than others. The clothes they wear n,
rhen they come TO the Home are new ~
r allowed TO get further than the n.
ath room: they are taken at once n,
rom there and burned: and the pa u
ent clothed with clean clothes. ~
That is how they treat the poor in II
'aukesha county Wisconsin. and the n,
Dor of Maury county, Tennessee. are
ntitled to just as good treatment. q
1t does not cost a great deal to do n:
| this: the inmates do nearly all the | W
ork: they make up their own beds. rs
rub the floors. wait on the tables. tM
Zip with the farm work etc If we W
member correctly. the Superinten- ~
mt told us that he had only three W
~ hands; a cook, an assistant, and N
lie farm hand. and the institution was NJ
large extent self-supporting. *
Why should not Maury county have W
institution like that, conducted like w
att II ought to have; it can afford W
have: in Justice to the unfortunate M
or of this county. and to the fair "
me of this county It cannot AFFORD N
a - 49, -au,n dana1fYv ntaa1 GA M