The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-13
Great Charities Convention Will End With the Session ToNight
FIRST BATH KILLED THIS "
LLlN.AT7C IN TTIREE Days
Took 1t Late in Life and Never Recovered FROM Shock
Secretary Johnsons Experiences With Daring
Criminals and the Insane

| I'll Sll
| without the least show of cgotism
| but speaking with the hope that others
engaged in the work OF state super
vision over charitable institutions
might profit by his experience. Secro-
tary Alexander Johnson, of the ma
tional conference. explained yesterday
the best methods TO be adopted for Sc
curing results in the various States
| His talk was IN the nature of per-
| sonal narrative. incidentally, 1t was
brought out that the popular secre-
tary is not afraid OF lunatics or daring
| criminals, for lie had to admit that he
went intoTa crazy mans cage when
! no other man in Indiana would do 1t,
and tanned him with chew OF tobacco.
Killed by Hi. First Bath.
Likewise, Mr. Johnson submitted
rules and regulations governing the
! hours between baths in county home.
| or poorhouse. as that institution Is
more generally known. III one estab-
lishment the superintendent had to be
dismissed because Of his. worthless
ness. A man by the name of Mr.. Thrift
, succeeded him. Mr.. Thrift thought that
some attention should be paid to clean
Illness. Carrying out that idea he re-
yived the bath tub, and under tho
personal direction OF Mr.. Johnson. at
that time secretary OF the State Board
of Charities, proceeded to battle an
inmate who boasted that he had not
performed that piece OF work since
once In his boyhod days when he dived
into a pond.
The inmate was getting up In years
when he received his first full-lengtn
bath. He wore three pair trousers,
three coats with newspapers stuffed
over his chest. and at least bushel Of
chnff to protect him from the cold. He
was prepaid for the inevitable. Mr..
Thrift had him stripped and flung In, 2
number of attendants with soap and
scrubbing brushes working with vigor
for half an hour. The apostle of fifth
protested until he was brought out,
wrapped in soft flannels and placed IN
front .of rousing fire. Chilled to the
bone, apparently, he shyered as the
logs cracked But pneumonia set in
and in three days he was dead.
I'm this work OF supervising the hos
pitals,'' said Mr.. Johnson, you must
have public opinion on your side, ami
you must cultivate 1t largely through
the newspapers. You must realize the
difference between inspection and de-
lection. Deal fairly with the superin-
tendent. When I was secretary OF the
Indiana board. Mr.. Bicknell. whom we
elected president last night. was n
newspaper reporter, and I gave him
many robust items. which helped 10
educate the people to the Importance OF
our work and mission.
Scene In An Asylum.
"One day the Governor sent me a
letter from Mortified woman, who
charged that in an asylum fight
man was brutally treated. She said
his nose and leg had been broken. |
went there on the first train to inves-
tigate. SO they brought in the victim.
He had a scratch on the nose. Asked
TO tell of the trouble. he said that an
other patient, called the Bishop, had
angered him. 4 told him he was q
hell of bishop. said the inmate, and
he hit me on my little face. Then l
asked him about his broken leg. Give
me twenty minutes, he said. but
compromised on five Pulling up the
leg of his trousers, he said that the
scar indicated where the leg had been
broken twenty years before. BY this
work the State Board nailed lie,
which might have spread beyond TIE
hope of denial
Going back to the bath rules, Mr..
Johnson said that some of the county
superintendent wanted to know the
system After the death of the other
fellow" he remarked. II told the off,
GERS to start with the feet in ag-
gravated cases, going upward and
wash twelve inches every twenty four
hours. When pressed for more
definite information. l suggested that
the patients should be bathed twice
a month In winter and once a week
in summer, If nothing more could be
done.
The Other Sneakers.
Now don't so about in this inspec-
ton hunting trouble always. Tell the
people that the superintendent are
doing right until YOU find out other
wise. Give them the benefit of the
doubt. Get the confidence of these
men, BE fair with the public. You
can tell anything In truth IL you tell
it In love. Mr.. Magruder called me a
liar yesterday, but he said 1t in love-"
Secretary r. ", Hill. of the New
York. State Board of Charities, spoke
on the New York system of inspection,
the general discussion which followed
being led by Mr.. Mornay Williams,
president of the Juvenile Asylum and