Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-18
A Thorough
liberalization.

ton of others. Reports reaching the
management that the lunatic asylum at
B., suburb of Arlington, was not
properly administered, | was commits
stoned to go down there incog. and in
vestigate
On my arrival at b., instead of TAX
ing carriage to the asylum, | walked,
SO that should not attract attention.
The gate was open, and l slipped in
when no one was there to notice me.
The building stood in the center of
large grounds, and, seeing a grove in
the rear, made my way there. A gen.
tleman perhaps fifty years of age sat
on rustic seat reading a newspaper.
Seeing me approach, he rose deferen-
tally and raised his hat / entered
into conversation with him on various
trivial matters, principally the serenity
of the day and the beauty of the situa-
ton. He invited me to be seated.
Have you any connection with the
asylum L at last asked, getting down
TO my detective work.
Il am the managing physician" he
replied. I'VE have regular house sur
geon and call in different specialists. l
have charge of the medical department
as Overseer.'
"Are You free to make every pro-
vision you deem essential for the pa
tients?
Madam he said, suddenly changing
his tone and looking at me fixedly. II
am hampered in every respect"
For some twenty minutes he talked
confidentially, begging me not to be-
tray him, giving me a picture of neg
lect and cruelty on the part of the man.
ayers that Mortified me. When had
got all the Information he seemed able
to give me l took his name, DR.. G.. Y.
Scarborough. and left him to continue
the perusal Of his paper.
Down in corner of the grounds I
saw garden with a conservatory.
strolled down there and found a man
with a wheelbarr0w. He told me he
was the gardener, and since / was dis
posed to talk to him he set down his
barrow and willingly entered into con-
versation. | chatted at first about his
plants and some fruits he was growing
in an orchard near by. He told me
that he had studied the science of fruit
growing in an agricultural university
and would like to produce some of
those wondrous specimens that had
read about in magazines, but the man
produce apples as big as bushel bas-
ket and plums the size of a football IL
only the superintendent would let him
Having interviewed two men. look
ed about for Il woman. AS | left the
gardener | saw woman come out OF
4 back door and walk down through
the trees before me. She was plainly
but well dressed. She examined some
newly Numbered clothes hanging on
line, aud surmiscd that she might he
housekeeper. l approached her and.
as before, entered into conversation
with her. | was right in my surmise
as to her occupation and judged her to
be a very practical person in all mat
tiers pertaining TO household manage
ment. After brief chat i assumed
confidential tone and told her my mis-
sion, begging her TO tell me just what
was the condition of affairs In the
asylum. She put her fingers to her
lips led me TO Il point where we were
concealed by the trees from the house
and in whisper told me that the su-
perintendent was robbing the patients
of the necessaries of life, making false
returns and appropriating the money
supposed TO be spent for them.
/ listened TO her story for full half an
hour making notes on which TO write
my report. She was so full Of her sub
ject, had endured so much and had
seen so much endured that / found 1t
difficult to get away from her. But
assured her that the ladies OF the Al
llngton WOman's club would take up
the matter, and 1t would not be long
before all this dishonesty and cruelty
would be stopped and the whited sep
ulcher at the head OF the institution
would be exposed and punished.
This satisfied her and she showed
me way by which could leave the
premises without attracting attention.
l went back home much pleased with
my success. but indignant at the bar
barous treatment Of the poor lunatlcs.
There was a stormy meeting OF the
committee to which read my report.
The ladies were SO wrought up that
for time no plan of procedure could
be decided upon, but finally motion
was put and carried that the chairman
be instructed to write letter TO the
superintendent OF the asylum stating
the charges and asking what reply he
would make to them.
The letter was duly sent. and in a
few days I was notified to attend a
meeting OF the committee. When the
members had convened the chairman
read her letter to the superintendent,
then turned it over and read us an in
d0rsement OH the back:
Respectfully returned with the follow
Ing Information for the ladies OF the Al
lington Woman's club:
DIR. G.. Y. Scarborough Is a patient SUI
fering from paresis
Timothy Bauman, the gardener. insane
on the subject OF growing enormous fruits
fharmlessl
Mrs Eunia G. Chandler is mildly insane
She Is I'm condition to act as housekeeper
and Is very good one.