The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-17
PRESIDENT AND HOSPITAL.
COstin's Observation on President
Taft's Visit to Columbia and PERTH
nent Criticisms of Hospital Manage
ment From Personal Experience.

I was at Columbia last week to the
State Fair, met lot of my friends.
Everybody seemed to have plenty of
money and having good time.
There were no drunkards on the
streets. nor did not see anyone arrest
ed. Saturday the president was there.
Everybody was glad to see him, both
whites and blacks. The largest crowd
ever saw in Columbia was there at
the Fair.
The president is certainly a fine
looking man and as he came from
the State House in an automobile ev-
erybody was greeting him and smil-
Ing and he was smiling and lifting
his hat to everyone. Everyone was
glad to see him and he seemed pleas
ed to see the ladies and gentlemen of
the Southern States
On Friday morning I went to the
State Hospital for the Insane. Now It
has always been customary to have
the hospital open to visitors during
Fair week. I myself think it an out
rage to have these poor innocent in
valids put on exhibition for the peo-
pie of the Southern States to look at
and laugh at. know myself that
they do laugh at them and have seen
nurses point at the patients and gig
gle and the crowd would giggle. Now
1t makes anyone feel bad to be laugh
ed at and especially do these poor pa
tients feel hurt when they ore looked
at and laughed at as though they
were some kind Of an animal. They
are human beings and just as inno-
cent as little babes. God said, "Suf-
fer the little children to come unto
me and forbid them not for of such
Is the kingdom of heaven"
The newspapers have for sometime
been printing writings on the State
Hospital for the Insane. I wish to
say that the fare there Is not fit for a
sick person to eat. nor indeed a we'll
person, much less those who are COM
PEELED to stay there. The meat they
give them to eat is old butt meat.
which smells like it has been con-
demned The bread is never cooked
done. The top crust is done but the
inside is just like piece of putty and
cannot be digested. The black mo-
lasses, so-called syrup. is not fit for
an African to eat much less a poor
Invalid. The coffee is four waters
and one coffee. The hominy is old
and musty. In fact all the food is
old and musty and seems to be con-
demned foods and not fit for these
poor invalids to eat. They can nev-
er revive on such food.
Mr.. Austin, the head nurse I know
has slapped, jerked, cuffed and
abused the poor invalids, and when
tubing has torn their mouths and
broke out teeth and handled them
very roughly, and 1 do not consider
him fit person to have any position
In the State Hospital for the Insane.
DR.. Thompson, the assistant super
intendent is one Of the finest men I
ever met. When he goes through the
hospital every morning he stops and
answers all questions put to him by
the patients and is polite and extreme
ly kind to everyone, rich and poor
alike. If had the power Dr. Thomp-
son would be made superintendent of
the Hospital for the Insane Of South
Carolina.
l know that the superintendent has
not treated lady who went there to
visit her son with common politeness.
DR.. Brown one Of the nurses is
very fine man and never abuses the
patients but is always so kind and
gentle with them and If anyone
should be promoted I think Mr.. Brown
should.
WILLIAM BEAUREGARD COSTIN.
Sumter, S. c., Nov. 13, 1909.