The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-15
Editor Waterbury Democrat:


 An old experience of New Eng land was in 1780, when the famous Dark Day" came. President Dwight tells the story in his Travels" The Legislature of Con- necticut was in session. There was panic in the streets and some terror stricken voices were pro- claiming that the Day of Judg- ment was at hand. The House of Representatives had adjourned. It was proposed to adjourn the Council also. But when the mo- ton had been made and the opin- ion of Colonel Davenport was asked he answered: q am against an adjournment. The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty, I wish therefore that candles be brought" They were brought ac- cordingly and the work of the Commonwealth of Connecticut went on.
 Marks of Humanity
 It is one of the marks of hu- man progress that it gives men eyes to see in the dark. A worthy public official carries his own light with him wherever he goes and though the next step may be difficult the course and the goal of the path are not dim. In no sphere of human action on the stage of service to our fellows is the carrying of light more necessary than along the path of psychiatry which too often in the past has been but dimly lighted. Our mental hospitals have been in the limelight for this or that omission or commission and be- cause of these oft played up charges of incompetence of State Hospital administrators the gen. eral public cannot be blamed for wondering If their relatives and friends undergoing disqualification are being treated like human be- ings or like cattle would pc in a backward part of the country. A recent series of articles ill Cos mopolitan Magazine have shown how in some States cattle are treated far better than mental patients in public mental hos pital!
 At the moment, Norwich State Hospital is seeking & change in its administrative affairs and a Massachusetts psychiatrist has been asket. to take charge of the work in Connecticut. This man is Dr. William A. Bryan, for 19 years Superintendent of Worcester State Hospital, one of the best known psychiatric hospitals in the world. We here in Massachusetts will feel a genuine loss if pr. Bry- an takes up the work at Norwich. On the other hand, we here in Massachusetts feel that a man of his high character and proved ef- ficiency as an administrator will be able to give Norwich a new place in the sun and develop it ii1- to an institution as favorably known as Worcester State Hospi- tai has been during his leadership. We. will not lose this fine gentle man and excellent psychiatric ad- ministrator without realizing the severity of our loss. Yet we shall feel that in parting with him the State of Connecticut, which has been SO unfortunate as to eXper- fence another "dark day" in its mental hospital administration, has seen a new light, a light car- ried high by one who has never permitted his path to be obstruc- ted by anything aimed at jeop- ardizing welfare of the mentally i'll who should have our first con- Sideration.
 Uplifting Force
 For 19 years Dr. William A. Bry- ans program at Worcester State Hospital has been an uplifting force adequate to meet present and widespread mental patient need. A strong man whose whole heart, is in his work as it relates to the human care of the sick in mind has been offered the post at Norwich State Hospital and while we here in Massachusetts will feel our great loss we are fair minded enough, humane enough, to ap- preciate that so much remains 10 be done in Connecticut in better ing the lot of the mentally i'll, ir effecting improvements at Nor wich State Hospital, that we can suffer our loss with the thought that good man has entered up- on his work in 8 field ripe for cul- tivation of the better things of administrative psychiatric life. Vital and vigorous men are need ed and most crucially needed in times like this and certainly so in the psychiatric field. a field little understood by the general public and too often abused by men entrusted with the grave re- responsibilities of rehabilitating the mentally disabled. But Dr. Will 1inrt1 A TarUaY1 Uln0eA Craat tAnolr