Life in an Insane Asylum [pp. 161-171]

1893.J Lzfr ijz an hisane Asyi?tm. 163
the freedom of the yards. The refra& tients go to the yards for their after tory ones are confined in bare yards, noon recreation. A walk among them
surrounded by a ten-foot wall, while the at this time is decidedly interesting.
convalescents wander about the pleas- Dickens has not pictured more gro ant grounds in front of the asylum, un- tesque or fanciful characters than are
der the care of the attendants. At the assembled bere, under the trees and
same time the physicians visit the along the paths. The grounds are well
wards and prescribe for those who are filled with patients, either walking, not able to go out. slowly, briskly or sedately,- or sitting
The patients return to the building on the benches and under the trees, or
at eleven o'clock and prepare for din- sprawling, in various positions, on the
ner, which is served at eleven-thirty. lawns. Here are ministers, doctors, law
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The noon meal consists of eitber stew yers and judges, skilled engineers, me
or soup, with boiled meat, potatoes, and chanics and farmers.
either cabbage or carrots, bread and Old men are here, infirm and whitebutter, molasses and tea. Roast meat bearded, young men and middle-aged.
is provided once a week. After dinner There is something strangely sad about
the patients lounge in the wards. ~ome the scene, which affects ladies, and
of the men indulge in a pipe. Few seem others of a sympathetic nature, to tears.
inclined to engage in any form of amuse- When we consider how many darkened
ment, while many do not read on ac- homes and broken hearts tbese people
count of the scarcity of reading matter. represent, - how many tears and neverSuch periodicals and newspapers as healing wounds, how many lives of posthey have are from private donations. sible usefulness lost to the State and -
These few hours of interim grow quite society, we may, indeed, turn with sadmonotonous. ness from the sight.
When the bell strikes two, the pa- Starting from the western end of the