Library Collections: Document: Full Text

What mean these entwinings of laurels in wreaths and these busy groups at Asylumia? What spirit of the South is awakening to exertion and industry in the multiform processes of mind struggling in no vain effort of rivalry to appear in the mart of a Fair? The South, the South is going to celebrate its intellectual Christmas. As the devout Christian adorns the church edifice with the freshness of youth, so these adornments of Asylumia indicate the new rising of the sun of "science and religion" in the walks and haunts of sorrowing madness.

It has been long used to exercise the minds of men and women confined in Asylums in the varied arts that appertain unto healthful states, and their product hath been subservient to the high purposes of intellectual refinement -- in establishing libraries, procuring instruments of music and of taste, in enlarging the duties and spheres of official responsibility, and in extending the manipulations of art into the very heart of the region of madness. The mystery of management in such large establishments -- the controlling of so much irresponsibility to some good and apparently valuable purpose -- requires no solution nor elucidation, for it speaks for itself; and as one person of no means, weak and alone, and irresponsible in conscience and mind, is a poor offset to the mighty engines here in motion -- still the redeeming spirit of philanthropic effort classified and systematized produces a confidence in the spirit of virtue and its concomitants, that there will never be a perversion of objects, interests, or duties -- but that here there will ever predominate the principle of justice and mercy.

Our own wish for Asylums is that they should be retired -- that they should be not the gaze of idle curiosity, or the opened way to the infirmities of frailty, but a repose for the "dead in trespasses and sins" incident to the unstrung harp of thousand strings, which is kept in tune by the efforts of medical men. We are reconciled to the idea of showing up the approaches of intellect to its pristine state, provided it were always master of itself -- always its true representative -- and here generally we presume it does its own acting -- its own cogitating -- and not like a master of an academy whose pupil wished him to correct his composition to send home as a trial of his capacity, and every line erased and a substitute therefor from the rector. Original they are -- those beautiful painted roses, and that etching, those stitchings, and carvings, and writings, and printings, and drawings, and stands, and all thereon are Asylumian in design and execution. Those artificial flower too; but those bouquets are from the green-house -- the Phoenician green-house, with its best gardener since the house was "up," presents it beauties and charms; and behind some of its prettiest are the tender plants -- original they, and cared of God -- flowers of immortal and perennial worth. Some may have faded a little on earth, but we trust and hope the beneficent will gather them unto the celestial fruits in the paradise of perfection. We miss some who have adorned the marts by their taste and their exhibitions, by genius worthy of the special notice of better judges than we are -- sisters of devotion, of matchless skill, superlative wisdom, and chastened excellence, refined by the graces and ornaments of meekness and quietness, and destined to bloom "beyond the stars" in the sweet fields where angels deck the groves. The stars of the South, it seems, still twinkle, and their planet's lustre is divine, and will be of more resplendent beauty in the future revolutions of the orb.

The legislature of the State of New York deputed a committee to visit the Asylum. Col. May, of Alleghany, and Mr. Van Etten, of Albany, Mr. David L. Dodge, of Cayuga, who had been their forerunner, and in company with Dr. Henderson and son, of Whitesborough, our vigilant and courteous Superintendent, Hon. Mr. Wetmore, Hon.C. A. Mann, Dr. Bissell, Col. Graham and Mr. Childs, visited, during the Fair, the various departments of the vast arrangement -- the curious ventilating and warming apparatus - the garden and appendages; and -- the fathers of the household seemed to prognosticate that prosperity seemed to attend the doings of Asylumia -- and the boundaries of the sane and insane world directly observed by the sagacious visitors, although we feel ourselves unable to define them.

There were some pretty views of Europe brought over by Mrs. Innes and husband which attracted great attention; and among the visitors, were the Rev. Dr. Fisher, lady and daughter, with Hon. Mrs. Mann, who were eye-witnesses of some of the wonders of the tunnel under the Thames river -- the eighth wonder of the world. The Rev. gentleman is the minister of the Reformed Dutch Church in Utica, and was formerly a trustee of Columbia College, and hath seen some little service in the church and state. He hath honored the Asylum with a visit before, and we hope and trust his visit may be agreeable, useful and honorable in the parish of central New York, adorned as it is with so much science, talent and religion; and although we write this on our Churchman, we, nevertheless, hope that the associate and friend of our late lamented Bishop Wainwright will find congenial spirits in the beautiful valley in propagating the faith once delivered to the saints, and in promoting the interests of "science and religion," among the seminaries of learning and institutions of humanity, where many have left a record of valuable service and of hereditary usefulness no change can blight or destroy; and where our sisters of Asylumia -- some gone to heaven, bless them be yond our eye -- whom we knew but to love, nor would we name but to praise -- have displayed the idubitable -sic- evidence of abilities to contribute to the "special and general anatomy" of human life, by the arts prognostic of future weal. Comparisons are invidious, and are not promotive of the general benefit; but particular exertions, as developed in the exhibitions of the late Fair, are ever most honorable, and the names of the contributors should be known and published, as if in competition for that honor, the world's applause.

Vanity is not peculiar to the insane mind, although it seemeth so in some of its displays; but we do aver that there is as little of "Come, see what I can do" in our Asylumian sisters as in any company of their sex on this mundane sphere. Music, painting, flowers, dancing, poetry, beauty, light, hope, joy and love, if there were no opposites, would render life pleasant, and if there were no discordant materials, no agonies, no disappointments, no sighs and tears, no real heart-ache that music cannot drown, no deferred hopes, palsying human energies, withering earthly expectations, casting on the ocean of life the shattered barque of intellect without pilot or a rudder.

Besides the various adornments of the hall and the excitements of the Post-Office, views of the Thames Tunnel, Fortune's favors, and the presence of distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and occasional music from Mrs. B--, the band of Mr. Saxe was there, and did discourse most prettily and thrillingly, contributing most effectively to the interest of the scene, and rendering a favor which will be cherished in the heart's archives of Asylumia. Although not favored with the glorious moon light, still the weather was favorable, and boquets and ice-cream and shell-fish were among the visibles -- although we never saw the cream before in winter, and supposing for the instant it was summer, looked at a "serving" from a kind gentleman, but placing it on the old medicine-board, there was a mistake in the person, and the old adage was true, that there was "many a slip between the cup and the lip," and our winter cream melted away. The condiments were nice and the cake artistic and tasteful. Mother Ann in Connecticut has pastry that would make Queen Victoria's mouth water, and some "plain cake" that would weddingize all the "celibicates;" but our hopes are that Asylumia will ever remember Jacob, not only for his summer but his winter retreat, and that the brethren of the household may improve in gallantry, of which they have such good examples in their officers on duty at the Fair and at the Soirees. We spied some pretty flowers, and some pretty ones behind them, really looking as interesting as the inanimates, and whose simple grace and beauty delighted as it gave by its industry and talent zest to the whole scene. The valentines of the Saint were duly appreciated, and we are thankful for the notice of him; but some person had one of ours before we had read it, and had an intimation that we had forsaken a dear one from our native Stamford, and another unbroken seal from Clinton; but we dream of our misfortunes, and with correspondents more respectable and handsomer fellows than we are; and although St. Valentine has been so liberal, and his office perverted -- although it grieves us to learn that for reasons!!! Oh dear! the practice of courting the saint's favor is proposed to cease, because some reckless ones have violated the taste and refinement incident to the pure old saint, and soiled the petals of the roses adorning his garden. The world should blush and sink down in an Irish bog for ever for it. Our purpose is to celebrate the annual feast of joy with more interest, if possible; and if we are old and grey-headed, we hope the saint will not forsake us, and that the good old times of sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers -- animate and inanimate -- will ever be returning in the annual evolutions of St. Valentine, and that here peace and happiness, love, friendship, sense, genius, taste, humanity, and the memory of departed friends may be cherished in the heart of hearts, -- that ever may this monument of the humanity be a memorial of unadulterated enjoyments, having an affiance with the substantial and permanent benefit of immortal beings. Thanks to all who shared in the feast of reason and the flow of soul; and blessed are they who have, poor Richard-like, learned to take care of the pence. Our ever active Physicians, Steward, Apothecary, and Clerk did their duty like good soldiers and aids to the Commander-in-Chief.

The ladies of Asylumia have had the Fair which has been talked about for the last three months, and which has called out industry and ingenuity in all departments of needlework. Improvement has been making every day in the varieties which ladies manufacture, for new ways are introduced to fashion over old articles, and old ways to produce new. Many original ideas are brought out, some quite fantastic, others altogether utilitarian. For three days the door of 1st Hall South Wing, was open for visitors from 10 o'clock, P. M., to 9 o'clock, A. M., to take a view and make purchase of articles displayed. Imagine yourself one of them, and you will enter a festal scene, for the walls of the long hall are festooned with garlands of evergreen. Small tables are scattered through it covered with fancy fare; a lady salesman presiding at each invites your attention and tempts to make a selection. Surely there must be something here to suit your taste. This screen is exquisitely carved, and the painting is so truthful to nature -- that pincushion is so beautifully embroidered -- that reticule so tastefully fashioned -- also caps and collars of the latest style -- and all very cheap, especially when the object is brought to your mind to which your money will be devoted. It is not alone the new piano which is to be bought -- it will be played with skill -- it will wile many from sorrow; but of higher price is the inspiring influence of a piece of work accomplished and profitably disposed of. The book-mark, or basket, has called out social feeling; it has, perhaps, invigorated and restored a diseased mind; it has called out dormant faculties -- excited a mind from its morbid sensations to look at bright reality; and if it come in the form of doll, or a dress to be carried home some future day, or to be admired and copied now, the work of cure is begun -- you have ministered to mind diseased, and that is noble charity. A post-office calls for notice. You inquire for letters and you will not fail to meet your wishes -- you can have either sentimental or comic correspondents, and valentines are there for any price. At the end of the hall you will find a lady stationed by a net bag of large dimensions and well filled -- "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the grab-bag -- only one shilling for your chance." You can but pay it and thrust in your hand for a grab at a pincushion, a neck tie, or a pinafore ; you will get the worth of your shilling and a hearty laugh in the bargain. The chief sport is in the evening -- a band of music then is playing -- a table to refresh with cakes and ice-creams is set out -- there is a large party of well-pleased guests -- patients and attendants form the chief proportion. This house contains 600 persons, and every department is represented. It is a day of recreation. New dresses and new caps have been bought in expectation of seeing and being seen on Fair day. It is the beginning of a new era to some benighted mind. It may cast out an old fancy and bring in its place something new to brighten up the mind. New faces are seen and old acquaintances are found. The ladies all look gay and witching; the gentlemen are good-humored, ready to please and be pleased -- they pay good prices. A call to supper breaks up the sale and ends the scene. Thus pass three days, leaving behind them a good profit, and, in many, pleasant recollections.