CHRISTMAS DAY AT THE ASYLUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10013, 27 December 1895, Page 5

CHRISTMAS DAY AT THE ASYLUM.

Mr. P. G. Ewinutox, official visitor to the Lunatic Asylum, writes as follows: —" On Christmas Day I visited the Asylum and found that Dr. Hassell, Dr. Beattie, and the staff had done all in their power to afford the patients a happy Christmas. It seems almost like cruel mockery to wish somo of the patients ' A Happy Christmasand one feels the words freeze upon his lips as a poor broken lunatic asks: 'How can you expect mo to have a happy Christmas hero when you know I would rather die than live ?' All that one can do is to spoak a cheering word and pass on, for who can

Minister t» a mind diseased, Pluck from llic memory a rooted sorrow, Riub mil. tho written troubles of tile brain, And with some mveol oblivious antidote Olmiiisu the stulfd bosom of ih it perilous stuff Which weigh* upon tile lie irt ? No one but tho patient himself can ; and the difficulty is to got him to try to do so. But the doctors and staff do get Borne to mako that effort, 1 saw evidences of their desires to shed a ray of hopo and gladness into hearts dark and despairing. Tho dining hall and some of tho day rooms wore tastefully decorated with flowers and overgrew)?. Some of the patients had oheorily helped with tho decorations, and tho femalo departments quite out-shone those of the males in more graceful general arrangement, and the better blending of colours. The men's dining hall looked pretty. Hero and there amongst the overgreens were hung appropriate mottoes, Wishing you a happy Now Year," or giving a "Welcome to All," whilst some, in anticipation of a cask of beer sent as a Christmas present by Aft'. Moss Davis, had put up in gaudy colours tho motto, " Here's your Health." Not forgetting tho glad tidings of Cliristmastide, thero was placed over tho entrance to the infirmary ward, " Glory to God in tho Highest." The women had been a little more profuse with their decorations, and some of the day rooms looked lovely. There, too, patients were wished, "The compliments of the Season."

For dinner they had plum pudding, a glass of beer, fruit, and little ob cetoras, all of which they thoroughly enjoyed. Poor souls I tlioy need all they can get to relievo tho monotony of asylum life, and cheer their drooping hearts. Some refuse to be comforted, and others are beyond comfort, being simply vegetating. Since my last visit a new patient had been sent into the Asylum—a little girl four and ahalf years old. A femalo patient remarked to mo" If they are going to soud children like this hero, wo shall want a lob of nurses." Hub how is it that a child of such tender years ia sent there, where there are bub little means of classification? She ought to bo in her mother's keeping, and if the mother is unable to mind her, possibly through having other children to care for, then she ought to bo sent to a cottage home and boarded by tho State. Two doctors have certified to tho child's lunacy, and so far the law is technically complied with, but I protest against children of such tender years in her condition being sent to the Lunatic Asylum. That child is the second littlo girl they have in tho Asylum. It is a matter that needs watching. At present thore are 242 males and 143 female?, total 385 in the Asylum. Many cures are effected thero, and oneoeases to despair of very bad cases when ha sees such remarkable cures as take place in the institution. Dr. Hassell and Dr. Boattie are unremitting in their attention to tho patients, and many persons now pursuing their ordinary avocations in Auckland owe their restored reason to those two gentlemen and their excellent staff. At this season of the year when nearly all hoarts ovorllow with goodwill, an excellent opportunity is afforded by the gift of books, cards, and pictorial papers to choer some of the inosb desolate and depressed of our fellow-creatures in tho Lunatic Asylum.