636 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



which characterize our sometimes palatial institutions. But, 

 though cheerless in other respects, there were cheap harmoni- 

 cums even in the most disturbed wards ; and, although they were 

 little better than our street hand-organs, it seemed to me that 

 they served a far better purpose than the solitary grand piano 

 which is only seen in the convalescent wards of our State institu- 

 tions. There were signs of activity everywhere, and a gratifying 

 absence of that gloomy monotony which is so apt to pervade asy- 

 lum life. The other Irish asylums which I visited were in marked 

 contrast to this ; and there was nothing, so far as I could observe, 

 to account for the superiority of the latter, save the school system 

 so energetically pursued. 



In proof of the old adage that history repeats itself, the experi- 

 ment that was tried in the Utica Asylum nearly half a century 

 ago was again taken up some three years since. A similar revival 

 of interest in this subject also took place in two or three other 

 American asylums. In Utica, a small class for the men, with a 

 recovered patient as teacher, was first organized, two hours in the 

 morning being devoted to the teaching of the simpler branches. 

 Such was its success that another class was soon formed for the 

 instruction of the women. The next winter the school was again 

 opened, and it is now in its third year of successful working ; and 

 the interest maintained is so great that it is at times difficult to 

 find places in the school-room for all who wish to attend. 



The female department of the school (the one to which I shall 

 confine my description) is in charge of an experienced teacher, 

 who is assisted by three patients. Two are melancholiacs who 

 have delusions of a depressing character, and one frequently 

 makes the ward doleful with her moans. The third has the delu- 

 sion that she is the wife of a prominent physician in a distant 

 part of the State, and insists upon being called by his name. All 

 three, however, manage to keep their delusions in abeyance, and 

 appear to quite forget them while engaged in their work. The 

 population of the women's wards is a little above three hundred, 

 and of this number about seventy are enrolled as members of 

 the school. The average attendance is about fifty. This number 

 could be greatly increased ; but, as the school-room is small, only 

 selected cases, and those who are particularly anxious to become 

 pupils, are allowed to attend. The session is held between the 

 hours of ten and twelve in the morning. The teacher first reads 

 a chapter from the Bible, the question of the Bible in the school 

 not being a disputed one in this particular instance ; the pupils 

 then repeat the Lord's prayer in unison, and afterward unite in 

 singing one of the gospel songs. The books are not taken from 

 the school-room ; the lessons are given out, and about a quarter 

 of an hour is allowed for their preparation. 



