Loving Efforts for Idiots and Incurables
Andrew Reed
When Dr. Reed pledged himself to erect a new Asylum for destitute orphans of all denominations, without distinction of creed or catechism, he knew full well that he had put his hand to a difficult task. A third asylum for orphans might seem to most people superfluous; while others, inclined to sneer, were disposed to say that Dr. Reed had gone “asylum crazy.” But while, on the one hand, the numerous applications for admission to the existing orphanages proved the need which remained for another institution, it became Dr. Reed’s cherished work to raise homes for the destitute, the incapable, and the suffering. This, he more than once publicly owned.
As he looked around him, however, after Reedham was finished, and placed on a secure basis, he noticed another class, for whom nothing had been done. These were idiots, “Now,” said he, “I will go to the lowest,” and forthwith he commenced work for them.
Writing at different times upon this subject, while it lay maturing in his mind, he said, “I think from the observations I have made, that an asylum is greatly needed for indigent idiots. Inquiry must yet be made; and if needful, action must follow. ... I hope to do something for a fellow-creature who, though human, is separate, alone, can do nothing, and wishes nothing. Some are better, some worse; this is the maximum of incapacity; but the Divine image is stamped upon all. o.. I have naturally a love for the beautiful, and a shrinking, almost a loathing of infirmity or deformity. Alas! poor idiot! while he is the greater sufferer, I am the greater sinner.” From that time, he made diligent inquiries respecting the condition and treatment of idiots in different European countries, going himself to the Continent to obtain information, and corresponding with America. The results of all these inquiries and investigations were laid before the English public in his plea for this new asylum, and induced many to consider seriously the sufferings and necessities of a very large class which had hitherto been almost wholly neglected.
From these returns, he found that in Massachusetts, America, there was one idiot to every six hundred of the population; in France, Denmark, and Sweden, one to every thousand; and in the Alpine districts, the proportion was unusually high, on account of the prevalence of goitre. Indeed, in one mountainous hamlet, out of 1472 inhabitants, no fewer than over 1,000 were cretins of more or less pronounced idiotcy. Then he communicated with the Poor Law Board and the various workhouses throughout England, and discovered that, as nearly as possible, there were in England and Wales about 19,000 idiots, for whom no provison was made, other than that existing for lunatics; and that when not under restraint, they were suffered to wander untaught, uncared for, and unprotected. This was in 1847.
Some hospitals and asylums for idiots existed in Continental countries, and certain of the physicians superintending those institutions had gained almost world-wide fame. From them he obtained many hints, and much instruction; besides this, a lady, a member of his own Church, came to consult him about her son, an idiot boy, desiring earnestly to find an establishment where he might be trained to know and do something, in a way suited to his feeble powers. This fact so interested him that he subscribed the first gift to the newly-started charity, while the poor mother became the second subscriber, giving ten guineas, hoping that from this movement some blessing would accrue to her son.
At last, in October, 1847, after pleading with the clergy* capitalists, merchants, and philanthropists of the country, he announced a meeting for the formation of this new asylum. The meeting was presided over by the Lord Mayor, and a vigorous, heart-stirring address was prepared for the occasion by Dr. Reed. From it we extract two or three sentences. “It is for the poor idiot we plead; for the idiot, the lowest of all the objects of Christian sympathy; for the idiot, most needing charity, and for whom charity has done nothing. We ask that he may be elevated from existence to life — from animal being to manhood — from vacancy and unconsciousness to reason and reflection. We ask that his soul may be disimprisoned; that he may look forth from the body with that meaning and intelligence on a world full of expression; that he may discourse with his fellows; that he may cease to be a burden on society, and become a blessing; that he may be qualified to know his Maker, and look beyond our present imperfect modes of being to perfected life, in a glorious and everlasting future.”
At last the enterprise was fairly started. A large’ mansion, standing on Highgate Hill, surrounded by about sixteen acres of pleasure and garden ground,, was taken, and made ready for its new inmates, im April, 1848.
But the entrance of the poor idiotic patients was a sight never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. “Distraction, disorder, and noise reigned supreme — noises too, of the most strange and unearthly character. Some were unable to talk, others were blind, or nearly so; many were lame, and useless; all were weak in mind. All had been either ill-used, neglected, or indulged till they were spoiled. Some were clamorous and violent, others sullen, others stupid and senseless. Some were bold and defiant; others shy, timid, and scared. Windows were smashed, wainscoting broken, boundaries defied, and the spirit of lawlessness was triumphant. It seemed to me that nothing less than the accommodations of a prison would meet the wants of such a family. Some who witnessed the scene retired fromf it in disgust, others in despair.” Surely here was a work requiring the exercise of faith and patience!
Very soon this family grew to number fifty persons, while the home itself was fitted up with every regard to health and the convenience of the inmates. There were baths of all kinds, a gymnasium, and small patches of garden ground, in which each inmate, capable of holding a garden tool, could work. Under this training the mental and bodily health of the idiot began speedily to improve; while the amazing quickness of some of them in learning surprised even the teachers. Instructors, nurses, and servants were lS. astonished to find bow soon they could awakea no The World’s Workers.
interest and intelligence in hitherto dormant minds.
One day the late Duke of Cambridge walked in unannounced, and entered the play-room, where Dr. Reed was standing surrounded by several of the boys. Of course the visitor was addressed by Dr. Reed as “Your Royal Highness,” and the boys hearing this moved off quietly, obtained their musical instruments, and formed up into a band in order to play the National Anthem to the Duke. His Royal Highness listened attentively to the performance, and then politely lifted his hat to the idiots in response. One lad who had hitherto stood by, taking no part in the music, then approached him, and asked, “Sir, who are you y “** My name,” replied the visitor, “is Adolphus, and I am the Duke of Cambridge.” “I am a prince’s son,” replied the lad, and he cordially shook the Royal visitor’s hand. He then kept hold of the Duke’s hand and walked by his side during the remainder of the visit This lad’s progress was always inquired after from this time as long as the Duke lived. Indeed, he manifested the greatest interest in most of the youths.
Among the remedies used for weak minds and muscles were swings, climbing poles, marching to the sound of the music of their own band, pictures, and live pets. Some had to be taught as patiently as if they were infants, how to lift weights, walk, hold things, and feed themselves. The way in which they Andrew Reed. hi
attached themselves to live pets was remarkable. One of the boys had taught a robin to come and pick up scattered crumbs; but one day the bird was dead on the garden path, and Dr. Reed found the little fellow crying piteously over it This was the first sign of healthy emotion that the boy had ever shown. Going home, Dr. Reed told the story to his own grandchildren, begging of them to supply the lack. Immediately they gave up their own pigeon-house, with the birds, to the inmates; and next day the whole was carried over to Highgate, where, as may be imagined, the present was received amid manifestations of delight.
So successful had the work become that it was necessary to seek for fresh accommodation. Essex Hall, near Colchester, was secured in January 1850, and the younger children were drafted off to that home under the direction of a wise and worthy matron, arid a trustworthy staff of assistants.
Soon after getting into Essex Hall, a dreadful storm occurred, which shattered the windows and doors, blew down the chimney-stacks, and crushed in the roofs. Providentially, however, nobody was hurt, although some narrow escapes were experienced. Speaking of the difficulties connected with that time. Dr. Reed said, “In two years we have been burnt out, blown down and robbed, besides which, our whole course was on untrodden ground.” At this time about one hundred and forty-five idiots were under his care, and one hundred and seventy more awaiting admission.
Seeing this, there seemed no help for it but to build. The results at Highgate had been marvellous. Instead of being exposed as heretofore to the gibes, and sneers, and scorn of the unfeeling, the idiots were gaining an education, and actually qualifying for easy employments; while the discipline of the asylum was observed, and its property sacredly respected. Yet all this was accomplished without any correction or punishment; for Dr. Reed made it an imperative law that Love should be the ruling power in his institutions.
While waiting and planning for the new building, Dr. Reed continued his oversight of the two homes at Highgate and Colchester. At both his presence was eagerly welcomed by all the patients. They even knew and could speak his name, when they could not remember their own. He would take the little ones by the hand, and go round with them to inspect the growing seeds, the birds and the rabbits in the hutches. These things made his presence very welcome to each inmate, and always anticipated with delight.
About this time Dr. Reed received the royal command to attend at Buckingham Palace, to explain his plans and purposes. He did so, and was told that Her Majesty would graciously subscribe two hundred and fifty guineas to the fund of the institution, in prder to entitle Prince Albert to a life presentatioix.
The Prince’s first nomination was the son of a poor dissenting minister in Wales.
Dr. Reed spent the Christmas of 185 1 at Essex Hall among his patients. He states that seventy or eighty of them filed into the dining-room and sat down in the most orderly manner to the dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, never offering to touch anything on the table until they were served with it. Then, afterwards, they partook of dessert, consisting of oranges, apples, and figs in the most perfect order, and with a neatness and quietness which would have reflected credit on the most rational guests. Then, after a happy evening with music and games, tea, and magic lantern, they retired orderly and quietly to their dormitories, first singing the Evening Hymn, and offering a simple form of prayer.
At length — it having been determined to build a larger institution — in June, 1852, the Prince Consort consented to attend the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone at Earlswood, where the idiots* new home was to be established. A dinner was held in the city the same evening, attended by numerous noble personages. Many kind friends gave their testimony to the benefits conferred on the two hundred and fifty idiots already in Essex Hall, and pleaded eloquently for the extension of the same benefits to others just as helpless and incapable. Among the rest, Mr. Sidney, a clergyman, published an interesting report of a visit which he had made .to the idiots at Essex Hall. In it he said —
“I proceeded to the schoolroom, where the pupils were arranged on benches, in front of the patient and gentle master. To the eye the group appeared most extraordinary; the countenances, the forms of these poor creatures are so different from all one ever sees of human beings collected together. Some are of large size, others excessively small for their ages; a few have no proper use of their limbs, while every one has a distinct expression, either of drollery or of vacancy, with here and there an example of almost stupor. The greater part, however, seemed quite alive to a singing-leSson that was going on, but the voice was throughout characteristic — the voice of imbecility which must be heard to be understood. They took the various signals in most instances with as much quickness as in ordinary schools, and were equally obedient to them, only often responding with a laugh or sound of vacancy, or an odd, and often quaint remark.
“Teaching them numbers, arithmetic in a small way, addition and multiplication, is now and then possible; but I only heard one boy count, and that with difficulty. They delight in drawing. Some have lost, to a surprising degree, not only the vacant look, but the slouching air that they had when the mischievous boys of their native place used to tease them in the streets, and stand erect as soldiers.... The writing in the copy-books I saw was quite as Andrew Rf.fd. 115
good as is generally seen in any beginners; and the way in which certain of them learn trades is beyond what might be expected. One boy who could not speak plainly, could not tell where he came from, and in all his replies to questions manifested what he was, had, nevertheless, just put a large pane into one of the windows, as perfectly as a regular glazier.” In some cases the improvement was so marked that mothers failed to recognise their own children at first.
Dr. Reed spent the Christmas Day of 1852 also with the patients at Essex Hall, and was “four hours getting back through fields of snow.” Then he had to walk two miles between one and two o’clock in the morning to his home “in the teeth of a biting north-east wind,” because of the absence of conveyances. But the good man’s heart was warm with love to the objects of his pity.
At length, in April, 1855, Earlswood was declared open by the Prince Consort, and a religious, dedicatory service was held by the Bishop of Oxford. This noble building had cost ;£^30,oc>3, and was capable of accommodating 500 inmates. Although Highgate was given up, Essex Hall was not closed, but still retained in full working order as an idiot asylum for the Eastern counties.
Many incidents are recorded, of an interesting character, of the boys at Earlswood. One of them manifested a remarkable taste for drawing, and at last made an excellent copy of one of Landseer’s celebrated pictures. This drawing was sent to Windsor Castle for presentation to the Queen, and was very kindly received by her. She sent a present back by way of encouragement to the young artist After this the lad constructed, from a picture on a cheap cotton handkerchief, the model of a man-of-war fully equipped for sea. Dr. Reed was so proud of this performance that he sought admission for it to the Exhibition of 1861, styling it a “Work of Art, by an Idiot”
Among other touching cases at Earlswood, Dr. Reed relates this one: “Near the fireplace, in one of the beds, was a boy with a countenance of tranquil resignation. His face was of singular fairness, tinged with a hectic flush, which contrasted strongly with the white hue of his cheek. His gentleness and patience were indicated in his every look. I asked him what made him so comfortable, and in whom he trusted. He replied quietly, but with evident emotion, * My Saviour.’ *What did He do for you?* I asked. ’ * Died for me,’ was his answer. * Why did He die for you? * I continued, and he answered, * For my sins; that I might go to heaven.’ All this was said with a simplicity of manner which it was profitable to witness, and showed what a gracious compensation God had given him for the defects in his bodily powers and mental abilities, and the illness that was now wasting his feeble constitution.”
But the evening of old age was now drawing on; and, conscious that life’s shadows were lengthening, Dr. Reed made haste to do one more work. This work had lain on his conscience for some time; so that, even when pressed down with anxiety about the erection at Earlswood, he ever kept it before him as his last public service. He knew that in the verynature of things he could not expect to accomplish more, but that he might be spared to do this was his earnest prayer. Already one or two warnings had reached him that he was breaking down: a paralytic stroke had, for a little time, taken away the use of his left arm and hand, and the permanent weakness which remained acted as a powerful warning, telling that his time was growing short, and stimulating him to work while it was yet called day. His constant prayer was that he might be permitted to found yet another asylum.
This Asylum was to be one for incurable people dismissed from the various hospitals of the land as past cure, for whom nothing remained but a slowly lingering death through poverty and pain. On making inquiries. Dr. Reed found that many poor sufferers were in this case. After a certain time spent at some hospital in hope of cure, they were dismissed, hopelessly diseased, penniless for the most part, unable to procure the means of subsistence, and often utterly friendless. There existed no institution wherein these poor creatures could find a home; and yet, according to a calculation which he made. founded on the returns of different hospitals, the number so situated could not be fewer than many hundreds yearly. He did not propose to provide for “the worthless, the dissolute, or the mere pauper;” but for those who, next above the pauper class, were yet unable to provide wholly for themselves.
Charles Dickens, in his “Household Words,” had advocated such a work about this time; and two or three efforts had been commenced in response to this appeaj. From one cause and another, however, they all broke down, or died a natural death, so that the way still remained clear for Dr. Reeds undertaking. He had watched all these tendencies of public opinion with an attentive eye, hoping that something would be done; but as he saw that these efforts had failed, he at once brought his own plans into public notice. In July, 1854, he made this entry in his note-book, “Proposed asylum for the permanent care and comfort of those who, by disease, accident, or deformity, are hopelessly disqualified for the duties of life. Bless Thou the springing thereof.”
He obtained medical testimony as to the need of such ail institution, and statistics from all quarters, at home and abroad. Fortified by these, he called a public meeting, and laid his plans and appeals before his audience. The leading surgeons and physicians attached to the great London hospitals united in saying that such a home for incurable discharged patients was imperatively needed. This declaration, signed by the gentlemen in question, produced a remarkable effect on the public mind; the sympathy of both great and good was secured, and subscriptions came in, in order to start the charity.
A house at Carshalton, in Surrey, was taken, pending the erection of the asylum, and in November the first election of inmates took place. Speaking of this election Dr. Reed says, “I was strikingly reminded of the groups which must have often surrounded the blessed Saviour — the maimed, the halt, the helpless, and the crippled. Here was one completely doubled up with chronic rheumatism; another without feet, living on a sledge; another paralysed from birth, and crawling like a reptile.” So distressing was the sight to those who had to do with the election, and so poignant the disappointment to those poor suffering ones who had not succeeded in being elected to the benefits of the charity, that all succeeding elections were conducted without the presence of the candidates. Dr. Reed, from the first, made it a rule that all inmates should be at liberty to retain any articles of furniture, or any ornaments to which they were attached in their former homes. These helped to make the new abode “seem like home,” and afforded pleasant reminiscences to their possessors.
In December, 1855, twenty acres of the Reedham estate were bought for the proposed Asylum at a I20 The WoRLiis Workers,
cost of ;^2,5oo. Pending the erection of the asylum, another house, known as Putney House, was taken, and fitted up for those patients who could not be accommodated at Carshalton, so that soon the number of them had risen to ninety-seven.
When the new building appeared to be actually started, Dr. Reed was busy as ever in drawing up instructions to architects, and giving out specifications for the erection. But he was not permitted to see the carrying out of his enterprise. Putney House was known as the Royal Hospital for Incurables, and has been so occupied from that time up to the present. But Dr. Reed’s mind still ran upon the contemplated edifice, so that within a few days of his death, he sprang up in bed, and, resting upon his elbow, said, with the utmost earnestness, to one of his sons, “Charles, remember that every one of those poor, creatures is infirm — most are crippled. See to it that the plan of the building is so laid that you may get rid of steps and stairs whenever you can. Use the inclined plane and the lift everywhere, and make it easy for the sufferers to be wheeled out into the sunshine upon the terrace walks, and have the windows low enough to give even the bedridden a cheery prospect. This is my wish, remember. My love to them all. I hope my country will remember the charities.” This was one instance of the ruling passion being strong in death.
From a statement put forward by his bio-
founded
in 1812.
1827.
1847.
1854.
1859. graphers, * we find that Dr. Reed was instrumental in raising six Asylums’ for Orphans, Idiots, and Incurables, These are as follow, with dates of foundation: —
London Orphan Asylum
Infant Orphan Asylum
Asylum for Fatherless Children (Reedham)
Asylum for Idiots (Earlswood)
Royal Hospital for Incurables
Eastern Counties Idiot Asylum (Essex Hall)
The total cost of these Asylums, either of building, or purchase, was about ;£”! 30,000; they can shelter 2,100 inmates, while thousands have passed through the different orphanages to respectable and useful positions in life. To these institutions Dr. Reed gave the ripest and most experienced services of his life, extending over a period of fifty years; while his cash contributions reached nearly £$,000, Indeed, sometimes he gave money to the extent of crippling himself, and of foregoing needful summer relaxation and rest; but then he would remark, “If my children get the lighter purse, they will have the weightier blessing.” And all this money was given, in addition to the time, thought, patient labour, superintendence, and gratuitous service of half a century.
* The writer may here acknowledge her obligations to the large” Life of Dr. Reed,’’ — written by two of his sons — from which most of the materials for this sketch have been gathered.
It was recorded by those officials who knew best, that he was so conscientious in regard to the funds of the charities, that he always defrayed the expenses of his own postages on their behalf, as well as the cost of his private conveyance to and from the institutions; while he scrupulously avoided taking refreshments at any cost but his own.
It was said by a gentleman who knew him well, and who spoke of him after he had passed away. “I cannot reflect upon Dr. Reed’s character and course without being forcibly reminded of Edmund Burke’s magnificent tribute to the memory of John Howard. If he did not make a circumnavigation of charity, he struck out for himself a new path of usefulness, and expelling sectarianism from the domain of humanity, erected houses of refuge for the destitute and the helpless which are the glory of his country, and the admiration of the world. John Howard indeed bequeathed to us a noble example; but the good which Andrew Reed did will live after him so long as the asylums which he founded shall continue to receive appropriate inmates.”