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Within a few years several interesting works have been published by those familiar with the interior of asylum life which have led, and are leading to important reforms in the management of these institutions.

In Jacksonville, 111., a few years ago, there was a general jail delivery of married women from the Asylum in that place, who had been emancipated by the passage of a law requiring an inquiry into the reason of their detention! The mental torture and anguish suffered by these innocent women, imprisoned on the pretence of insanity, the imagination can hardly conceive, and no pen can fully describe.

But while the forcible capture and detention of sane persons is not now as feasible as it has been, anywhere, and certainly is not legal, as it was in Illinois in the case of married women, yet it is quite clear that other reforms in asylum management are demanded.

One of these, and perhaps the most important, is the removal of the censorship from the correspondence of the patients.

A bill for this purpose is now before the Legislature of Iowa, and trust it will meet with favorable consideration and action.

At first blush it might seem a dangerous innovation upon the rules of a Lunatic Asylum to allow the inmates to write when and what they pleased to their families and friends. It might occasion some annoyance to keepers and superintendents to have their conduct freely criticised by the people in all stages of insanity. But experience shows that the enforced silence of the victims has been the bulwark of all the abuses that have crept into these institutions.

The inconvenience, therefore, which the officials might suffer from unfounded complaints would be trifling compared to the benefits that will flow from the abolition of the censorship. Unrestricted correspondence will tend to keep the management wholesome and economical. It will insure the inmates kind and considerate treatment, and restrain keepers and physicians from acts of tyranny and violence. It will tend to alleviate the mental malady by affording an innocent gratification; by cultivating affection for relatives, and by giving the mind a rational theme for reflection. It will give their friends a test of the condition of their minds, and show the prospects of recovery or otherwise. In short it will operate wholly in the interests of the class for whom asylums are established, and of the public whose munificence supports them.

It is a reform that is needed, and we trust Iowa will not be slow in adopting it."

I accompanied these editorials with the inquiry, cannot the bill be rescued from the vortex into which you have cast it, and it be yet considered?

In reply came this cheering intelligence:

"I must say that your perseverance and devotion to the cause you have espoused, challenges my admiration. And your appeal shall not pass unheeded, for my warmest sympathies are enlisted in behalf of the insane.

The bill you speak of has not passed beyond the control of the House, and I will have steps taken to have it re-referred to Committee so that you can be heard before them towards the last of this week.

You can notify myself or Newbold or Keables or Stewart at the State-House, and you will receive an early hearing.

Your respectfully,
J. M. HOVEY."

Elated with this prospect, I immediately left my home in Chicago and started for Des Moines. Upon arrival, I engaged board at the Pacific House, and early the next morning I went to the State-House in pursuit of some of the parties referred to.

Being an entire stranger in the city, and having no one on whom to rely for introduction to the members, alone I sought and found the Legislative Hall, when I was directed by the door-keeper to the side seats occupied by strangers and lobbyists.

Soon my correspondent, Mr. Hovey, came and introduced himself, and extended to me a cordial welcome, and so did several other members of this Committee to whom he introduced me.

After consultation, it was agreed I should have as early a hearing as possible in the Library-Room, before a committee of both houses.

During the three days which intervened, I formed the acquaintance of Governor Carpenter and the State Officers, and as many of the members and employees about the house as possible.

Governor Carpenter gave me his most hearty approval of the bill, and from his first acquaintance he became my private counselor in all matters relating to the fate of the bill. And of him it may truly be said no State ever had the honor of having a more worthy, humane and Christian governor than Iowa now has. In this noble man the unfortunate and oppressed will ever find a true friend and efficient helper, as his enforcement of the law will doubtless demonstrate.

The Committee allowed me two hearings in the Library-Room of about one-half hour each time. At the last meeting a large number of the legislative body were present besides the Committee on Public Institutions of both Houses.