Charles Dickens in Boston - 1842

from American Notes, pages 56, page 56:

Once a week, [the patients] have a ball, in which the Doctor and his family, with all the nurses and attendants, take an active part. Dances and marches are performed alternately, to the enlivening strains of a piano; and now and then some gentleman or lady (whose proficiency has been previously ascertained) obliges the company with a song: nor does it ever degenerate, at a tender crisis, into a screech or howl; wherein, I must confess, I should have thought the danger lay. At an early hour they all meet together for these festive purposes; at eight o’clock refreshments are served; and at …   more >>
cite as

American Notes, pages 56. In Charles Dickens , and Patricia Ingham (ed.), American Notes (2000), p. 56. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1382444923 accessed: 28 March, 2024

location of experience: Boston

Listeners

Charles Dickens
Writer
1812-1870

Listening to

hide composers
dance music
song

Experience Information

Date/Time 1842
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, in private, indoors

Notes

The institution in question is the 'State Hospital for the insane' in South Boston.


Originally submitted by hgb3 on Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:28:43 +0100