Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-02-28
From the New Orleans Delta.

Tho state House mistaken for the Insane
Asylum
J; is to be regretted that there does not exist
a species ofarchtectural phrenology or physiog
rJmy by which the purpose of public buildings
could he known by survey of their exterior
The absence Of such a science, unG the fact that
"a large cities public buildings are very often
yes,ed to uses different from their original de-
sr0, lead 10 queer mistakes-to drol misap-
'-"hansons The following occurrence Of yes.
.'rd,y, will serve to illustrate what wo say.
10 strangers from .he Buckeye State, whose
tr<i visit 1t was to the city, went ab Ut to take
view Of the Crescent. ard 10 see what was 10
.N seen. After prnmiscrous walk Of an hour
or 50 they found themselves in Canal street,
ed after passing their individual opinons on
'Nat ample public avenue, the demidilapida,ed
N'a'e House in Canal street, with its dusky
ndowS and rusty walls, attracted their a,ten.
'..r. We cannot say mesmerc influence oper
f'nd on their minds at The moment. but certain
4 is, that they Jointly OF unanimously concluded
'''t il must be the Insane Asylum, and. as they
s9id themselves that il "want nothin' else"
here was hut one circumstance threw doubt
- their opinion, and that was that the door aud
- rate Leading 70 it were both thrown open.
Fae;ng third party coming up, whom they
tightly judged to b. resident citizen and who
vas in fact one Of the knowingest too they
thought they would have their doubts solved.
7,l 60, when hr approached, politely put tho
graSton to him as this, sir, the lssne Asy.
!nn' Ilesiratinr only n momen'--fnr he
''onghtthe qrerists were no, long in town he
-onlei, 'Ies-O yes, that is the Inaane--that
j.. il sometimes is an Insane Asylum pcriodi.
ally. gentlemen, periodically it is used for that
purP>o,'
why. they don't ever let the mad folks out.
10 they ! said one Of the Ohionns
why, yes, they do said the quizzical cit !;
Il is thought that change Of scene-,he coun.
Try air--s rather beneficial for the. malsdy
than otherwise
Some of them very wicked, eh,' said one of
the coun'rymen.
why, no. not very-not very wicked eaid
'Ac quiZ: strange ~ ray, the majority cft,en
b1n- under a I'tlr monomnnia they fancy
THEMSELVES Wrrs and Wrbs,rrs. Rcnry Claws
and Brnrons, and generally pass their time in
.l7kin1 frnthy speeches, all sound and fury sir.
ntying nothing'-or at least but little. This
- course would all BE- very harmless, If the peo.
no Tho.e rights cnd interest, 'hcy fancy they
"rho' had not in the mean time to pay for tho
support Of these luna,cs.'
why. bless mY son'.' said one Of the conn.
trymcn, 1T must be Brdam indeed. if they all
ave such an opinion of their oratoral powers
and Legislative importance as You represent
.,cm 10 have
oh, not nll-not all, sHys the sqc.running 2
cilcn--'I did not mean oil. Some of them
scarcely ever utter word. They seem to be
wrapped up in their own IDEAS all the time, and
never speak unless some question is put TO them,
when they answer aye or no, and again wrap
themselves up in the cloak of silence
Il swear to goodness said one of the country.
soen, 1T that amt the way the mad folks act in
Ohio. Pray, what time OF the year arc they
here, anG how long?
'rhey are generally here said the cit, from
January ill April; this year, have been TOLD
by their keeper, they do not come hers till mex
month. but, gentlemen said our quzzica
freud, looking at his watch, "you will excuse
no--l must b. oh--'or further particulars. en-
GrTe within, as The seal on the letter said to IA,
young woman to whom it was directed" HI
touched his hat and left, and the Two country
men said he was an 'all.hred civil fellow
GETTING orr SOFIA correspondent Of III
Sunday Atlas writing from Spain, says :-Th
hope ofreIeaslng sufferer from the fire extract
lae last mite from Spanish poverty, 10 pay 70
holy water. What struck me as particularly fur
NJ, was printed notice on a IA: board a,,ache
10 church doors, reading as follows This da