Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-04-08
Interesting Case of Insanity.


time begin this history were respectively at the
ages Of five and ten. The attachment between
them was remarkable as to be the common to-
pic of conversation among all their friends and ac-
quaintances. The children were necessarily to-
gether,and to see them walk around the garden,
the arm of the elder round the neck Of the younger
while the other who could not reach TO his neck,
endeavored to clasp his waist-with their long au-
burn hair in the fashion of the day, hanging down
in rngets, and, as the elder stopped to kiss his
! little brother covering his face,-those who had
seen them thus occupied, their lovely features
beaming with affection, would have said that no.
thing on earth could give more vivid idea of an
gels.
| The children when separated for a few hours
were miserable; and when the time arrived for
sending the elder school, it was subject of Sc
rious reflection with the parents and friends,
whether so intense an affection should be checked
or encouraged, the former was decided on, and
the elder was sent to distance.
Both children were so exceedingly unhappy,
that sleepless nights, loss of appetite, incessant
weeping, and rapid wasting of body, made every
absence. and they were brought together again
Those who Witnessed the tumutuous Joy of their
meeting, describe it as inexpressbly affecting
They soon recovered their health and spirits, and
their mutual affection seemed, if possible, to be
increased by their temporary separation
The experiment, after while, was again made,
with similar results; and it was decided never to
risk another.
An arrangement was now entered into with a
schoolmaster to receive both boys, although con-
trary TO the regulations of his establishment, which
professed TO admit none under ten years of age.
The two boys kept themselves almost entirely
aloof from all the rest; the elder helped the young
er in his education, watched him with kind of
parental solicitude, kept vigilant eye upon the
character Of the boys who sought his society, and
admitted none TO intimacy with his brother of
whom he did not approve. The slightest hint of
his wish suffced with the younger; who would
almost as soon have contemplated deliberately
breaking the commandments, as opposing his
wishes in the slightest degree. Both made rapid
progress in their education, and their parents
hearts were filled with thankfulness for the bles-
sing.
In the midst of this happiness, news arrived from
the schoolmaster, from some unexplained cause, the
elder bov had begun to exercise very unreasona-
BILE and tyrancal authority over the younger; that
he had been repeatedly punished for it; but al
though he had always promised amendment, and
could assign no cause--reasonable or unreasona-
ble--for his conduct, he soon reapsed into his
usual habits, and the schoomaster requested to
know what was TO be done. The father immedi-
atey sent for both boys, and entered upon length
ened investigation. The little one was almost
heart-broken and exclaimed; 'He might beat me
every day. if he would but love me; but he hates
me, and / shall never be happy again."
The elder could assign no reason for his ami
mostly and iireatment, and the father, after ma
ny remonstrances thought it right to infict on him
severe coropreal chastsement, and confined him TO
his room for some days. with nothing but bread
and water. The lad, on his liberation, gave So
lemn promises of altered conduct, but showed lit
tie affection for his brother. although the latter
used thousand innocent stratagems to inspire
him with tenderness. They returned to school.
In few days. similar scenes, and worse, occurred,
the boy was again punished by the master, again
and again promised amendment, but in vain, and
he was at last taken away from the school by his
father.
| A repetition, of severe punishment, long incar-
ceration and rejection by all his relatives, had
no effect in changing his disposition his dislike
to his brother became fixed animosity, and from
animosi:y degenerated into the most deadly ha-
tired; he made an attempt on the child's life; and
if he saw him pass open door, would throw a
carving knife at him with all the fury OF maniac.
The family now resorted to medical advice, and
years passed in hopeless endeavors to remove a
disposition obviously depending on diseased
brain. Had they taken this step earlier, these
| foggings and imprisonments would have been
spared as well as the heart sickening remorse of
the father.
| Still the boy was not nsane On every topic but
one he was reasonable, but torpid, it was only by
the sight of his brother or the sound of his name,
that he was reused to madness The youth now
advanced towards manhood When about the age