The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-04-07
THE MANIAC CLOWN.
A THRILLING sKETcH--BY J. II. BROWN,

THRILLING sKETcH--BY J. II. BROWN.
The following narrative, with scarcely
any alteration, is true. The particulars
thrilling as they are, were taken from the
mouth Of the unfor,untunate creature, du-
ring one of the lucid intervals, between his
bowl of madness, while confined in the
mad-house ofP--, England, and may be
remembered as being noticed by journals
of the time the notes were laid aside,
but not forgotten, and the author had but
waited an opportunity to place them in
this manner before the readers OF this
sheet
"And here" said the keeper, as he
came to 10, from whence came low moan
ing, "here we have as!range prisones, from
whom you may gather tale worthy Of
note and surprising any YOU have taken,
| if we can but find him quiet, as he is at
times a strange story is his, and he is one
of the most savage and raving prisoners
we have, at times"
So saying, he unlocked the door, after
having looking ,hro' at the CRATE, and we
entered crouched down upon his iron and
immovable stool in the corner, with his face
buried in his hands, hair long, black and
matted, his dress fantastical and strange
being but the attire, torn in various places,
of ring mimic--waS man who moved
not at our entrance he was, like all we had
seen, chained by the wrists TO the floor, re-
ndering it impossible for him to move more
than was required in sitting or lying upon
the coarse bed beside him. Nothing es'
capped him save low moan, which at time!
he senl-forth, and shaking his head, buriet
it still deeper in his hands {; the kcepel
said in this manner he had passed whole
days, and then he was most peaceable, ant
less violent
Touching him with the end of the stick
he carried in his hand, he said, "look up
And the miserable being turned up hi
haggard face to our view.
"Why do you come here again ~ sale
he, sady-"to make show Of me p
You tell me, and those who come to lool
at me, that | am mad do you not fea
me , ay strong man--do We not fear mt
weak creature that ann yes, and so yol
chain my arms and hands and feet so, tha
cannotl lift them up, but look ye, there il
one thing you cannot chain lone thin!
YOU cannot manacc, and If You could,
would bear all the chains that could b.
hcaped upon mc---memory! chain that
keep thatdread from before me---let it nc
haunt me day and night-let me hear I'll
voice that rings forever in my ear and yo
may chain and load me down, and | Wi
thank you for it,"
And he dropped his head, and burie
his face once more in his hands.
E "He has not been so rational for man.
, day." said the keeper, "for which ar
thankful, for he is like lion when the
. is on him and
h ala ha ha shouted the madman' ral'
d ing and flnging his arms as high about MI
as his manacles allowed -"ha? ha! ha
ID | am with you once again come, Is a
e. ready who goes on first! why do yc
Of stare SO wildly at me come, | am merr
e' and shall make them all laugh out tonight
h. --ha ha ha and his pale face was lit u
with a wild, demonical expression. Soc
r. he spoke again
OF "Where, Mary, not come yeti Strang
n it's time-Iong past the time and she kne
~ we'll that she should be here early. WI
ID. gaze on me ! she is not no, no, nothir
an has hapPened-tell me, is she safe, is N