The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-01-07
The Maniac Clown

The Maniac Clown.
RYJ. H. BROWN.
THE following narrative, with scarcely an alter
alton, is true. The particulars, thrilling as they
are, were taken from the mouth of the unfortunate
creature, during of the lucid intervals between
his howls of madness, while confined in the mad
house OF P, Eng, and may be remembered
as being noticed by the journals OF the time; the
notes were laid aside-but not forgotten and the
author but waited opportunity to place them In
this manner before the readers OF this sheet
Literary American
And here" said the keeper, as he came to No.
~, from whence came low moaning, here we
have strange prisoner, from whom you may
gather tale worthy Of note, and surprising any
Z you have taken, if can but find him quiet, as he
is at times strange story is his, and he is one OF
the most savage and ravlng prisoners we have at
tmes.n
So saying, he unlocked the door, after having
looked through the CRATE and we entered; crouched
down upon his iron and immovable stool in the cor
ner, with his face buried in his hands, his hair
long, black and matted his dress fantastcal and
strange-being but the attire torn in various places,
OF ring mlmic-was man, who moved not at
our entrance; he was, like all we have seen,
chained by the wrists to the floor, rendering it i'm
possible for him to move more than was required in
sitting or lying upon the coarse bed beside him
Nothing escaped him except a low moaning, which,
At times he sent forth, and shaking his head, buried
still deeper in his hands The keeper said in this
manner he had passed whole days. and then he wa.
more peaceable and less violent.
Touching him with the end of the stick he held
in his hand, he said" Look up" And the miser-
able creature turned up his haggard face to oul
view. why do You come here again." said he
sadly" to make a show Of me You tell me, and
those who come TO zee me that am mad do you
not fear me ay, strong man-do you not fear me
weak creature that am yes, and so you chair
my arms and hands and feet, SO that cannot lf
them up, but look ye there is one thing you canno
chaln-one Thing you cannot manacle, and il yot
could, would bear all the chains that could be
heaped upon me-my memory! Chain that keel
that dread form from before me-et it not haun
me night and day-let me not hear that voice tina
rings forever in my ear, and you may chain an'
load me down, and will thank you for it," Ant
he dropped his head and buried his face once mort
in his hands.
" He has not been 40 rational for many a day,
said the keeper, " for which | am truly thankful
for he Is like lion when the fits are on him. and
" Ha ! ha ha ~ shouted the madman, rising
and liagng his arms as high as his manacles al
lowed" ha ha ha | am with you once again
Come, is all ready! Who goes first Why dc
you stare wildly at me? ,? Come, I am merry
and shall make them laugh out tonight. ha ha
ha n' and his pale face was liz up with wild de
moniacal expression. Soon he spoke again:
"Wheres Nary not come yet! Strange-it !
time-long past time, and she knew well she shout
= BE- here early. Why gaze at me she is not.no
no. nothing has happened--ell me, is she snte,
4 is desd-deadl Ha! ha ha!' And with lou
3 shreks, he dashed his hand to his forehead
He sat down again upon his low iron stool, de
iectedy and spoke not; then looking up again, h
aszed round, and upon the keeper and myself, VIII
stood by the door beyond his reach
"Come nearer to me, said he, beckon'ng
''come near, not you: no, not yon, fear you
and he shuddered as the keeper stepped toward
him fear you, for your eyes strike terror 10 m
heart and that, and the form of my child befor
I ts,tn all nf
child-my little Mary, my own pet child, III te
YOU hu " she died"
Not daring to trust myself within his reach,
stepped to him as possible, so that he coul
not reach me; he bent forward, placed his han
upon his head, and, with asudden tremof and WILD
ly glaring eyes, he began:
"Once know not when, but could count b
DAYS, | knew the night could tell the bright su
and the clear moon and stars, but now all are Ii
same TO me-days know none, and light linge
around me ever; well, long, long ago, ere cam
to this dull, gloomy place, was out among men
drank, ate, cried, laughed, like men, aye, and thu
too merriy, for was jester in the ring, made Il
crowd, the heartless rabbe, laugh and shout, an
raised merry noise, no matter if my heart WI
sick or gay, but was glad sometimes to see Il
long tiers, The closely packed boxes, and the stall
= each one with smiles, to hear the loud laugh ar
the merry words, and know that was the cause
it ALTO hear the loud hurrahs, to see them wa
their hats and handkerchiefs, when, with shr
me sometimes when my heart belied the laugh up
my face, the jest to which my tongue gave UTE
anCe.
"WelI, so years went on, until my wife, my ov
beloved Mary, died she whom loved so fond
and trulv laid to sleep in the cold, damp cart
no one could have thought that l, the jester, t
clown, the one who then laughed, could wee
But, oh how many hours l have passed besl
that lonely grave! my Mary she loved me as ft
women love she had trod on the same rough ROT
La,,, tpnn and nrFny
sharing what | enjoyed, or suffering without
murmur; and when | knew she was dead,
seemed if my time on earth was over, and
same grave dug for her should take me IN al
But she had left me one whom must watch W
anxiousness and love, if possible, more than here
fure-my little daughter, the image of her molf
my own little pet, Mary
81 struggled with the deep, the bitter curse
poverty. Could have gained livelihood by
incessant hardship and endurance, elsewht
gladly would | have rushed TO it, and bes
heaven for its kindness. But no; /; poor, brok
down, miserable, wretched man-no protest.
no business save the one | followed. was
forced TO drag on the arena, where my wants
lowed but very short, scanty respite upon
wife's DEATH
But what cared the crowd! The clown she
not be sad no, no, impossible for the ring jeste
weep, it was a thing unheard of, and would r
louder laugh than any of my liveliest sallies,
80, with heart overburdened, sick and faint,
forced to laugh and make merry.
"Oh, what pleasure and joy to me was
Mary how her sweet artless smiles lit up
gloom within my breast-how her merry la
made me feel young and happy for the time,
with what fondness, strange, ay, mad devotion
hang upon every word, every look OF hers
grew and was beautiful indeed
How many hours when the toll of my pr
sion over for the night, did sit beside her
cot, and gaze upon her as she lay sleeping b
me! often, very often with smile playing
her lovely face, telling that her dreams were
and pleasant, and making even smile myse
looked upon her, and wish that was young
innocent as pure she.
"And then what horrid, horrid thoughts
crowding in upon my feverish brain. All
I'd struggle and fight with them and would
and moan aloud
"For oh thought; yes the thought "
come, what if death should rob me Of her-he
Mary-all, all | loved on the wide earth-sh
whom were concentrated all my affections the
H. Ir.v