Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-09

does not amount 10 frenzy. i nell II Is tile |
ears are filled with strange music, unually
some popular air, accompanied with words
sung by discordant and harsh voices, all hav-
ing damnatory reference to the life, charac-
ter, and circumstances the lunatic, and full
of taunts and reproaches of which his con-
science acknowledges the justice while it also
supplies particulars that the malice of his
visionary enemies has omitted. Strange,
too, | have. in such state Of mind been
charged BY the phantom voices, and some
times by phantom figures, too, with crimes
which bewailed having committed, and of
which the very idea never entered into my
healthful thoughts
Then, too, it is that atthe-horror-struck car
ries on long dialogues, in which he really
speaks, and imagines he hears replies Then
it is, if he goes abroad, that he sneaks
through by-streets, and pulls his hat or his
cloak over his face to avoid being recog-
nizod. Then, he cnvies every dog or swine
he sees, and wishes that he had been born
to a collar, or the inhabitant of stye.-
Then, he crosses the street, though the mud
may be knee deep, to avoid any one he
knows, or whom he fancies knows him
Then, he fances that every finger points at
him, that he hears hiss or an insulting re-
mark from every man he passes, and then
he looks wistfully at the river, and wonders
whether death would indeed put an end to
his misery In this state Of mind, [ doubt
not it is, that drunkards commit suicide
at least, am sure that | have meditated it
| 4bo,0 ool I lyDOur O4 hot
has kept me from it.
You often hear of drunkards throwing
themselves from high places, and so destroy
ing or manning themselves. If they recov-
er, they have either forgotten, or will not
tell under what impressions they acted. Il
needs not that they should. | know, nc
matter how, but [ do know, that in such
cases, they do not seek death, but to escape
from some imminent, imaginary peril
Those, therefore, who would restore a per
son who has, or is likely to have the hor
rors, should not put him in an upper cham
ber, Or at least, should never leave him a
lone there. .-..... ...
There is a stage of the horrors when tht
eyes see, and the ears hear falsely, ant
WuCu OuG UEdl1 8CLC1dUCS lluuACS DIS IL dublC
as unreal, and as changeful as the tatG mo,
gana, or the mirage Of the prairies, while i
yet retains a consciousness that its vision
are unreal, as we'll as resolution to struggl
against them. In such state, the memo
ry will arrest and retain considerable par
Of these phantasmagoria. But, an illustra
tive instance will convey better idea of tn
horrors than pages Of general description
The last time [ had the horrors, was al
ter a long and severe dcbauch. had lain
for several days in bed, with molten lead i
every vein, pang in every pulsation, an
a cramp in ever fibre. do not think m
strength was much reduced for [ coul
stand and walk and throw my limbs about
but seemed to have forgot the use of then
IF [ attempted to cross the room, | tottere
like an infant just learning to run alone
if l lifted a cup of water, spilled it. Thu
[ passed several painful days and sleeples
nights, as man about to be attacked b
delirium tremens always does. Still, III
nerves were firm [ wrote my name in
bold and fair hand as ever | did in N
life, and | had never before felt much
larmcd while [ could do that. So long
time had elapsed without an attack, that
thought all danger was over. Could | b.
get good nights rest, | thought [ shou
be myself again. So [ read all day and tt
late at night, in hopes to weary myself il
to sound sleep, and [ did sleep, little,
very little and my dreams were not vel
frightful or altogether disagreeable. hay
said that person can keep off the horro
BY an effort Of the mind but this he CT
only do while he is wide awake. The N
mcnt sleep overpowers him there is no e
Guiding the thick coming fancies. Dreal
ing becomes nightmare, nightmare becom
delirium, and the frenzied person can on
know from others, afterward, what part
his vision has occurred sleeping, and wh
part waking.
A change had been coming over me
two or three days, of which [ was part
unaware, though it was perfectly plain
, others. I imagined that those about n
spoke to, and treated me harshly, thou
that was by no means the case. The fanc
however, made me irritable to those W
had the care Of me, though [ was perfec
good tempered to others, with whom
. fruit, smoked cigars and conyersed; /
, very nationally | believe.
partially lost my recollection of perso
I, taking one for another, and some famil
!, forms and faces [ could not recognize at
t The papering of the room where /
4 changed its figure, and became covered W
Y pictures in the lewdest taste of the Frer
: photographic press; nor did this illus
change or fade away like other crazed
e ions. There the figures remained, for tn
e days at least.
u The walls Of my chamber appeared
!, me to be covered with trees, birds, and {
3 er figures, in fantastic glass work. In
n corner stood seven great dolls, all as Ia
IS as life ); and these things I could by
Of means drive away, though [ tried hard.
I shut my eyes, saw through my eye-l
,e and there they were still Methough
d was in a state Of what the disciples of n
II mer call claupoyanco 1t was in vain I
d I said to myself that this was mere ha
" cination, the result of some affection of
ii optic nerve it was in vain that / got
Re of bed and convinced myself, palpabIy,
,e [ was right The moment [ was in be
id gain, they hal resumed their places,