The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-04-12

4 very laughable instance OF Lana
tics Cunning is given in a late English
provincial paper. a parish officer, with
the proper order, was taking him to the
Asylum at Lancaster, but they passed one
night on the way at an inn. Very early
in the morning the lunatic got up and
searched the pockets Of the officer, where
he found the magistrates order for his
own detention; which, Of course, let MIN
completely into the secret.
"With that cunning which madmen
not unfrequently display, he made the
best of the way to the asylum, saw one of
the keepers, and told him that he had
got fellow down at Lancaster, whom he
would bringup in the course Of the day, ad-
ding "He is queer fellow, and has got
very odd ways. For instance, [ shouldn't
wonder if be was to say was the madman,
and that he was bringing me- But you
must take good care of him, and don't be-
lieve word he says"
"The keeper promised compliance, and
the lunatic walked back to the inn,
where be found the officer still fast asleep.
He awoke him, and they sat down to
breaksast together.
"'You are lazy fellow, to be sleeping
all day; | have had a long walk this
morning, said the lunatic.
Indeed said the officer; Il should
like to take walk myself, after break
fast; perhaps you will 90 with me-!
''The lunatic assented; and after break
fast they set out, the officer leading the
way toward the asylum, intending to de-
liver his charge; but it never occurred to
him to see whether his order was safe.
"When they got within sight of the a.
sylum, the lunatic exclaimed
"What fine house that is ~
eyes, said the officer Il should like to
see the inside ofit'
$50 should I ~ replied the lunatic.
"Well, l daresay they will let us go
through it; [ will ask, was the response.
"They went to the door; the officer
rang the bell, and the keeper whom the
lunatic had previously seen made his ap-
pearance, with two or three assistants
The officer then began to tumble in his
pockets for the order, when the lunatic
produced it, and gave it to the keeper,
saying:
This is the man I spoke to you about.
You will take care of him; shave his head.
and put a strait waistcoat on him ~
"The men Immediately laid hands on
the poor officer who vociferated loudl =
that the other was the madman, and he
the officer; but rs this only confirmed the
story previously told by the lunatic, it did
not all tend to procure his liberation
He was taken away, and became so in
dignantly furiousthat the straitwaistcoat
was speedily put upon him, and bis head
was shaved SecHJldcnt artcm.
"Meanwhie the luratic walked delib-
erately back to the inn, paid his reckon
ing, and set out on his journey homewara.
The good people in tue country were of
course surprised on seeing the wrong man
return. They were afraid that the luna
tic, in fit of frenzy, had murdered the
officer; and they asked him, with much
trepidation, what he had done with Mr..
Stevenson, which was the officers name.
"Done with him" said the luuatic,
why, | left him at the asylum, as mad as
a March hare
"And this was not far from the truth !;
for the wits of the officer we're well-nigh
upset, by his unexpected detention and
subsequent treatment,
"Further inquiry was forthwith made
by his ncighbors, and it was ascertained
that the man was actually in the asylum.
A magistrates order was produced for
his liberation, and he returned home with
handkerchief tied round his head, in