Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-16
From the Philadelphia Times.
Another seI-Madness, and a Method

in it.
On Wednesday last, neatly dressed, very
prepossessing, and prettily spoken woman
somewhere between sweet sixteen and TWEEN
ty-tive years of age, drove up to the door of
the Insane Hospital, over which Dr.-pre-
sides, and inquired for that gentleman. She
was Hshered into the reception room, where
she awaited the coming of the Doctor with
an air of nonchdldnce which rather fascinated
the servant who looked upon her wibh eyes
of admiration and unfeigned pleasure
When left alone she amused herself-a wo-
man always within gratifying her curiosity
by inspecting the various articles in the room
critically and thoroughly. The Doctor ba-
ing announced, she received him with one
of those bewildering smiles which some wo-
men know so well how to bestow, and
whose influence no man of feeling can resist.
The Doctor welcomed her with more than
his usual warmth, and soon learned the OBJ
iect of her visit.
She had come, she said, with a glance full
of melancholy, and q tone of more than
womanly tenderness, to ascertain of the Dco
tor in person, whether she could secure pri-
vate quarters for her husband who was sub
ject to intense fits of alteration of mind. but
whose conduct towards her, bitter and cruel
as it was, could not alternate her love for him
which was the all-prevading passion of her
soul lie had grown 80 violent of late that
she wishes to have him secured from violence
to himself as well as to her, land here the
charming creature wept for some moments
and if she could make an arrangement with
the Doctor, she urged that it should be kept
as private as his most secret thoughts, and
her husband beyond the scrutiny of visitors.
And she said her heart would break, she
knew it would, and wept bitterly and long.
The Doctor, as all who know his kind and
tender hsartedness will readily imagine, was
not insensibe to the touching recital of his
visitor, and with that frankness which al
ways characterizes him, he promised to con-
ply with her wishes, to give her husband
private apartment and his special care and
also to shield him from the gaze of curiosity
seekers who run down public institutions
The lady was not long in arranging terms;
she was not long in expressing her thanks,
lntermlngled with tears she was not long
in settling the details of her husbands SON
fnement; she was not long, in short of ta-
king her leave. And as she stepped into her
carriage, aided by the kind hand of the Doc
tor, she turned her beautiful face towards
him, and cast upon him glance that vas
full of tenderness and solcitude, and inspir-
ed him anew with admiration and pity.
The carriage drove away, the Doctors
eyes following, amid the clouds of dust which
followed in its wake, until it was entirely
lost to view. Down to the bridge, along the
crowded thoroughfare, over the pebbled way
Of Chestnut street, to fashionable, if not
the fashionable jewelry establishment of our
city, the carriage passed, its sweet and solita-
ry inmate siancng out ana -smITIug wfU.qir
and growing radiant with thought that re-
ouireS another paragraph to learn.
She aighted, and glided into the bazaar
of gold and silver and precious stones with
all the stateliuess of a queen. One or two
of the gentlemanly attendants ran to learn
her wish. She wanted to select a set of
silver ware, not too elabol ate in design OF
workmanship, nor yet too plain-something
neat, tasteful and beautiful. The various
patterns were shown, and a set valued at $500
were selected by the lady of the stately
tread. She desired the articles pat up, bill
made out, and she would settle it, Hel
wishes were complied with, and the lady
took out her elegant porttsonaic, but, alas
there were but about $40 in it. She hat
picked Up her wrong portmonaie, she said
with bewltchlng sweetness, and she wa
vexed at her stupidity. She however, coulC
arrange it. Sho was The wife of Dr.
the principal physician Of the Insane Hos
! pitai, and she desired her attendant to aecon,
! pany her to that place, where she would pa
him at once. Who could resist such re
quest from beautiful w0man-a reques
spoken as much with ne eyes as the voice
Not the clerk, certainly.
The two got into the carriage together
and back it whirled to the Hospital. Til
/ lady jumped from the carriage, and was warn
! ly greeted by the Doctor, who was at the er
! trance.
Doctor this is my husband said sh
with an air at once sweet and sorrowful.
The poor attendant started. Hewas struc
aghast. He could not fathom her meanin
What did you say, madam he stamme e
ed, as he best could, what did you say?'
Doctor, this is my husband, please tai
him in charge.
The devil madam, Pm not your husbane
= what do you mean?
, Bursting into tears she sobbed aloud. t
has another spasn-he has another attae
Oh Doctor, if you have pity in your so,
: secure him, and save yourself and me fro
t violence
$ In vain the poor fellow attempted to {
I, plain. He was burried along the corrid
a and into a room, and confined securelv--t
e woman all the while following close behi
h weeping as though her heart would brea
The doctor and the lady returned to the
ception room, and the latter, after giving I
other an outline of the peculiarities of
alleged husbands attacks, together W
some directions in reference to the care
= desired to have bestowed upon him, she lie
J. promising to come again in few days. A
away whirled the carriage the silver wa
and the lady, neither of which has be
- heard of since.
- The poor attendant was confined tn
&c days before any one about the establshm
~ ~ could be induced to convey a letter to his
&c ployers, who, all the time were suspect
C C his honesty, and preparing to advertise
u in the newspapers. Upon the receipt of
,e' letter it did not take them long to disco
~ that they had been sold most brilliantly
upon their appearance at the hospital, it
not take the doctor long to discover that
'' had been sold decidedly; the poor attend
-. was satifed, upon his arrival at the hosp
,as that he bad been sold most sorrowfully
"y deed. And here, We think we will end
us story, which has been talked over in fl
ionable circles for the past three or four
,he with many hearty laugh.
ro- ANOTHER GONE Mr.. John Duncal
Revolutionary soldier, died in jackson c.
rn ty, on the Sh inst. He was born in
mo dolph county, North Carolina, on the
me of April 1764 He has been a residel
.ne Jackson county for sixty years and was
!. nat versaly beloved and esteemed by all
ter knew him. He was an active participal
the stirring scenes Of the war Of Inde
we dence, and was present at tie battle ol 4
! ADMINISTRATIONS Bannsr.