Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-08-01
INSANE NOVELIST.

= lhe editor of the Pittsburg journal writes 10
his paper description of visit TO the Penn
sylvanii Insane Asylum, at Harrisburg. Among
the inmates is Charles Fenno Hoffman, the nov.
elst, his interview with whomHhe describes as
follows:-
81 return for moment to the mems wards
Lettering behind my companions, / found Dr..
Curwen formally intro iucag them to patient
,vho had just emerged from his chamber. lie
IS tall, spare man, moving heavily with a shuil-
ling halt OF the right leg and supporting himself
with cane. A mass of long black hair droo d
in disorder over a noble forehead the eve is
dark and deep, and sweeps over the visitors with
b quiet power altogether unlike madness. The
nose is large, somewhat irregular in outline, but
finely cut about the nostril, which is expended
and rounded with grace and strength, indicative
of talent, if not of genius
"lle remembered an excursion in the saddle
over Coal Hill, which he shared with some eight
ior nine young people, and OF which he made
brief mention in his book of personal adventure
published soon after. l tried his memory by re-
producing compliment he had there recorded
of spirited young lady who was OF the party
accompanied by pair of queen like eyes, Hs
countenance grew radiant with positively sweet
smile as he calculated, 'Ah, yes, Miss $
How is Miss S.? did not tell him he for
got that that was twenty-four years ago, bnl
eva led reply. | might have told him that Mis-
s. had been wife and mother twenty years ago,
and had long since passed away. might have
told him, that of the eight or nine young people
who composed that gay and happy party, buI
! ttco are now alive, and one of them is in a mad
house, the other feeble, infrm, and almost on Old
man.
'Alas, for them, and death, and care,
What shadows DER our path ye ding
But did not. Let him cherish his pleasant de-
lusion Indulging the trick Of his memory, which
is blank as to recent events, but snguarlA
faithful as to the far Past, l allowed him uncheck
ell to send his respectful regards to Miss s., to
Mr.. w. r., and others who are in their grave.
This is Charles Fenno Hoffman, the aulhoc
of the melancholy household His disease is OF
a peculiar form, and DR.. Curwen tells me, pre-
sents the only instance he ever met with of nal
lunciation of four senses-t0uch, taste, smell and
hearing. The most distressing indications ol
his disease are exhibited in the tancies that some
body is touching, or pressing or pinchng him
or that he sees persons and objects which troub-
lie and disturb him. trace of the alteration is
apparent in his reminding me that our last meet
ing was many more than sixteen years ago, and
with a sudden turn, forgetting the lapse OF time
to make polite inquiry after young ladys
health, as if he had parted with her bIt yesler-
day. The casual visitors will fail to detect ira
ces of insanity in Mr.. Hoffman, but viii ordina
rily be pleasantly impressed by his elaborate po
liteness and courtly demeanOr. Ills Intervals OF
perfect tranquility are rare, but he Is as rarely
much excited, and never violent. hear with
great regret that there is almost no hope OF any
permanent Improvement in the case OF Mr. lioh-
man. and that our best expectation for him can