The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-05-05
L II Z S y S T L u.
Doctor Tarr and Professor Fetler.

s.s During the. autumn Of lS-, white on
tour through the extreme Southern
.f provinces of France, my roate led ne with
lin few miles of a.eertain NanSfoa de
2 ,.Sante, or private Mad House, about which
- had heard much, in Paris, from my med
"a ical friends. As had never visited a
place of the kind, | thought the opportu-
nifty too good to be lost; aid SO proposed
to my travelling companion, Ca gentleman
with whom l had made casual acqaain-
tance few days before,) that We should
. turn aside,! for an hour or so, and look
Through the establishment. To this he
9 Soi6ected---p!eading haste, in the lirst place
~ and, inathe second, very nnnsnal horror
SIS at the sishtof o uiiatic.ad He begged me,
srsllowever, lnotslet any mere courtesy to-
sa3wards himself interfere with the gratiiea-
lTs tion of my curiosity aud said that he
- would ride on sleisurely so that-I might
sfi Eoyertake him asdriag the day, or, at all
sltevents, during the next. AS he bade me
good by, i bethought me that there might
yggabe some difficulty in obtaining access to
als,the premises, and mentioned lny fears on
hsgihis point. ia He replied that, in fact, un
perntendent Monsieur Alaiiard, Or some
kFscredential in the way of letter, Difficult
.vssty might be, found to exist, as the regula-
Asations ,oflthese private mad-houses were
q more rigid than the public hospital laws.
.es For himself ahe added he ,he d, some years
Ell since, made the acquaintance of MFillard,
lsaasssnd would so far assist me as to ride up
sss to the door and introduce me; although
gaEyhis feelings on the subject oflunacy wonld
.Ranot permit of his entering the house
Saza thanked him, and, turning from the
ssmain.road, 1--WE entered grnss-grown by
path. which, in an hour, nearly lost itself
in dense forest, clothing the base of a
- mountain. Through this dark and gloomy
wood we rode some two, miles, when the
L,g. Mansion de .Sante came in view altwas
fantastic chateau, much dilap apitiated, and
fIEindeed scarcely tenantablc through age
and neglect. Its aspect inspired me with
~-absoiute. dread, and, checking my, horse,
II half resolved to turn back. I soon, how
lever, grew ashamed Of my weakness, and
S@snroeeeded ia 1.tos F-'-a~'E' ts'3. .
saAywv,e rode up to the gate, way, per-
ceived it Slightly open, and the visage
ssieofa man peering through. In an instant
. afterward, this man came forth, accosted
my companion by name, shook him cor
daily 10y the hand, and begged him to
aiight,s twas Monsieur Maillard him
SELF He was portly fhe.lookihg, gen
tleman O. the old school, with a polished
manner, and a certain air of gravity, dig
nifty, and authority which was, very i'm
.NEpressiyeTz Ts0M 2BT gao
-sz AMysfriepd,l having presented,me, mem
Ssationed my sdesreato inspectatlie aestablisli-
vszsnent, and received Monsieur NJ Maillard's
assurance that he, would show me all at.
.siention,l now took leave, and i saw him no
aE more.& 81 ts1 .scE "a yIs-rossE sBIgi 0
Ssas when he had gone, the superintendent
ushered me into q small aud exceedingly
neat parlor, containing among indications
a. of fie6nedl taste, many books drawings
vsspots offiowers, and musealt instruments
b sAcheerfuf fire 'blazedsip the hearth. =
At piano, singing an aria ar from ON -Bellipi
.sasAt o. young and very beautitul woman
.SSwhoS atmyo entrance, pansed in he song
and received me me with graceful courtesy
HAlIeryoice Was low, ad, her whole 5mannel
-tssiSdaed .gsI thought, j 20, that lpereeiv
.Kseda traces of sorrow il her countenapce
kaEhiche was excessively, although 10 m.
.yssaste,s and excited in my bosom feeling
-sss,fmingled respect, interest, and admira
ssatiensdi 10 - yysgb,I lsls 81 E..4ls4.s Oh Z
"a IL had heard at Paris, that the institu
s.tion of,Monsieur Maillard was managed
.e0aponR WHAT'S yulgarly. termed the "systen
spofs soothing''---that all punishment wa
.Saayoided-7that even. confinement was sci
nmdom resorted to-that the patients, whi
sausecretly watched, were. left much apparen
liberty, and that most of them were per
mittcd to roam about the house aDt