The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-05-12
"At present, We have not more than ten

Al present, we nave Hol ulOTe tIal ten,
altogether'
"Princpally females, l presumed"
"Oh, no---every one of them men, and
stout fellows. too, can tell you"
Indeed! have always understood that
the majority of lunatics were of the gentler
seX.'
at is generally so, but not always.
Some time ago, there were about twenty
seven patients here; and, of that number,
no less than eighteen were women; but,
lately, matters have changed very much,
as you see."
"Yes--have changed very much, as you
see," here interrupted the gentleman who
had broken the shins of Nam 'selle La
place.
"Yes--have changed very much as you
see,r chimed in the whole company at
ouce
"Hold your tongues, every one of you'll
said my host, in great rage. Nhereup-
on the whole company maintained dead
silence for nearly minute AS for one
lady, she obeyed Monsieur Maillard to the
letter, and thrustiug out her tongue, which
was an excessively long one, held it very
resignedly, with both hands, until the end
OF the entertainment
"And this gentlewoman," said /, to
Monsieur Maillard, bending over and
addressing him in a whisper--"lhis good
lady who has just spoken and who gives
us the cock "a doodle -doo--she, l pre-
sumo, is harmless-quite harmless, en?''
"Harmless!" calculated he, in unie!gued
surprise, "why--why what can you mean., y
"Only slightly touchedl" said l, touch
ing my head. Il take il for granted that
that she is not particularly danger.
gerously affected. eal'' ee .s Ial .. yfa
"Moa Dieu!' what is it you imagine!
This lady, my particular old friend, Mad
anne JoyeuSe, is as absolutely sane as my
SELF She has her little eccentricities, to
be sure--but then, you know. all OLD
women--all very old women are more OF
less eccentric!'' ss.s.r<-.' g
ITO be sure, said Ito be sure--anc
then the rest of these ladies aud gentle,
men-" ....-
"Are my friends and keepers" inter
rupted Monsieur Mailiard, drawing him
self up with hduteur ur-''my very gool
friends and assistants"
'Wnai! all of them?' | aSked-"lh'
women and slii'
"Assuredly," he said 1--WE co ID no
> b,, 4 4 h,
Jest lunatic nurses IN The woria; they hav'
way Of their own, you know; their orig !.
eyes have marvellous edecL--oumetniu.
like the fascination Of the snake, yo
know"
10 be sure" said Ito be sure
They behave little odd, eh?--they are
little queer, eh?-don't you think so2'
"Odd!--eueer! Why, do you rcaA
think so? We are not very prudish, to y
sure, here III the South-do pretty muc
as we please--enjoy life, and all that sor
Of thing, you know"
40 be sure,n said Ito be sure. i"
"And then, perhaps, this Clos dc pou
geot is little heady, you Know--a It'll
strong--you understand, eh!"
ITO be sure,'.. said Ito be sure
By-the-by, monsieur. did | understan
you to say that the system you haE
adopted, in place Of the celebrated soolf
ing system, was one of very rigorous 81
verity?"
i "By no means. Our confinement
necessarily close; but the treatment--th
medical treatment, mean--is rathe
agreeable to the patients than otherwise.
"And the new system is one OF you
own mvent.on!f
"Not altogether. Some portions {
it are referable to Professor Tarr, of who'
you have, necessarily heard; and, agai'
there are notifications in my plan whic
I am happy to acknowledge as belongin
of right to the celebrated Fether, wit
whom, if l mistake not, you have the hoI
or of an intimate acquaintance
Il am quite ashamed to confess P" r.
piled, chat have never even heard II
name of either gentleman before"
Good Heavensr' calculated my hos
drawing back his chair abruptly, and W
lifting his hands. II surely do not he,
you Alright! You did not intend to sa,
eh? that you had never heard either
the learned Doctor Tarr, or of the cell
brated Professor Fether?"
~ am forced to acknowledge my ign,
rance" replied; "but the truth shoul
J be held inviolate above all things. Ne
ertheless, feel humbled to the dust, nj
tn be acquainted with the works of thes
no doubt, extraordinary men. will see
oat their writings forthwith. and peru
them with Deliberate care. Monsiel
/ Maillard, you have reaily--I must confe
lyon have realiy-maae me ashamed
myself"
And this was the fact. '
"Say no more, my good Young friend
: he said kindly, pressing my hand--"jo
me now in Il glass of Ssutcrne
r We drank. The company followed 0
, example. without stint. They chagted
hey jas ed--~thcy laughed they perp
p trated a thousand ausurdities- Il
4 l..t-f-.1 Ia, Gpt,rn raw. IA QUE