The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-19

Jan. ls-h nc matter of TIE peision for the release Of
LIS wolfsohn, an alleged lundtic.-me investigation into
he state Of Miss wohsohns mini ives adjourned 70 3
s'ssocs This day, but owing 70 an extraordinary turn in the
circumstances Of the case, the petition was virtually
s~sandoned.
\ appears that the young lady has, pending this in
xDry, been under the charge Of Mrs. Lucas, the former
Estron Of the asylum, but now under suspension. They
have been stepping at the house where Mr.. Case, the Pc
uascner, resides, and since Saturday Miss wossohn ex.
hSbned certain symptoms Of insanity which were not be-
fre observed either by the matron or by Mr.. Case. On
Sunday morning Mrs. Lncas took her out 70 church; she
preferred going to a Roman Catholic chapel, having
abandoned the Jewish faith and adopted that religion.
ney could not, however, get accommodation in the
Catholic chapel, and they went 70 an Episcopalan
church, where she seemed 10 be much pleased.
h the evening they went to a Methodist
chapel, and on her return homo Miss Wolfsohn
sad they put her in mind Of "Crazy jane"
zone o. the inmates of the asylum,) they talked 80 loud
here. She then began TO express dissatisfaction and dis
trust 9. Mrs.. Iucas and Mr.. Case. She entered the room
Of a gentleman in the house, and told his wife to leave il,
as she wanted 10 speak 10 her husband alone. Mrs. Lucas
was sent for, and reasoned with her, whereupon She seized
her tor net and fur cape, and said she would 60 of TO the
Ayium. Mrs. Lucas took them from her, and tsld her
she could not so there until she attended the Supreme
court Miss Wofsohn then rushed out Of the house with.
on, cloak or bonnet, pursued by some Of the inmates. She
aemsn there, and asked his protection. he pacnied her,
and ultimately she was brought TO the court room a, three
u 10 u ~ CFCumkHRlCeS I0t
withdrew his case, and Miss wolfsohn was rec ,mmfited TO
the custody Of Or. Lansing, a. the asylum in ~Flaibush..
but 70 a rambling and inceheren, manner, ana conducted
herself altogether remarkably different from her deport-
mena and conversation on the former days OF the invesu-
CATION. She spoke Of her school days in Germany, and her
tncar :eraton in the asylum she said she spoke the English,
French and German languages, and could play the piano;
abe thought she was well qualified TO be a governess, ami
she dd not see why her father should go 70 the asylum
hast week and pay six moths board for her in advance
were the cause of ii all, and she had no idea Of trusting
sbem she believed they wanted TO poison her. Her
eyes rolled and flashed with frenzy and indigna-
ton, as she spoke in the most hurried aud incohe.
rent manner. Ultimately, she was conducted 10 a car
mage, under the idea that she was going 70 the asylum for
her clothes, but IN reality 20 remain there.
The following letters were 70 have been read in evil
dence, had the hearing of the case progressed 10 due legal
tTm. We publish the copies as interesting testimony of
Me state Of the lady's mind a! date, and as very extraor-
Anary productions TO come from the pen Of a person said
TO DOCTOR HAHNscH1D.
FIArBUsu, Dec. 25, 1857.
How entirely different is the letter which you will re-
sefve from me today from tina, which informed you Of
my engagement with Mr.. Schmmel To day / write 70
you from an American luna.ic asylum, where I have been
kr the last three weeks, after having been nine months IN
another one. How unfortunate, how sad, how terrible il
n TO languish and pine in a foreign land, among strange
physicians, in a foreign mad house, IL is not necessary
ss me 70 attempt TO represent 70 you, Mr.. Hahnschild;
marriage ] came 70 the conclusion tina. ] should never be
able 70 live happily with that merchant-our characters,
our dispositions, are so very diferent-and / thought i
batter to break of the connection than 70 De an unhappy
woman the remainder of my life. All the interpretations
and persuasions of my father and my brother were una.
vailing-I could not bring myself 70 fulfil the engagement
and the conse uences thereof, in all their fearfilness, l
are SO embittered against me that, wi,ho1, exagge
ration, ] am Obliged tell you that ] have no.
even once seen my father for toe last ten monthst
From his whole bearing wards me, there beams not a
ray OF love, but bate, and hate only. II Is, ad continues,
indeed, true. that we never learn rightly 70 estimate the
Dressings of home til we have experienced the depriva-
non Of them in a strange land What wouldn't give,
sould ] only see you, my former physician, TO whom ] am
M N nQnU OhnNatNunc md aml0y v0lr Qar COUNSEL
Scarcely a day passes that ! do not think back upon you
and your kind caressing treatment. OF how completely
changed IS my condition now-here in an American mad
house-in comparison with the life 70 which ! have in Ger
many always been accustomed! Life here is not at all of a
kind which suits Us Germans. There is nothing comfort
able, nothing felicitous about IL My life is more like the
existence which one ekes out in a prison. But, alas ]
am in Amerca-in this land where might rules right, and
where all and ever ything can DO accomplished withNO
ney, At this time, more than ever during the last long
ban months, does my patience expercace q severe trl4l,
and all The resignation l can command hardly sudlces 70
enable me TO endure my ha-d-my terrible fate. Ten
reaches me, either from you or from any female friend In
Burope. IL not all this enough TO PROSTATE the spirits ofany
oDef Were IL any wonder that saould become melancholy
under such circumstances! have " you, my friend, so
mach oonidonce-you have known me 20 Intimately 20
thoroughly, so through and through, and your mild and
tender treatment was u which gave me back 70 the world
again n useful individual. Many a time aud Oft do I read
Ger again the lines you wrote IA my album, aud the aSso-
catons Of homo, Of you and my other friends partially
sssusg &c for a few hours the severity Of my home sick.
Desp. These American doctors, together With thoir treat
mepl, ! can't endure at al: thus whole ma horse system
N 20 me thoroughly repulsive. Their view their whole
profcsstonal conduct, b.. perhaps, good enough for those
who bave never known anything better, but for mo II
don't ansver az all. ! am perfectly calm, not ia Tue least
excited, and were Ibut even surrounded with agreeable
Influences I could set on We'll and comfortably Tho ar
asnss are entirely n11 = S1Ts rroS 9ho'e IN y Europe. and you
m Europe have no idea Of the way in which a doctor here
tors N BlooningdAle where | Gas nine months ia con0nc-
Deni, was student 81 medicine and schoolmast-r q, the
same time. He close his school one day aud the ncvt he en-
tired upon practice as a regular physician in a lurauc aSy-
hum Doctors in this country lead for the most part a
very IDLE, agreeable life, and the welfare Of their patents
n not laid 70 heart by them A. " the case IN Europe.
Tboee employed IN lunsilc asylums are well paid and
have little 10 do, 90 that Ishould think these establish.
menis ought 10 be called lock-ups rather than hosp iaF,
and indeed you vii very frequently find here people who
are nothing less than mentally ~, but who are here sim
ply because their relatives want them oct of the way.
Gases Of this kind often come before the Courts, and are
usually decided IN favor O. the captive, who then again
reoovers bis liberty. Doctors are under no control aud
can do just a. they please. Al hrst I busted myself dur.
ms the day with sewing and ether womsnly employmsnts,
and sometimes whned away the-evening'ai a game OF
whst. but though that sufced tclcrahiy Tor a time, one
becomes al last tired of this eternal m1ro;nny. And now,
should ! express myself precisely as ! feel, am ssre that
you. AZ an experienced physician, would pronounce me
perfectly recovered but these American doco
use entirely drIeren, orterons in forming their
judgments Of complete recovery. There i a
young German physician here. from Baden, who
sprnt two mouths Ia miuois, bu; he e now just
convince this young disciple of fsculspius that your views,
~ physician Of study and experience, we're sound ard
TIE man. Isxure you, my friend, over and over again,
thAt ] am Kept here merely out Of spite and through Ia.
r<ue. Ny father pays four dollars week for my beard:
laAi " the price IN This institution: aud every comfort and
osnvenienoe that ! get ! am obliged 20 seek for entirely
Aone within myself O, that I bad never ieft Europe.
sigh and sob and long % much for my fatberland; and Ger.
tAlnly q . nuwbere SO lonely a. 10 Kbeinhessen. daily
besecch The Creator " assist me IN one way or another %
-eoape from this captivity. Should death come, he would
~ welcome, for surely death n preferable 10 a longer 50.
yourn n q madhouse. On, wbs, would 7 no, give Tor the
privilege Of convtrsing with you one little hour II = 10
listen " the counsel q q friend such a. you are that I At
us moment 90 much wish. shall ever preserve 70 my
memory your kindness and your friendly relations 70 me.
Oh, God did you but know how much and how innocently
have suffered you certainly would not Jet matters go on
thus. am still 30 young. and have had 40 much sad aud
sorrowful experience, that arm uten constrained to put
70 myself the question whether ! really have brought II
ell upon myself through my own fault and guilt, or
Whether ~ be the viii of an iuscrutsble Providence. And
how am I 10 think, what am 10 believe on this question:
Now do, pray, send me a reply, and tell me whether ~ IL
really tc case that AL my friends have entirely forgotten