New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-05-17


| 4ba1I hear the boat a. 1t gains the strand I;
sI,p1i f,4s< from sight with tile 0o2tman pale,
10 the setter shore Of the spirit land.
shall know the loved who have gone before,
And jayfully sweet viii the meeting be,
When over the river. the peaceful river.
The angel o. death shall carry me
A True Adventure in a Lunatio Asylum.
Ihzve decided passion ior the study Of insanity.
Ea ~ rs Forms and in every degreefrom the ere
uuscuI2r CLEAN Of rtcedne reforming reason to the
<sd eclipse restoration Of the facnest presents
auuhject IL thrilling and startling interest," The phe-
mpcn<nA of mind ID is normal state. grand and
@uudoriuI IS they are lose. ike the glOries OF the
45iz6le creation, much Of their impressiyeness by
&m1liNitr In ourselves and IN others, we see its
ndl<vifius and capabilities displayed and imagine that
49, comprehend IL mysteries. This empirical philo-
aSS&y superficial and meaRre though it be, blnnis
~ &oue{lie IN most persons for speculation upon the
nnrH exhbitions g intellect They behold the FORM
"a Acar the voic6 of the mystic Memnon. but care
nck to inquire BY what mechanism It's marvellous
1T fances are produced
st che mind ID ruins, as Il Is less frequent. SO
aISo ID il Tar more impressive spectacle. The bar
Mxx* of cpnsentonaism and policy. which hedge In
xA& same Intellect and obscure it, manifestations
90 feinoged BY insanity. and we are permitted 10
n146f The seinents of our intellectual and
oo10f0ra nafre 10 slate. to speak, of compare
1>ve Aniity. Tie deductions Of this morbid analysis
nnst of course be corrected by indnctions from the
rtcnomena Of sound mind 10 he either valuable or
rcki1blc-
Hence. with Some taste for metaphysical studies,
5rsort % iunatic asyums as the physician does g
hcz1tas 10 learn from the irregularities 81 diseased
fatefcrx she laws ard conditions Of intellectual
health. In this way ! have collected some curious
A1{i<tcs ia relation 10 insanity and have occasions
ailf met with strange adventures
IL ne Sunmer OF 1885, | visited lnpatic asylum
nc1fcd III ouc 81 our Southern States As Il was
Ix1nded aud patronized BY the State, it was on
4xke scale both A. v accommodations and the num-
ta< 81 ifs inmates The policy Of the institution not
te1x restrictive the n4ighboring States contributed
tk<ir f1 quota Of unforu hates to fill its cells Every
s4ae and almost every type Of insanity were TO be
fsaed among the inmates. The fierce madman utter
nG bIauk inanttles and ready to rend alike himself
* his keepers the mild mon0maniac alternately
41ttr the dominion Of hallueiaaton and OF reason I;
fhe phfensied lover. Frightening dsrkening be-
uct6 che imaginary smiles irowns Of his MISTRESS
ur t~wllacfed fniser. heapng up bits of paper aid
sx3s. and gQating over them as piles OF gold the
hsxy martinez. mafshaling his phantom sqnadguns
nop the field o. biz prison door the victims every
miidciert numbers 70 exhibit the varying seades ln
sac ascending o. descending line Of the respective
4Acr4tinuS
The main baIding Of the asylum was immensely
large and was crowned At the summit with sort Of
t3err or place Of lookout. which rose TO q con-
siderable height above The ccnfrsl apex Of the mas
are structure. II other respects, there nothing
worthy Of special remark 10 the style OF plan 81 the
H4viun satisfactory letters Of introduction to the
11ueri1te1'ent, | wus received aud treated with
ulch cieility and Kindness during the whole Of my
visit He gave me every facility for personal OBJ
sprvsfion and Impaired much information as TO the
bislpry and peculiatities Of Che more remarkable
cases. Daring my rambles over the grounds or
Hevaeh 1he apartments Of the Institution, was ac-
cpwpsp!ed most usually by the superintendent him
s A,id occasionally BY other officers Of the asylum,
Af{ef WeekH incessant visiting ! became almost
dnneatieated. and was permitted TO pursue my OBJ
s.ev@t'oss and ny peramsalations comparatively
panied hrpngh the chambers Of that mighty ediiice
and listen 70 the babblngs Of the darkened beings
wha ssnanted rs cells.
dom OK the asylum. gentleman, whom | had not
&6f1He seen, came up and aecosted me in familiar
x1d most friendly manner He was tashionably, even
elegantly dressed. Of large size. aud possessed sin
owy development OF nerve and muscle, which indi
eacd great activity and strength. His eyes full
~ Iust}aiis and his features decidedly intellectual
- both contour aud expression. Making polite In.
elIrskiou Of head towards me. he said
stranger, presume, come 10 see the curiosities
x the ssylua or perhaps to visit some unfortunate
friend af relative brought here to be restored to re-
eo1 Az The udiaous treatment Of our excellent super
Yoa are correct ID your first suppositon.r re.
rl<ed have, fortunately, neither friend nor reia
ticS here hut have come simply asyou say, TO see
~ cafiosities Of the asylum
con xratuiate YOU said be. upon your examp-
GuH, aud upnn the laudablc motive which prompts
YQpr rlsit The calamity next 70 being an inmate Of
IN asylum ones self Is TO have dear friend or Fea-
tire inmared within its walls. As you have come TO
re, uermiI inc 20 become your cicerone for short
tine an at leisure, aud love TO point cut The To-
oai&ies and to explain the economy oil the institution
t>nquiSitive strangers. For many years have been
prvilsged visitor IN all the departments Of the asy
lam. and know the history and peculiar halincina-
6oas n wellnigh all the iamates.r
etrack with Tie Intelligent conversation and won
~ The afaDe address of the stranger, rsadily ac-
oep'ed bis proposition 70 be my guide on the present
From ROOM 70 rpomhe relating and listening with
Hlea*d attenton To his relations 81 the Names hallu-
ea1tlous and present condition Of the Inmates. His
descriptions Of the more remarkable cases were
Er4Phc aud eloquent 10 high degree Il is hard to
decide whether Was most interested 10 himself or 10
TIE krtfeu uues whose history he 40 touchinQy and
- teaasi.uiiy related. Occasionally we passed an
of<fi1i Of the nstitnti0n, between whom and my
eicaaooe few words, but more frequently nod or a
wHse q the hand, were exchanged in token Of friendly
fccogntion.
Hssiug visited Al the apartments upon one noor,
We assembled to the next aud went through similar
Faand OF picturesque description bis part, aud Of
&<tAalive listening on mine. He talked without the
ssanains Il questions Il was thrilling monologue
WIN insanity for lbs theme. AID the mournnl abera
aoh g The wrecked Ia mind for It's gloomy embel
Hzamcnts.
AZ length we reached the last cell upon the high
est uaer. he paused moment, thonghtfuly, ana
then edded:
have now an architectural curiosity to shos
Eou and then we most part. wish to point out /,
you the cunning eontfvance BY which the pressure 8
ne weight Of the high tower which surniounts ID,
main e4iilus Of the asylum Is diiiused over a arg.
1fea Of saipof and thus prevented IRON depressing
~ peEtAon q the ROOT o. inlafing any part Of thl
s<yiaE this be assembled. and followed him IN .
zo4t a.4bt q steps, which brought US 10 the Too
HoH Vb'cu the tower sprang perpendieaisriy up to
cpu<defa','t height As soon as we set loot upol
toc totF saw a long stout ladder, with one en-.
lv-<{nS near the spot whure stood, and the othe
f>zEtfrd With iron rings TO gnpples driven secure