Daily national Democrat., 1861-02-14
Linah the Lunatic.

Whoever has recently visited the State Lu-
matte Asylum, says a writer in the True Pa
cifc Messenger. will remember with grief
and horror that hidcous spectre, in the form
Of a woman, it'll disheveled hair distracted
feature, glaring eyes, and constantly bleeding
lips, bitten thus by wrath and madness. She
could not be subdued, and even the straight
jacket was Of no avail. They had to chain
her in order to secure the attending physician
and servants from danger and thus she was
kept in a solitary cell, for all the world more
like hungry beast of prey than human
being. Now, she would crouch on the floor
in wild laughter and furious screams work
ing away with her hands and feet as if
reptiles and serpcn,s were approaching, and
against the stings of which she sought pro-
lection; then, she would become a moment
silent, litcless, inanimate in limb and body,
when all at once she would again start up to
her feet, cluchiny the iron bars of her cage
with hands ana teccth, and shake them with
snch muscular force as is not often exhibited
by the tender frame of woman. 1t was al
ways dangerous to approach her One after
noon strange physician visited the Asylum.
He was conducted hv the chief official of the
medical department through all the depart
ments. His hrokan accents revealed the
foreigner, and the peculiar pronunciation in
dicated the German. At the cell of the un-
happy woman the stranger paused, and list
ened to the account given of that patient
The already hoary visitor seemed strangely
affected aud moved. Ills whole body trem-
bled; the dim eyes became filled with tears
Notwithstanding the attendant danger point
ed out to him, he eutreated to be permitted
to enter that ward which was considered the
most unsafe in the institution. His urgent
request was granted, and then a scene ensued
which batilcd description. When the door
was drawn opened and he entered. the
crouching maniac jumped up as if touched
by secret spring, caught him with her
teeth on the shoulder and in an instant tore
both coat and flesh from the old man. Yet
he never faltercd. With his WiIhercd hands
he took hold of her. Both seemed to rise
up in height and rival in strength during the
strange struggle
He pronounced name. 'Iinah," broke
from his lips; and as the lightning flashes up
on the unsuspecting from out a clear horizon
and fixes him. sAntue-lke, overcome with as.
toniShment so stood the woman, all changed,
oycr-cXcited powers gave way the wild fire
that flashed from the eyes was visibly eXtin-
guished, and flood of tears now broke free
ly forth. Her fierce grasp upon the old man
ceased, and the hands that an instant prcvi-
Gus had pierced the nails into the coutending
antagonist now shook like the leaves ola
tree in the rustling breeze. Nisihly their
muscular force lrssons--now they drop the
woman shrinks fora moment from the strang-
er, who stretches forth his arms, soilcd with
blood, toward her, and again eXclaims-
"Linah!' She sinks upon his breast, her arms
cncirced around his neck, then raises her
head and presses countless kisses upon the
lips and cheeks and forehead Of the weeping
man; and dt length the first distinct word
that she has uttered since her confinement
here breaks from her lips aud she cries
Father, my dear, dear Ether!' and, swoon-
ing, she sinks into his arms, TO awake after
after long dcathlike stupor, with restored
senses-cured; and was soon after entrusted
to the tender care of her once sorrowing but
now consoled parent.
QrIrE LIKELY III Alta of Tuesday says
number Of gentlemen, whose families re-
side in the Southern States, alarmed at the
condition of affairs eastward, left on the
Golden Age, with the view of settling up af
fairs in the Atlantic border, and bringing
their families TO the Pacific