The Shasta courier., 1861-02-23
Linah the Lunatfc.

Whoever has recently visited the State Luna
tic Asylum, says writer in the True Pacific
Messenger, will remember with grief and horror
that hideous spectre, in the form OF woman,
with disheveled hair, distracted features, glaring
eyes, and constantly bleeding lips, bitten thus
by wrath and madness. She could not be sub
dued, and even the straight jacket was of no
avail. They had to chain her in order to se-
cure 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, working away with hands and feet as
if reptiles and serpents were approaching, and
against the stings of which she sought protec-
tion; then, she would become moment silent,
lifeless, inanimate in limb and body, when all at
once she again would start up to her feet,
clutching the iron bars of her cage with hands
and teeth, and shake them with such muscular
force as is not often exhibited by the tender
frame of woman. 1t was always dangerous to
approach her. One afternoon q strange phys
ician visited the Asylum. He was conducted by
the chief official of the medical department
through all the departments. His broken ac-
cents revealed the foreigner, and the peculiar
pronunciation indicated the German. AT the
cell of the unhappy woman the stranger paused
The already hoary visitor seemed strangely af-
fected and moved. His whole body trembled
the dim eyes became filled with tears Not
withstanding the attendant danger pointed out
to him, he entreated to be permitted to enter
that ward which was considered the most un-
sale IN the institution His urgent request was
granted, and then scene enSued which baffied
description. When the door was drawn open
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 in
slant tore both coat and flesh from the old man
Yet he never faltered. With his wthered hands
he took hold of her. Both seemed to rise up in
height and rival in strength during the strange
struggle. He pronounced name "Linah'
broke from his lips and as the lightning flashes
upon the unsuspecting from out a clear hori-
zon, and fixes him, statue-like, overcome with
astonishment, so stood the woman, all changed
transformed. Her nervous stretch of the over
excited powers gave way the wild fire that
flashed from the eyes was vIsibly extinguished
and flood of tears now broke freely FORTH Her
fierce grasp upon the old man ceased, and the
hands that an instant previous had pierced the
nails into the contending antagonist now shook
like the leaves of Il tree in the rustlinc breeze
Visibly their muscular force lessens-now they
drop; the woman shrinks for moment from the
stranger, who stretches forth his arms, soied
with blood, toward her, and again exclaims-
"Linahp She sinks upon his breast, her arms
encircled around his neck then raises her head
and presses countless kisses upon the lips and
cheeks and forehead of the weeping man; and
at length the first distinct words that she has
uttered since her confinement here breaks from
her lips, and she cries, "Father, my dear, dear
father" and, swooning, she sinks into his arms,
to awake, after long deathlike stupor, to re-
stored senses-cured; and was soon after en-
trusted to the tender care Of her once sorrowing
but now consoled parent.