The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-23
MAD LITERATURE.
From ske Roand Table.
The writings of the insane possess a peculiar
Interest aside from the idea, that

From tke Roand Table.
The writings of the insane possess q peculiar
Interest aside from the Idea, that
"Great wits to madness nearly are allied"
-an idea upon the correctness of which philoso-
piers are divided. French physician, L.
Moreau, has recently gone so far as TO advance
the novel theory that The pre-eminence of the in
tellectual faculties has for its organic condition a
Especial state of disease of the centres"
IL may be permitted here to observe, however
that despite the nearness Of the alliance Of great
Wits 10 madness, it may be quite possible that
genius ana insanity unlike as black and
while. Laughter and tears are nearly allied, but
yei are they not opposite Almost invariably
the greatest masters OF pahOs are equally masters
OF wit and humor, as In Dickens, Hood, and
Others. This article aims merely to present TO
the reader several specimens OF the writings of
different lunatics-nOt unatics In a sort of igura-
tive sense but lunatics who, at the time they
wrote, were under treatment in insane hospitals.
There was a time when il was deemed neees-
sary, In order 10 render effective the system of
txeniment in asylums for the insane 70 prescribe
the use OF the pen by patients altogether. This
fallacy has few supporters in our day. The
treatment of mental disease has greatly improved
since the time when Christopher Smart scratched
his lengthy poem of David" with q door key
OF the panels of his cell. Now, the lunaiic who
Is possessed of the cacoethes scyi5endi Is provided
unGer propr regulations, with ia ili5es for
scrihbhDg. Pens and ink are no longer deemed
the insigIia Of hTationality.
The mad comic muse was SO much u stranger
IN famous Beolam, that when one of the inmates
'hen "houSe of horror produced the
Of thar .h = express her sentiments on
he subject Of polygamy, :, was haI"a"o "s +"
marvel -
~ss John marry Mary, and Mary alone,
It Is a good match tween Mary and johns -,
But If John marry mole wiyes-"hat blows ana NLNf
lis no longer match, but bundle ofmAtohes."
A grey. haired bachelor, who has waike6 Tie
balls of the New York State Lunatic Asl lum for
years with "a bee In his bonnet got of the fol-
lowing Ihy me.-
-IfIVe no wife to cheer me. no darling TO pet
I've no babies TO cry, and 40 vixen 10 irot;
n my lleen and siocknhs are out q rel reps q r., ..
I'm as e the brdt 10 work 10 play
can read a god hook, and 80 drive care away.
Should leave his mpress cheek brow, and chin
I've got eosi consci' nee, ana sunshine Within
The same ''crazy head, in poem on tobacco
chewing, ihus illustrates the rejOi ;ings "inaide'
Of the man who quit the use Of The weed -
ssThe ner, esfe' & q telegr mp 10 the brain;
we 10 not to be wronged and tormen Ell again.
beat freely and iuily-vse'ye got a new star 81
"Tbe following fragment" ,he writer says
"was ground out ola ntcbinc,' "for 40 acc l.
rate description Of which, sec the spritualists.
The subject Is "Euchauted Land" a domain
which lunatics are commonly supposed contnu
ously 10 occupy -
"Thec gentle summon breeze
Ana s,shs thioa.h the sl.ent vae
The echoes ,uvpibe ate aud ie9ouhl
Gi, fotth solemn sound.
Iiui ny how Is heard the silver Bell
(Comiaq 10 me DemOHs)
As they merrily dance and sing.
CBAieh shoes their Quitpg JaHgS d9~H uadsr ne roslg)
those sunlit eyes
Are hNed on prize
That false step may bring.
thickfHg Up their orgteS)
Mid the dance and din
sun deeper within,
The gives smOthered grOans,
Then nightly they chant
In the sOit mn haunt
OF the man that keI has bones.
The Silver Bell,
a. The Silver Bell,
Still tiuklng low
In tfe well below
.1-Et e. Is heard the Silver Bell"
- = This is quite as well constructed verse as tia
Aat many "poet" who claims 10 be sane, Rnt
tvlapm newspapers harbor and Gbet, while ia tn
1tesa Of Rrotesque fancy it is somewhat impres
rsase We have a better built verse below,
"a 5Lagment Of poem on "Ihc Dropping vii
inSash me poplar and sycamore reach 20 the sky,
.-.H' nor me OAK With the willow can Nle.
-. 'Ie vi different sort are the productions o
aholne, lulaue grey haired, tall, and coarse o
cndeaYors OF a kitten in pursuit ~ ber csrJa
appendage. For example,
!, .s'who that sees the tail Of a rat 40 4, ,er,,, 49, .
4he existence of sumow ierei-te acme ~ ~ " " isllf
Ilot hitch H. a l6tChCt AZ ID up up pAir 81 y
raliinRs two stargl, and back again with the nsh y
hsi We must not forget 10 write before forRoi tei "a
are lGb5ng indigestion by ~
4 bu4u0ck aaIsaparlla townsend TneersoLaan over
hafod ffog SEASONED with tudpOle-s sauce an
ecocl nlaCktre taken tlom the Savings Bank Of Eey
fCundianu
aaAoyg ado stand ESQ adicu lnk, adeu steel toot
without WING. pflfe I0N0re mr. aalt dfrert
ana iscAc 0icahd ffog soup Kilkenny rats, "a bros
ngaftos LHha cd flccdfH has tle aa1iaesH Presto A
.5'rrncd sqe iQfengqn.'