Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-02-11
CLOUDED INTELLECTS.

CLUtUED lNTEbLEGIns
Fortunate II is in regard to the in
sane that, as a rule, their attention is
easily diverted. The maniac resembles
the child in this respect. Ills fancy
is readily tickled with any straw. A
personal compliment, however irrele-
want, meaningless or absurd, will gen.
orally have the effect of checking his
ticrccst fit of passion, and ofthwarting
his most threatening intention. But we
might give several remarkable instan-
Cos where the deadly purposes of the
dementcd have been aycrted only
through the extraordinary presence of
mind of those who were the objects of
their hallucination. Once n keeper in
an asylum had occasion to go upon
the roof Of the building-a very high
one. A patient, unobserved, quickly
mounted the ladder after him, aud
confronting the keeper at the top,
told him if he (the keeper did not
jump down, he (thc l%unatic) would
throw him down. There was no mis-
taking the mena9ing look and tone.
Escape was impossible. Suddenly a
happy thought struck the keeper,
"IIa" said he, with an air of easy
confidence; ITO jump down would be
no great feat. | tell you what--I1l
go down and jump up" The mailman
was off the scent ut once. The notion
pleased him immensely. Both dc.
sccndcd the ladder, and the keeper
saved his life by this lucky strata
gem.
A young lady was put into a rail-
way compartment alone, to go to
London, As the train was ON the
point of starting, a gcntlcmanly-look-
ing man rushed up and took his seat
in the same carriage. Shortly after
the train had got up speed, the gentle
man jumped up and exclaimed, "Ihis
carriage In too heavy, and must be
lightcned !" and straigbtway his car
pct-bag disappeared out of the win
dow. lie remained quiet for a couple
Of minutes, then started up again,
when his coatand waistcoat followed
his bag. After another brief pause
he said "Let us pray for the Duke OF
Gloucester" Down they went on
their knees, the poor girl, only seven
teen, too frightened to do anything
but obey. When that was finished
they prayed for the Duke of York,
and then for another--in fact, for a
whole string of dukes after which
they sat down, the young lady alarm
cd out of her senses, A few more
minutes Of silence, and the gentleman
once more exclaimed, at won't 10; /
can't stand it the train Ii too heavy
either you or | mustaget ont i don't
want to, sOyou must co. The girl,
in dcspaif, says, Tint We have not
prayed for the Dnkp BIZ NOrthumbor.
land. "Ah! no moFe We have Down
they went again on their knees, when
fortunately the train stopped at q STA.
ton. The young lady called the guard,
and it was discovered that the gentle.
man was a luIEatic escaped from Han
we'll Al aT m "a ~ nsa =
Very affecting il the incident ne.
corded Of Julien, the musician. Lat
terly that popular favorite became
deeply involved ii difficulties, under
which bis mind ultimately gave way
dOa several occasi6tis his friends fan.
cicd they observedhim in lts-though
passing ones--of insanity. These tfts
consisted of sudden ovcrflows of high
spirits, followed BIZ p~rostration and
: detection, without any apparent cause.
| One day be returned home armed
with a large knife. He found there
: his niece, a young lady OF sixteen,
whom he had adopted. NCome here
!, he said to her II am going TO let YOU
hear tue most marvellous Of all music
1.-The grand concert Of the angels i
am going to Kill YOU" WITH these
words no was about 10 GARRY out III
/, threat, when tho young Iady. Will
great presence of mind, said, aWith
q all my heart! only, before sendfnnm C
: to heaven, Just play me an air once
7 on your plccolo, so that | may com,
l pare your music with that OF the An,
rable. Tic kissed his n;a"n o ~ "u'Iii'
\ to get his instrument. Meanwhile shC
4 made her escape and the poor mad,
. TO 4 m0ison ~ sr,,gs " n NJ sskel
ho died a faw DAYS as-ar,vo,.d' "het'
Tho osg \ \ ~ W"Ia.
y his ! I. msNslahE VINO mags
. Of WeII,n~ton sa Il Arnh ssass u sac lluk'
III" Ma s"naa Rs9Vapag VEL known