The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-04-18
A TOWN MAD PEOPLE.

Like my glory J'er the door.
TOWN OF MAD PEOPLE.
How the Sane and Insane May Live
Togcther-The Romantic LeSeha
whicf, Founded SO Strange a COLI
ony-Ehe impression o. "A Stranger
Among 200 Free and Independent
LunatIcs-EEow They Live ana ACT
A gentleman was once riding IN a railway
compartment through Flanders on his way
to Antwerp, when, at small station on the
road, lady and gentleman took their
places opposite to him, whose dress and
manners excited his curiosity. The man,
about 40 years Of age, looked constantly at
his companion, Y no wore thick ven over
her face and reclined listlessiy back upon
the cushions The lady was evidently
young, delicately formed, and IN Her small
white hands held closely to little baby
cloak and two little baby hats. The new
corners did not appear to be man and WIFE,
for neither wore a ring; brother and sister
they were not, for there was no likeness
between them Not word was spoken,
and the situation began to be painful to
the third person, for it was evident to HIM
that his presence was unwelcome to them
After riding some distance in this way,
the single passenger heard noise and
turned from the window toward his com
panions. lie found that the lady had
thrown back her veil, was leaning forward
and looking about her in the widest kind
a way, her face as white as a sheet.
Her male companion pushed her gently
back upon her cushion, pulled the veil over
her face and laid his hand upon her brow.
This had the affect of restoring the former
apathetic condition Of things. The only
conclusion that the traveller could draw was
49,. 49, l. --i--ar-t-----
about the same time that the conductor
asked his mysterious companions how far
they were going.
To llerenthals,' answered the gentle
pan. "Ghccl is our destination, and 1t is
to be hoped that we shall be alone from
now on
At the mention of the word
GHEEL,
the conductor threw a quick glance at the
yelled lady, nodded to the man as if he un-
derstood the situation and then closed the
door. 1t was evident that the conductor
knew the meaning of trip to Ghcel, but
the traveller had neither the time, nor the
command Of the dialect, to question him.
After some days soiourn in Antwerp, dur
ms which he revealed in the relies of
Teniers, RubeS and Van DYKE. his ear
again caught the word Ghcel in a CONVEX
sation at the table d'hotc. The converse
ton was about the unfortunate Empress
Carlotta, who had grown worse about that
time, AMI it was mentione incidentally
that the celebrated Dr. Bulckens, of Ghecl,
had been called to consult with the other
attending physicians. The traveller now
turned to his neighbor, who was Belgian
physician, to ask for some Information
about the place.
What" he exclaimed, :" can il be that
you Foreigners haven't heard of CIR ia
nous colony of mad people ?"
A colony of mad pcople?"
" les. The whole town, or rather the
settlement was founded upon the idea of
curing insane people by allowing them free
intercourse with the sane The afflicted
are first taken to the infrmarv, whore they
are watched for time ana are then. As
soon as the nature of their insanity is dis
covered, turned over to some of the citi-
zens OF the town, in whose families they
take up their future residence. The work
ing people are thus allowed TO 20 to WORK
and earn their living, while those who are
well off are permitted to 90 aboutanl
do as they please, SO long as they do no
harm"
" But when their insanity breaks out in
TO violence ?"
i" Then they are taken back TO the in
hrmary, pat into straight, jackets if neces-
sary, until the fit is passed, and they are
again prepared 10 20 free
This information enlisted the interest Of
the traveller to such an extent that he re-
solved TO visit Ghcel, and we will give his
account of 1t in nearly his own words. +
WHERE IT Is.
From Antwerp you take the road rs far
as Herenthals, small station. from where.
1t Is necessary to 20 over the country some
10 or 20 ,siiles by conveyance. \ good
stout Boy, with light wagon. was soon
found. ard we drove out into the country |
1t Is broad waste of land. mostly unnro-
duetive; brown, wretched sort Of crass
covers the level ground for miles about.
with only here and there a clump of trees
and IN ierhTash. The measre fertility of
the iald which the people had tried to cul-
'Nate somewhat, seemed to furnish but a
poor lylng for few people, and the old
lettering wooden houses attestei more than
an else the poverty of the Inhabitants
a oout the middle of this bare stretch Of
land lies Gheel. After drive of more than