New-York tribune., 1872-09-13
TREATMENT OF THE INSANE
DIR. KIRBalDE'S PHILADELPHIA bad
HOUSE.
A SANE PATIENTS ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE
FROM IT.

| -
| received:
| TO the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIN. On the western outskirts OF Philadelphia stands
large building, In the midst of extensive grounds,
which are surrounded by high and somewhat iorhdt
| bIeIooking wall There two large buildings eaeh
situated in it's walnclosed doman but the one 10
which this narrative particularly refers is the western OF
the two. glance at his establishment shows ihat IL
has built with due regard to architectural erect
with central dome and portlco, aud with wide
| spreading wings and rctreating payllions Inc
ground plan OF the principal building, which
is three stories high resembles capital Il; the domo
being over and the main entrance in the tongue OF thht
letter OF the alphabet On either side OF the large o
ing the ends OF the OF the L. are two smaller
structures smaller capital Els, only story high The
open courtyard embraced by the arms OF the small Es
inc0sed and completed by high iron raings behind
which mournful and gibberiBg idiots may he seen
confined in the daytime, while at night they are locked
and barred up These small buildings are called IN the
nomenclature OF the place, Wards and g. north aud
and SOUTH respectively Here may be found the cells
and the powerful keepers The arms Of all the Es
stretch to the east This place is mad-house. 1t would
weary the reader relate all the incidents connected
with former entrances and exits into and out OF TINS
formidable abode; so let me cone at once TO the last
promising simply that there prctense OF insanity
for my imprisonment.
one dark Winter night very early January l3cs the
roads Now, II the reader had been at about o'clock
that morning in certain in the third story OF the
southern pavilion OF the mad-house he would have seen
me apparently trying to cut through door with pen
knife The point OF the door assled by the tiny weapon
was Immediately the keyhoc Of the lock, and by
cutting only about third through the thickness OF
the door would reach that keyhoe, and there lay
az hand a key ready for service. The keyhole on my
side had been covered with plate but former
occasion had taken the liberty OF tapping the lock with
an instrument, the other sde when my attendants
head was turned and tho metallic sound returned as
sured me Of the nature Of the barrier So had waited
until no eye was upon me- 1 unscrewed the
lock quickly, took of the sdeplate with the
obstructed keyhoe, made a little furnace with
contraband candeend and two books removed the OBJ
strucon put back sdeplae and replaced the lock-
SO could cut away hopefully but 1t had to be done
most silently; for in the next room lay snoring most
suspicious attendant and every hour the CLEAN OF dark
lantern under my door announced the watehman pass
ing on his rounds and through the long corridor every
sound seemed to reecho with wonderful distnctness
At last it was DONE Then dressng-all but my shoes
which were stuffed into the pockets Of my oyercOat-
putting on two pairs of stockings, paid respects to
the heavy taller by turning face the wall my looking
glass. On the back was painted: Patient sklu Vs.
Mercenary stupidity" then left my room softly at a
time when knew the watchman must be at the other
end Of the building. The key that opened my
room door opened three others for me- and at last
found myself in the open The distance between the
mad-house and the wall quickly traversed, and the
TOP of the high wall was reached by means of lower
fence that touched it at point Both stockings were
soaked through. but with effort the shoes were
donned and then hanging and dropping without much
trouble from the high wall. set off for town. knowing
well that Juvenals remark about tho empty travellers
singing before thieves did not apply to the fugitive from
mad-hOuse keepers.
soon had practical illustration OF this. In five days.
two men appeared in my room in hotel in the city,
forced me to 20 with hem and carried me back TO the
mad-house where my former jailer continued the old,
cruel restraint In nineteen days writ of haoeas cor
ms was served on tho Great Head of the Establishment
whom had seen officially, ana only q lew ulies
aeGGe IL o nt once % discovered that was cured
and told through his subordinate, my cruel Jaler,
tna could CO. which did even @ t1ougm 5 for 6e
night. Perhaps they wanted to induce me TO
fact fset IN co Court next day. Tho next day came,
and we all assembled before learned Judge,
know aud honor private life, but dislike exceedingly
IN his official capacity who rose and SAID m eieet tha
had sick but then WELL and that being the case
had been discharged at my own request Inere was
some attempt TO cast dicue upon those VINO haa mus
discharged me at my own request anu Que sarea@st @
member OF the bar went so far as to hnt hat me wI
OF habeas corpus, and not the OF 'e Iei & o
his subordinates, was the potent medicine wmch hau
wrought this speedy cure in the ~ OF ~ dys since my
last capture. Legislature has since seen NJ 70 entct
laws as barriers to prevent these ocias from repeating
these practices. - 49,,
liberation may attract the attention OF those VINO nave
not been so fortunate as /, and who may still be at the
mercy OF those who were cruel 10 me Dut II II cause ne
liberation Of single person. shall l9el thaV my OWn
Imprisonment has not been In VAN. Indeed, alWa9s
felt toerably that would ultimately be set free
either by my efforts those OF others; but even
then nts of spOndency would come 10 me III my secl
9vaav have been doing the Chefujustice hope was
bat seeing what saw around me, knowing Wnat khew
Suas most 1rresistiby fmpelcd This same chieftain
NAV here remark, Notwithstanding MS uespouc sway
over some 800 or COZ souls could indulge IN sort OF
croiesoue hunor at times, could make ghastly joke
Ue remarked once, as one OF the au'antdBes ol uS
institution that Of the WINDOWS nau othmentai
iron ratings" Ornamental IRON rllnssi Sy ,niH f os
IT, We unOrtunaes compelled 10 hSet on le ouSlue VI
This terrestrial paradise! The lunducs auu DIeEc1
inn,ties within had happy privilege OF gazing at sun
and and star and grass ana tree ana pd through
Nv lie in the m5dhouse had its poetical side tool
have not spoken much Of my immediate Jaer, Tue as
becanse had a personal controversy with hun. will
mention one OF tho causes OF that controversy soon
after one OF y many captures, having recently sent
mir Of Egyptian slippers friend beguied the time
by writing few lines To accompany OF rather 70 IoloM
seized by nv taller in transu He ruhlessly tore the let
ter omen and neither forwarded the missiye nor re-
ordinary and questionable action. He kept the letter
and said nothing ~ WAS only Dy tne MeTest acclueni'
some days after that discovered what had happened,
Inv forcing reluctant confession from his own hps Wnen
my suspicion became aroused My poor, harmless little
verses mad been brualy trampled upon by the heavy
loot Of irresponsible power. There can be no doubt OF
this, it mas been announced under oat9' IN open
court and the lines were 50 harmless that can eIoSe
this article By giving them
THE RETARDED VERSES,
should hare accompanied ne slippers
A pair o glite,ing slppen from the East -
From Nilus bank where the s6srhY belle
Whose beauty made the Roman laurel bow
I'd A, her homage, dwst-I bring 20 thee.
MOI ali uncertain, like the doubtful Prince
Who followed Cinderella from the ball
Whose footm ct the baube. Well know
The graceful nsteD that will arch above
And decorate decorated shoe
Thy beauty needs further gaTnure
To set Ii off, true, but then reject .
That these poor sandals though they lash with goai
Need sal tiy touch o ornament them more
For their ake then, II not for mine, accept them
Bur sometimes prithee, In thy happier mood
When they are resting o thy hlle feet,
Think that thou III unworthy donor there. Nh
sent