Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
A Lunatic's Ball.

They were attired ia all sorts of costumes.
The dresses OF some resembled night
gowns, while others wore several suits OF
clothing and looked like travelling old
clothes establishments. Some wore
Jockey hats trimmed with ribbons OF all
the hues of the rainbow others imita-
ted the Dolly Warden style of dress,
but all were neat and cleanly, orderly
and very ladylike. A few moments later
nearly as many men arrived. They
wore every kind of costume, from the
homely garb of the institution to the
welI-cut clothes of fashionable Broad
way tailor. Some of them carried on
their persons a wardrobe so large that
it must have taken years to accumulate,
while others, wearing cotton gloves OF
all colors, were so thinly habited that
they almost hugged the red-hot stove
in the corner. Both men and women
were accompanied by their keepers.
Soon the physicians entered, escorting
their lady guests. Several of the older
patients crowded about them, on their
entrance, and in the politest manner
complimented the young ladies on their
improved appearance and requested to
be allowed to escort them to supper.
Some spoke of their last meeting in the
Hotel de Vile at Paris, others had met
on the Continent, one had seen the lady
with whom he was conversing in Cali
fornia gold mine, and one poor lunatic
told Miss Sherman that together they
had swum across the Red Sea, nearly
four hundred years ago.
After DR.. Kellogg had spent some
time IN coaxing two very obstinate
patients to begin the performance, one
of them seated himself at the piano
while the other began tuning violin.
The pianist was not verJ tractable. He
positively refused to play without his
notes, but when at length cunning
lunatic placed sheet of paper before
him on which were written the words,
"Do not spit on the floor" he suddenly
began playing an overture from Strauss.
The execution was admirable. The
pianist was Bernard Gallierre, religi-
Gus monomaniac, who believes that the
Supreme Being speaks to him every
night, and that he alone, Of all his
friends, has conversation daily with the
angels about the throne. Mr.. Gluber.
the violinist, also good performer, is
subject to fits of melancholy, and at
times is very dangerous. He imagines
himself a great military man, and dresses
in the fatigue uniform Of United
States soldier.
The master of ceremonies was Henry
Vasquez, a Cuban, whose father is
General in the Revolutionary army of
Cuba. Vasquez is a victim of emotional
insanity. He killed his mistress about
three years ago in New York, and it was
said at the time that $4,000 was paid
forhis certificate of insanity. He is also
credited with having killed two women
in Cuba. He dresses elegantly, but is
undoubtedly a man more to be feared
than pitied
After the dance, stout old gentle
man entered the room. His hair and
beard were as white as the driven snow !;
he wore a green patch over one eye,
black Gid gloves, seven coats and vests
were on his back, and he carried
broken umbrella in one hand. In the
other hand was all old hat, bedecked
with long black ribbons and filed with
grass and weeds. These he divided
into small portions: and distributed as
boquets to some of the female patients.
A most polite bow, a gallant speech, and
then the presentation, after which he was
introduced to the reporter as DR.. Pentz,
and thus addressed him:
"Sir, am wealthy. I own two nil
lions of land on Blackwell's Island.
Sir, am Lord Blackwell. I make you
Lord Selkirk. Ladies Tin loud tone),
this is Lord SeIkirk. am the Duke of
Washington. I knew Lord Selkirk' s
father at the battle of Piper Heidsieck.
Now, sir (in lower key, I will make
you Earl of Glenarvy, and deputize you
with power extraordinary. Go to Wash
ington, sir"
Beporter-What shall I say to Gen.
Grant for you, doctor /?
DR.. Pentz-Tell him he was a great
soldier-so was I, sir-but he never did
any good for the people. Tell him this,
sir. Tell him the Dake of Washington
saws so, sir, and tell him that he ought
to 60 to Europe and remain there for
eighteen years.
While this conversation was going on
DR.. Taylor was trying to induce the
musicians to play waltz. They were
obstinate, and one refused to begin be-
fore the other. For time it seemed
not improbable that the ball would
prove failure, but at length Gallierre
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