Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-08
Rnhsrt ERaIa ehwer.-

Journal.l
On leaving the third ward
DR.. Elstein said We would now visit Mr.
Owen, and entering little hall hand
sOmely caFpeted, with no furniture save
small lounge for a special attendant
he sent him to Mr. Owen 10 see If he
was ready to receive Us. In few mo-
ments q door in the west end % The hall
was opened, and Mr.. Owen advanced to
greet us, eagerly, cordially, as though
anxious to meet some one from the outer
world. / found man cf rather slight
| build, light blue eyes, thin gray hair,
and a nervous, restless manner, yet DO
! lite and refined He began to speak of
! the weather, the incessant rains, which,
I he thought, were needed. On hearing
| that ! was from Louisville, he said he
| had formerly had acquaintance there,
and then named George D Prentice and
Mr. Harvey. He mentioned how much
be enjoyed the witticisms Of Prentice,
and that his sense Of the ludicrous had
always been so great that he had been
obliged to check it. Since his coming
to the asyslum SO many ridiculous
things had taken plsCe that it had only
been by great effort that he could re-
frain from excessive laughter. "Wit,"
he said, twas Patience's peculiar prov
ince. [ never knew but che man as
witty as he, and that was Noah, editor
many years ago OF 3 New YORK paper
called the Inquirer. In q political squsb.
bic that arose in that State a peighbor-
ing editor remarked that he had no use
for man who speit Enquirer with an [.
To this Noah replied that q man
who would Put out his neigh0Or's rs
should never have any Els Of his own"
In telling this aneCdOte Mr.. Owen
laughed heartily, and apparently with
AeeD Enjoyment. 81 TecOllsCt very dis
tinctly,n ne resumed in 3 few moments,
my introduction to Mr.. Prentice.
When l was running for congress we
were opposed 10 politics.. and one day
an article appeared il the Journal abus- |
ing me most fesrfully. Some one called |
on Prentice aud asked him if he knew |
me. 'Ob, no. was the reply. why, |
then, are you so abusive" oh said |
Prentice, that article is merely q |
matter OF business The next morn |
ing Harvey introduced US. We COR
versed about two hours, in which |
no mention was made CT the Cb-
nOXious article. We had both Travelled !
In Europe, both were lovers Of art, and
these formed the subject OF our CONVEX
sstiOn. When Prentice entered his
office she remarked: wen have no
more abusive articles on Robert Dale
Owen and from that time ne never
printed an article rejecting upon me in
the slightest way." He stopped . fsH
moments and then said, quietly: II re-
greet the last days OF Prentice; it was a
sad termination 10 so brilliant q caraer.n
so far no symptom o. mental Gerange-
ment had shown Itself save in s few
ideas; bat now ne turned ,
to the doctor and said: "The patients il
This ward are puzzle TO me; they seem
to have no reasoning power beyond tie
sexual present. II I ask them to lend
me paper when they are through with
t / get no reply. II [ ask tnsm to let
ne have it now ii is handed me Instant
y. This Is more convincing proof 20
ne that the law Of nature is action. We
must live IN deeds, not wOrds.D Then
turning abruptly to my companion. he !
continued: My name is Owen, nus as
am shout to receive an immense pop J
.rty through my mothers c.aims, I !
hall hencefOrth be known by ner
maiden name, which was CampbeIi.U
70 the doctor, again: "ihis inability
o reason to any Indehlite time first be-
anne apparent 10 me al Dan {
lille, In my intercourse with :
hose around me. At New Harmony =
found the same defect. If I aaksd my | T
ODE-sDd obedisnt sons they have al q
Vays been-t0 do anything for me in h
he future il was never done, but if | ! r
sized them 20 DO it Immediately they | h
nmplied. l once thought we were all +
DING crazy. Il is puzzle to me. Yes @
erday, walking among the patients, y
ne Of them made q vulgar remark In Y
egaId TO the Queen. | turned b him n
nd told him l wss an officer in the II
Queens service, and il he did not retrgot +
ghat be had said | would order him to K
e put under arrest and Immediately 4
hot. He offered a. apology, which I n.
ccepted, and then remembering that il o
: Christ who says there is more low in :.
eaven over one sinner who Iepents y
han ninety-nine just men, / told him =
would give him one hundred dollsrs r
he would procure clothing with Il and II
eep himself neat. I have extensive +,
leans, you know, in -" But here at v
signal from Dr.. Eistein we bs6e him =,
good evening" As WeTe.uTned to he "
arlor, the doctor gave me come psrtic- d,
lars IN relation 10 him. His physical ar
eslth is good and ne eats most heartily, OF
Lo nLl--b Tut tliLiE, AtO tGSt lS glsCgn- 0f
ected, being interpreted with remarks a
his relations 10 the Queen, no
Is immense wealth, and his claims to al
he title Of Earl OF BreaGSlbaue. &c k
'serts thst his great gTest-gTandfathsr br
J his mothers side, was Hon Col al
q Campbell, Of Armaddie, and the m
1uDgest son Ok Earl Of Eregdal- or
me. To trace this Up is now bis ri
instant occupation. Dr.. Elstein II
occurred me MI. Ovens COPY oil Sc
reading Ny Way, an autobiography, Y,
order that 1 might see the geuesIogi- Of
j record. On handing the doctor the as
ok he remarked thst some one had
IN out that leaf Dr.. E'stein said lie
vi done this himself the first evening th
his arrival, and l saw marginal notes est
over the book ia lead pencil where u
had vsinly tried 10 recall the record. NJ
feeling of intense sorrow filed my hU
art a. / handed the book back that SO ml
.ghty an Intellect should be wrecked In
40 bleak and barren a shore as SpiIit- fiji
lism. With DR.. Elstein as my author NJ
viii cODtrsGic5 the statement pub an
bed in the Indianapolis Sentinel Of mC
ly 18th, in regard to his mental condi- tht