Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-07-17
entertainments.
ROBERT DALE OWEN,

The Sentinel of Saturday morning an.
nounced the arrival in the city of Robert
Dale Owen, accompanied by his two sons.
A Sentinel representative called at the Oc-
cidental and obtained an interview with
Mr.. Ernest Owen, in regard to his fathers
condition. He said that four or five weeks
ago, his father, while at Dansville. N. Y,
was taken sick with nervous bilious fe-
yer, with typhoid symptoms. For eight
or ten days his life was despaired of. He
was attended by his daughter. Miss Rosa
mond. a week or two before being taken
sick the famous gentleman began writing
book on the Unity of God" a work
which was to have nothing whatever to do
with spiritualism. 1t was to take middle
ground between sceptcism and ortho-
doxy, showing that both are wrong. For
some time he had an impression that he
would not live long, and the idea he hoped
to carry out in this book had been in his
mind for many years. Therefore, before
he was out of danger, he began debating
to his daughter, who acted as his amanuen-
sis. He then subjected himself to severe
brain work. as the preparatory chapters
OF his book We're on the most abstruse
propositions of theology. As soon as he
was able to lift himself in bed he began
writing himself. One night his daughter
discovered that he had been writing four
consecutive hours. This strain on his
mind continued for eight or ten days,
when on one occasion, while his daughter
was writing at his dietation, she first no.
ticed signs of his minds wandering. He
would break off into some of the most
ridiculous conclusions and was totally un-
able to concentrate his mind. Shortly
after it took an acute form and reason
gave way to fantasy.
The prominent point of his insanity was
shown in the fact that he regarded himself
as being immensely wealthy. He began
reading his autobiography. He traced
back in that to John Campbell, the first
Earl Of Breadalbane, as his great great
grandfather. He thought that he was
sole heir and had inherited an immense
estate and the title. He would plan how
he would found orphan asylums, endow
colleges and give each of his children
nice home, with all the comforts of life.
Benetting mankind was almost his sole
topic OF conversation. The daughter tel
egraphed to the brother, who came after
him, and on the 2nd of this month he passed
through here on his way TO New Harmony.
When he arrived home he became more
restless and lost all idea ofspace and time.
For instance, once he said, 81 want to go
to New York and Philadelphia" On be-
ing told that it was too far, he replied,
"oh, no; it is only fifteen minutes walk"
The insanity shows itself only in con-
versation, and he is constantly talking.
His mind wanders rapidly. and his idea of
work is altogether motion. He thinks he
nlust bf. 1oiur somathipn ho ba
has but short time TO live, and if placed
on the cars or in carriage he immediate
ly becomes quiet and contented. Some
one of the family has been with him con-
stantly. Saturday morning, while at
breakfast in the hotel he got up from his
seat and began an address, being instiga-
ted by the sight of colored waiter. Said
he, There is but slight difference in the
color of the skin" His son quieted him,
however, and took him from the dining
the son said that had nothing whatever 10
is true that he felt much chagrined and
mortified over the matter, but long before
he was taken sick the affair had passed
from his mind. 1t had not shaken his be-
lief in the least, and the sons also still
hold to their fathers views. The father
says nothing on the subject, and has not
conversed on the doctrine. His hair is
white. and his long white silken beard
hangs down on his breast. Although his
general health has improved since leaving
Dansville, he yet shows some traces of
severe. illness. In all he does not look
like an insane person in the least. Al
though he to over seventy years old there
are no traces of chidishness in his insan-
ty. DIR. Evarts, on examination at the
State Asylum, where he was left in the
afternoon, said there were hopes ofrestor-
ing his mental faculties, unless incipient
paralysis had set in. As to this he could
not say as Indianapolis journal.