The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-07-25
ROBERT DALE OWENS INSANITY.
AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS SON IN REGARD TO
THE LOSS OF HIS FATHERS REASON.

THE LOSS OF HIS FATHERS REASON,
From the Indianapolis Sentinel. July 12th.I
The Sentinel of Saturday morning announced
the arrival in the city Of Robert Dale Owen.
accompanied by his two sons. Saturday
morning Sentinel representative called at the
Occidental and had an interview with Ernest
Owen in regard to his fathers condition. He
said four or five weeks ago his father, while
at Danville, New York, was taken sick with
nervous bilious fever, with typhoid symptom.
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 q book on
the unity of God, work which was to have
nothing to do with spiritualism. 1t was to
take a middle ground between skepticism
and orthodoxy, 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 his 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 amanuensis. He
then subjected himself to severe brain work,
as the preparatory chapters of his book
were on the most abstruse propositions OF
theology.
As soon as he was able to lift himself in
bed he began writing himself Oae night
his daughter discovered that he had been
writing tour consecutive hours. This strain
on his mind continued for eight or ten days,
when on one occasion, while his daug hter
was writing at his dictation, she first noticed
signs of his minds wandering He would
break off into some of the most ridiculous
conclusions, and was totally unable to con-
centrate his mind. Shortly after it took
more acute form, and reason gave way to fam
tasy. The prominent point of his insanity
was shown in the fact that he regarded him
self as being immensely wealthy.
He began reading his autobiography. He
traced back in that to John Campbell, the first
of Breadalbane, as his great-great grandfather.
He thought that he was sole heir, and had in
herited an immense estate and the title. He
would plan how to found orphan asylums,
endow colleges and give each Of his children
q nice home with all the comforts of life.
Bene6ting mankind was almost his sole topic
of conversation. The daughter telegraphed
to the brother who came after him, and on the
I'd of this month he passed through here on
his way to New Harmony.
When he arrived home he became mora
restless and lost all idea of space and time.
For instance, once he said, II want to go on
to New York and Philadelphia" On being
told that it was too far, he replied, 'Oh, no;
it is only fifteen minut walk" The insani-
~ SuOWS ltS0lI Ouly III COuN0E5AuOU, auu Nc ID
constantly talking. His mind wanders rap
idly, and his idea of work is altogether mo-
ton. He thinks he must be doing some.
thing, as he says he has but short time to
live and if placed on the cars or in carriage
be Immediately becomes quietand contented.
Some Of the family have been with him con-
stantly.
Saturday morning. while at breakfast in the
hotel, he got up from his seat and began an
address. being iDstigated by the sight of q
colored waiter. Said he: "There is but a
slight difference in the color of the skin"
His son quoted him, however. and took him
from the dining hall. In regard TO the Katie
King expose, the son said that had nothing
whatever to do with the fall of bis fathers
reason. 1t is true that he felt much chsgrined
and mortified over the matter. but long be-
fore he was taken sick the affair had passed
from his mind. 1t had not shaken his belief
in the least, and the sons also still hold their
fathers views.
The father says nothing on the subject, and
has not convers ed on the doctrine. His hair
is white, and his long white g. ken 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 in
sane person in the least. Although he is
over seventy years old, there are no traces of
in his insanity. DR.. Evarts, ON
at the State Asylum, where he
was left in the afternoon, said there were
hopes OF restoring his mental faculties, I'M
less incpient paralysis had set in. As to this
be could not say as yet.