The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-01-22
Ny Experience as a LunatiC.

The Confederate force OF General
EARLY had gained the mastery in the
Hhenandoah valley, and our demoralized
hattalions were falling back precipitate-
ii through Winchester.
Sheridan dashed upon the scene, and
his presence checked the retreat and in
fused new courage into the disordered
mass. Our battery reached a knoll to
the left Of the pike, and unlimbered in
front of a timbered slope on the brow
Of which the Confederates had posted a
heayy battery. The infantry line on
4ilr front was advancing, and 1 saw the
Meaning crest of bayonets fall when
tho order came for charge on the
N9uble-quick.
Bright sunshine was streaming
Ihxough the open curtain, and seemed
81 have awakened me from prolonged
'nmber. Slowly my scattered senset
&thered from dim unconsciousness, and
Ihought assumed definite form the
ate OF the battlefield again flashed
fire me.
What of the charger" 1 inquired
nxlously, making desperate effort to
f'5e.
The sharp, unnatural tone Of my owl
voice startled me, aud my strength was
Unequal to rustic even the covering OF
my couch.
q Do not try to talk now, Charlie !;
gou will be stronger very soon." 1t was
the voice of my wife. In moment ]
realized that was home, ON the shores
Of the northern lake. / glanced through
the window, and the waving branches
associated with my thoughts of the bat
lie scene were not there, but the snow
j |ay heavily on the fields glistening in
the sunshine. Many months have pass
I'd away, blank period in my existence.
AS recovered my strength and COM
prehension learned the critical ordeal
had passed in surviving a severe
wound that caused fraciIce of the
skull, and necesSitated the operation of
trepanning. ~S
Still mapX.more months elapsed be-
fore l was again abroad. The war was
ended, and the people were rejoicing in
the restoration of peace. was tender
cd and accepted the old position 1 had
resigned in response to the call to arms
-teacher of mathematics in the academy
Of my native town.
The routine of the position was famil-
iaF enough, but close attention to its du-
tics shortly developed the fact that my
nervous system had not recovered from
the severe shock it had sustained, and
my mental powers we're impaired.
AS nearly as 1 could define the effect
produced, the injury seemed to have in
ierrupted the harmonious action of the
brain, and the right and left lobes ap-
peared to operate Independently, and
take separate and distinct cQgnizance of
emotions and sensations conveyed by the
medium of the senses. .EXnTY Thought
EeemO2 to have its 4dupliel NECESSARY
b complete impression When /
1ndied single problem, and the solu-
an occurred, Immediately would follow
31o solution again, as if emahating from
second mind acting in Conjunction, and
always little slQEer'in its perceptions
This arrangement, vexatious and con
iusing at first, eoStmued to increase as /
devoted myself to mental labor, until
dnally was compelled to abandon my
position in the academy.
The necessity was indeed a hardship,
it left me without the means of sus-
Ienance. My brave and devoted wife
9ofeap nobly under the affliction, and
ngiated.that l should indulge the repose
1ot my critical position demanded.
Meantime she turned the fine musical
aeulties acquired in better days to good
coount, and we continued to live com.
artably for a tiNe ON the proceeds oi
ef labor. Comfortably, did say No
b grieved me constantly to see her toi
20 arduously with the double RESPONSE
bility of household cares. And / knew
that her assumed cheerfdiness was the
cover of painful solicitude she expert
enced on my behalf.
This anxiety did not favorably affec
my arrangement. 1t grew more marked
and depressing. Vague fears happened
me by day, and narrowed the long
sleepless hours of night. The strang,
perception of a double intellect beeam,
so far defined that the senses were sym
pathetic. The sounds that reached m,