The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-29
My Experience as a Lunatic.

II
My Experience as a Lunatic.
The Confederate force of General
Early had gained the mastery in the
Shenandoah valley, and our demoralized
battalions were falling back precipitate-
ly 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 knoll to
The left Of the pike, and unlimbered in
front of q timbered slope on the brow
of which the Confederates had posted
heavy battery. The infantry line on
lour front was advancing, and I saw the
2gleaming crest of bayonets fall when
The order came for a charge on the
double quick.
Bright sunshine was streaming
Through the open curtain, and seemed
10 have awakened me from prolonged
slumber. Slowly my scattered senses
gathered from dim nconsciousness, and
as thought assumed definite form the
scene OF the battlefield again flashed
before me.
"What of the charger" I inquired
An1iously, making desperate effort to
rise.
The sharp, unnatural tone of my own
voice startled me, and my strength was
unequal to rustic even the covering OF
my couch.
"Do not try to talk now, Charlie !;
= you will be stronger very soon." It was
the voice of my wife. In a moment l
- realized that I was home, on the shores
. of the northern lake. I glanced through
The window, and the waving branches
associated with my thoughts of the bat
Ele scene we're not there, but the snow
lay heavily on the fields glistening in
The sunshine. Many months have pass
ed away, blank period in my existence.
As I recovered my strength and COM
prehension I learned the critical ordeal
q had passed in surviving severe
wound that caused fracture of the
skull, and necessitated the operation of
Erepanning.
Still many more months elapsed be-
fore I was again abroad. The war was
ended, and the people were rejoicing in
khe restoration of peace. I was tender
I'D and accepted the old position I had
Resigned in response to the call to arms
teacher Of mathematics in the academy
bf my native town.
The routine of the position was famil-
Jar enough, but close attention to its du-
lies shortly developed the fact that my
hervous system had not recovered from
he severe shock it had sustained, and
my mental powers we're impaired.
AS nearly as could define the effect
produced. the injury seemed to have in
errupted the harmonious action OF the
brain, and the right and left lobes ap-
pea-ed to operate independently, and
AXE separate and distinct cognizance OF
emotions and sensations conveyed by the
medium of the senses. Every thought
eemed to have its duplicate, necessary
10 complete impression. When I
studied single problem. and the solu-
ion occurred, Immediately would follow
|he solution again, as if emanating from
second mind acting in conjunction and
always little slower in its perceptions.
This arrangement, vexatious and con-
using at first, continued to increase as I
fevo ed myself TO mental labor, until
inally I was compelled to abandon my
position in the academy.
The necessity was indeed a hardship,
ls it left me without the means OF sus.
enance. Ny brave and devoted wife
bore up nobly under the affection, and
insisted that shoald indulge the repose
hat my critical position demanded.
Meantime she turned the fine musical
aculties acquired in better days to good
account, and we continued to live COM
ortably for time on the proceeds of
ler labor. Comfortably, did say? No,
erieved me constantly to see her toll
10 arduously with the double response
bility Of household cares. And I knew
hat her assumed cheerfulness was the
: over of painful solicitude she expert
need on my behalf.
This anxiety did not favorably affect
by arrangement. 1t grew more marked
Ind depressing. Vague fears happened
be by day. and narrowed the long,
leepless hours of night. The strange
perception OF double intellect became
R far defined that the senses were sym
fathetic. The sounds that reached my
ar we're repeated, as if by echo; taste
nd touch were fanciful and erratic, and
It night weird, fantastic forms fitted
(efore my eyes, and real objects assum-
ID the semblance of whas they were not,
Ind drove me to the verge of delirium,
Fhile the effort constantly e1erted to
= etain my reason only the more pros
rated the mental powers.
Ultimately my malady reached stage
q which l seemed to realize both physi-
j and mental double existence. At
mes could distinctly see the form
id features Of MY second self, directly
nfronting and gazing upon my more
mediate self. And then my own
|ico addressed me, and We conversed
gether-myself and my second self
ow condoling in common misery, and
hen in tantalizing and horrible impreca-
ions.
The terrible delusion became unbear-
ble, and I felt that reason could not
huch longer retain command of the
= esordered faculties. It was night
Bhen my mental agitation had reached a
Ugh degree. My wife had fallen asleep,
vercome with constant care and watch
Big. T was pacing the sitting-room Of
ur chamber, about the hour of mid
light, as was my habit. Occasionally I
eclined on sofa, in the hope of catch
bg slight respite from the distress of
by terrible hallucination; but it was for
moment only.
I lay down again on the sofa. My
rain seemed whirling in blaze of fire,
nd sprang up stricken with madness.
The horrible specter stood before me
nd Knocked me with fiendish grin OF
erision. grasped heavy piece OF
urniture and dashed at it with the fury
K q maniac. The specter seemed palpa'
lie to the blow, and yielded. I saw
auish IN darkness That spraad befofy