Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-02-22
Ny Second Self.
SOME PHASES IN THE LIFE OF a LUNATIc

SOME PHASES IN THE LIFE OF LUNATIc.
The Confederate force of General
Early had gained the mastery in the
Shenandoah Valley, and our democrat
lied battalions were falling back pre-
cipitately through Winchester.
Sheridan dashed upon the scene, and
his presence, like spell, checked the
retreat and infused new courage into
the disordered mass. Our battery
reached knoll to the left of the pike,
and unlimbered in front of a timbered
slope, on the brow of which the Con-
federates had posted heavy battery.
The infantry line on our front was adj
vancing splendidly, and 1 saw the
cleaning crest of bayonets fall, when
double quick.
Bright sunshine was streaming
through the open curtain, and seemed
to have awakened me from prolonged
slumber. Slowly my scattered senses
gathered from dim unconsciousness,
and as thought assumed definite form
the scene of the battle field again
flashed before me.
"What of the charger" inquired
anxiously, 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, Charley !;
You will be stronger very soon." 1t
was the voice of my wife. In mo.
ment I realized that was home, on the
shores of the northern lake. I glanced
through the window, and the waving
branches associated with my thoughts
of the battle scenes were not there !;
but the snow lay heavily on the fields
glistening in the sunshine. Many
months must have assedaway, blank
period in my existence.
AS 1 recovered my strength and COM
prehension Learned the critical ordeal
/ had passed in surviving q severe
wound that caused fracture of the
skull, and necessitated the operation of
trepanning.
Still many months more elapsed be.
fore was again abroad. The war was
ended, and the people were rejoicing
in the restoration of peace. was ten
dered and accepted the old position I
had resigned in response to the call to
arms-teacher of mathematics in the
academy of my native town.
The old routine of the position was
familiar enough, but close attention to
its duties shortly developed the fact
that my nervous system had not recov-
cred from the severe shock it had sus-
tanned, and my mental powers were
impaired.
As nearly as I could define the effect
produced, the injury seemed to have
interrupted the harmonious action of
the brsin, and the right and left lobes
appeared to operate independently,
and take separate and distinct cogni-
Zance OF emotions and sensations con-
veyed by the medium of the senses.
Every thought seemed to have its
duplicate, necessary to complete i'm
preston. When / studied q single
problem, and the solution occurred,
Immediately would follow the solution
again, as if emanating from a second
mind, acting in conjunction, but always
a little slower in its perceptions. This
arrangement, vexatious and confusing
at first, continued to increase as de-
voted myself to mental labor, until
finally I was compelled to abandon my
position in the academy.
The necessity was indeed hardship,
as it left me without the means of sus-
tenance. My brave and devoted wife
bore up nobly under the affection, and
insisted that 1 should indulge the re-
pose that my critical condition de-
manded. Meantime she turned the
fine musical facilities acquired in bet
ter days to good account, and we con-
tinued to live comfortably for time on
the proceeds of her labor. Comfort.
ably, did I say? No, it grieved me
constantly to see her toll so arduously,
with the double responsibility of house
hold cares. And knew that her as
sumed cheerfulness was the cover of
painful solicitude she experienced on
my behalf.
This anxiety did not favorably affect
my arrangement. 1t grew more marked
and depr 8 sing. Vague fears haunted
me by day, and narrowed the long,
sleepless hours of night. The strange
perception of double intellect became
so far defined that the senses were sym
pathetic. The sounds that reached my
ear we're repeated, as if by echo; taste
and touch were fanciful and cratic,
and at night weird, fantastic forms
fitted before my eyes, and real objects
assumed the semblance OF what they
were not, and drove me to the verge Of
delirium ; while the effort constantly