Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-09

'.ls antics. The doctor waited until n
had locked tbs door behind hIm and W,
~ere "Ice mo.e upon the stairway, anC
then lie said:
Tina. Nau is shod with rubber be
cause he has an unpleasant habit oi
kicking peorle. He killed his father
IN law IL ! L; OF frenzy, and has been
here ever since.
As We continued our jo1ruev. eScl.
succeeding case presented features ui
mole and more vio. .eut mania. Ii was
getting decidedly uncomfortable. and II
needed the doctors cool. uncorccrned
demsan>r. and the presence OF order
lies 10 keep my spirits from sinking
Iae lunltlcs crowded aroupd me with
an eaGerness and interest taut was ab-
solately oppressive IL its strain upon
my nerves. | shall never forge, the
terrible glare OF their restless, gltteriuG
eyes. One mau fastened his eyes upon
me the moment entered and never
took the,n of while | remained III the
ward. He followed me everywhere.lu'i
could feel his eyes. almost. even when
my bacS was turned ,o hun. Before We
left TINS ward the doctor Went into a
workshop in an above os tie corridor
and displayed rugs, mats an brooms
The workmanship was very good. in
deed.
1.-The lunatics make all themselves
said he. 1T gives them relief 10 ave
occupation. The rugs are made from
bits of their own old clothes. They use
knives to cut the brooms with. We al
low them knives To work with
| | breathed easier when the door was
locked on the lunatics.
| Bv the time We had been through
seven or eight wards had seen all of
the insanity | wanted TO See. The re-
membrance of 1t will last for years. |
| begged to be excused from further
| sightseeing.
"You have not seen the really violent
Cases." said the Doctor quietly. lin
one of the upper wards We have to go
along the wall sideways and keep our
eyes upon tue lnnatics, lest they
should slip up behind u, unawares
and strike u. 1t Is q life
of constant watchfulness on our
part. The patents sometimes secrete
the spoons they are given to eat with.
Then they grind the handle dswn TO a
fine edge when they get ,lto the cells.
\ spoon becomes very ugly dagger
after this operation. We cul never tell
WACl u Rdttcut WILL pC bciLVd wan
hOmicidal mania. Three physicians
were killed here within year. The
physicians never carry ar'us. We all
carry whistles and blow them when at
tackled. The orderlies come to our aid
at the alarm. No one is ever allowed to
use violence toward the patients. Some
months ago patient seized my hand
with his tee and tried to bite it off. l
ouly saved myself from severe injury by
pressing his head back and holding my
hand against his teeth until the orderly
came to my assistance"
When l had got back once more to
tho office the doctor said:
I'VE are receiving more and more
patients here every week. As civiliza-
ton advances it il found that insanity
increases. Some of the queerest things
the mind of man ever could conceive of
get into the twisted brai,s of these un
happy people. They are truly to be
pitied."
looked ont at that moment upon the
pleasing prospect that forms picture
which the luuatics may watch from the
corridor windows. Twenty or thirty
men were busy with picks, shovels and
wheelbarrows laying new pathway
along the green sward.
we let them work as you see" con-
tinued the doctor. "These men are all
inmates. but they are the quieter pa
tients."
Afterward ! saw the types had left
behind all duplicated in the Emigrant
Asylum, on another part of the island.
In one part female lunatics We're cOn
tined. 10 get to the asylum l had to
pass tho lunatic5 at work on the walk.
l made the Journey in time, which l
felt would do credit to professional
pedestrienne. didn't stop to view the
scenery.
"You we're foolish to he frightened"
said Slr. Peck, the superintendent.
by exhibiting fear or uneasiness you
give llnati: an immense advantage
over you. If you look them straight in
the eye and show by your bearing that
You mean To have no nonsense. Won can
control them. They are really very
cOwardly."
"Yas." said another official, "i:l an
outbreak of massed men | would rather
face the luaatics here than the men over
there in the prnitentiary. The lunatics
lack concentration of purpose. Ii one
be comes violent and attacks Il keeper, il
is hundred to Oue that the others Will
fall 10 and help the keeper" While the
keeper was talking heard that quiet,
inoffeusiye, melanchoiic patient had
nearly cut his head of with an old "a
zor he found i'll q heap of rags i'll IA eel
lar. waited for no more, but started
for the Commissioners boat. The last
| view OF luuacy got was the spectacle
of a crinnins man, who shouted go ID
by to me. over the wide expanss OF
huge uecktie, on which he had fasteued
tho brass cover of square ink stand
which had an agate ses In the center.
As got in the elevated cars. home
ward bound, two white haired sages
with very intellectual faces sat down
opposite me. aud by singular coinci
deuce began to discuss tho proposition
| that the whole human race is composed
simply of the victims of hallucinatiun.
| Why" said one to the other, ";hore
are philosophers who assert that people
who think they live are deluded. The
| idea that there is any such thing as life
is simply wild flight OF the lna2ina
tion."
Yes" remarked Mr. Diocoaes. when
he joined me at supper. and tod him
what the man said, THAT philo 'opher
| u more or less correct. We are all
0kaZy on some things. l have seen a
man who saT three kings get mad. II
is notorious that plumbers bills drive
people crazy. Careful students havo
also fouad that women are crazy on the
subject of dress. But we'll not discuss
| that, for the lodge meets tonight and l
must go at once"
That is the kind of lunacy have TO
pm. up with seven days in the week.
Oh, yes. if i: really requires brains to
make a man a bora fide loon. nature
has saved Mr.. Diogenes all danger of
ever becoming the inmate of an asylum.
/ Mas. DIooESEs.
| The OyERFIowING NooKsAcK.-The