The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-27
Funny Crazy Folks.

Funny Crazy Folks.
An instance has lately been brought
to light in one OF the courts in which an
eccentric old millionaire, whose property
wasn't willed according to the wishes of
certain would-be heirs, is charged with
having been of unsound mind because
he sometimes wore odd stockings, forbid
his family to read newspapers at the
table, and told his son it would be good
for his health to walk to and from his
business instead of riding in a carriage.
In addition to these overwhelming evil
dences of insanity, he was unable to I'M
derstand the mechanism of fire eXtin-
guisher, and on a certain occasion, when
he had company to dinner, declared his
inability to carve q chicken according to
the approved scientific methods. An
other alleged lunatic, who was confined
in an asylum for time. but is now at
large, was incarcerated because he mis-.
took fire extinguisher for soda foun-
| tain, or something of that sort. He also
refused to let the asylum barber cut his
hair. Insanity is sometimes said to take
the form of failure to predict what the
fashion in dress will be. Awealthy mer
chant tailor was lately charged with in
sanity Because he purchased a Quantity
of figured cashmeres which were too loud
in style aud coloring to be saleable. A
desire to get away from confinement in
an asylum is considered by the Keepers
and physicians in charge as conclusive
evidence of mental unsoundness.
A case has lately been investigated in
which the chief evidence produced by the
officers of the asylum to prove the mans
insanity was that he had provided him
self with knives, saws and key in order
to effect his escape. There are people
who are Just queer enough to assert that
this is very good evidence of first-class
sanity. Another person has been charged
with insanity because he will insist on
carrying u revolver in his pocket. If
| this should ever become fixed evidence
of insanity there is great danger of an
immense accession to the ranks of asy-
lum inmates. Another man has been
charged with insanity because he gets
mad when collectors present him bills,
and another because he writes letters
which the readers have difficulty in I'M
derstanding. Samuel Obreight, of whom
the newspapers were full short tirne
since, was charged with insanity because
he filled his customers glasses with beer
instead OF froth. The beer drinkers
would doubtless be very much gratiied
if that kind of insanity would increase
| indefinitely. The late Miss Sarah Burr
willed the bulk of her immense property
to charitable objects instead of to her
| loving relatives. The relatives are now
of the unanimous opinion that she was
out of her head. and offer as testimony
to prove their claims the fact that she
generally bought ''speckled" or dam
aged vegetables because they were cheap,
never allowed herself to get cheated in b
bargain and always paid her bills. MIR.
Stokes, dead millionaire, who failed to
meet the expectations of some of his
relatives, had the insane habit of putting
his stockings under his pillow at night,
and was guilty of perpetrating atrocious
puns. The stony-hearted court refused
to agree that these circumstances argued
unftness to make will, although the
puns were very bad, no doubt. N'..'
| A good-loolling young lady has been
confined in New York State asy-
lum for long time because she
labored ander the delusion that several
men desired TO marry her. Ii all the
good-lookiDg young ladies who Were
afflicted with that particular delusion
were incarcerated very large increase
of ASYLUM accommodations would be re-
quired at once A West Albany black
smith was sent TO the Utica asylum. He
got away, and the testimony by which
he was sought to be incarcerated was to
the effect that he had on various occa-
sions, when very drunk, smashed things
generally, kicking the table over and
chasing members of the family about the
house with Ratchet. On one occasion
he had also raised a rumpus in the asy-
lum, but claimed that he had done so
because the keepers did not give him
enough TO eat. The Judge remarked
that smashing crockery when undert tho
influence of too much whisky was q very
common diversion, and although not to
be commended, hardly constituted posi-
tive evidence of insanity. A good deal
of interest has lately been manifested in
the case of Henry Prowse Cooper, who
has been under examination for alleged
insanity in the New York courts. While
the later developments in his case lead
to the conclusion that he is probably
suffering from the first stages of general
paralysis, there are a good many ridcu-
lous proofs of his insanity offered, such
us his kicking ont carriage window to
get some fresh air. A sane man would
have quietly smothered according to such
logic. Philadelphia Times.
Superintendent Goodwin. of the Lee
} high Valley Railroad, has won the graft
l tude of the people along the line by Civ
| ing orders to the locomotive engineers
) not to blow their whistles any louder,
longer or oftener than is absolutely nee
D essary, and to blow off steam only when
+ it cannot be avoided. -iUtsJnyyh Post,