Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1883-12-26
For the Smyrna Times.
A True Story Continued.
A CHAPTER FROM LIFE.

CHAPTER FROM LIFE.
In my last letter, 1 left off where the
sorrow stricken woman stood bv her
uead husband. l had applied to the
ward doctor several times to be dis.
charged but in vain, at this time heinz
considered more in the light of an at.
tendant than animate; such beino tho
case, L was often left in charge of the
ward recollect one evening in uar-
Vlcular, the attendants had gone to tho
Guy sat listening to the low mutter-
lngS OF the patients, mingled with the
moaning OF the wind which at times
"oulu rise into fierce howl, and as 7
s"' mere memory, ever busy, held I'M
the mirror of the past.~ reAectiDn.
scenes, some of which were flooded
WIN sunshine and happiness, whilst
otners were clouded and dreary enouob
For instance, my present position wos
an inmate of an inebriate asylum. the
companion of maniacs and bloated
breathing corpses. o whisky! thou
mast brought nae into some STRANGE
places, and introduced me to STRANGE
acquaintance, and yet they were once
men, and many of them had been in
ana out of society, and friends had ox
el'eo their utmost endeavors to save
them' but in vain; whisky had them
LOT MS own, yet there are others that |
would be glad to return to the path Of
industry if only helping hand were |
neld out to them, but NO, they are
summed by all, and the law hunts them
down, and self satisfied Christians or,,
out, work; but tell me who will am.
Ploy the man in rags? and where ia he
10 get any better to make a respectahla
appearance, let us consider that tbora
Is only few steps from the well draso-
Cd and respectable looking mechanic 70
the dilapidated tramp.
was aroused from nv reverie nv
the entrance of the night watcbmon
with a stranger in custody who was
leiC In my charge when the Waterman
departed. tried to enter into couver.
satlon with him, but failed. 7 wac
anxious to ascertain why he was
brought there so late at night, and bv
the Waterman, but l did not learn
much as | could not understand hin,
ne being a Frenchman. l learned
alIerward that he was found prowlino
ABOUT the court yard, and not GIVING =
satisfactory account of himself the
"atchman suspected him of being an
Inmate trying to escape. About the
usual time the night doctor visited the
ward and questioned him in regard to
being found within the walls Tho
doctor concluded to detain him for the {
present and ordered the Frenchman to
ped, but the fiery Gaul resisted with Q
oaths loud and deep in his ou,, a
language. He was soon overpowered Q
ana strapped down to his bed. and a
aose OF medicine administered by force: I
such was the prevailing method of '
dealing with refractory patients. q
Next morning I was surprised at the I
appearance of the French.
man; he had the bloated eouptenanca g.
and vacant stare peculiar to those in e
the last stage of delirium tremens. A
Priest visited the ward that dav. he u
questioned in regard to the French u
man, as to his appearance and general $.
bearing when brought into the ward. IL
ne was also anxious to learn my opin-
on IN relation to the treatment he had a.
1 tried to avoid his cues 81
ions for this reason: l was afraid to u
rust a stranger with my opinion while
IN inmate. When leaving he told me al
nat he would return as soon as he I'll
'ould get carriage to move the "
'renchman. The priest did not return m
Ill dusk bringing the wife of the W
'renchman with him, but they were 10
90 late, ne was beyond their sympathy, OF
laVlng died two hours previous to their nc
rival. None can tell what the wife,s ue
ceilings were when she fully realized sli
nat the bloated corpse before her was Ut
Ter husband, perhaps the cherished of III
er soul, and as she knelt by his side LII
leading to Him, who never turns eV
eaf ear to the afflicted, for mercy on liz
er fallen husband, even the hard Sc
earted attendants were affected. IN
ave witnessed such marks of affection az
everal times for the loathsome wretches
nat they call father, brother, son or
usband. But, alas! there is no such
displayed in the female ward
lnebrlates, no fond father, brother. Be
IN or husband visited the fallen ones col
here, even their own sex shuns them pc,
pestilence, and the nurses witness CHI
leir sufferings unmoved. up
l was often amused with one Door col
How; he had the privilege of walking DIRE
bout the ward, although confirmed the
onomaniac; he believed that he was che
orth millions and gave imaginary bel
lecks for thousands to every one that five
could get to take them. The head tin
lFse who was q surly fellow often bel
we him cuff or q kick when he say
ould proffer him fabulous amount will
some imaginary bank. One night 4
e nurse and l were sitting by the of
've in conversation. l had risen to you
)se a window, when suddenly n per
ittoon came with tremendous force hea
the nurses head, but only brushed I
ear. What would have befallen by
poor fellow l can't say as the doc arcI
just entered upon the scene and lem
t stop to the conflict by ordering the
a to be strapped down to his bed. corr
a few days afterward he was sent TO unit
insane asylum; his sister was an and
nate ofthe female ward for inebriates cont
Things went on in this way day after the
Y. had made several applications to part
head doctor, but he always avoid mig
giving nae direct answer. One viii,
rning about eight o'clock was sent of I