Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-17

"What painful histories and irresponsible
criminals you must have met with in your
experience" observed.
Terrible, terrible The finest ca
reers, the happiest lives wrecked, sir
wrecked by the demon of insanity Our poor
friend n the corner be added, in a voice Of
deep sympath.' "has an awful past. He
went to bed one night as sane apparently, a.
you OF l. In the morning they found him raw
Ing and deluged with blood. lie had cut Lii,
throat of wife whom he adored anc
strangled his twin babies, who were sleeping
in the same rom"
| shuddered at the horrible tale, and, with
morbid interest glanced once more at the
poor wretch near Us. Again l caught that
eye tuu Of diabolicai running. Mad he might
be, but hc was clever enough TO deceive
even the learned doctor as to his obliviouS
ness 70 what was passing around him
Heavens! / would not have spent FIVE min.
utes alone with that homicide for fortune.
could not help feeling curious as to the
state of mind Of creature who had done
such n fearful deed. "Does he feel no re-
morseg- asked
"None-they never do. He's happy as the
day is long Strange, isn't is:'
very strange, and very merciful. Is hb
case hopeless"
'OE, dear, no. l can cure any mailman
with my treatment. Indeed. l am now per-
fccting new system, which mean to try o..
O. large scale The result will, / am sure, be
so successful that one day / shall open the
| doors Of my asylum, and restore 300 men and
women To the outer world"
wished Kim all success, but thought that
| if Saif-coatidence and appreciation of ones
own skill were necessary in order to rise in
the profession, DIR. Wolfe must he somewhere
about the top of the tree
81 suppose all the cruel old treatments are
now done away with" l asked.
utterly exploded. Rational treatment,
| kindness, indulgence even-that's the only
way to succeed. | myself find music one OK
the most useful agents have musical boxes
all over the place; each of my keepers IL
taught to play the flute or some other instru-
ment The effect on my patients is simply
marvellous"
Saul or David or some ono was soothed by
music" ! said, wonderingly; $50 | suppose il
must be good for troubled mind.
Simply marvellous; especially when we
hit upon the melody suitable TO the case.
One lady, "A victim to religious mania, can
only be soothed by Yankee Doodle;' the most
violent Of all my patients weeps like child
when his keeper tootles Come into the Gar
den, Maud Strange psychological fact,
isn't it,7
Very" said, doubtfully. and wondering
| if DIR. Wolfe, casting aside professional
gravity, were practicing on my creaulity
He took no notice of my umbeiieving accent,
but continued putting his cigar 50 screnely
that | was forced 10 think he spoke ia good
faith
The poor murderer in the corner still
gazed at us intently. | scarcely liked TO put
the question to the doctor, but felt in case
of the wretch growing FESTIVE, should ike
- know his favorite melody
"Do you find insanity on the increase or Oh
the declinei" asked.
Most decidedly on tine increase. Even now
l am thinking of building new wing. to ac
commodate the people who will sooner or
later occupy it
May that need not be due to your great
reputation l Observation-Disclosures men
dearly love a comp liment like this
The doctor waved his hand in assumed self
depreciation. Not altogether" he said.
"There are men and women by the hundred
apparently in full possession of their senses-
whom ! have known for years, ard marked
rs some day coming-let us hope for their
own sake-under my care"
But DR.. Wolfe, surely you can not fortell
insanity in sane.persons"
Most undoubtedly [ can. That is one Of
my greatest discoveries; allow me-one
moment"
He leant forw ard, and for the space of half
minute looked straight into my eyes /
was too much surprised to speak. Then, re-
Stunning his former easy attitude, be asked,
with an air of confederation:
ANY of your family insanef
As stated before, l am nervous man.
The perspiration formed on my forehead.
My heart beat rapidly.
NO; none at ALL stammered Yet even
as spoke, it flashed across my mind that
contributed yearly small sum toward the
maintenance of a distant relative, one whom
had never seen, but who had been i'll an
asylum for many years
You are quite s,lre' asked the doctor,
with puzzled air.
trembled in every limb as l confessed TO
having IL third or fourth cousin who was
mad.
Hal I was sure of it," said the doctor, in
compassionate but triumphant voice There
it another proof Of the infallibilty Of my
predictions. You must always go long
way ur the pedigree to find the source. Now,
If you will trace back"
Good heavens!r cried, "You can't mean
to tel me that / shall ever go mad, DR.
Wolfe"
Certainly you will, unless you happen to
die first" he answered cheerfully. Il never
met with a ease could diagnose more salts
you will he kindly treated, and most likely
will be happier than you are row. Mean
while. let ME take down your name and
address; and if you give me another cigar,
shall be much obliged"
| sank back unnerved and SPECIFICS. My
ewes were riyeted on the speakers face rs
fxedly as ! have seen felons eyes rivetcd
on the face of the judge who has just drawn
the black cap. Words will not describe the
state of my mind. believe there is no man
living who. in some crisis, some misfortune
some deep grief or mental depression, has not
asked himself the question, 'Am losing my
witsy' or May not lose Them Who then
can wonder at my horror and despair when
heard the greatest authority in Engand-the
man against whose fat there could I've no ap-
| peal--tieclare that was destined to go out Of
and as | lay quivering and gasping with
| fright, 1 saw, or fancied | saw a twinkle of
fendish exuitation in the eyes of the silent
lunatic at the other end of the carriage
The bland doctor-the bearer of the bow
stiing-took no notice of my natural agita.
ton He simply held out his hand for the
expected cigar. positively hated him. |
tried to frame prayer that when the aufu
hour which he so surely predicted did come,
my particular mania might be honicidal.
and that the nearest and most convenient
threat 10 cut might be that of DR. Wolfe.
At last faltered out But you may be
mistaken the wisest are liable to err"
Il never make a mistake; certainly could
not mistake such clearly defined symptoms
as yours. Why, my dear sir, can look into
the eyes Of child in the cradle and say. If
that child lives, and if | live long enough
shall see it put under restraint That is why
must enlarge my asylum--so many cases
which marked down In early infancy are
now getting due.
This WAS perfectly awful, | gaped help
| lesSly at the glib speaker felt like one in a
| meSreric trance
And let me tell YOU continued DIR.
Wolfe, dropping his voice to confidential
whisper, but gradually speaking louder as he
proceeded, 1T is not only 50 far rs it regards
human heir Is that have the power of de
tecting the sleeping symptoms In the brute
cUation-ray, even in inanimate objects. /
can find them, and foretell what must hap
ren NV journey 20 town to-day is partly 10
lnforIa the president of the hoard Of trade
| that l have detected undoubted synip
toms Of approaching insanity in the