Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-03-12
LOCAL AND PENINSULAR
GOOD W0RDs FOR a NEW OIs1-h
PASTOR.
Lecture at Grace Church by the
Rov. y. "a. Buckley, ~ -. or New
York on .'Cranks or How AOt 10
GJ Mn0.o

J. NJ. Buckley, D. D., editor OF the Chris
| tan Advocate, New York, delivered his lee
| ture on "Urank5, or How Not to Go Mad" in
Grace Sunday school hall last night week. His
ready Wlt conynlaed his large audience with
laughter for nearly two hours save when his
dealing with the more serious parts of bis
discourse commanded earnest attention.
Inc doctor preluded his lecture with boy
hood "reminiscences, spoke of the no bbies of
people and confessed that his hobby was the
study OF insane people. Shortly after gradu-
ating In the theological school he became
chaplain at an insane asylum and when quite
a young man was sent by the governor Of
New Hampshire to Europe to make study
OF the modus operandl OF the London
asylums. Such missions of course had given
bun unlimited opportunities to study the
great mind disease. Cranlism he said could
not be defined in the concrete. Insanity took
numerous forms and was Of many kinds.
The most hopeful kind was that which terri
lies, VIZ, mania it occurs when the patient
is suddenly seized with mind trouble and
ideas rush through his brain much faster
than he is able to note them. Such
q case will prove fatal or bo cured
in short time The most hopeless type OF
insanity is melancholia, it comes on gradually
and its victim imagines all kinds OF evil are
about to befall him. He usually thinks he Is
being poisoned. such case is rarely cured.
Dementia and circular insanity were also
dwelt upon. The former consists of a total
loss OF the mind. An example of the latter
ls person having at regular intervals all
sorts Of insanity with brief spells of sanity.
Among the anecdotes told was that Of a
young lady IN a distinguished family in New
York who all her life had dotted on copper.
named Copperman was registered at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel and took it into her head
that fate intended him for her husband,
Summoning her coach she was driven to the
hotel and learned he had left for
Chicago. From there she. was
train for that place. Her family by means
Of telegraph had her stopped at Syracuse and
when she was taken from the train she was a
raving maniac. During his travels the
speaker said he found in an asylum a refined
and cultured Iady whose insanity consisted
only in sentimentality. She would write the
most beautiful and love sick letters to any
body who would correspond with her and had
been the defendant In number of breach OF
promise suits.
Another young woman thought she was
queen Of heaven. A Scotch lunatic vowed
how 1t was, he replied "Well, went to
America and Joined Presbyterian Church
and was born again. Wasn't that better than
some who land on the battery over there and
vote against the government the next day 2"
Another man WAS confident he WAS Abel
though he said he was born up the Hudson.
One time in New Hampshire the Legislature
visited the insane asylum. While they were
in one OF the departments a maniac excitedly
called the speaker to him and said .sThinRs
are all upside down. Everything is wrong"
"To what do you refer p asked the doctor.
"Why here we are imprisoned while those
fellows are loose" he replied.
"How not to go mad" was taken up at the
conclusion of the lecture The speaker set
forth the following rules Don't let the
mind dwell on one thing be careful of
health eat plain food; use no stimulants
except tea or coffee do not argue with a
belligerent Irishman be clean; sleep six or
eight hours day don't be too sensitive and
finally take the advice OF the poor lunatic
who accosted a man on the streets Of London
and asked do you thank God for your
sure and do so for have lost mine.''