The Penn's Grove record., 1888-04-21
NOT A CONTRACT.

asylum in one Of the Eastern States,
which was under the charge of a madi.
cal gentleman whom for convenience
will call DR.. Clayton.
/ will not locate the institution, be-
cause as the facts l have to relate are
still fresh IN the memories of many,
the parties interested might be caused
some annoyance II general public at
tention should be directed especially to
them.
As 1 was being shown through the
commOdious establishment and beauti-
full grounds by some of the attendants,
part of the time accompanied by DIR.
Clayton himself, l witnessed many
curious phases Of human nature, espe-
cially insane human nature.
On being transferred from one de.
partment to another, my attendants
frequently became changed, as the dif-
ferent keepers took charge of me for
the time, and on n of these occasions
| had a long and very interesting con
v~ersation with one Of the lattei-a
slender, handsome, intelligent gentle
mar of t~hirty-fve, with black hair,
bright eyes. and very prepossessing
features-whose easy flow of language,
fascinating manners, and unusual ia
miliarlty with every topic introduced,
was really so edifying that I o o be.
came convinced of his being no ordi-
nary parsonage, and thought it not I'M
likely that he was the general superin-
tendent. having full charge of the in-
stitution in DR.. Ciayton's absence. l
limited as much to him, and he smiled
and did not deny 1t, which fully con-
1rmed me in the shrewdness of my
conjecture.
AS l left this gentleman'5 depart
ment, he accompanied me to the door
(where l again met DIR. Clayton,
bowed me out with a smile, shook
hands with me, excused himself from
accompanying me further, saying he
would now leave me in the doctors
charge, and ended by cordially inviting
to call again.
~ see you have been in good hands,"
remarked DR.. Clayton, with a peculiar
smile. ''and no doubt have been highly
entertainment"
81 have, indeed" l answered. 81
suppose the gentleman is your second
self herep He is certainly one Of the
most intelligent persons 1 have ever
met. He is evidently a man Of SPLEEN
did education, and seems to be we'll
informed or every topic. 1t was not
introduced to him and should like to
know his name.
"That is Henry Eckerly," replied
the doctor, 'a graduate OF one of the
leading universities of England Have
you never heard of him beforei"
81 cannot say that I have,"I an
swered; shut l readily perceived, in
the first few minutes of conversation
with him, that he is a refined and
brilliant scholar, and is besides a man
Of marked ability"
"Y Yes" smiled the doctor, she is
one Of the most remarkable patients 1
have v had in this institution"
"Patient?" / exclaimed in surprise;
"what do you mea by that, doctor?
You don't pretend to tell me that the
man is i~nsane?"
"That is just what 1 do tell you,"
returned the doctor, land thereby
hangs a tale. You look incredulous!''
be smiled. "As sharp people as You
and l are have been deceived before
now; and when you have finished your
rounds, if you will come into my pri-
vate office, l will relate you the story,
which, if it prove nothing else, will
demonstrate how closely the line of
insanity can run parallel to that of rea-
An hour later 1 was taking a glass
of wine with the genial doctor in his
private Office, fully prepared to listen
to the following curious narrative,
which l give as nearly as possible in
his own language.
''Some ten years ago." began DIR.
Clayton, "Henry Eckerly was brought
to this institution and put under my
charge, the statement being that, on
one subject, at least, his mind was I'M
sound.
"His peculiar alteration was to the
effect that he was an English lawyer
of great note, who had been authorized
to find out the heirs of a large estate
and put them In possession of a vast
amount of accumulated property-a
with such plausibIllties that more than
one person had become a dupe to his
assertions and forgeries of different
and had first and last paid him
considerable sums of money before the
cheat had been detected.
"For these vagaries and misdemean-
ors, not to call them worse crimes, he
had been put on trial in a court of JUS
tice, and his insanity having been
proved, he had been sent to an
insane asylum instead of a prison.
"After being under my charge for
more than a year, he seemed to have
entirely recovered his reason, and was
permitted by an order Of court to be
SGT at liberty.
"For two or three years subsequently
/ heard nothing concerning him; and
he himself, IS with thousands of
others, might have finally passed from
my recollection, had it not been for
some curious incidents which | am now
going to relate.
"Some years ago l had occasion to