Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-25
NOT A CONTRACT.

asylum in one Of the Eastern States,
which was under the charge of a medi.
cal gentleman whom for convenience i
will call DIR. Clayton.
/ will not locate the institution, be-
cause as the facts have to relate are
still fresh IN the memories of many,
the parties interested might be caused
some annoyance If general public at
tention should be directed especially to
them.
AS j 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 one of these occasions
l had "A long and very interesting con-
versation with one of the latteT-a
slender, handsome, intelligent gentle
man of thirty-hve, with black hair,
bright eyes, and very prepossessing
features-whose easy flow of language,
fascinating manners, and unusual IA
was really so edifyIng that 1 soon be-
came convinced of his being no ordi-
nary parsonage, and thought it not un-
likely that he was the general superin-
tendent, having full charge of the in
stitution in DR.. Clayton's absence. /
limited as much to him. and he smiled
and did not deny II, which fully con-
firmed me in the shrewdness of my
conjecture.
AS l left this gentleman's depart
ment, he accompanied me to the door
(where l again met DIR. Clayton),
bowed me out with smile, shook
hands with me, excused himself from
accompanying ne further, saying he
would now leave me in the doctors
charge, and ended by cordially inviting
me to call again.
81 see you have been in good hands, F"
remarked DR.. Clayton, with peculiar
smile. land no doubt have been highly
entertainment"
81 have, IndeedI'' l answered. ~
suppose the gentleman IS your second
self herep He is certainly one of the
most intelligent persons l have ever
met. He is evidently man OF splen-
did education, and seems to be we'll
informed on every topic. 1t was not
introduced to him, and should ike 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 before"
~ cannot say that 1 have" an
swered; ''but l readily perceived, in
the first few minutes of conversation
with him, that he is a refined and
brilliant scholar, and is besides man
Of marked ability"
YES" smiled the doctor, "he is
one of the most remarkable patients 1
have ever had in this institution
''Patienty" L exclaimed in surprise;
"what do you mean by that, doctor?
You don't pretend to tell me that the
man is insaner"
''That is just what 1 do tell you,"
returned the doctor, land thereby
hangs tale. You look incredulousl"
be smiled. LAS 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, will relate you the story,
which, if 1t prove nothing else, will
demonstrate how closely the line of
insanity can run parallel to that OF rea-
son."
An hour later 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 DR..
Clayton, "Henry Eckerly was brought
to this institution and put under my
.ho aNa
one subject, at least, his mind was un-
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 vast
amount of accumulated property
fancy which he was able to surround
with such plausibllItie5 that more than
one person had become a dupe to his
assertions and forgeries of different
kinds, 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
clearly 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 orier OF court to be
set at liberty.
For two or three years subsequently
l heard nothing concerning him; and
he himself, as with thousands of
others, might have finally passed from
my recollection, had it not been for
some curious incidents which l am now
going to relate.
Some years ago had occasion to
visit small village called Scarbor-
oush-