Smyrna times., 1889-09-04
For the SmyTItG Times.
A Day With the Crazy.
(COntinued.)

A Day With the Crazy.
Continued.
There was one inmate of this depart
ment whose appearance was quite diff
ferent from those around her. She
was not what the world calls pretty
so much in her favor perbaps-but
possessed that indescribable something,
the attractive manners, ways or char
acteristics, call it what you please,
which makes even crazy people no. \
tiCeable. l was reminded of a former
experience earlier in the day and de-
termined to keep an eye on her too.
She was perfectly quiet now, acting in
a sane manner, but one never knows
when such folks are going to have an
attack of the Jams" so to speak.
What do you think was her trouble?
Why she came to the conclusion that
there were too many people in this
world, and as the majority of humanity
are not inclined toward the Malthu-
sian theory, she endeavOred to check
the increase in population by heroic
treatment. She began TO experiment
on her husband and children first.
She called it a "Divine command"
Those whom she tried TO massacre
thought otherwise. Just where the
Divine part of being chased all over
the house with an axe or two, etc,
came in they evidently failed to see.
This was the proper place for her and
here she is. And now when she feels
like killing somebody, she can take off
her shoe and annihilate the floor bed
or wall. 1t is so much pleasantei.
The language used by some of the
women here would not bear the strict
est scrutiny without ones first impress
sion of the speakers sadly deteriOrat-
ing. Some swear like troopers.
remember one in particular as we
were going through the section where
she was confined who treated us to
some very bad rhetoric She would
rush up to the small grating in the
door, and with fearful rage demand to
know why we were there, etc, ending
by ordering US out in terms more
fOrcible than polite. A portion of the
poetic lines "a perfect woman nobly
planned, to warn, to comfort and COM
mand," were we'll illustrated in this
instance.
think, even here the women are
more demonstrative than the men.
This is not wholly theory on my part
either. came very near having the
truth of the statement impressed in a
manner which I am sure would not
have been altogether as agreeable as
like demonstrations have been. 1t
was in this wise. A cranky female
mistOOk me for her long lost somebody
or other, have forgotten just who
now. / noticed her intently looking
at me and seeming to be very much
pleased over something. 1 tried to
freeze her by a look, but it was no
good You have read of that peculiar
power some people have. 1t is said
vicious animals even have been sub
dued by steadily watching them.
Psychology tells US about it, you
know. But my eye evidently was
lacking in this respect. In a minute
or two she recognized me, and uttering
joyful cry and with open arms, here
she came, The air received her
embrace and other displays of affec-
tion with much better grace than
would the intended object, was
non est. She did not repeat the ex.
pertinent as l suddenly thought we
must soon 90 back to the college. My
chum afterward said, that he has
heard of women being crazy about
men, but this was the most sudden
thing he had ever seen. But l had
learned long before to make plenty o.
allowance for him.
The next case was violent one the
DIR. told u.s. She was raving maniac
Sometimes she rushed out at the at
tendants like an enraged tigress, sucl
Information was not the most reassur
ing that could have been given us
Its tendency was not to make US any
cooler or collected than we previously
were. We came to the room. Sh,
was lying down. Beneath the snowy
bed covering, we could easily trace tn,
outlines of her wasted emaciated form
She was quiet, apparently asleep. w,
were not very anxious to disturb her
Indeed, we were perfectly contented t,
use our imagination pretty lively. w
had no desire to verify the Dr.s state
ments regarding her. He knew wha
he was talking about, we felt sure O
that, and considering everything, tha
satisfied us. She was already a vic
tim of consumption, that arch enemy
against which our medical me
are continually making heroic endeaV
Ors to successfully combat. So yo
can imagine the spectacle would nc
have been a pleasant one had an out
burst of passion occurred while W
were standing there. She was quiC
when we left her-taking allopathi
, doses of'nature's sweet restorer, balm
II sleepy"
So much for our visit to Kirkbride'
And now let's draw the veil Of chart
, over the many things we have n
told you. But perhaps a sew wOr,
in regard to the institution proper ms
not be amiss. 1t is composed of tv
at large departments for the sexes, abor
quarter of a mile apart. On a
.e preaching, one sees handsome brit
i structure surrounded by beautiful tire
n ives,neatly arranged walks, sea-
! flower beds, ETC., the whole inclos
by high stone wall. Composing 4
medical staff are gentlemen noted n
only for their fitness but for the
scholarly attainments as well. T
attendants, both male and fema
= aaauad uuifornnlv 1,olifa ond 49,,