River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-12-31
A QUESTION OF SANITY
Failing in Love with an Inmate of
a Madhouse.

for LOn-vue by the sea
was completely run down. having
applied myself too closely TO business.
Although had made several hundred
thousands in lucky ventures on change
ny nervous system was injured, and
the money did not give me much
pleasure.
After trying several physicians with
out relief / concluded 10 run over 70
LOngvue.
There was an excellent sanitarium
there which was quite renowned for
its cures
The moment ! saw the pla,- liked
Il, and felt convinced that : would
leave IL well man. The sanitarium
was large handsome building. sur
rounded by beautiful grounds The
front yard was full Of bright flowers
and shrubs, which gave a cheerful
aspect to the place And from the win
dows the bright blue sea. peaceful and
calm. or full Of angry pillows. as its
mood might be. could be plainly seen.
had not been at Lpngvue a month
when began 10 improve wonderfully.
The air was bracing, there was no eN-
element. and the attendants were very
skillful.
In this peaceful atmosphere my over
worked nerves became invigorated and
life became pleasant again.
At the end Of two months was com.
pletely cured. but fingered. for Long
vue was more to my liking than a gay
resort The sea had strong attraction
for me. and took daily walks on thu
beach 1T first a half mile in one
direction was enough TO satisfy me.
would wander along until ] found a
sheltered nook. and lie there Greamily.
looking at the waters for hours
One dav it was the first of August
! remember the date perfectly, as Il
began new era in my life l started
ont for the beach early in the morning
Feeling unusually vigorous. | walked
farther than ever before and rounded q
point had never passed beyond. II
my surprise | beheld large building
something similar in architecture Il
the sanitarium- Never having heard 81
such place | was naturally curions 4
find out something about IL II wa:
not far off. and I walked ON until tn,
entrance gates were reached Then
discovered that the windows were al
barred. and concluded it must be al
asylum for the insane
had never had a desire to visit sucl
n place before. but my idle fancy badC
me open the gates and enter the
grounds A. touched the gates
found them locked and shook then
until bell. fastened on the inside
rang loudly.
An elderly man appeared. turned tbs
key in the lock. and looked at me.
asked IL visitors were admitted. II,
motioned me in with a courtly wave o
his hand. and bade me enter. | said
did not wish To see any hOpelessly in
sane or violent patients
The ianitor directed me to a door il
the west side of the tuilding, saying
that the patients ! would see in tn,
main Sitting-roOm were all quiet an,
harmless.
Entering the room indicated.
glanced around rather uneasily :
number of women were sitting quietly
in their chairs. looking toward the en-,
Of the room Good pictures were OF
the walls flowers and papers on Tn,
tables At the far end of the rOcu
stood grand piano Some one wa.
PLAYING few soft notes a. entere
I had not noticed the musician unit
nv glance fell ON the piano Then
started in surprise a. my eyes behel,
th,. loveliest woman ! had ever seen.
\ cloud of golden hair was caught NJ
aud coilcd on the top Of a perfectly
shaped little head. Her neck. slightly
revealed by the cut of the dainty blue
gown she wore. was a. white and firu
a. alabaster Her figure. though
slight was exqui>itely nodded. and he
every movement betrayed grace
could not see her face. as her bacl
was turned To me. A. stood gain,
at her. waiting impatiently for her L
tura toward me. she struck the KEYS
littlc louder and began To sing,
listened entranced. for the notes tina
came were sweeter than a iark's song
had heard the great Patti and most o
the worlds renowned singers. but th'
vo.se ~ this unknown girl moved ms
a. rome had ever before
There was such a pathos thrilling
through the notes Of the glorious vote,
that tears unbidden rose In my ewes
A. brushed them away, half ASHAMED
Of ms emotion. an elderly woman sit
ting IN the middle Of the room Gale,
Ou,. Enough. Miss Sibyl." and tbs
music ceased
Then the singer turned and ] saw
her face \ face a. pure aad lovely a
the greatest artist could desire a.
Madonna model. was revealed to nay
gaze. The contour Of her face wa,
t,rcrian. The great brown ewes hel,
IN their depths an expression of sad
ue>> The straight nose. the lips firm
hut sweet. the softly rounded chin. be
trayed the refinement Of their owne r
When it comes 10 love man i
strange being lie may be month
irving 10 decide whether he reail.
loves a woman III not, ar the divin
passion may come upon him suddenly
flooding his whole being with lis in
teusity.
A. I looked at this golden-haire'
girl two feelings awoke in my breast
pitied her Young. beautiful and az
NttAAA ttAA~AtNtl tAtNtAANAA - AANA AAAN
ar a part IF il. at least. IN an asylum
for the insane. I loved her-not be
cause pity i akin TO love. nor onl.
because Of her beauty, but because
could MT tell why. | only knew tina
loved her with my whole heart.
The patients began TO move here an
there around the room. some regarding
me with curious looks. Seeing m
standing there, Sibyl-I already dare
call her that in my heart -apprOache
me-. She smiled and the smile LITE
the sadness from her face, and bad
me good morning Young as she wa
not more than twenty could Sc
by the ease Of her manner that she ha
been accustomed TO the best society
She asked If that was my first visit {
Longvue hospital. | noticed she avoid
ed the term asylum" and felt 1t wa
because the insane have often viOlen
dislike for that word
answered that il was my first visi
and complimented her on her singing
saying that words could not expires
the pleasure IL had given me.
She accepted my praises very serene
" and said il was her one gift The
she turned the conversation to th