The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-18
HOW 1T FEELS TO BE INSANE.
A Recovered Patient Tells His Experience
He Wanted to BE Q Radish King.
paaraousa Waekiv

A Recovered Patient Tells His Experience
He Wanted to BE . Radish King.
Pearsons Weekly.
was once insane. and often muse over
kinds of insanity. Some mental disorders
take place SO gradually that even the clos
est companion of the victim are at q loss to
remember when the trouble began. 1t must
have boon this way IN my case. One even
ing, after an oppressiyely warm day, q
day when | experienced more fatigue
from the heat than ever before or
since. l sat in my porch tanning
myself: This arm that Is now in mo-
tion," unused, must one of these DAY
be dust: l wonder how long will the time
be-" Then L unused upon the evidence
had of immortality. ] could do things that
other people could not accomplish. had
gone through battle after battle. and
though bullets sang and struck around me
as thick as hail. Yet / remained unlnjured.
had passed through epidemics of yellow
fever. My idea gained strength as unused.
and was convinced that | should live for
ever. No. this cannot be- for death follows
all men alike. Yes, am to die like other
men, and l believe that it is my duty to
make the most of life; 10 make money and
enjoy myself, and to educate my children.
l wanted to be rich, and began TO study
over an imaginary list of enterprises.
have radishes. They should be In every
shop. They could be dried and sold in
winter. 1 would plant fifty acres with
radish-seed. and people all over the coun-
try would refer to me as the ''radish king"
i would form a radish syndicate and buy
ND all the radishes. and travel and be ad-
mired. l FASTENED to the house Co tell my
wife that she was soon to be a IA dish queen.
At the breakfast BILE L said: Julia. how
would you like TO be O radish queeniv "A
whats" she exclaimed. j explained my
plan of acquiring great wealth. and during
the recital she behaved so cnriously that
l was alarmed. | feared that she was
losing Der mind. Finally she seemed to un-
derstand. She agreed with me. but told
me not 10 say anything more about it.
After breakfast l saw her talking earnestly
with her father. and l knew that she was
explaining To the old gentleman how she
intended TO pay his debts when i became
known as the radish king. The old man
approached me with much concern and
told me that L needed rest. and that
must not think of business. He was old
and sadly worried. and i promised him
that / would not think of business
Pretty soon went out 70 inspect my rad
Ish kingdom. Looking round. saw the
old man following me. From the field
went to the village. 1 approached friend
and l told him how intended to become
rich. He seemed grIeved. and / saw at
once that he was contemplating the same
enterprise. 1t seemed mean that he sbonl la
take advantage of me. and l told him 80.
He tired To explain. but he made me so an
cry that l would have struck him if my
fa;her-in-law had not come mp and sepa-
rated Us.
l tried TO calm myself. but could not
Those who had been my friends proved to
be my enemies. and / W as determi ned to be
avenged; but before l could execute my
will / was seized by several men. Ny
father-in-law did not attempt to rescue me-
and i hated him. 1 was taken 30 prison
My wife came TO see me, but she did not
try 30 have me released. ! demanded a
trial. but no lawyer would defend me-
Then l realized that the entire COM
munity was against me. became
30 wrathy that my anger seemed to
hang over me like dark clond. 1t pressed
me TO the floor and held me there. Men
came after a long time and took me away.
j thought. TO another prieou. One day
cat came into my cell and tried 70 bite
her. She made the hair fly, but killed
her. don't know how long l remained
here, but one morning the sun rose and
shone In at me through the window. 1t
seemed to be tho first time that had seen