The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-03-17
CRANKs AT THE CAPITAL,
Government Of1cials Beset By
Crazy Claimants.
An Annoying Class OF People Who SseA
to Tse Attracted Toward Those
Who Hold Political

Places. ?
"The recent developments in insanity
remind me of our experiences in Wash-
ington," said lady whose husband has,
through two administrations, held .
high Office ID the government. Why
men in Official places" she continued,f
.are not one and all victims of crazy
malevolcnce is n wonder. Cranks and
lunctics of all kinds seem to be partic-t
ularly attracted toward those who hold
political places. As a rule. their mania
chiefly consists in writing letters innu-
merablc on every subject under the
sun to the heads of the departments.
This, of course. is simply annoying, but
sometimes it takes a most serious FORM.
Insane claimants come to Washington
by the hundreds with preposterous de-
mands of every kind. OF course, ut the
departments and in their houses the pres
ident and his cabinet are guarded as far
as may be from these intruders; but,
they sometimes gain access to the peo-
pie they desire to see, and give great
deal of trouble.
lowing, probably, to my name hav-
| ing been more or less in the newspapers,
had not little annoyance from thesoi
people myself, and women as well a1s
men used to deluge me with the mosts
absurd applications. One very funny
| incident, which, however, was most an
| noying at the time, occurred after We
| had been in Washington only a shor6
time and before had warned my scrv+
| ants against these eccentric gentry
We had had big dinner, and ! WAS
alone in the drawing-room about eleven
o'clock, just after our guests had de-
parted. heard q little hustle in tho
hall, but, fancying it was some one 60
ing away, did not disturb myself abou1s
it, Presently tho door opened and thef
footman announced Miss Clark and
quite as if she was an expected
guest, in walked very lady-like look5
ing woman, who calmly informed MI
that she had claim against the treas-
ury department for one million dollaxs
and that she had come to stay with NJ
until she had arranged matters satSa-
factorily. 4 have brought my trunk, "
she explained, very composedly, 'as Z
suppose l may have to stop with yoW
for some time And to my consterns-
ton found that the cabman flor sho
had arrived in a carriage) had broughH.
her box into the hall and that she had
paid and dismissed him. Her whole d.
meanor was so quiet and assured that
the servant who opened the door nevar
dreamed but that she was expecteds
To have crazy woman in your
house at midnight is not pleasanee
position, assure you; felt that Eh@T
must be humored, and, making
same excuse, hastily sought my hnsrtt
band and acquainted him with the sitn=t
alton. Fortunately DR.. -. our good
neighbor, lived within few doors, and
writing him line to ask his advice and
assistance, we entertained our strangn
visitor until he arrived with a Carriages
to take the poor lady to a safe shelter
for the night. With great tact he per+
suaded her to go with him, and sfsa
took leave of US with many apologies
for her short stay and abrupt departures
"My next experience was more se-+
rious. My daughter was to be marriedl
and on the afternoon before the we'd
ding l had gone up to my room for q.
little rest when was disturbed by onaf
of the servants, who informed me that
gentleman was downstairs who in.
sisted upon seeing Miss Mary (my
daughter) or myself. He wouldn't givep
his message, maam, exclaimed tha
man, although told him that you didk
not wish to be disturbed Thinking,
that it might be something of impor-
tance went down to the reception room.
where found a tall very good-looking
man, who in an agitated manner told
me that he had long loved my Mary-.
had seen her marriage spoken of in the;
papers, and had travelled night and day
from his home in the west to be in timal
to prevent such sacrifice. He insisted
upon seeing my daughter at once. He.
was SO excited that l was terriblV
frightened, but kept my presence of
mind, and contrived to ring for the foot
man. Show this gentleman OUT =
said, and fairly flew upstairs. Somess
way or other they got rid of him, butt
that evening he returned, and again thes
next morning. Of course he was not
admitted, but was made SO thoroughly
nervous that my husband sent for q
couple of policemen in citizens Clothes.
who remained with the wedding party
until the young couple We're fairly Off
on the train"
Manning's Brougham.