The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-09
THE INSANE PEOPLE.
Most Of Them Are Harmless,
and Some Are Amusing.
MANY FORMS OF oEMgNT,A.
The Case Of Albert Dslch, Of Stsil accom-
HALF 81 the Rulers OF Europe
Are Men Compes lGsntis.

The Case OF Albert BslCh, Of 0teil aooom
HALF ef the Rulers OF Europe
Are Men Compes Meats.
Have We eaten OF the insane root
That takes the reason prisonerf
There are many forms of insanity.
Sometimes it is called by one name, some
times by another. There are hallucina-
tions and alterations, alterations and alb
stractions. phantasms and lunacy, de-
mentia and delfrium, hypochondria and
kleptomania-only the wealthy are sub
ject'to the last form Of insanity; when de-
veloped in others it is called petit or grand
larceny-monomaniacs and Anglo-ma-
MACS, hysteris and various morbid and
nervous disorders, the victims of which
are regarded a. more or less dementsd.
The Anglo-maniacs are perhaps the most
numerous, being estimsted at about
10000 600, who, no matter where they may
be at the time, persist in calling all the
rest of tho world foreigners and inferior
beings.
There are crazy people who think they
are sane and sane people who are thought
to be crazy. Choleric, irascibls people
have frequent insane spells; they often
commit acts for which, when reason re-
surhes its sway, they are tAeartily sorry,
thus admitting that for time they were
bereft of sense. Drunkenness is . very
common form of insanity, and was long
30 held by the courts. The questioned what
constituted drunkenness having como up
in an Irish court, ~ plea in extenuation, .
priest testified that he did not consider q
man drunk so long as he could "clutch the
grass when falling" hence, he was not in
sane until he had got beyond that stage.
In short, all would seem to be subject to
one or moro of the mental disorders mem
toned at some period in life; the only ma
terial difference being that some have lu-
cid intervals and others intervals of insan-
ity. If the reader doubts this assumption,
let him note the success which crowns the
efforts Of the lawyers in desperate cases to
establish the insanity of their clients.
They can prove any man or woman insane
if the case demands it.
Fortunately. very large proportion of
the insanity is of . harmless character,
else there would not remain enough sane
people outside Of asylums to provide for
and guard those within. And there 10 "a
method in the madness of some of them
which is rather to be commended than de-
plored.
!. In one of the New York county courts
some forty-ive years ago, an interesting
case bearing on this point il we'll remem-
bered by me. Before Fifth avenue and vi.
cinity became famous as the dwelling
place of exclusively wealthy people, large
sales Of lots thereabouts occurred from
time to time ct auction. Among those
who attended and purchased at these sales
was man verging on 80 years. The trial
brought out the fact that he had been left
at 10 years of age with widowed mother
dependent upon him; at that early ago he
started an humble candy store, the BUSH
that he was enabled to buy several lots in
the suburbs before he attained his major
ity. All of his investments turned out
we'll. This man bid $3.50 and $500 each for
dozen lots that were valued at only
$50 each. His prospective heirs Che was
now worth some $500. 0O0) became alarmed
and sought the Intervention of the probate
appointment Of . guardian on the ground
OF insanity. After hearing their testimony,
the judge called upon him to state his side
Of The case. Unknown to his relatives, he
said. he had purchased privately consider
able land near these lots. and his object in
bidding such high figures at the auction
sale was to enhance the value Of his ada
cent property. The Judge saw the point
and the heirs were COMPOUNDED. He was
credited with possessing more sense than
those who endeavored to prove that he
was insane.
A few years prior to this case New York
was startled as it has rarely been startled
since by the suicide of man favorably
known to nearly every old resident of that
citv He Wac a Ynernhap IF tho Grv,, of
Prime, Ward & King, for many years ono
Of the leading banking houses Of America.
After fitting up in princely style home
on the Hudson, few miles from the CITY.
he retired from active business to pass the
remainder Of his days in seclusion in the
country. Many envied him the possession
of his wealth and luxurious SURROUNDINGS
and all thought he had before him many
years of unalloyed happiness. One day,
only two or three months after his retire.
ment. word came to the city that he had
committed suicide. The event was nine
days. wonder, during which many conjec-
lures found expression as to the cause of
at was that his isolation and idleness, after
the life of activity passed in the city, led
10 oppressive ennui, when, under NOR
bid impulse. he destroyed the life of which
he had grown weary. He was undoubt-
eddy insane in his last hours.
Many OF our citizens yet remember the
suicide in this city, less than four years
ago, OF young man soon after coming
into possession of property valued at $780,
600. Before he received this property he
was comparatively wealthy, his environ
ments were all of 3 pleasant character, and
no motive could be assigned for the sud-
den and violent ending of life which gave
promise of much happiness. Within q
few days of this event another young man.
without any known cause to the surprise
of many warm friends, took his life in a
similar manner. Still another, equally
we'll known. less than year ago ended his
career on earth by the same means; each
having sent bullet from . pistol crashing
through his brain. Two committed the
act in the offices in which they transacted
their business; the third chose an engine
house for the closing scene in his life
That all three were suicides there was no
room to doubt: that all were insane at the
tiE.e, though they never before betrayed
symptoms Of insanity, seemed equally
clear to the public.
A not uncommon and dangerous kind Of
insanity is that which appears at intervals,
or which is not incessant. It is dangerous
because few know when TO look for It, and
are consequently apt to be taken by sur
prise in an unguarded moment. A men,
orable case was that of Albert Balch, .
stOrekeeper in Steilacoom thirty years ago.
His was q clear case of lunacy; at a Ger.
tain stage of the moon he always became
insane; ct other times he betrayed no sign
of disordered mind. As the months
passed by his distemper increased, until it
1on ,oA ItAn Ns>to i'm,