The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-21
MADNESSINQ UEERF0RMS
STRANGE LETTERS WRITTEN BY
THE INMATES OF AN ASYLUM.


The Hopelessly Insane Much Given to
Letter WritinR-A Quantity Sad Ap-
peal TO the AlmiRhty-A Maniac With
a Touch of Humor-Words That Re-
feet Tragic Experience and Deep
rooted Sorrow-Ths Mad Circus
Riders Letter.
tCohgriohtJ
NEW YORK, Aug. 20.-That "no excel
lent soul is exempt from a mixture OF mad
ness" was averred by Aristotle, and modern
philosophers seemed disposed to confirm his
views. The question that most perplexss
the student of psychistry is just where the
mixture marks the border line between
the realms Of reason and the domain Of
lunaoy.
Notwithstanding that, in point Of law,
all men are either sane or insane, there are
many alienists who claim that. in point Of
fact, there is no dividing line between
sanity and insanity. DR.. Ireland, an emf
nent Scotch specialist in mental disorders,
assert that, "as no eye is perfectly achro-
matte, so no brain is perfectly same" DE
admits, however, that there are degrees Of
insanity more or less dangerous, and states
that only one person in about every 900 Is
mad enough to require the restraint OF an
asylum. Each remaining 499 he thinks
may with safety retain their liberty 30 long
as their delusions do not conflict With the
prevailing sentiments Of the times.
"Sanity," says DIR. Ireland, 'implies the
eapability of a man living in such conso-
nance with the society in which his LOT Is
cast as not TO come into continual collision
with its beliefs, rules, customs and modes
of life"
With the view OF obtaining a partial iu-
sight into some Of the methods OF dstermin-
ing the prescribed degrees of insanity an
interview was sought with distinguished
physician whose life has been devoted to the
care of the unfortunate beings who can
neither adapt themselves to circumstances
nor shape the events OF life to their own
ends and who are consequently denomlnatsd
lunatics.
''How osn you decide to u certainty that
the people oonAded to your care require to
be secludedT was the question propounded.
sit is quite rare rhing for a patient to
be brought to an asylum in the earlier
stages Of the malady," was the response.
usually confinement is a last resort, and
the disease has made such progress as to be
unmistakahle. To an experienced eye the
evidences Of mental arrangements are, how
ever, manifold. One Of the most infalhble
modes Of judging Of PERSONS mental con-
dition is from his written declarations. For
myself, can almost invariably classify a
patients disorder by reading one Of the let
ters written by him, without seeing or cons
versing with him. Insane people are much
given to letter writing, and their epistolary
productions form a valuable chapter In the
history Of the cases under our caren
Selecting from letter file a number Of
specimens, the physician passed them over
for inspection. They proved so Interesting
that by dint of urgent solicitation he was
persuaded TO loan them for publication. He
- ~ -
identity OF the writer's should in no way be
revealed. To allow it to be remotely sug-
Rested would, he deemed, be a most I'M
wArrantable breach of trust.
1t was quite evident that years Of asso-
cation with unreasonable and demented
creatures had not in the least affected his
kind and sympathetic nature.
This letter. explained the doctor, pre-
senting the one, twas written by patient
who suffered from delusional insanity
Fear and grandeur are pathetically mingled
in It's composition. The tendency TO under
line is a marked feature in insanity as 10
the concentration of thought on self.
JAN. 23rd, '91.
40, told - You must not KILL me IN
the Insane Asylum. l wish 20 live for
have the finest genuine nleLodiots intel-
Lected genius ever born in this country
- and you must not put me In that back
lodge there aud Kill mel
l wish to go home with my husband
or mother You must not injure mel |
want to see you Very truly,
You must not take my life am SLAM
DEREDl | wish to leave TO leave here to
day with my husbandp
The unhappy woman never failed TO
hand me an appeal " hen | made my daily
round OF visits. Here is another in which
the delusion OF persecution p-edominates:
" Il am not full Of MAGGoTs and tDorms-
1t is dreadful Islander and murder such talk
OF me. There is where my repression comes
IN tell you SO much about l am not al
lowed the full fot1 of my MIND, being
called "a fool all the tune when I am
really poetical "gehius" and have been
kept back and repressed and repression 10
Jures people, and that is why l wish to leave
here You must not give me any drug for
you would ktIt me. l must have my entire
freedom. l am called by experts know oil
perfectly balanced mind. You must moi
drug me- am all right R. s. V.P.
"tYou must let me leave here.'
Here is case Of dementia paralytioa OIL
general paresis. AS a campaign document
It will compare favorably with many pro
mulgated by politicians whose mental dis
turbances are not so mentally classified:
Rejoice Ye Working Men of the World.
~ AASAO pS'VA w A41OEs ulOTe
Penitentiaries, no more suicides. Every
laboring man lord and bis lowest wages
e25 90 day.
For this purpose I donate S million
Dollars as Starting Fund, to place every
laborer in America and the world in an
independent condition, and compel by law
OF congress, all trades and monopolies. of
every kind, 10 be divided. Equal shares to
the working element OF suoh Industries. the
capitalist to retain the same share with the
rest.
"'I will give millions more for the DUR
pose OF transferring the entire Irish pauper
population from Ireland to America. and
start each family with $4,000 cash. The
Govt. TO establish them In Colonies, free
land and Implement / will donate Ten
Millions to bring over all the paupers
working people Of the poor Jews in Eur Jpe.
"'I will gives millions each for the La Dor
Ing Associations Of England, France, Ger
many, Austria and Russia, and let the
World celebrate universal hallelujah.
with this fund to start the orid's poor.
who can doubt its SUGGEST The great dues-
ton OF Capital 81 Labor is solved, aud by a
paltry sum OF 25 millions. Mr.. w. Il. Van
derbilt Rotchild, should come behind me
and follow my footsteps. Under these con-
ditions OF American Society will be the
prime cause of the e. redeeme' Of Ny Coun-
trymen such as never attempted by human