The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-09

IN MS mana. ne WAS IN MS uiSuS Sui1s
and had apparently killed himsely by rum
ming, a. his person contained no wounds.
Infatuation is one Of the worst types OF
insanity, inasmuch as Is often leads to
both murder and suicide. Hardly week
passes in which we do not read Of some in
fatuated man or woman, whose passion -
not reciprocated. killing the object OF his
or her infatuation.
Some people are doubtful of their own
sanity, while the sanity Of many others
may reasonably be questioned. A few
months ago Emperor William Of Ger
many it was said, summoned q number OF
medical experts to examine him with
view to ascertaining II he was really Of
unsound mind. . matter OF which he en-
tertained serious doubts.
The miser who boards money simply for
its possession. not for its use, is unques-
tionably crazy, though his mental foible
may not demand his confinement in an
asylum. The inordinate desire Of gaining
wealth has made others than misers crazy.
pie who sacrifice health and comfort and
friends and good name, all that make life
worth living, in their eagerness to heap
millions upon millions which they cannot
use. are just as insane IS the kiepto-
maniacs who steal what they do not need.
But there il 70 this question ludicrous
side which one may we'll be pardoned for
thizing with the afflicted. Letter carriers.
when collecting the mail matter deposited
in the iron boxes on the street corners,
find al sorts of papers and other articles
which have been put there by hands from
whose motions the mind has become de-
tached for moment. A pair of specta-
Giles, glove, . title deed, Q sermon, q
Gle. goes into the box, while the letter
intended to be deposited il carried of by
the absent-minded person. Who has not
at times been guilty Of just such insane
acts?
A few days ago . young woman, after
standing for some moment upon . wharf
near the waters edge. suddenly stepped
as she was Immediately. = friend asked
what induced her to take the plunge. 81
don't know" she replied; II am sure +
did not intend to do it, and suppose
could not help it." The writer had SIM
liar experience some years ago. when the
chilly waters of Puget sound speedily re-
stored his scattered senses. Having been
in my younger days quite an amphibious
animal, l suffered no Inconvenience from
my plunge other than q thorough wetting
on cold day.
A girl in factory had been for some
years feeding a large and sharp knife
called cloth shearer. One day, while her
patton, she watched the knife descend
steadily upon her hand. Too late she
awoke from her stupor to find one hand
gone. The verdict of her friends was that
she was temporarily insane.
This is what troubled a learned profess
sor whose school was located near canal.
One summer evening while his mind was
him, he deliberately walked into the
canal, nor did he stop until he was wet
from head to foot. He must have been
deeply absorbed in absent subjects or
scenes. but not more 80 than others We
hear or read of.
1t is related Of another learned man
that, while in . similar frame of mind,
during walk in public common or park,
he collided with Q gentle COW that was
quietly Eliminating and chewing her cud.
Mistaking the COW for lady, he quickly
dotted his hat and apologized for the coll
lision; then, looking up at the supposed
lady, he discovered his mistake and re-
sumed his walk. Soon his mind relapsed
into its former condition. A second time
his meditations were interrupted by col
lision. Surprising it to be the same COW,
he exclaimed, in tone of vexation: "You
here again, you beastl" Then raising his
eyes, he was dumfounded on finding .
richly dressed lady standing before him.
Another apology and the restoration of
Like jsils and penitentiaries, insane
asylums have their 'trusties." While re-
garding these TRUSTEES as incurable, the
keepers believe them harmless, and there
fore allow them the largest liberty con-
sistent with their safety. An asylum in
Switzerland some years ago contained one
who had long been an inmate, and who
made himself useful in various ways about
the premises, all parts of which he visited
without restraint. Roaming about the
grounds one warm summer day, he hap
pened to reach the carpenter shop when
the carpenter was soundiy sleeping on a
and neck rested upon chopping block; a
large. glittering broad.ax stood near. The
sight aroused the dormant demon in the
trusty. Quickly seizing the broad-ax he
raised it aloft, and with one blow severed
the head from the body of the sleeping
carpenter. Then taking up the head, he
stealthiiy hid it in corner; and went out
chuckling and mumbling to himself:
"Won't he be surprised when he wakes
up and finds his head gomez"
won't who be surprised?" asked the
asylum physician, whom the maniac met
while repeating the words and gloating
over his trick, as he regarded it.
why, the carpenter" replied the trusty.
"He was asleep, and cut off his head and
wakes up and finds his head gomez"
His curiosity excited, and not knowing
what to think of the words Of the trusty,
the doctor asked:
where did you hide the head?"
"If tell you" replied the trusty. "you
will tell him, and don't want him to
know where his head ISL
mo, l will not tell him." said the doc
tor. 'Show me where you hid his head. ("
Leading the doctor to the place of con-
cealment, he pointed to the CHASTITY head
and said:
"Now don't tell the carpenter where his
head is"
A keeper was, summoned, the trusty
called away and the remains removed for
burial.
The insanity of this trusty was not un-
like that of Wenzel, German king in the
fourteenth century. Wenzel's chief favor
lite was has executioner, whom he used to
call "Gossip." He said one day he wanted
to know how q man felt when he was be-
headed; so. being blindfolded, he laid his
The executioner did so, but only with the
fiat of tho sword. The king started up, or
dered Gossip to lay his head on the block.
took the sword and actually cut off his
head. The curiosity of the king was not
satisfied, for poor Gossip couldn't tell how
it felt.
Half tho princes and rulers of Europe
are admitted to be insane today, and the
postal authorities at Washington Citv
people are demented. They tell us that
moro than 10000 letters daily reach the
dead letter office. most of which come from
crazy people.
Soon after Anna Bishop reached the
zenith of her fame as vocalist she an