The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-01-20

an unconfned condition will be amply
apparent.
The legend runs in this way: In
the seventh century the daughter of
one OF the Irish kings was converted to
Christianity by priest named Gere-
bernus. She was named Dymphna,
and her beauty attracted even the
monarch of all Ireland. But Dymphna
was seized with a religious zeal-com-
mon to all sincere converts in those
days-and she refused the attentions
Of ever suitor. AS result, her father
became enraged and threatened to wed
her to swineherd; but Dympana,
understanding her fathers wrath, be-
sought the holy monk, Gerebernus, to
save her, and he counseled her to fly
to Flanders.
In due time she arrived at the place
where now stands the town of Gheel,
and gave herself up to prayer and FAST
ing. But the King, her father, was
beside himself with rage, and equipped
feet of boats to rescue her. Arriving
at Antwerp, he soon discovered her
hiding place, and Immediately set forth
alone to see her. He found her en-
gagged in prayer, with few simple
(insane) persons looking on, amazed
at such piety. Dymphna did not see
her father. She continued her prayers
that the reason OF these who had come
to watch beside her should be restored,
and the King, becoming enraged by
her apparent want of filial love, drew
his sword and cleft the head from the
body. The legend goes on to state
how the insane were Immediately made
whole in mind, and they went forth
procla ming the miracle.
From that time-now I,2oo years
ago-persons suffering from mild forms
of insanity were brought to the spot
where St. Dymphna was killed, and, as
is the case in all faith cures, many of
them recovered their reason. In time
little village grew around the spot,
the commune of Gheel was incorpora.
ted several centuries ago, and today,
the town itself-which is in the-center
of the little commandments of a pop
ulation of 1000 persons and two beau.
tiful churches-one St. Amand, and
the other the church of the patron
saint-St. OYmphna.
The principal altar in this ch.-ch
contains some beautiful relieves of
incidents iu the miracle-believing his
tory of the place. Some of them por-
tray lunatlcs in manacles praying at the
tomb of St. Dymphua, while the next
will show the same features-radiant
with Joy and recovered reason-with
the iron bands anc chains lying at their
feet, The tomb itself is raised upon
short pillars, just high enough to allow
the poor lunatics to crawl under on
their hands and knees; and this used
to be the sole cure which was sought
for by the relatives of the afflicted at
Gheel. But, with the advance of
science and education. the religious
cure gradually shadowed into the past,
and now the insane are treated as they
are in other countries and places, with
the one grand exception that the
patients are not co mined.
Understanding the peculiarly of this
colony OF luuatics and Its raison d'eire,
let US go in spirit to the quaint little
Armes de Turnhout inn and visit some
of its habitues. You will find IN the
sitting room perhaps dozen men en-
gagged at dominoes, cards or conversa-
ton. Suddenly one of them has an
unlucky streak at dominoes, and he
remembers that he is made of glass. If
every player were sane they would
think this a subterfuge to stop playing.
But they knew the poor fellows
monomanla, and with evident pity they
watch him rise from his seat and feche-
lon toward the door, with eyes fixed
and awed expression, fearful that the
slightest collision with chair, table or
door jam might break him into frag-
r ments.
Out on the lonely street some one is
shouting. You listen, and you hear
Napoleon directing his disease fed
troops under the fatal retreat from
Russia. The poor lunatic imagines
that he is Napoleon. A crowd gathers
about him-mostly lunatlcs. But he
heeds them not. Suddenly woman
appears on the scene. She carries
a little child. The lunatic sees the
child and at once Napoleon, Mos.
COW, war--sverylhing that is not is
forgotten-and the poor fellow rushes
to the child aud kisses it. He is sane
again.
1t is a wonderful influence that chll
dren exercise over the insane. 1t i:
humanity unaccountable. But it is en-
y deavored to be accounted for by sclen
: lists of the Salpetiere type, who sa,
: that the lunatics who come to Ghee
have already impressed upon thei
minds that the fact OF their resldin
~ there will effect their cure. The luna
tics, recognizing in St. Dymphna tn
y embodiment of purity and innocence
:. = instinctively hold children in the sam
= :, place in their regard.
emma TIT rFATIIrn