The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-23
IN AN INSANE ASYLUM.
oATHETIC VAGARIES OF UN-
FORTUNATE INMATES.

AHe fat1ent Who Has Chicken in His
Stomach-The Fair Ophelia-Annie, the
Actress Whose Favorite Role Is That
of Queen Elizabeth.
10 the average individual the word
asylum has an ominous sound. 1t
conJures up thoughts of straight
jackets, manacles and subterraneous
dungeons, brutal keepers, with sinis-
ter faces armed with clubs and in
strumeaE of TORTURE The air is
resonantwith shrieks and means and
clangs of chains.
How different is the reality. TO
dispel the gloomy picture of the i'm
agination it is but necessary to visit
Longview asylum, now called Long
view hospital, located at Carthage,
Its sloping lawn, as you enter the
grounds, wearing it's mantle
OF green smiles and inviting well
come to the visitor. The fountain
playing at the entrance to the build
ing adds to the general attractive-
ness, and here a Cincinnati Emo uirer
representative stood surveying the
front of the colossal structure, which
shelters 800 unfortunates of both
sexes from all parts of the state, who
are bereft of heavens best gift to
mana sound mind.
When contemplating the scene
man approached, who looked to be
about 6)years OF age, dressed in
black Prince Albert suit, black tie
and hat His white hair and beard
added to his professional appearan ce
and gave him a general air of cul-
ture.
IA pleasant afternoon" he said,
and continuing he began a pleasant
conversation. He gradually turned
the subject to military affairs, aud
spoke about the war like man who
had been through many thrilling ex-
periences. Suddenly he took out his
watch and looked at it's face his own
assuming a startling change. His
features became livid and disto rted
as if with pain.
"Ah! just to the minute. Don't
you hear it cackle?'
The reporters establishment could
not find expression in words, but sud-
denly the truth flashed upon him
that the man was not medical at
tendant but an inmate, and before
the reporter recovered his ~equilibri-S
um the man continued.
"You see | have a chicken in nv
stomach, and every hour that chick
en- lays an egg, and that is what
gives me this excruciating pain -
Superintendent DR.. Harmon Just
then stepped out upon the piazza
and, recognizing the visitor, came
forward.
Il see you have visitor, Mr.
Jackson" said Dr. Harmon to the
professional looking gentleman.
But as your dinner is ready,
know your friend will excuse you.
Mr.. jackson withdrew with a Che5-
terfeldian bow.
This is one Of the saldest cases
we have in the institution,' said Dr.
Harmon when Mr.. jackson was out
of earshot. HE came here ten
years ago, and in all that time has
given us very little trouble. He is
mild. courteous and a perfect gentle
man, except at times when his
strange hallucination overcomes
him" DR.. Harmon led the way to
GAP ward. In the dormitory iron
bedsteads ranged along the wall,
and the bedding was as white as
driven snow. The floors were waxed,
and a strip of heavy carpet running
n ,1o.l 20
football. Handsome steel engravings
hung in the corridor, and at the ex-
treme end stood lot of potted plants
beside an open piano. Miss Bishop,
the supervisor, as she is called, un-
dertook the task of telling the his
tory of the most peculiar cases in
that particular ward, which con-
tains about forty women patients,
all laboring under different hallu-
cination.
This is Hannah" by way of in
PRODUCTION, going up to a girl in a
wheeled chair. who sat in pensive
attitude with her hand supporting
her cheek. When Hannah raised
her head, the reporter was struck by
the marvellous beauty of her face.
She appeared about 20 years old, and
her manner was so mild and gentle
that the visitor could scarcely be-
lieve that out of such a casket It's
most precious jewel was gone.
This is one OF Hannah's good
days. explained Miss Bishop. land
she is as gentle as a lamb But
when she has her spell, in which she
believes herself pursued by evil
spirits, who, she imagines, lock her
up in a cage of red hot irons. then
her cries and means are pitiful to
hear. Hannah is paralyzed from the
hip downward, and is obliged to get
ground on a wheeled chair: Poor
girl" and Miss Bishop laid her hand
on the patients head as she whis-
pered, "She is incurable." Hannah
appreciated the kindly action with
out hearing the words, and took the
matron's hand and kissed it. At this
iuncture a TALL blonde girl swept
down the hallway muttering to her.
self as she passed. She was dressed
IN loose-fitting gown, and wore an
Eliza bethan ruff cut out of PAPER.