Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-07-29
ALICE IS 4 PUZZLE.
How the Fair Patient Comforts Her
self in the Institution at
Bolivar. Tenn.

ing adjudged a lunatic, was conveyed
from Memphis to Bolivar, eighty miles
away. and there confined in the West
Tennessee asylum for the insane. There
is no doubt of her insanity. Her last
act in Memphis was that of an insane
person Before leaving this city she
was conveyed to Elmwood cemetery,
where she scattered flowers over the
grave of Freda Ward, whose throat she
had cut few months previous. This
browning of her murdered girl sweet
hearts grave with flowers would have
unstrung any other person than Alice
Mitchell, but her nerves are like iron.
The asylum at Bolivar is pleasant
place. The officers are humane and the
best possible provisions are made Tor
the comfort of the inmates.
A New York recorder correspondent
spent yesterday at the asylum. The day
was hot. but the immense shade trees
on the lawn made it an inviting spot.
On one side the men played croquet and
watched a pitcher curve baseball IN a
manner that would make Rusie doH his
hat in admiration. On the other side
200 women, of all ages, enjoyed the Sc
rene calmness of the day under heavy
leafed trees.
Alice Mitchell stood apart with two
other patients. She was daintily dressed
in pink. She wore the latest thing in
puffed sleeves, the very latest sailor hat,
and was thoroughly ',up-to-ddatea young ing
woman She was cheerful, too, tor
when something happened that excited
laughter Alice clapped her hands just
as would boarding school girl.
Alice MitchelPs case is still a puzzle
to the two doctors at Bolivar, Drs. Doug
lass and Nicely. The latter is close
student of psychology. He has seen Al
oil doll
has closely studied her case;, yet to him
the motives that prompted her to take
the life of Freda Ward have not been
reduced to a pnilosophic certainty.
She is Study.
Alice Mitchell's daily life at Bolivar,
and the little things in her life are what
this scientist watches in studying her
case. It was stated, and greatly empha-
sized, too, by those desiring to throw GER
tain unholy coloring around the my 7sI
ous romance in the lives of Freda Ward
and Alice Mitchell, that she was not
fond of the society of men; that she, un-
like other young women, rather repelled
the attentions of the stronger sex, and,
being strong herself, lavished her affec-
lions on young girls, and proved It by
saying that she killed Freda Ward be
cause she loved her. In view or her
whole life at Bolivar one might with bet
ter reason say that she cut Freda Ward S
throat because she hated her.
Alice Mitchell is not capable OF the
strong and enduring love that is the glory
of women When she loves, it is with
fearful intensity, but her affections may
be turned into hate by sharp remark,
a quick retort, or frOWn. While at
Bolivar she fell in love with two men;
one was an inmate of the asylum, and
the other was an attendant.
The first was a young man of artistic
and refined temperament. He met Alice
at the balls given at the asylum every
Friday night. He was a graceful waltzer
and so was she.
The young man treated her at all times
with the utmost courtesy and consldera-
ton. Alice received his attentions with
all the maidenly modesty and pleasure of
any Young woman She looked on it as
her right that she, as all other women,
should be admired by young men. Little
presents were exchanged, and soon one
could detect that there began to exist in
the hearts of both something that asso-
citation would soon ripen into love.
This WAS a revelation to the doctors.
The whole theory of the case under
which Alice was tried, and upon winch
the learned insanity experts SO profoundly
testified, was that Alice Mitchells mind
and her emotions were as it she We're a
man. and that she loved Freda Ward as
y
and thus the theory Of the eminent men
of both continents was knocked galley
west" by a lunatic.
Her Lover Dies.
Alice, remember, met this young artist
only at the weekly balls, but after a
time her lover sickened and died. The
news of his death was a terrible blow to
her She received it with no outward
demonstration, but with the calm dignity
characteristic OF any young woman; she
became melancholy, lost flesh, and was
in bad way generally for some time.
Time, however, healed the wounds
death had inflicted, and Alice's affections
wer again whole. Soon after, Alice
looked with favor on one OF the male
attendants whom she met at the weekly
balls. The young man was likely fell
low, and while he in no way reciprocated
her affection, he made a study of her
case. So far as he could judge, the es-
TEEN Alice held him in was of the same
kind that any intelligent young woman
would bestoW on young man. But the
attendant had a sweetheart and ne mar
ried her. This cut Alice up. Like a
woman Of spirit, she made no demonstra-
ton. However, had Alice had another
razor and she had cornered the fair bride
in her room, it might have been serious
for the attendants wife.
Alice Mitchell's passion is to get even
for real or fancied wrongs. That is why
she killed Freda Ward-at least, one man
who has studied her case SO holds.
But Alice at Bolivar has not confined
her regard to men alone. A young wom-
an about her own age was sent to Boil
var from Memphis. She pleased Alice.
Their tastes were similar, and they be-
came boon companions. In due time they
were separated. Soon after something
turned up that made Alice's regard turn
to dislike. The two young girls then COR
daily hated each other. From that time
the superintendent took care that they
never came in contact.
When Alice Mitchell went to Bolivar
she took an interest in her surroundings
and kept her room very neat. Some Of
the patients do needlework, but Alice is
not fond of sewing. Yet she performs
the tasks assigned to her without muir
muir. It is the policy Of the superintend-
ent to permit the inmates to do those
things they most like. Alice manifested
a desire for out-of-door exercise and for
outdoor work. but there was nothing for
her to do. She asked permission to
break" young colt running in the yard,
but this was refused.
r..1