Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-07-22

mounted. / had something on the lips
like the taste of blood.
Monsieur" l finally said to him, Il
come to ask you a great service.
Command me-" he replied, IN tone
of commiSeration.
Il implore you to cause me to be en-
closed in retreat for the insane.
He seemed to be surprised beyond meas
ure at my request.
And to what end?" he asked.
4 know" said l. Il know that / am
on the eve of a terrible crisis. The
are more violent than ever and more
frequent. Tomorrow, perhaps, L SHAH
DO some great harm l feel certain. Or
der me to be confined. | shall be treated
as one insane, by douches, the strait
jacket. | wish to be cured. L cried,
sobbing. aid me-save mel
The eminent practician was moved:
This physiological subject interested
him. l continued:
Only, not to disquiet my family l
wish them to remain ignorant OF the
horrible extremity to which | am re-
duced. | will pretend that business
requires a Journey of two or three
period, writing home whenever the
lucidity of my mind will permit. Then
when the treatment, energetic in the eX-
IRENE, restores my normal condition, L
will return home and resume my place
at the family freside, certain this time
not to redden it with blood.
The doctor felt my pulse, sounded my
chest and studied the play of my internal
organs and finally declared that | was
right in my determination. | had no
lesion of the brain; my case was simply
an affection of the nerves that would
speedily yield to secluSiOn and treatment.
He consented to lend himself to the de-
ceit l meditated. lie would place me in
a mansion de sante, of which he was the
chief director, feeling sure that in few
weeks my mental equilibrium would be
restored.
| returned home and had no trouble
in perSuading my wife of the necessity
for a journey. She had remarked GER
tain inquietudes, certain biZarreries that
change of scene and Surroundings would
dispel, she said:
The next day I entered the maison de
sante-barabi- bibari. It was luxurious
and well located. 1t was very expensive.
but-barabi. That cursed refrain! 1t
maddens me! And why? why?
l remained there three months. At the
end of a fortnight | simulated a violent
excess of delirium. l threw myself upon
one of the assistants and nearly Stran
gled him. Afterward | underwent the
punishment of the douche. twisting my
self about like man in commissions.
Then L became calm, and little by little
resumed my natural state. l was
watched constantly for six weeks. Not
one day did NJ. Laussedat fail to pay
me a visit. and soon he reported a sensible
amelioration in my condition. | laughed
a low laugh all within myself. Those
wise DOCTORS!
l knew he was very much t1attered be-
cause the case fitted exactly with Il pet
theory of his regarding the cure Of the
insane by an exercise of their own Will.
He feicitated me on my energy, and en-
cOuraged me to persevere. For my part
l exhibited an exemplary docility. [ kept
carefully in the current of the imaginary
symptoms which pronounced my cure TO
be near at hand and definite.
One day the doctor told me that L
could return to my family without appre-
hension. | asked that [ might remain
another month to make sure, and he
granted my request, adding. however,
that it was a useless precaution.
Finally, | accepted my liberty and re-
turned home. My wife and sister-in-law,
my friends feted my arrival. | ayowed
half the truth to them-told them l had
gone to follow 4 treatment for an affec
ton of the lungs, of which [ had not
spoken, fearing to alarm them, but that
l was entirely convalescent. The fact
was | never looked better in my life.
-bu-ba-bibari.-one, two, three-bi-
bari! There is something the matter
with my head.
Four months after l had resumed my
place at the table de famille, my sister
in-law being seated at my left. | plunged
a knife into her heart-then. raising
frightful shrieks, | rolled upon the floor.
The Cutburst endured-appeared to en-
dure-fye minutes or more, when [ came
to myself and began to weep.
| was arrested. No one except NJ.
Laussedat was able to suspect the cause
of my crime. Just at the moment of
the catastrophe, for which l had care
fully selected the hour. the doctor was
absent from Paris. so that the investiga
ton followed its course.
To the question of the magistrate |
replied that | had acted without voition
in the affair. under the impulse of
passion that | was not able to with
stand Naturally, it was responded that
yielding to shame, l spoke of NJ. Lausse-
dat. He was hurriediy summoned.
With a loyalty that | had we'll count
ed on, he told all that had passed. He
spoke of my frankness, of which | had
given so many proofs, of the superhuman
efforts that | had made to control the
fatal malady, and of my voluntary So
jOurn at the maison de sante.
Homicidal monomania was only too
evident The great alienists, Esquiros
and Benel, had reported some Observa
lions identified with my case. 4 knew
it well. because it was upon these OBJ
servations that / had constructed my
plan.)
When the trial came on I was unani-
mously acquitted, only the tribunal de-
cided that, by way Of precaution, l
should be confined in maison de sante
during a period of whose duratiOns the
medecins alienists should be the judges.
In the meantime. my wife had inherited
from her sister. The million was ours,
and no one dreamed how it was done.
NJ. Laussedat had declared to the
Tribunal that, according to all appear
ances, the explosion did not preclude a
final cure, and | was shut UP in mad
house.-Pittsburg Dispatch.
TIA TABLE CAIAn