Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-10-08
AN ASYLUM DANCE.

AS this story travelled in a roundabout
way it may have been elaborated and
built up before it came to hand, but the
facts, as nearly as they can he learned,
are about as follows:
Mr.. Melton, young man interested
in the lumber trade, travelled on asubur-
ban train one Friday night to attend
the weekly dance at the asylum for the
insane.
My. Melton is constantly longing for
experiences" He would rather look
at al, opium joint than donation party,
and would rather go stunning" than
attend a Sunday school picnic. The ball
at the insane asylum appealed to his
hove for the picturesque. Lowry, the
politician. had promised to take him
out, and Melton had not allowed him to
forget the promise.
Lowry came aboard the train at one
of the stations on the way out, and the
two were warmly welcomed when they
arrived at the asylum, for this Lowry
was a companionable man of consider
able influence.
Az Melton stood in the doorway Of the
ballroom and glanced at the rows of
weIi-bebaved and rather-abashed peo-
pie against the wall, he could hardly
believe TINT he was so different from the
others. he reflected that if he were to
arise some morning and tell the other
boarders that he was the emperor of
China and had more money than he
could use, he might become one Of this
company.
Except that many of them were pale
and melancholy and a few of them were
heavy-eyed intent on studying the floor,
the assemblage would have compared
favorably with any chance gathering
Of respectable everyday people.
He knew, of course, that the violent
patients or those totally dementcd
were not allowed at the ball. The COM
pany was made up of convalescents or
those whose vision was merely twisted
so that they could not see things in
their proper relation. Some of the
younger men had attired themselves
with particular care and wore button
hole bouquets. Many of the women,
too, bore the outward signs of gayety.
Melton was rather disappointed. He
had wanted to witness something "un-
canny."
81 want you to dance this evening""
said Superintendent Lucas. standing
at his elbow. "One trouble with the
visitors is that they stand around and
stare at the patients as if they were
a lot of freaks. Now these people are
not dangerous. You needn't believe
everything they tell you; but if you
mix up with them and are friendly
you'll find them very easy to get along
with. Come on, I'll introduce you to
some of them"
The little orchestra was tuning up,
and a patient who had been installed
as floor manager was giving correct
imitation of sane man who had been
thrown under the same trying respon-
sibility.
Melton had attended many evening
parties. but he felt new embarrass-
ment as he passed along a line OF de-
mure women patients, and bowed to
each of them in turn. He shook hands
with several of the men, and then
backed up to the wall to watch the
opening. The superintendent, stand
ing beside him, said: "Oh, by the way,
you must meet Miss Caldwell"
He beckoned to young woman who
was talking to the leader of the or
chestra, and as she came across the
room Melton whistled to himself and
said: Here's a case of blighted love,
and she's not over 90"
Miss Caldwell, want to present
Mr.. Melton" said the superintendent.
"He's rather bashful in company, but
perhaps you can entertain him. Now
I'll go and look after Lowry"
Melton found himself staring at a
very pretty girl, who returned his gaze
in half-frightened manner.
His head buzzed, and he never before
was so much in want of topic. How
was he to begin a conversation with a
young woman who might fancy him
70 be the prince who had come to rescue
her from the tower?"
do you dance?" he asked, in sud-
zen desperation.
She gave start, and he imagined that
she shrunk back a little.
I'D rather not" said she, timidly.
well, then, let's sit over here in the
corner and watch the others"
They found an out-of-the-way place,
and Melton. who had recovered little,
remembered the instructions given him
by the superintendent.
"These dances are very pleasant lit
attended by an agreeable lot of people"
II think it's good idea to have
them" said she. "You know most Of