Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-05-22
BOYS LOVE.
A True and Touching Story.

OF the thousand and one touching
scenes that are enacted in merry
England every day | suppose that
we lunacy commissioners come
across as many as most. And |
doubt not that if any man who has
served the government in this ca
pacity we're to relate the more strik-
ing of his experience in sympathet-
ic manner he would command q large
circle of interested readers, and
would surely draw tears from even
the least emotional among them.
do not, however, remember that
any lunacy commissioner ever had
published such a volume, and sup
pose the reason is not far to seek.
A constant course Of practical rou-
tine of dry statistics and calculations
of what may call the work-a-day
lunacy units man to regard these
experiences from an emotional or
pathetic aspect and tends to make
him employ his leisure thoughts up.
Oh subjects as far as possible remov-
ed from those of the shop, while
even If it were otherwise the obliga-
lions of professional secrecy would
be formidable barrier to the sue
cessful treatment of such theme.
At times, however, case arises
attended with features that cannot
fail to excite strong feeling in the
most hardened professional bosom.
1t is case of this nature that / now
set myself to relate and I do so the
more readily because there is no fear
in the present instance of my caus-
ing pain or distress to any person
| concerned.
If, therefore, l shield myself un.
der cover Of misleading names and
dates, it is rather as a conventional
formality than as precaution that
is in any degree requisite.
At distance Of time-which I
will call five years agony bust
ness duties took me to inspect
well known asylum in the west OF
England. DR.. X, the head of the
establishment was an old and valued
friend of mine, and was pleased
that my apportionment of circuit
should happen to include his insti.
tuition.
On this particular occasion of my
visit to DR.. X, / arrived at the
asylum over night, and my friend
Hospitality put me up. Next morn
ing, after breakfast, l strolled around
accompanied by DR.. X, on tour of
inspection, knowing, however, very
we'll that it was simply proforma
affair, and that should find every
thing about the asylum in q satisfac-
tory and efficient state.
On previous visits, l had noticed
how much DR.. X. had done to make
his patients calm and contented by
humoring their many foibles, and on
this occasion | was more than ever
struck by the careful, discriminate
ing way in which this system was
being carried out and by the favor.
able results which evidently arose
from it.
No doubt, a man devoid of unus-
ually sound judgment would soon
find himself in difficulties if he
adopted such system. But DR..
KS judgment was so reliable, his
shrewdness SO keen, his sympathy
so remarkably in touch with his pa
tients, that he knew just where to
apply and just where to avoid his
plan of humoring, and it was seldom
indeed that the event proved him to
have been injudicious.
1t was fine August morning and
most of the patients were out in the
beautiful grounds attached to the
asylum. l knew many of them from
previous visits, and not few came
up and welcomed me with ELUSIVE
cordially. They seemed pleased,
also, to see the doctor, and thought
that some of them regarded him with
quite afectionate eyes.
This, in itself, spoke volumes for
the success of his regime-for that
the head of a large asylum has gain
ed the love of his unhappy patients
is the most convincing proof of his
efficiency that could possibly be ab-
duced.
Most of the unfortunate men were
strolling about in an aimless way
few were walking fast, as if their life
depended on their covering five miles
in the hour few others were gar.
dening, and some few we're sitting
on the seats.
But it is on one patient only that
wish to draw particular attention.