The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-06-30
MANY MINDS.
POOR FELLOWS IN THE GEORGIA
INSANE ASYLUM.
Some Queer HalIucinatiOnS. What
Certain Inmates of the Insti-
tuition Imagine.
MANY MINDS.

tuition Imagine.
The man who taught Shakespeare all
he knew-rather the man who believes
he did sO-is at the Georgia insane asy-
lum.
There are many other peculiar charac-
tiers there. There are those who will
provoke your laughter no matter how
sorrowful you feel for their lot in life.
There are those who will excite pity.
Next to them you will find those who
will excite your anger.
One patient is we'll known in Georgia.
He was once in the postal department,
being at the delivery window OF lead
ing Georgia postoffce. When in mental
health he was noted for bis remarkable
memory of names and faces. You could
tell him your name was John Smith and
ask him for your mail. He would take
a quick glance at you and make rapid in
vestigation for you. You could return
five years later. He would glance at you
and before you could say word he
would have made search and would in
form you that "there is no mail for you,
Mr.. Smith,"
Now he thinks that be owns third
interest in the asylum and that his in
come annually is S., 900 from that insti-
tuition and $4,000 from the government.
He enjoys himself on his fancied income
as does Gould or Vanderbilt on real
incomes. He maintains that he is super
intendent of the asylum, but never gives
whit of trouble.
Col. Joe Busby is a character in the
asylum. He is a midget. 1t is told that
he is of a family of dwarfs and that many
of the children were unsoUnd of mind.
Others than he of his immediate family
have been at Milledgeville. He is very
small of stature, but his head is as large
as the ordinary mans. He wears a No.
hat, sports beavd and mustache and
enjoys life in his own way. He is petted
by every one.
Then there is the boy who contin ually
makes motions in the air with his arms,
hands and fingers as if playing n piano.
He is nearly well now. There are two
or three blind men there who are luna
tics. They easily make their way about
the grounds.
| Then there is the man who continually
makes noise like turkey; another
barks like dog, and another eats bark
from the trees, Another insists on en-
deavOring to bite rust from the iron bars.
TIL re is lady who once sang in opera
Her beautiful voice can often be heard
rendering delightful solos. The dement,
ed watch maker has his tools and mends
watches with alacrity. The tailor is
there and plies his trade with willing
hands, though he is daft on other sub
Jects. In one of the buildings there is a
man who dresses in woman's clothes.
He could talk if he would but he hasn't
spoken a word in eighteen years. In an
other ward is a man who refuses to wear
clothing of any kind, winter or summer
On another is patient who is apparent
ly we'll and strong, but who has lain in
bed for AZ years. His big 17-pound
feather mattress now weighs but a few
pounds and is worn down to five feet in
length.
Recently there went man to the asy-
ium who, after days stay, announced
that he liked the place after trial, and
was pleased with the locality. He en-
deaVored to arrange for the removal
there of his wife and grown son and
daughter. Of one family the father and
son occupy rooms in different buildings
| There is an instance where a patient
went in the asylum one afternoon, had
supper, lodging and breakfast and was
| taken away by his relatives before din
ner next day. One inmate "bought this
place from General Gordon FIVE years
ago" He will "4feed you and care for
you as long as you behave yourself"
Another asserts that he is the richest
man on earth and that he holds lieu
tenants commission in the regular army.
One patients refuses to eat. He has liv-
ed on milk, fed to him through the nos
trils, for nine months.
a peculiar case is that of a young nan
who was frightened iuto idiocy during
his bOyhoOd. Comrades went with him