The San Francisco call., 1897-11-14
WHY WITHIN NAPA'S WALLS?

under the medical nose.
"What do you think of that, sirP be
cried in petulant tones. -
The doctor didn't think much of the
smell.
"Sent back last night from one of the
wards" protested Francateli; ''said not
10 be fit to eat; that's the style of thing
get. What do you say?"
The doctor said he could probahIv eot
it him self If he were very hungry. There
is no end to medical sarcasm.
Thoughtlessly | approached this svm.
pathetic matron on the subject near NV
heart. | alluded 10 the religious exalta-
tion case just admitted. Instantly the
atmosphere II ze and an immeasurabIe
d stance was placed between the matron
ana myself. She knew of no such case
lately admitted. "Would l like to 20 oyar
the asylum soonP'
The fiat had gone forth. L was not to
hear a word about Mrs. Wimble. Going
over an asylum is Il degree more depress-
ing than going over a hospital: The words
OF Dante's Inferno" seem written over
each door as it is swiftly locked and un.
locked. What can be he feelings Of those
who are not past feeling as they see them
selves immured, doomed to com panion-
ship which, of itself, accentuates their
, own condition? True, that in the Napa
asylum mental help is provided. Those
willing 10 WORK can have their hands
occupied, and household duties, laundry
work, tailoring, carpentering, gardening
are all executed by willing hands, who d
owners could not be trusted amid mora
bustling scenes. But all me, for those
others unaccustomed to or incapable of
manual abor! We passed through long,
trim, comfortably furnished wards sun
shining in at the barred windows,
flowers and here and there a sing
ing bird, speaking of life and
hope, but some faces in those
wards would have made an angel weep.
The saddest, the most pathetic cases wers
they who looked hopelessIy resigned. And
everywhere the clinking, jarring sound OF
the key in the lock; everywhere the
anxious, turtive glance as that key is
turned and momentary glimpse of the
free, glad world obtained. l thought of
the young religious enthusiast who had
come here to be ''cured," and l shivered
and auaied and thankfully lined the
women patients as they were freed for
their daily airing in the garden.
There were others in the inner quad
rang!e, whom 1 did not join. They i'm
INJURED these, the violent or obstreperous
or unresigaed, whom only brick walls can
keep within bounds. ] noticed one, well
dressed aud ladylike. amid the unkempt
crowd. "1s she an attendant" l asked.
No; but she could not be trusted yet
not to run away. She had not been in
long.
And now l am coming away, my task
| undone. The poor souls who have hailed
me as friend are waving adieu, the in
spirational writer is smiling peacefully,
but the INSPIRED one" l sought is hidden
away as unit for association. And in my
hand l grasp tenacously letter which it
would not at all please Dr.. Gardner to
| read. The letter is from one whose
| veracity is not likely to be questioned.
| Florence Montague, the eloquent lee
turess of the Oakland Psychic Society,
has large and Intellectual BODY of ad-
herents, whom even doctors in lunacv
feel bound to respect; and it is Florence
Mont tague who authorizes me 10 publish
the following statement:
MRS. Lillian Wlmble is not a subject
for an insane asylum for although labor
! ing under a strong hallucination in mat
ters connected with religion, she appears
sane and sound on every other topic
! Moreover, in her conversations with me-
she showed plainly that she was much
more of a theosophist than a spiritualist.
in fact her vocabulary is chiefly composed
of the occult terms usec by that fra
| ternity, and her vagaries or unbalanced
ideas are like the unsuccessful attempts of
a child to grasp profound or abstract
propositions.
| "a happy home and kind treatment is
the required necessity TO restore poise and
brainy strength. Where are our brothers
and sisters of the inner circle? They are
concerned in the rescuing of this young
student OF their philosophy"
! There is lady. named Annie Besant,
who is generally believed to possess one of
the giant intellects of our time. Yet if
! doctors in lunacy had had the handling
of her when she was first graphing with
| "protound and abstract propositions
! they might have developed her case"
very SUI cessfully, to the world great loss.
| But there is other testimony to quote:
! The warder at the receiving hos spital,
| Oakland who had Mrs. Wimble for two
days under his care, refuses to see any in
sanity in her case other tnan the "delu-
sions" common 10 mediums and
christian Scientists She believes her
| self to be the subject OF divine inspiration
and she declines 10 be treated for an ex-
ternal injury, deeming that faith should
cure her. The Christian Scientists. there
fore, have something to think over if hers
is TO prove State asylum case.
| But why, then, has Mrs. Wimble. with
her own consent, been sent 10 the Napa
asylum? The real answer falls from the
lips of sweet-hearted, pure-minded,
swhite-hsired woman, whose holy express
sion and inspired prayer are we'll known
on the religious platform. Her calm face
| glows with indignation, her motherly
arms stretch out protectingly as you ask
the question::
Mentally i'll? Mad? Yes in the sight
of husband and relatives who could not
understand her pure aspirations. She in
! conyeniencad them. Her holy thoughts
and ideals were a worry, almost re-
| proach, and she consented to be put away
/ cftrh hnr nov 4