The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-23
PRoGREss IN INSANE IDEAS.
People Now Go Mad on Up-tO-dnte
Plans.


From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Insanity. 1t seems, keeps pace with the
times and is In some of its phases essential
ly up to date. There was a time when
people went crazy east and west over the
puzzle Of perpetual motion; and the mad
houses were usually the final sanctuary OF
the unfortunates who endeavored TO figure
out this baron OF all brain breakers. but
now new and more modern enigmas have
taken its place.
1--WE had two patients here some time
ago" said Superintendent Harmon, OF the
I,ongview Hospital for Insane, the other
day. "who had lost their balance on the
perpetual motion problem, but they are
both dead and we don't seem to get any
more who come over that route. OF course,
misfortune and grief are the causes OF
most OF the dementia sheltered here but
where the patients have manias for other
things, those things are usually up to
date"
Taking a key from his pocket, DR.. Har-
mon proceeded trough the various wards,
noting here and there singular cases where
the subjects imaginings ran after modern
fads and crazes Il was a long journey and
a tiresome one, although every ward
spoke Of unusual care and even luxury,
for such an institution. However much
the kindly spirit Of generosity and philan-
thropy may upholster the seats and make
the lives OF Lougview's inmates comfort
able, Il Is impossible TO keep out OF an In
sane asylum the atmosphere OF the in
sane II Is always the same qualm. the
same deadly lassitude, and the same quiet,
grave-nke stiffness, oppressive TO an
alarming extent, and certainly consuming
In its character. No matter how much
Of the day the patients are taken out and
walked about the grounds, this air re-
mains Good ventilation seems to have
little effect upon the atmosphere OF the
insane.
There is no question In my mind" Or.
Harmon was saying but that intense
anger Is ono phase Of insanity II you
would like to have a little trouble Just
come in here" A door was unlocked,
which opened into a ward on either side
OF which sat long row OF men recently
received and all OF whom are as yet prac-
ticably unmanageable. Their eyes glared
like those OF crouching panthers, and
burned with the FIRE OF awful insane rage.
Had they been armed they might, like
wild beasts have fallen upon the first 70
| pass through the ward and quartered him.
/ Entering female ward a young lady was
pointed out, who sat all day long on n
/ chair with her arms extended, working
| her feet az though they were upon the
| Medals Of a bicycle. She rs possessed OF
| the fancy that she Is riding around the
| world on a wheel.
by the way, DOCTOR" said young
man who bore the symptoms In his adj
dress OF having once veen very intelligent,
/ have got nearly all the track laid. II
will be the biggest incline In the world.
| There Is yet some trouble In getting the
electrical appliances 20 working right, but
hi promise you now that by next Sunday
/ Il will all be complete, and you can have
a pleasant little trip 70 the moon. The
/ trolleys never slip on the moon route, and
you need not be afraid OF accidents. We
wiz make the trial trip 70 the moon from
the earth terminal IN japan, starting next
| Sunday al 5 o'clock In the morning. We
will have breakfast on the moon at 1890.
Don't you think that will be making
pretty good timer
Or. Harmon, as usual, thought II would.
| The poor fellow Is crazed on electricity,
and believes he has well under way an en-
tcrpriao which. n completed. would be-
/ something Of n departure Ia street rail-
| way cngineorus. There ~ another fellow