The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-03-28

logically and pathologically given
away under the strain OF exist
ence. 20 that their owners had TO BE-
oooped up In madhouses. sanitarlums
and hospitals.
The recent passage Of a small APP
preparation by the city Of Paris for
the purchase OF artistic appliances de-
voted 10 the use Of the crazy artists
Of the Asylum OF Ville-Evrard has
drawn public attention 10 a curious fea-
ture In the life OF the great metropolis
OF course the funny man saw his
opportunity al once. He suggested that
now he understood how certain paint
lngs In the salon had come into ex-
lstence. He rang the changes upon
bis extremely obvious Jest.
The social philosopher had seen his
opportunity a. well ~ the funny man
He has made a study Of the crazy art
department and has found Il full OF
hopeful lessons In morbid mentality.
Every one knows that work Il con-
Eidered by alienists 10 BE- a powerful
aid In curing the mental invalid
Every hour employed by a lunatie In
some regular toll IL an hour conquered
from dreams and divagations During
all the time the patient Is absorbed
In his work be loses sight Of his spe-
eial mania When work becomes a
habit 10 him his equilibrium Is more
and more likely 20 be completely re-
stored. Il Is not surprising. therefore.
that the experience AZ Ville-Evrard has
proved most satisfactory 10 the medical
faculty. over GO per cent OF the entire
number OF lunatics have been interest
cd In artistic work. A few we're ar
lists before their entrance. The ma
iority were not Some OF them had
never attempted 20 draw In their lives.
yet In the short space OF few months
they turned out fairly good work.
Now. s. per cent Is practically the
entire number OF lunatlcs that were
sane enough no, 90 need the gentle re-
siraint Of padded cell or a strait
Jacket.
Is there not here a hint for the work
less New York prisons? II lunatios can
be turned into artists At short notice
why not oonyicts?
A great revolution has been worked
In the Paris asylum. Formerly all
were indlscrimlnately set 10 work A,
some mechanical occupation. which
disguised and Wearied many. One day
an epilepiie who had been a theatrica
scene painter said In the hearing O.
Or. Marandon de Montyele. head physl
clan Of the meas department:
All. n only I had my pencils ant
brushes again. feel that my hand Il
losing he cunning through enforced
idleness, and when ! am well again
viii BE- unable 10 find work"
But what could you do with youi
pencils and brushes" asked the doc.
tor, who had himself often though,
over the danger which the other had
suggested Here we haven't any
theatrical decorations to paint"
We'll, ia paint frescoes on the wall.
OF our corridors. or. II need Be. I'd
paint little pictures on canvas that
might be used here and therc Tor deco
rative purposes. After an. even n my
work were no good TO others. Il would
be good to me. Il would keep me IN
/ practice"
This conversation introduced a new
idea into Dr. Montyele's mind. II ger.
minated into other forms. lie decided
not only that the practice OF art would
be beneficial 10 insane artists but thai
Il would b. the exact sort OF mental
exercise which was needed for Other
] lunatics.
just ten months ago he introduced
the hrst pencils and the hrst palette
into his department. The results tina,
have been attained In this brief period
are simply marvellous. Melancholy pa.
tents OF suicidal tendencies have had
their blue devils chased out OF sleht
the persecuting-persecuted have forgot.
ten their imaginary enemies, a hopeles.
lunatio who could not remember his
own name. his age or the smallest de.
tail OF his former life suddenly romem.
bered his former pursuit.
Nor Is this all Seeing their com.
rades at work. other lunatics who had
never known the love OF art. who had
never been trained In artistic work
caught the fever. Interested az hrs, In
their nelghbors work. they eventually
developed an individual Interest IN art
They tried their own hands az the sam,
work. Some OF them have made aston.
ishlng progress
A patient suffering from the mani,
des Frandeurs, who had never felt m,
slightest artistic instinct stirring with
IN him. learned az the end OF thre,
months OF hard work to evolve land
scapes from his inner consciousness.
which had real feeling and a sense o
atmosphere he was a little tailor
Disguised with life. he had freQuentl,
attempted suicide. and u was not unit
he took up the pencil that hls mani.
showed possibilities Of eventual ne
cuperatlon.
Then there IL tho oplleplc patlen
who suggested the idea. lie IA max
ing astonishing progress His asylum
work ls infinitely superior IN original
ity and perfection OF detail 70 anything
he ever dld In his saner days.
There Is an cngraver OF brass. WI,
executes without a model chandeliers
vases and cups OF more than ordlnar,
beauty. The Official ropor, says O.
him; Outside Of his trade. OF which
he preserves a perfect memory. ne q
Incapable Of the slightest consccutlv,
occupation. AZ one time he was n
ilcied with the mania OF persecution
and Of greatness. Today he cannot
connect two ideas. nor has be left nf
Accent Intellectual vigor for dellrium
His profession alone survives amid ths
.