The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-04-27
HUMOR OF LUNATICS.
ASANE MANS EXPERIENCE IN AN IN
SANE ASYLUM.

Fooled by the Inmates He was
Ready to Distrust Even the Super
intendent of the Institution.
81 never knew until l went out to
California this time that insane people
have a powerful sense of humor, said
Washingtonian who recently returned
from trip to the coast. 81 confess that
I've always found morbid sort of in
terest in going through noted insane
asylums and so l armed myself with
the proper credentials in San Francisco
and went up to Napa county to have
look over the splendid asylum for the
insane there Inasmuch as l wanted to
see few things without the attention
of guide didn t present my letters,
but Just rambled around the beautiful,
spacious grounds for awhile. l hadn't
spent three minutes examining the ex-
traordinary rose gardens in front of the
main asylum building before a tall,
slender young man, well dressed and
exceedingly well groomed. emerged
from clump of oleander trees and APP
preached me.
Taking look around. chr said
he to me.
" Yes. | said Il only arrived here
few minutes ago, and I'm taking the
liberty of nosing about without any
official guidance
| Well. the tall young man said,
pleasantly, I don't suppose fall out
of the classification "otficial guidance
seeing that am the assistant superin
tendent herr yet should be pleased to
show you aboTt and at the same time
Try not to place any restraint upon you
by my awe inspiring presence.
"Wcll. the young chaps manner was
80 pleasant and winning that | could
Only thank him fer his kindness, and
we started over the grounds. We
hadn gone FIR before a middle aged
man, also we'll dressed and we'll groom.
ed. appeared some distance in front Of
us down the gravel walk. and he beck
oned to my companion. The young
man excused himself conrteously and
went up to the middle aged man. The
two cOav2rsed earnestly together for a
few minutes. and then, linking arms.
what do they do but coolly walk off,
leaving me standing there in the mid
die of the gravel path. II good deal non
plused
- Surprised over the way they de-
serted youI said voice right back OF
me 'You mustn't mind Il little thing
like that though Both OF those men
are as crazy as looms.
Il turned around, and there, stand
ing behind hedge about ten feet to my
rear. was little old gentleman, neatly
dressed in black, and with a quizzical
smile on his features.
"'Surely, said. you cannot mean
that that rational speaking, pleasant
hammered young man who was conduct
ing me about the grounds is bereft OF
his wits?
60 Mad as March hare repeated
the old gentleman fatty. 'Incnrable
case Harmless, but incurable. The
man that he went off with is also Il
very sad case-very. Thinks he is the
Maharajah Of Bludblud, OF something
like that. But you mustn't mind 'em
Lots of visitors are taken i'll the same
way If you care to, III just show you
around. l am one of the board of visit
ors of this institution and just happen
to be here in my unofficial capacity to-
day.
much marveling over what the old
gentleman told me, | fell in with him,
and we rambled around the hinge gera-
Mum arbors. and finally entered the
enormous glass building where the cul
tivation of violets is carried on.
"'Nice array of flowers, isn't it :?
the old gentleman inquired Of me, wav-
ing his hand at the beautiful beds OF
violets in bloom. Il am not Unfortunately
vain, my friend, hope You will under
stand. and yet cannot but congratu
late myself upon the introduction Of
J this violet raising feature here, for
myself was responsible for it and only
succeeded in having this dollhouse con
structed after enormous exertiOns will
the authorities of the institution.
II congratulated the old gentleman
upon the result of his labors and wal
just about to ask him to take me int
the main Building and introduce me tt
the superintendent when he suddenl.
excused hin self, saying that he hat
left his spec acles ON a bench in tn
gardens and would be back directly.
waited for him for fully ten minutes
but as he did not return | started OF
out of the glass building.
"'You didn't really expect hin
back? | heard a voice say. and thel
a pleasant faced man, dressed as a la
| borer and carrying watering pot
| came from behind group of palms
i He spoke with Scotch Erogue.
| 1.-The old gentleman you were witt
is very bad up here, said the man wit
| the watering pot, touching his fore
head He's been here for 30 years, an
4 he fancies he owns the place. l am tn
| head gardener here, and he tries hi
| best to run me- But he don tho, sir
| he don't He can't. No crazy man ca
| run me- And the Scotchman went dow
/ the length of the raised violet BEDS wa
tering the plants.
Il passed out of the glass buildin
and started for the entrance to the mai
building. there to present my letters
AS | was about to walk up the steps t
the entrance q man with side whiske1
and rather sharp, piercing eye wake
up to me.
"'You have business here? he in
quired of me in a rather sharp tone
Well, thought he might be anothe
of 'em. and so kept right on He fo
lowed me up the stairs and into til
Office. and | had to hand my letters
him. He was the superintendent. q
smiled when | told him of my exper,
ence in the grounds.
(which of them was really insane
/ asked him.
"'All Of them. he replied. "-Wast
inptOn Star