The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-07-01
A LUNATIc FIFTY YEARS AGO.

~ eOtNHttS -
Aav.,tur. Of . Merchant in tho Days
when Insane People Were Chained Up.
Within the memory Of people now
living lunatics and weak-minded peo-
pie in country districts were confined
in the houses of their relatives, some-
times chained to the wall. A story
involving o case of this kind fifty
years ago is related by New York
merchant.
He made his start in life by travel.
ing through the country districts OF
Pennsylvania taking orders for and
delivering goods of various kinds from
the cities. He is now over seventy
years of age.
zone fine afternoon" he said, II
called at farmhouse to look for or.
ders for goods from stores in Phila-
delphia and knocked at the door. A
voice said come in, and I pressed the
latch and found myself in the kitchen
of the house. was confronted by Q
strange-looking man, unkempt and
unshorn, who came forward from q
place partitioned off from the rest OF
| the kitchen, which looked like stall
of some kind. He told me that the
master of the house was. not in and
that he was the only person there just
then. had no idea that was talk,
ing to lunatio, as the man seemed
perfectly rational in spite OF his
strange appearance, and before
started to 60 out I asked for drins
of water. :,
"'Certainly,' said the man, but 4
you have no objection to cream you
can have it, -,
"T accepted the proposal will
thanks, and the man said: PLEASE
hand me the key of the dairy. 1t II
on that nail above the door and 20.
are taller than T. Without suspect
ing anything, handed him the key
remarking that it was very small
one. He instantly brought into viev
a chain by which he was secured Il
the wall and released himself by nm
locking the paddock in less time tina
it takes me to tell it. I had previous
" noticed that he kept his hands be
hind his back while he talked. The
I realized that I was in the presenc
, of q madman. I began to back to tn
, door. but he CAUGHT my arm. saying
Come with me for the cream.
ct first thought Of breaking ava.
! but on second thoughts decided thu
il was safer to humor him . httl
especially as he was between me an
!, the door. I went with him to Il
q dairy, the door Of which was opel
= There he filled bowl with cream Al
. desired ,me to drink it. !: I drank pa
of it and made a move to get awe
4 but his grasp frightened, and mute
4 ing something about cream not o
solid enough, he brought me back
: the kitchen, where he stirred son
;. kind of meal into the cream. AM
q handing me q spoon, told me to 81
y it. I hesitated, when he seized
cudgel, which I suppose had be-
\. provided to keep him in subjectio
and holding it up menacingly, sal
s Sup it,
10 II made an attempt to eat the stu
and after a few mouthfuls said l b.
|. enough. He raised the cudgel aga
! and ordered me to finish it. A hap
4 thought struck me.
:. "'If you bring me more cream
i. can finish it, said, without darf
to look round ct the door, as he v
Watching me.
'The mailman was taken on
;. guard and went back to the dairy
. the cream. Immediately darted OF
=. and the lunatic, hearing me open t
~ door. came after me with the cudg'
:. It was now q race for life with me.
~ ran my very hardest, not even dari
ID to use my breath in shouting for he
~ but after I had gone about . quar-
~ of a mile I saw that the lunatic v
gaining on me. Not soul could
see along the road, and, though
Oh kept my wits about me, I could
vn find any lane or think Of any way
mt doubling on my pursuer. When
IN was within about twenty yards OF
ca 7 saw he was bound to overtake
rk and I gave q cry for help. Just
mt that moment several men appear
Is. They came up in time to intercept
ar- lunatic. One Of them happened to
ng his brother and the mailman COVE
IN and dropped the cudgel at the sign
are him. The brother apologizsd TO
rs for his carelessness and invited me
asst turn back to the house and get 40
refreshment, but I had had enough
on it aud declined the invitation. Al
ng that while I continued at that bu
ur- ness was always chary of enterin
on house where there was only SIN
nt occupant. New York Sun.