The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-22

or her hands or go to school, respective
ly. That is one of the conditions of
their acceptance.
1t is, however, an integral part of the
Gheel treatment. Complete absence of
coercive measures, plenty of good,
nourishing food, fresh air, and sun
shine, and temperance are the other
remedies prescribed and insisted upon.
But all rules are enforced in the
gentlest manner. Friends or limo
cents" must never be irritated. else
cure becomes impossible, and the
peasant doctor who harborS them loses
caste with his fellows. AS a further
consequence the authorities immedi-
ately shut down on his supply of board
ers.
Receive Maniacs With a Feast.
The entrance of lunatic into a
Gheel family is marked by a feast. A
tablet with the word welcome" in
glazing colors is hung over the street
door, and all members of the household
dress in their best. Paterfamilias,
styled Dom (uncle) for that occasion,
introduces the newcomer as a distant
relative. cousin or brother, and the re-
union is celebrated with many cups
that cheer after the manner of the
country. In the evening neighbors call
who keep up and emphasize the rela-
ton fib, which henceforth, for practi-
cal purposes, becomes a fact.
Immediately after breakfast next
morning the friend is assigned to an
occupation in his Oom's household, the
shop, or on his farm, the choice of
duties being left to him. He accom-
panies his pseudo brothers, sisters, and
cousins them usually several
afflicted like himself-to the scene of
usefulness, and all begin work in
earnest. The friends are encouraged
to sing and play practical jokes on their
comrades, but the sane ones among
the latter never repay in kind.
Six to eight hours of manual labor
is the minimum, and If a friend"
doesn't take kindly to it, he is persuad-
ed by the Heer Oom's paternal author
ity or by presents in kind or in money.
Many lunaticS like to work sp0radically,
but that won't do at all. Gheel's popu-
lation knows that its crazy settlers get
cured with st. Dympna's aid, by work
ing for their living at farming, house
building, etc, and with the persever-
ance that is one of the chief character
istics of the Flemish, chronic lazybones
are barred from the resort. I'VE can't
cure loafers," they say, ''let them go
to an asylum"
Two hundred of Gheel's lunatic popu-
latien receive regular wages from their
keepers and have money in the savings
bank; 500 more earn their tobacco and
kind are numerous women, who receive
premiums in the shape of jewelry, trim
kets, ribbons and the like.
Aside from their regular employment,
the friends enjoy almost unrestricted
liberty. They may visit saloons, and if
one announces his intention to travel
the landlord willingly helps pack his
Il lie. 80 4,
many good wishes. The ticket-seller.
of course, recognizes his customer and
sells him either a worthless ticket,
which the ticket-taker confiscates, or
keeps him waiting until the train has
gone.
The saloon-keeper follows similar
mode of conduct. He has always one
glass of beer or wine or schnappa for
friend but no more. I'VE just run
out of stuff. and the next barrel won't
be tapped till tomorrow" The whole
population works hand i'm hand to give
the insane the illusion of being entirely
unrestricted, and these happy people
stop yearning for liberty because it
seems always at their elbow.
The result of this treatment, or alb
Sence of treatment, is astonishing. Re-
ports of the state medical board show
that so per cent of friends" are cured
while all. without exception, find relief
and comfort in Gheel. Those that at
home We're raving maniacs. become
harmless after a two or three weeks
stay.
The tact of these peasants is, indeed
wonderful. When told that maniacs
are generally regarded with fear, they
couldn't understand it. why they
said, ''all the friends carry knives
while axes. sledgehammers, hoes. etc,
are their everyday tools. and yet the
town annals have no record of any act
of violence committed by a friend in
two centuries"
Occasionally" said the town pastor
I'VE have a violent fellow. and then
call in the assistance of the children.
A neighbor of mine once had a friend
guest, who insisted upon smashing all
the available crockery every day or
two. When persuasion failed, the wo-
man gave him, her baby to hold the
moment she saw his attack of frenzy
coming on Mind your little sister
we'll. she said; don't break it or God
will punish you 1t worked like a
charm. and since then hundreds Of ba-
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