The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-04-17
HUMOR OF LUNATICS
AsANe MANS EXPERIENCE IN AN IN.
SANE ASYLUM.

nave u poWtIlul HtilNt bl nuHltIs ftlu
a Washingtonian who recently returned
from a trip 60 the coast. 81 confess that
I've always found a morbid sort Of in
terest in going through noted insane
asylums, and SC l armed myself with
the proper credentials in San francisco
and went mp to Napa county TO have a
look over the splendid asylum for the
insane there. Inasmuch as | wanted o.
see IA few things without the attention
of a guide / didn't present my letters,
but Just rambled around the beautiful,
spacious grounds for awhile. l hadn't
spent three minutes examining the OK
traordinary rose gardens in front Of the
main asylum buildinS before - tall,
slender young man, well dressed and
exceedingly well groomed, emerged
from a clump of oleander trees and ap-
preached me
Taking n look around, ehT' said
he TO me.
4" Yes, said i only arrived here
few minutes ago, and IN taking the
liberty of nosing about without any
official guidance.
+" Well, the tall young man said,
pleasantly, i don't suppose l fall out
Of the classification "of1icial guidance, "
seeing that l am the assistant superin-
tendent here, yet I should be pleased to
show you about and at the same time
Try not TO place any restraint upon you
by my awe inspiring presence.
"Well the young chaps manner was
go pleasant and winning that could
only thank him for his kindness, and
we started over the grounds We
hadn't gone far before middle aged
man, also well dressed and well 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 courteously and
went up to the middle aged man. The
two conversed 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, a good deal non
plused.
3" Surprised over the way they de-
serted your said a voice right back Of
me. 'You mustn't mind little thing
like that, though. Both of those men
are as crazy as looms.
81 turned around, and there, stand
ing behind a 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 tha rational speaking, pleasant
hammered young man who was conduct
ing me about the grounds is bereft Of
his wits7'
Mad as March hare, repeated
the old gentleman fatty. Incur6ble
case. Harmless, but incurable. The
man that he went off with is also q
very sad case--very. Thinks he is the
Maharajah Of Bludblud, or something
like that But you mustn't mind EN-
Lots of visitors are taken in the same
way. If you care TO, I'll 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, l fell in with him,
and we rambled around the huge gera-
mum arbors, and finally entered the
enormous glass building where the cul-
tivation Of violets is carried on.
Mice array Of flowers, isn't itP
the old gentleman inquired of me, wav-
ing his hand at the beautiful beds of
violets in bloom. i am not inordinately
vain, my friend, l hope you win under
stand, and yet l cannot but congratu-
late myself upon the introduction Of
this violet raising feature here, for
myself was responsible for il and only
succeeded in having this hothouse CON
structed after enormous exertions with
the authorities Of the institution
IL congratulated the old gentleman
upon the result Of his labors and was
just about TO ask him 10 take me into
the main building and introduce me 70
the superintendent when he suddenly
excused himself, saying that he had
left his spectaeles on a bench in the
gardens and would be back directly.
waited for him for fully ten minutes,
but as he did not return l started on
out of the glass building
"'You didn't really expect him
backG l heard voice say, and then
a pleasant faced man, dressed as a la
borer and carrying watering pot,
came from behind a group Of palms.
He spoke with a Scotch brogue.
"'The old gentleman you were with
is very bad up here, said the man with
the watering pot, touching his fore
head He's been here for 20 years, and
he fancies he owns the place am the
head gardener here, and he tries his
best to run me. But he don't-no, sir,
he don't. He can't. No crazy man can
run me. And the Scotchman went down
the length of the raised violet beds, wa
tering the plants
II passed out of the glass building
and started for the entrance 10 the main
building, there 10 present my letters.
As was about TO walk up the steps to
the entrance a man with side whiskers
and rather a sharp piercing eye walked
mp to me
"'Nou have business hereT he in
quired Of me in rather sharp tone.
Well, ! thought he might be another
Of 'em, and So kept right on He fol-
lowed me up the stairs and into the
office, and had to hand my letters 10
him. He was the superintendent He
smiled when l told him of my expert
ence in the grounds
(Which of tbatn x.-os ,..all,, f,,s.,,., y