Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-03-24
HELEN DACYS
LUNATLC.
A Story of n Young Girls
Visit to an Insane AS lum

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Helen Dacy went to Elgin not be-
.auSc she was insane, but because she
had second cousin who was. Elgin
is beautiful town, but its street car
service is not good, and Helen walked
through the village up to the pleasant
park with which the state has sur
rounded the asylum for the insane. 1t
is a walk of considerable length from
the gate of the grounds to the building.
and Helen was to encounter neian,
choly sight. AS she went along the
serpentine path Il procession came to-
ward her. There must have been
hundred men in it. and they moved
slowly, and most of them walked with
bowed heads. Their feet appeared to
press the earth heavily. At first Helen
thought it must be a funeral process
sion, but a moment later she pprceiv-
ed that it was something more dis
treSSing 1t was the walk of those
who had survived their own death In
other words. it was body of insane
patients exercising the bodies that held
their pprishcd minds. Helen Shrank
aside and stood fascinated while they
passed her. Some of them looked at
her curiOuSly or with lack luSter gaze
or wiStfully. \ sudden appreciation
of her own youth and health and sHni
ty came over her and made her all the
more pitful toward these unfOrtu
mates.
The procession had passed, and she
was about rcsuming her way to the
hospital when one of the men quilted
the ranks and walked hurricdly to-
ward her. None of the rest looked
around. The attendants had not no
ticcd his dcSrrtiOn, and his steps on
the sward made no sound. He came
with a rapid gliding step toward Hell
en-, showing his teeth in Il broad smile.
Helen decided that. however imperti-
nent his intentions might be, at least
he was in good humor. This was con-
soling. but it did not keep her hands
from turning cold with nervous dread.
AS he approached he lifted his hat
with a courtly air. 1t was evident that
the poor wretch had once been IL gen
tlcman, but even the most gcntlcmanly
of lunaticS was not companion to
choose. and Helen moved behind Il low
lilac bush. She felt that she was white
and that her eyes were wide stretched,
but she tried not to show her alarm.
Confidence. she had always heard. was
needed in dealing with the insane. The
man moved more cautiously and fixed
an undertaking gaze upon Helen.
"Madam," said the man in Il partcu-
larly quiet voice, lit is a pleasant morn
ing"
Something in the words suggested a
scene in "IIamlct' to Helen, and she
bethought herself of an experiment.
She would soon determine whether or
not the man had a gleam of reason.
SIS it, she asked, turning her eyes
to the sky. 'Why, indeed, ! thought
1t was raining"
The man had a look in his face akin
to pity. "Pcrhaps you are right" he
replied gently. 1T may be raining. 1t
is not always possible for me to tell
except when see people carrying
their umbrellas"
"Sensory nerves are quite Obtus".
thought Helen. Il have heard that il
Is common with degeneratcs." The
man moved little nearer, and Helen
vcnturcd to 90 still farther around the
lilac bush. lie stopped still. and they
faced each other over the low shrub
berry. What an agreeable looking crca
ture he was, with his soft brown eyes
his long. delicate face and his higl
brow! He looked as if he might hav,
been intended for poet. Probably
he had been. but had gone one steI
further. Helen had not read Lombro
so for nothing.
"DO you ever write poetry" she ask
ed, with genuine curiosity.
The man bluShed Helen had no
dreamed Il lunatc would blush.
''Whcn found fitting subject" h,
confessed.
"Ah! And what should you consider
a fitting subiect?"
"Why-yOum The words came on
explosively. They did not seem to b,
meant for q compliment. The MAI
spoke nathetically. 1t seemed as i
there were tears in his eyes. Heller
answered as if he were child:
"Do ! seem so sad to you? she ask
ed. "Does II make the tears come il
your eyes to look at me, poor man"
"Ipdeed it does" he replied quit
simply. ~ think you are the saddles
thing ever saw"
81 wouldn't die for anything" she ex
/ planned Il like to live. find plcnt.
of things to laugh at" And to convlnc
his wandering wits that this was tn
truth she broke into a merry laugh
which astonished the melancholy spiri
of the place.
:if | give you my hand" said III
man kindly, will you not walk bac
with me to the house,"
.Co take his hand to let him get