The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-01-31
HELEN DACYS
LUNATIC.
A Story of a Young Girls
Visit to AN Insane Asylum
Observation-Disclosures

y. J.
Helen Dacy went to Elgin not be-
cause she was insane, but because she
had n second cousin who was. Elgin
is n 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 walk of considerable length from
the gate OF the grounds 10 the building,
and Helen was TO encounter melan-
choly sight As she went along the
serpentine path procession came to-
ward her. There must have been
hundred men In 1t, and they moved
slowly, and most of them walked with
bowed heads. Their feet appeared TO
press the earth heavily. At first Helen
thought 1t must be funeral process
sion, but moment later she perceiy-
cd that 1t was something more dis
tressing 1t was the walk of those
who had survived their own death. In
other words, II was Il body of insane
patients exercising the bodies TINT held
their persisted 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. A sudden appreciation
of her own youth and health and SAM
ty came over her and made her all the
more pitiful toward these unfortu-
mates.
The procession had passed, and she
was about resumlng her way to the
hospital when one of the men quilted
the ranks and walked hurriedly to-
ward her. None of the rest looked
around. The attendants had not no.
ticed his desertlon, and his steps on
the sward made no sound. He came
with rapid, gliding step toward Hell
en-, showing his teeth in n broad smile
Helen decided that, however impertl-
nent his intentions might be, at least
he was In good humor, This was con-
selling. bat 1t did not keep her hands
from turning cold with nervous dread.
AS he approached he lifted his hat
with a courtly mir. II was evident that
the poor wretch had once been u gen
tleman. but even the most gentlemanly
of lunatics was not companion to
choose and Helen moved behind n 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 n particu-
larly quiet voice, sit Is q pleasant morn
ing"
Something In the words suggested
scene In Hamlet" to Helen, and she
bethought herself OF an experiment.
She would soon determine whether or
not the man had Il CLEAN of reason.
"Is III" she asked, turning her eyes
to the sky. "Why. indeed. ] thought
1t was raining"
The man had II look In his face akin
TO pity. Perhaps you are right" he
replied gently at may be raining. II
is not always possible for me to tell
except when | see people carrying
their umbrellas
fscubulE itlNtb dIt Iullc ODtuSt,
thought Helen. Il have heard that It
Is common with degenerates." The
man moved a little nearer, and Helen
ventured to 20 still farther around the
lilac bush. lie stopped still, and they
faced each other over the low shrub
berry. What an agreeable looking crea-
ture he was. with his soft brown eyes,
1.l fnt
brow! He looked as II he might have
been intended for poet. Probably
he bad been. but had gone one step
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 not
dreamed a lunatIc would blush.
when | found fitting subject" he
confessed.
"Ah. And what should you consider
a fitting subject"
"Why-you!' The words came out
explosively They did not seem to be
meant for compliment The man
spoke pathetically. 1t seemed as If
there were tears In his eyes. Helen
answered as II he were child:
'Do seem 80 sad to youf" she ask
ed. "Does It make the tears come In
your eyes to look at me. poor MANI"
"Indeed 1t does" he replied quite
simply. II think you are the sadlest
thing ever saw"
~ wouldn't die for anything" she ex-
planned. Il Ike to live. find plenty
Of things 10 laugh at" And to convince
his wandering wits that this was the
truth she broke Into merry laugh.
which astonlshed the melancholy spirit
Of the place.
~ | give you my hand" said the
man kindly, will you not walk back
with me 10 the house,"
To take his hand. to let him get
hold upon her-it was CHASTITY! He
moved toward her. There seemed moth
ing for 1t but to run, and run she did.
speeding over the soft lawn with
rnpidlty that astonished herself. She
could hear him calling to her, but she
sped on till finally n hystericai I'M
pulse, born OF her fright and fatigue,
took hold Of her. She began to laugh
again, and the musical, half weeping
laughter foated behind her as she ned
Then, breathless, she stumbled In a
ground moIe's tunnel and fell nat. A
second later two arms were about her,
and she was lifted 10 her feet. She
faced the iunatic. They were OF a
height, and they stood looking at each