Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-02-22
HELEN DACY'S
LUNATlC.
A Story of a Young Girls
Visit to an Insane ASYLUM

! ! !
Helen Dacy went to Elgin not be-
cause she was insane, but because she
had a second cousin who was. Elgin
is a beautiful town, but it's 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 to the building,
and Helen was to encounter a melan-
choly sight. AS she went along the
serpentine path a procession came to-
ward her. There must have been a
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 moment later she perceiv-
ed that it was something more dis
tossing. 1t was the walk of those
who had survived their own DEATH In
other words, it was a body of insane
patients exercising the bodies that 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 resuming 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 desertion, and his steps on
the sward made no sound. He came
with a rapid, gliding step toward Hell
en-. showing his teeth in broad smile
Helen decided that, however imperti-
nent his intentions might be, at least
he was in good humor. This was con-
selling, but it did not keep her hands
from turning cold with nervous dread.
AS he approached he lifted his hat
with courtly air. 1t was evident that
the poor wretch had once been q gen
tleman, but even the most gentlemanly
of lunatics was not companion to
choose, and Helen moved behind 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 particu-
larly quiet voice, ut is 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 CLEAN of reason.
us it?" she asked, turning her eyes
to the sky. why, indeed, l thought
it was raining!'
The man had look in his face akin
to pity. perhaps 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 obtuse,"
thought Helen. 81 have heard that It
is common with degenerates." The
man moved little nearer. and Helen
ventured to go still farther around the
lilac bush. He 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,
his long, delicate face and his high
brow! He looked as if he might have
been intended for a poet. Probably
he had 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 lunatic would blush.
''When found a 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
hASNAl LII a liz -Aau
spoke pathetically. 1t seemed as If
there were tears in his eyes. Helen.
answered as if he were child:
do seem so sad to you?" she ask
ed. docs it make the tears come in
your eyes to look at me. poor man?''
Indeed it does" he replied quite
simply. II think you are the saddest
thing ever saw
Il wouldn't die for anything" she ex-
planned. Il like to live. find plenty
of things to laugh at" And to convince
his wandering wits that this was the
truth she broke into a merry laugh.
which astonished the melancholy spirit
of the place.
IF ! give you my hand" said the
man kindly. will you not walk back.
with me to the house?''
To t&ke his hand, to let him get q