The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-09-13
THE TRICKS OF LUNATICS
SOMETIMES THEY CAN DECEIVE
EVEN THE EXPERT.
shrewd Than the Average Person When
IL Comes to Their Particular Hobby
Clever Way I'm which mn onicer Was
Worked by His Charge.


lunatic asylum is not always as crazy
as he seems 10 be-" said.a gentleman
who has given some study to the sub
ject, land / have had several Oppor-
tunities 10 note the fact during my
travels over the country. Sometimes
the men and women who are confined
in asylums develop a rather singular
intelligence along certain lines, and
they are shrewder than the average
person when 1t comes 10 their par
ficular hobby. | recall one instance
Of the craziest man l ever saw, who
was perfectly sane when it came TO
music, and he could and would pick
more different kinds of harmonles out
nf n banjo than | had ever heard.
But as soon as the banjo was taken
from him he would again begin to
rave, losing all control OF his mental
faculties. ! have observed many other
cases Of the same kind, and l have
concluded that all persons who are
adjudgcd TO be Of unsound mind are
perfectly sane on some question. /
bad rather amusing, and rather i'm
pressive experience while at one Of
the big asylums In the South and the
happening tended 10 strengthen the
belief just expressed. II was in 1895.
friends to attend big barbecue To be
given at the asylum on the Fourth
OF July. 1t was the custom TO give
the inmates a big dinner on this day,
and 1t was really the big day Of the
year with them. l accepted the invi-
tation. After dinner such inmates
as could be trusted out OF their cells
were allowed To go out onto big
lawn, where space had been cleared
and arrangements made for big
lance. Music had been provided, and
The men and women Of the place
gathered fLder the large shade trees
70 enjoy good dance. And they en-
ioyed IL, and I never saw preitier or
on that occasion. OF course all the
dancers were not polished and would
miss a number occasionally. but gen
orally IL was first class. The Super
intcndent had slated me for speech
without consulting me- There was a
big crowd out from the ncighboring
town. He told me the inmates would
he sorely disappointed If / did not
speak. | was young at the time. and
was really fond Of oratorical claptrap,
so bla2cd away at the lunatics. Dur
ing my speech | took occasion To say
something good about womanklnd,
using a ravorite climax, which | had
used before and which put women on
the highest possible pedestal l used
the expression that the meanest wo-
man God ever mage Is better than the
best man After | had finished | was
standing out in the edge of the crowd.
when j felt light. timid tap upon
my shoulder. Turning around found
one Of the inmates. DO you really
think he said. mcekly. that the mean
est woman God ever made is better
than the best manY told him | did.
He turned away in disgust. became
Interested In the fellows case, for |
at once concluded that he was either
n Tilted lover or a henpeclled husband,
and investigation confirmed my sus-
picloD. but l will not say which he
was.
But one of the shrewdest things I
ever saw a lunatic do" the narrator
continued. was the clever way i'm
which an officer OF the law was
worked by his charge. II was several
years ago. The crazy man was
member OF prominent Southern
family and was man of very fine
address. He talked well. and except
when he was In raving mood he did
Hot have the appearance OF person
of unsound mind. But he was never.
theless crazy, and at the earnest solicit
tatlon Of his family he was arrested.
They wanted to place him I'm one of
the asylums for treatment before the
malady became chronic. He was nc-
cordingly arrested. and in n few days
he was placed i'm the hands Of IN of
hcer. who was instructed to take him
10 one OF the asylums in another part
Of the State. The officer started with
his prisoner.
The lunatic was quiet and orderly.
and the officer allowed him n great
many liberties. He had known him
long time, known his family. and then
The fellow was so quiet and nice about
II all, so submissive. that the officer
felt justified in extending him every
possible kindness. 1t was necessary
10 take the man through the capital
of the State, and Il nights layover fol
lowed, MS there was no train going I'm
the right direction until the next morn
ing. AS soon us the capital city was
reached the officer made for police
headquarters to leave the man over
night. The officer and the lunatic
walked into the station. Captain
said the lunatic. i want to leave this
man here until tomorrow morning.
1 am taking him TO the asylum ard
VIII call for him in time TO catch the
early train why, captain said the
officer. Il am the officer. and I'm TAX.
Ing this man TO the asylum. and
want to leave him here over night.
and ! want to catch the early morn.
ing train. and Keep quiet. old
man; keep quiet the lunatlc said.
You'd better lock him up. captain. for
the night and Ill call for him in the
morning The officer reared and
charged, but the lunatlc quietly laid
the handcuffs out on the desk. pulled
the commitment papers, which he had
secured I'm some way. out OF his pocket.