The Washington times., 1901-12-25
MAKING PRESENTS
TO THE LUNATICS.
SCENES AT ST. ELIzABETHS.
HumorinE DcIusiOns of the Unfor-
tunatcs Nhc Imagine Them
selves Happier Far Than
Their Sane Brethren.


! their annua! Christmas frolic last night
which is provided every year for them
through the beneicence of their Uncle
! Sam. The exercises were held in the
| chapel, which was festooned with gar
lands of evergreen and bunohes of holly,
and an enormous fir tree. ablaze with
electric lights. and weighted down with
presents, occupied the centre of the stage.
where Superintendent \. b. Richardson.
his family. and medical st-I were seated.
The patients filed the entire body OF
the hall. and interspersed among them
were their attendants, gowned in cool.
fresh-lcolSing gingham gowns and spot
less caps and aprons of white.
Both the men and women wore their
clothes bore the earmarks Of sartorial
superiority. but the wearers had. in some
indeEnable way. made them appear any
thing but con, antional.
Dementia shows Through Ordinary
Dress.
With the women II was an exuberance
Of ribbons and extra hounces; the men
all seemed either too big or too small
for their garments. But the poor. vacant
minded creatures we're a most attentive
lot. ard observed n decorum not charac-
teristlc OF a number of persons who go
through the world as sane individuals.
When Charlie Burch. one of the at
tendants. bnrst into the hall dressed as
the beuevolen, Santa Claus usually ap-
pears to human eyes, the patients clap
ped their hands and acted like the chill
dren they really are. After the saint Of
Christmastide had made his little speech.
and the orchestra had played. DR.. J. c.
Simpson, one Of the faculty. proceeded
TO distribute the presents, Of which there
was one for every patient. and all Of
nature calculated TO please them. for the
foundation principle Of the treatment at
the asylum is TO humor every lunatic sc-
cording to his mania. provided it be
mild one, ard only patients Of that type
were permitted in the chapel.
Thought Himself the Car
Dr. Simpson a big. handsome. smooth
shaven fellow, Immediately attired in
evening dress. made jolly with all the
crazy people in O whimsical fashion that
seemed to please them.
Holding up to view huge pair Of rub
Der boots. Of the very largest size that
comes. he said. very impressively:
Il have a present here for The Car Of
all the RGssias Siberia and Asia. Nill he
kindly step forward"
This astounding announcement created
not the slightest sensation among the
audience. as from their midst a tail.
fercely bewhiskered man made his way
10 he platform. He was bnttoned 20 the
chin in a tight fitting frock coat, the
lapel ornsmented By a red ribbon, which
he declares is the order OF the Golden
Fleece bestowed on him by Charlemagne.
As he received the boots he gaze the
doctor a regal, condescendlng bow and
remarked TO him geniaily. pardon me.
doctor but. in naming my possessions,
here he waved his hand in the qirthtion
OF Anacostia. you omitted 70 mention
the province OF Kamsehatka; an unin-
tenticual oversight / am sure"
Tie doctor seemed overwhelmed with
confusion as he FASTENED 10 say. "A
thousand apologies to your majesty for
my negligence. ! regret exceedingly ny
Observation-Disclosures"
Forgot Part of His Title.
you are forgiven. sir" returned the
Car with Bingly forbearance. You know
an greatly Interested in Kamschatka.
as We are raising butterflies there TO dis
tribute through the world and increase
the love for the beautiful" and with an
air Of military aplomb as lie saluted DR..
Richardson he strode away.
For thirty years Jane vidal has been
an inmate Of St. Eliza beths. coming there
when she was a child. and she was as
Juvenile in manner last night as when
the late Dr. Godding received her as
harmless and hopeless imaucle.
Jane, a corpulent negress With a strain
Of Guinea blood in her yeipi. was dressed
last night in a baby pink dress. cut Kate
Greenaway style, which Displayed her ex-
cessive cmbonpoint. and as she received
her present she compllmented the doctor
on his fresh complexion until he asked
her 10 spare his young bushes.
The hope of the Napol onic dynasty.
the Prince Imperial. is inferred In history
as having died in Zululand while fight
ing under the alien Gag of England. and
yet he received last night from the doc
tor a scarlet neck Rerchie' bordered with
the lilies of France.
The prince is a silent, melancholy man.
and broods over the absence from him
OF the Empress Eugenie. whose kingdom
has shrunken to two exiled graves.
Refused TO Take GIFT.
when the doctor handed Ray Caunin.
mulatto. a piece of dress goo'5 she
threw It back TO him Indignantly "Da,
air firing is muffin but a turkey boz" she
said, and refused to accept it.
Her strange remark caused no com
ment except hearty laugh from the pa
tients.
4 great many Of the patients. on recely-
ing their gifts, thanked both Dr. simp-
son and DR.. Richardson in most appropri-
ate terms feiicitating him on the oc-
caslon so well that Il was hard to realize
that their brains were tainted with in
sanity.
one 1ne-looldng man. as he received the
picture OF dogs head presented Dr.
pfcto rdeon r,-ith q haneeotr,Iy svar,,.3