Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-12-18
THE FOODLESS FOOL.
Latest Thing I'm the Line of "Dany"
Tenants Exhibited at the
@Bug House,"

AS the party of visitors passed through
:hey cell lined corridor of the state asy-
hum for the insane they heard strange
sound issuing from one of the barred
windows. 1t manifestly was uttered by
q human voice, but there was blended in
it the neigh of horse, the moo OF COW,
the bleat of the lamb and the cackle of
the hen. Noting the looks of wonder
ment on the faces of those he escorted.
the attendant fastened to explain the
strange medley of barn sounds, relates
the New York Tribune.
That" he said, sis the most interest
ing case we have ever had here, and
Il. ough it's the first of it's kind we ex-
peel several more within short time.
He Il. the foodless food case. Come
nearer and we will view him to more adj
vantage, for he is very docile and not
annoyed by visitors"
Approaching the cell and gazing in,
the visitors saw that 1t was built in the
form of horse stall, the floor being COW
cred with straw. Crouched on this, on
all tours. and alternately chewing the
straw and grains of corn, which he
found in it by paving with one hand.
was man who uttered clucking sound
similar to that of a hen looking for food.
Occasionally he would try to scratch his
left ear with his left foot. 81 will call
him so that you may examine more mi
nutely into the peculiar aspects of Ms
sad case" said the attendant, and on his
making an uncouth sound the man
Hoped to the barred door and raised him
self to a semi-erect posture with diff
Guilty.
You will observe" said the attend
ant, as. the man began gnawing at an
ear of uncooked corn which the attend
.ant had passed through the grating.
that his teeth are no longer long and
pointed like ours.but fiat and broad like
those of cattle and herbivorous animals.
His mind is completely gone. He dis
plays animation only at the sight of
food, when he frisks. jumps and cavorts
and gives vent to those sounds which
you have just heard. Occasionally we
turn him out to Craze on the lawn, and
for the most part his food consists OF
bran mixed with water into a mush, and
the dried husks of oats or corn. He is
particularly fond of the chaff left after
the thrashing of wheat, and, of course,
likes greatly raw turrips, beets, cab
bages and other vegetables. He eats
most of his food from the manger yor
see in yonder corner. We sprinkle the
corn in the stall so that he, in hunting
for It, will get the exercise necessary for
his health.
'To what is this pitiable spectacle
due?" asked a man who was taking
notes.
failing the visitor to the clerks Of
fee the attendant from large volume
read the following extract:
"Foodless food, No. 1. First ate in
vegetarian restaurant, just for the fun
OF it. Continued dallying with tempter
until he became confirmed vegetarian
restaurant habitue. From that drifted to
foodless foods. Ate all he saw adver-
tised; tried to induce his wife. relatives
and friends to do likewise. Sold out his
business. and, devoting the proceeds TO
buying foodless food. left his family to
starve while he began a crusade agains'
the use of meat by the poor. Disap-
peared for several months. One morn
ing was found on hands and knees ee'
ing grass In Central Park. Has spoi- er
once since coming here. Heard visitor
ask: What is it?' Replied: 'Foodless
fool"