The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-03-12
GHEEL, THE CITY OF FOOLS.
Where Harmless "Innocents" Are
Cared For in Belgium.

1t may be doubted whether the town
of Gheel, in Belgium, has often been
heard of outside the bOarders of that
thriving and interesting little country,
and even if the name be known, it's
character is most probably ignored. It
is a town of harmless lunatics, who
dwell in harmony, stroll about the
streets, take their MONDAY refreshment
at the cafes and go about their daily
routine with more common sense than
many worthy citizens who are healthy
in mind as well as in body.
Situated about tWenty-seven miles
from the great commercial center of
Antwerp, it shelters fifteen hundred
fools, who are taken as dodgers by the
tOWnsfolk, all dangerous or violent
cases being passed on to outlying vii
lagos. The treatment of the patients is
moral one, cures being due to kind
ness and tact on the part of the towns
folk who make it their business. The
fees for taking in the ''innocents," as
the patients are called, vary from $50
to 5000 year according to the matter
in which the patients Or their friends
wish that they should be looked after.
No matter how much he pays, how
ever, the bOarder is always the spoiled
member OF the family, for it is a we'll
known fact that the people of Gheel I'M
derStand the management of the insane
better than any other community or in
Stitutlon. The patient always has the
armchair and the best seat at table and
enjoys every possible attention, with
the result that he learns to value es-
TEEN in which he is held to such an
extent that he makes the greatest eff
forts to master his weakness lest he
should forfeit his cherished privileges.
The children Of the community seem
wiser and to have older heads than Or
binary youngsters, and this comes
from their contact with their elders in
years, who, unfortunately, are little
older in intellect. Dozens Of little ones
may be seen walking hand in hand
with great, robust men, to whom they
chatter in the most familiar manner.
Often the boarder is told to watch the
baby of the household, and in most
cases makes a devoted guardian.
Naturally Gheel surpasses London.
Paris, Berlin or Rome as a residence
for emperors, kings, queens, million
aires, popes, archbishops and pashas,
all of whom are fully humored in their
fancies. One king" informs all new
corners that he has two left legs and
is obliged to have his boots and trous
ers made accordingly. Another Old
gentleman, who thinks himself the
pope Of Rome, says he is perfectly able
to fly to heaven, but that for the time
being he is too corpulent His landlord
humors him to the. extent of Offering
to assist him in making start from
his window sill, but warns him that he
might fall and break his neck, SO the
pope" until now has thought it wise
to put off his experiment, and says
each day that he will wait until after
tea" One of the strange inhabitants Of
Gheel is always on the lookout to bor-
row Ratchet, because he says he has
suddenly grown so stout that he must
chop a way through the doorway,
which is too narrow to allow him to
pass.
No visitor to Gheel need be surprised
If he be accosted by an innocent" in
the street, who, with tears in his eyes,
will ask him for protection against
some horrible butterfly or bird about to
attack him and eat out his brains, or
by another fancying himself a seed
and asking to be put in the pocket that
the wind may not blow him away. Only
few days ago one of the inmates was
in terrible way because he fancied
himself a mustard seed and the birds
were sure to swallow him His land
lord demonstrated with him for being
so foolish, saying: Have l not told
you that you are safe, because the birds
only eat hemp seed?" and so the unfor-
tunate man became tranoui1
At the inns the landlords show the
greatest politeness and consideration
toward the "innocents," humoring all
their fancies and often appearing to
carry out the realization of some of
their wild ideas.
There is the ludicrous side to it all,
but there is also the pitifui while the
tenderness, the tact and good will
shown to these simple-minded folk,
who are free from all restraint, aston
ish all who visit the town to inspect
it's system on behalf of other asylums
of Europe-New York Tribune.