Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-04-06
FIFTEEN yEASs IN ASYLUM
PERSONAL INCIDENTS



Correspondence OF the Ledger
Since writing my first letter I have
had the pleasure OF visiting my old
friend and asylum associate, T. A.
Russell, and OF reading the series OF
letters reecently written by him for
the Fulton sun. They are thrilling,
interesting, and upon their literary
merits as pictures Of the olden times,
are worthy TO appear in any OF the
magazines Of our country. His de-
scriptisn Of the old time school master
and his methods would do honor TO
the pen Of an Irving or Dickens.
aAllen RUSSELL was himself one Of
the most antique aud unique charac-
ters that figured In the days Of which
/ am writing. Like DR., Bourne, OF
our own city, his age was an unsolyed
problem, and there seemed TO be no
data upon which to base calculation
as 10 when he came into this world.
can't see much difference in his
looks now and forty years ago, for
even then be always reminded me OF
the pictures Of "Time" marching
along with a scythe upon his shoulder
He was himself the model school mas
ter Of the olden time, and two Of my
own boys can testify to his faithfulness
In enforcing discipline and admins
terlng justice in accordance With Sol
onlon's theory. To give some idea Of
when be taught school have often
heard him brag on his distinguished'
pupils OF the Rnte-bellum days, who
have long since grown up to mature
manhood, and many Of them passed
over the river. 1 especially remem-
Der his eulogy Of his class taught in
Harrlsonyile, Cass, colnty, before the
sixtles-one distinguished minister
Of the Methodist church-Rev. Mr..
Horne and the others the celebrated
"Younger brothers." who were more
distinguished than the minister, and
and matter years attended prolonged
session at school in the Minnesota
state prison. One peculiaritY Of the
old field school master was like his
cotemperary, Lorenzo Dow, his fond
ness for walking. He was never in
early days known TO ride horse or
drive in vehicle Of any kind. 1t was
no unusual thing for him to walk from
town out to Gen. Curd's, dlStance.of
ten or twelve miles before breakfast,
or all the way to Columbia before din
ner.
Since reading these beautiful letters
Of his in which he pays such a glow
ing tribute to w0manhoOd, including
wife and mother, the mystery is still
greater to me, why he should have re-
mained the whole century OF his life
unmarried. No man ever had a truer
conception, or higher ideal Of female
character than Allen Russell, In the
days Of King Arthur and the Round
Table be would have been the knight
lest Of the knightly band, OF the Par
sifal'' of any age. God bless my old
friend and asylum associate, | know
he will pardon these humorous and
well meant "reminiscences. We have
had sweet fellowship here below and
In "the sweet bye and byen we shall
hope TO renew these delightful aSSO-
Citations when we join the loved ones
that have gone on before 'in the
land that is fairer than day and
where we shall never grow old. Since
reading his papers the plan os my own
will be somewhat changed and shall'
confine myself chiefly TO items connec-
ted with my asylum life.
had not long been at the asylum
before had very embarrassing ex-
perienee. The winter before going to
Fulton was spent at the st. Louis
Medical College, as referred 10 in my
former letter. During that winter !
formed the acquaintance OF an inter.
esting young lady, who lived next
door to my sister. The evening be-
fore left for Fulton to apply for my
position, she asked me TO inquire about
young lawyer there by the name OF
Henry c. Hayden, giving no reason
for the inquiry.
While stopping at the old WhaleY
House this young lawyer was brought
In in a drunken condition from the
gutter On the street, and l was told
that this was not an unusual occur
renee. / was told, however, that
Notwithstanding his habits he stood
high at the bar as a brilliant young
lawyer. When returned to St,Louis
! had not the heart 10 tell the sad
story Of her friends condition, and
ouly spoke of him as brilliant young
lawyer, never suspecting that there
had ever been any serious relation ex-
isting between them. 1t seems that
an engagement Of marriage had ex-
listed some time before this, and had
been broken of on account Of his
drinking habits. A short time after
this the cores uOndence was renewed