The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-02-02
JOY THAT BRINGS WOE
Shock of Sudden Glad TidingS at
Times Turns the Brain.
IT HAS DRIVEN PEOPLE MAD.
Some of the Saddest Gases of Lunacy
Are Those Where the Mind Is IN
able to Stand the Strain Of News Of
Unexpected Good Fortune.

Some of the Saddest Cases of lunacy
Are Those Where the Mind Is Un-
able to Stand the Strain Of News Of
Unexpected Good Fortune.
1t Is no exaggeration to assert, said
an asylum doctor of long and varied
experience, that there are scores of
men and women In insane asylums
who have literally been sent there
through excess OF joy. Many of these
cases which are, In my opinion, the
saddest of all have come under my
own observation.
remember in the very first asylum
with which | was connected one of
the patients was strikingly hand
some and very well educated man,
who was as sane rs you or | except
on one point He was really man Of
considerable wealth, but his delusion
was that he was pauper, and he
would tell the most pitiful tales Of his
restitution. begging. with tears In his
eyes, for few eoppers with which to
buy bread.
According TO the story told me, he
was the only son of Il wealthy mer-
chant. In his youth he had fallen
among evil companions and had led
such dlssolute life that his father
not only threatened to disinherit him,
but forbade him ever to enter his
house again. After that he seems to
have sunk into the lowest depths Of
poverty until he was glad 10 earn
few coppers by selling papers or
matches in the streets.
Ii was at this last and lowest stage
that news came TO him that his fa
Their had died intestate and that he
was heir to all his vast fortune. The
sudden news completely turned the
mans brain aud brought on such
condition OF excitement that he had
to be sent to an asylum. and when he
Gained down again he had lost all
recollection of his good fortune, and
nothing could shake his delusion that
he was on the verge of starvation.
Another patient In the same asylum
was a young and In his lucid moments
n most intelligent fellow, whose brain
was turned" as the saying Is, on learn
Ing that he had passed an examina-
ton. He had sat for the mairieulation
examination ut the University OF Lon
don. on passing which he had set his
heart and had asked friend In Lon
don to wire the result as soon as the
names We're screened at burlington
| House.
About three weeks later came IA
tai telegram "Failed-sorry, which
sent the young man into the lowest
depths OF despair, for he was too old
TO sit again. NOT many hours later
| however. came another telegram
'Passed honors-very sorry crush so
great ala not see name TINS morning.
The reyulsion OF FEELING was so great
that the students reason gave way,
ana he became so violent III his ex-
citement mat nc had to be coniined.
Fortunately he was not with us long
ana ~ now, am glad 10 KNOW do'hs
very wei as solicitor
Disappointed love SENDS many people
10 asyiuIiis, put u IL very seldom mat
success III wooihg drives man ihad'
IL had TINS slrahge erect however on
one "i my i'te pa'ieh's' Inc siI' nc
loVed iad gone GU. 10 ihuia 10 Keep
mousse ior her pro'her peiore ne hau
screwed up MS courage 10 lhe point oI
proposing 10 her' put IN oiier Io''owea
py man very QUICKLY "i'er ier'
weeks ana months passed ana no
answer came 10 tne impatient iover
uh'ii' aite' Wni'i'e TWO yours Ill ae-
spur, ne pec"ii'e ensase" ~ e'r' VINO
'i"u no,h'hs o''' nei i'ioies p"ss 10
,'''''ie"H "e' anu io' ""''ii "o M"
io' pa''.ie Vi 'o'e' 'eaice'S' now
ever "as ms i"'e Se"ieo .h'n ne re-
.''' eu .ne 'ois ueepo"eu VI 'e'.e'
iioii' mum, hccep''ns HIS oiie' ',''o tx
p'aii'hs 'na' 'hc si'' o'o'her ""u re-
.e'.eo an" iiis'a'u Tue 'e,,er, "n'en