Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-03-02
JOY THAT BRINGS WOE
Shock of Sudden Glad TidingS at
Times Turns the Brain.
1T HAS DRIVEN PEOPLE MAD.
Some Of the Saddest Cases of lunaey
Are Those Where the Mind Is Un-
able to Stand the Strain of News Of
Unexpected Good Fortune.

1t is no exaggeration to assert. saio
IN 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 l was connected one or
the patients was strikingly hand
some and very well educated man,
who was as sane as you or l except
on one point. lie was really man of
considerable wealth. but his delusion
was that he was n pauper, and he
would tell the most pitiful tales of his
restitution, begging, with tears in his
eyes, for few coppers with which to
buy bread.
According to the story told me, he
was the only son of n wealthy mer-
chant In his youth he had fallen
among evil companions and had led
such dissolute 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 to earn a
few coppers by Selling papers or
matches in the streets.
1t was Mt this last and lowest stage
that news came to him that his IA
Their had died inteState and that he
was heir to all his vast fortune. The
sudden news completely turned the
mans brain and brought on such a
! 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 n young and in his lucid moments
a 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 matriculation
examination at the University of Lon
don. on passing which he had set his
heart and had asked a friend in Lon
don to wire the result as soon as the
names were 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-vcry sorry crush 81
great did not see name this morning.
The revulsion of feeling was so grea
that the students reason gave way
and he became so violent in his ex
element that he had to be confined
Fortunately he was not with us loni
and is now, am glad TO know, doini
very well as Il solicitor
Disappointed love sends many peopl
to asylums, but it is very seldom tina
success in wOOing drives a man mao
1t had this strange effect, however, o
one of my late patients. The girl h
loved had gone out to India to kee
house for her brother before he ha
screwed up his courage to the point {
proposing to her. but an offer followe
by mail very quickly after her.
E Weeks and months passed and 1
answer came TO the impatient love
. until, after waiting two years in d
spair. he became engaged to a girl wi
had nothing but her money bags
recommend her and for whom he ha
not particle of love. Scarcely, hoy
ever, was his fate sealed than he I
u ceived the long despaired OF lett
from India, accepting his offer and e
planning that the girls brother had I
r. ceived and mislaid the letter, WIFI
had only just been found and hi
X come into her hands.
Within an hour of the receipt of Il
Of letter the man was raving mani:
and, although his condition Is impr,
IT. ed. l doubt whether he will ever
cover his reason.
NJ In another remarkable case it W
the Joy at seeing her husband ag:
of that robbed n lady patient of her r
10 son. Her husband was the captain
q merchant ship which was report
. to have gone down with all han
The widow had deeply mourned
husband for nearly II year when
-, day on returning from walk
DIV found him sitting in the drawing TO
as hale and robust as ever.
With a shrek she fell unconsci
y on the floor, and when she rccove
! her reason was gone. 1t seems t
7 her husband, after floating for sc
time. had been picked up by Il pass
"tramp" and had been landed on
west coast of Africa, from which
had returned home by the first ay
able vessel.-London Spectator.
Charitable.