The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-12
Ny Skirmish With
Madness
CONTINUED from Page 4

good.
Here. OLD SOUL" she said, in
her rich, musical voice, lis something
to eat. viii 1t be enough?"
1t was a good inrdlid's supper, but
I've been a lifelong meat eater, and
asked for meat. She brought It. Then
] wanted to hold hands again, but all
l got was that gentle jiu jitsu grip
However, | was given a smoke next
day, which, as | had been forty eight
hours without one. did me nearly as
much good. The house doctor took
me into the Office. and noticing my
impatience while waiting for my pipe
and tobacco. gave me cigar. Kind
ness to the damned" ! unused. gloom
lily, as pulled.
But | was mistaken. And | want
to say before going further, that while
In that place. | received nothing but
genuine sympathy and genuine kind
ness from every member of the staff
from the head doctor down to the
cook, and not one rOrd of criticism
or ddmOnition. Meanwhile, my health
was improving, so much so that |
began to take an impersonal interest
in the Annex.
The Annex Is q small ward in the
rear Of the large one. separated from
II by a locked door at the end of that
long fiber mat 1t Is where the VIC
lent cases are placed as soon az ad-
mitted. and Is place Of punishment
for those who break out occasionally.
From II emanated the whoops, yelps.
shrieks and screams ! had heard
the first day and night, which
sounded like the barkings of ken
mel full of collie dogs. and which |
had now grown used TO. II was given
me to watch. on my first day out of
bed, the skill and celebrity with which
those trained orderlies could shoot a
nut" into the Annex, or, as ! called
II. the BOBBY Hatch. A tall serious.
intellectual looking patient left his
bed clad only in pajamas; then seek
ing the middle of the ward. lifted his
right hand high above his head and
began the Lords Prayer in a loud,
sonorous voice. He had got as far as
Thy Kingdom come" when. at a
signal from the Chief Mate. two or
derlies seized him by the collar and
arms one each side. They pushed him
ahead. and naturally his knees stiff.
he raked like the mainmast OF an
old.fashioned schooner-of.war, and
they slid him. feet first, the prayer
still going, and the little Chief Mate
running ahead with her keys, until,
with final roaring AMEN" he shot
into the Annex and the door closed
on him. never saw him again. II
would have been ludicrous had it not
been so pathetic, and no one seemed
amused but defective boy beside me
on a settee. He snickered. and
looked reprovingly at him.
NN THE next day was allowed lib.
Oerty to 20 out in the grounds and
smoke all ] wanted to and as often.
I'm afraid ! was somewhat of q trial
to the nurses. who alone had keys
to the locked doors. for, clad only in
pajamas and slippers. with the uni
form bath robe, | could not stay out
long on account of the cold. nor in
doors long on account of my craving
for a smoke. would stand near the
rear side door Of the ward. waiting
for q nurse to come near and see me
Once, nurse spied me from far up
the ward and called out to another
nearer to me: Miss -, let the
dog out" and the door was opened
for me with injunctions not to bark
loud or chase cats. Again, one OF
them passed close while | patiently
waited. and cycling me with mock
sternness. opened the door. and as
slipped out remarked, "S.h-s.s-s-scat"
nj Inn ale hn fttl