Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-31

Commissioned By philadelphia
paper to write an account Of Tho
treatment employed in certain
asylum for the insane. ! took lodgings
in country house within walking dis
| lance OF the institution. making daily
visits to It, In ono of the wards
! where the less violent patients were
confined. there was woman who
seemed 10 watch for my coming. meet
! ing mo at the entrance, following me
about from place to place. and pouring
into my ears the pathetic life tragedy
which had brought her where she was.
The attendant would have checked
her. but she could not resist my evil
dent sympathy. and, cliuging To me
with sobs and tears. continued to re-
peat the sorrowful story. She might
have been beautiful. but for the look
OF utter hoDclessness upon her face.
Her features were good. her eyes large
and dark. and hr closely cropped hair
/ thick and glossy. She shared. indeed,
the vacancy Of expression common to
, the insane, but 1t was the vacancy of
"a building which had known tenant
and bore the traces Of occupancy.
This Is q dreadful. dreadful place"
she said 10 me one day In a shudder-
in whisper. glanciug around with n
, look OF alarm. as though afraid OF
being overheard.
1T looks like a nice place" said.
wishing to soo,he her.
"Eicc." she repeated with a bitter
laugh. an angry light leaping to her
eyes Go crazy yourself and come
here. and then YOU will see how II is
These attendants are cruel TO us.
Cruel" she reiterated. clasp.ng her
hands, cruel"
Upon my return TO my room could
not get this woman out Of my mind.
Were these attendants really cruel 10
her. or was this Il Hgment Of a dis
ordered BRAIN"
lis 1t necessary" asked Il physician
mex, day, TO keep this woman here?
wrstched. not insane"
necessary" he said. Il should think
it was. she is subjec, TO hts of de-
ramgement, and is one of the mos,
dangerous among our patients. rcquir-
ing constant watchtulness 10 prevent
her injuring herself or others"
was standing II my open window
a few morning after this when a party
OF these unfortunatcs passed by
heavily guarded. Among them |
recognized my friend, dressed as was
her wont in faded pink calico. short
enough 10 display her sunbrowned fee,
and ankles. and uubuttoned at the
throat ANA waist as thought any STRIFE
ture was unbcarablc. An old black
hat, decorated with n purple ribbon
and dishevelcd feather was pulled
over her face. and there was a sullen-
ness in her aspect which ! had never
before seen. Some sudden sound at
tractcd her attention as she came OBJ
positc nay window. and. looking up
and catching my eye. she gave me a
nod OF recognition. then hung her
head as before. They had gone, as I
afterwards learned, to a strip OF forest
in our rear for Il days recreation
! dined out that evening and re-
turning lato went directly TO my room.
1t was remote from the other apart
ments, opening nj the end OF an upper
porch that ran the length OF the house.
The building was an old-fashioned
one. with deep window seats and high
ceilings. and there was combination
OF old styles and new in the furnish
ing of this room, which produced n
queer incongruity OF effect. The bed
stead, dating a century back, was
large and high and thickly curtained.
The wardrobe and dressing table were
massive. but the chairs and lounge at
the foot of the bed were light and
modern. The day had been a fatiguinE
one, and buried among downy pillows
l slumbercd heavily
II must have been considerably past
midnight. when ! was aroused by some
sound. what / know not 1t was fol-
lowed by deathlikc stiffness OF
scarcely moments duration, and