Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-01-18
How the Iet
Was Woa
B, SADIE oLcoTT

Two young doctors who lod ree'..'-
" been let out of medical college =
practice their profession on n uns- .
pecting public were sitting Ger IL,
supper discussing problems that / Is
mystifed physicians for hundreds "
years. They passed from one pr
lem to another falling last o. insaE;se-.v,.
81 believe" said Doctor Meriweatter
to Doctor Hotchkins, shat there are
many persons confined in lunatic asy-
lums' who are as sane as l am"
"Quite likely" replied Doctor Hotch.
kiss facetiously.
"Humph," replied Doctor Meriweath-
er, ''I'll bet you that I can get myself
put in an insane asylum simply by ask
ing questions Of strangers in which
there is nothing impossible or improb-
able"
There was a discussion between the
two { )rs as to what would be con-
sidere>. impossible, at the end Of which
bet Of ten dollars was made between
them, the money to be spent on din
ner, that Doctor Meriweather would
get himself locked up for insanity.
When he was ready for the trial he no
tilted Doctor Hotchkiss to be at GER
tain place on certain day and hour
that he might see for himself that the
bet was won fairly.
A few days later Doctor Meriweather
stood on the sidewalk of a compare
lively unfrequented street, and Doctor
Hotchkiss sat on the porch Of an TN
occupied house within few yards of
him. Presently woman came by
pushing baby carriage. Meriweather
accosted her.
"You haven't seen q house going by
here lately, have your" he asked.
The woman looked at him with a
puzzled expression.
"a house?" she repeated.
eyes, q small frame house, painted
gray, green blinds, lace curtains, porch
In front and small addition in rear"
The woman instinctively placed her
self between the doctor and her child,
and went on-slowly till she had got
some distance from him, then as rap
idly as she could go, fear evidently
squirting her on.
The next passer was man., of a be-
nevolent cast of confidence. Doctor
Meriweather aceoSted him
"My friend" he said, shave you seen
woman and a couple Of children go
by hereT"
"No, I have not, SIR" said the man
politely, pausing to learn If he could
be of service.
"They were riding; riding in house
painted gray"
"You mean in an auto or carriage"
said the gentleman.
"No, I don't; I mean house, &
gray house, with green blind and ia~a
curtains in the windows"
: The mans face changed from q =.
nevolent to a serious expires ION.
"The woman" the doctor e3ntinu> 2 81
twas trying to keep the chile .en a.
but there was nothing to g. exci7.,d
about; the house was no rrrlti.s
away it was going very slo s."
II am afraid I can't ass yn~
finding these persons, my fr d." s.
the gentleman. "Good-day, T." "A ="
he passed on. Doctor Hotcb. IS he
b;,,, NDoor fo11ayr,
81 see your game" said He :h:iss -
Meriweather, "but you can't get yccr-
self put in bediam in that way; the
world is cold; they'll all lee &c you 70
take care of yourself, even II you are
mad"
"Wait," was Meriweather's reply.
The next person was an elderly lady.
Meriweather put the usual questions.
Like the last person he had tackled,
she supposed that he meant some sort
of a vehicle; but he corrected her. and
added that he was fearful that the oc-
cupants of the house might be burned
alive, since the chimney was shakey.
The woman seemed Immediately to
lake a deep interest in one who had
evidently lost his reason. She asked
him if he would not go with her to q
place where he would have attention.
MADAM" he replied, "you think me
crazy. I am perfectly sane"
The woman passed on, shaking her
head negatively.
Doctor MeriweatFer was beginning
to fear he would lose his bet, when he
saw policeman coming.
"What are you doing here" asked
the cop authoritatively.
waiting for some people to come
by, riding In frame house."
you're the man I've heard about
from several persons. Come along.
It's not my business to leave such as
you loose. You might hurt some one"
Meriweather protested that he was
perfectly sane, but policemen are used
to all sorts of stories from those they
take off the street, and led him away.
Calling q "black maria," he put the
doctor In it and drove him to an in
sane asylum. Hotchkiss called cab
and followed. When his friend was
taken into an asylum and was exam
ined by the doctor in charge, Hotch-