EXTRAORDINARY RECLUSE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 886, 11 November 1871, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY RECLUSE.

In the account of lunatics found under illegal charge, issued with the report of the Commissioners in lunacy just made public, the following extraordinary ca3e occurs:— The commissioners having learned that a gentleman, reputed to be wealthy, and about thirty-five years of age, whom they designate as Mr A., was living for ten years in seclusion at the chief hotel in B , made inquiry which showed that such a person actually existed, that the manager of the hotel alone had access to him, and that his acts vfere scarcely consistent with sanity. Very soon one of the medical members of the board, accompanied by the secretary, paid a visit to the hotel and made their way upstairs. The doctor, pushing the manager aside, opened a door, and found himself in an inner and perfectly dark room, whence came a voice like that of a man under surprise and in alarm, demanding repeatedly what was the matter. Lights were obtained, and the visitors then saw what was before them. Prom wall to wall the room was literally blocked up with a mass ot furniture and rubbish, from the midst of which emerged the head of a middle-aged and dark-bearded man. A single tortuous lane through this lumber led towards him, and the doctor had to pick his way over broken glass and crockery, bundles of candles, old clothes, parcels of stale biscuits, and other indescribable rubbish. No fire was in the grate, and a curtain being drawn across the window, no daylight was visible. Behind a table, covered with bags of stuff, lay Mr A., on a small, broken-down horse-hair sofa, closely hemmed in on every side. He was enveloped with a rug, but without any other clothing. His condition was filthy in the extreme; his beard was upwards of two feet long, the lower two-thirds being inextricably matted with filth and iull of vermin. His hair was even more matted and dirtier than the beard, especially on each side over the ears, being in this condition more than a foot in length. On his feet were some pieces of American cloth, under which was an admixture of filthy rags, paper, and refuse tied with numerous strings about his toes, feet, and ankles, the condition of which was extremely loathsome. He had not washed for years, and, though abundance of clothes was lying about the room, he bad made no effort to get them.

With all these strange appearances, however, Mr A. appeared to be perfectly sane, and was able to give a rational account ot himself, and the reasons which had brought him there. The doctor soon ascertained that Mr A. was possessed not only of large estates, but a life interest in upwards of £100,000; but that |some ten years ago he had gradually sunk into a nervous condition, which caused him to fancy that people regarded him as a lunatic, and he resolved to shut himself up away from the world. Taking rooms at the hotel, he gradually became more determined in his resolve; and then, having made arrangements with the manager, Mr M., to supply him with food, he changed his residence to the apartments where he was now discovered, and from that time he allowed no one to visit him. Prom what he said, he would gladly have left his place of seclusion some years since, and he was continually mourning the fact of his being shut out from the world, but the prevailing idea on his mind seemed to be that to accomplish this he must have some one to help him, and Mr M. appears to have offered him no assistance.

He was shortly afterwards removed in a cab to the neighboring asylum, and there placed in a chair, in which he appeared unable to sit upright, but cowered down with his head bent over his knees, drawing at the same time a piece of baize over him. concealing his features, which, when exposed, were nervously agitated. CTpon his hair being cut, he begged earnestly that no one might be allowed to see it, or the old rags with which he had covered himself. He was afterwards placed in a bath, where he proceeded to cleanse himself vigorously, and then being put to bed some warm brandy and water was given him. Although he at first refused to take proper food, he gave way very soon to the advice of those under whose care he was placed, and expressed his great desire to aid in any means which might be adopted for endeavoring to restore the power and motion to his stiffened joints. After he had been under medical treatment for seme time, and it was found that he was in no way insane, Mr A. was allowed to leave the asylum, he being exceedingly anxious to go out into the world again.' It is not stated in the report whether proceedings of any sort were taken gainst M., the manager of the hotel.

One of the neatest toasts ever given :—' Woman—the last word on our lipp, because it comes from the bottom of our hearts'