Strange Experience of a Recovered Lunatic.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1794, 5 January 1884, Page 5

Strange Experience of a Recovered Lunatic.

I was once insane, and I olten muse over my experience. There arc, of cousse, many kinds o! insanity. S>ne mental disorders take place so gradually that even the closest companions of the victim are at a loss to remember when the trouble began. It mast have been this way in my case. One evening, r.flor an oppressively warm day —a day when I experienced more fatigue from the heat than ever before or since, I sat on my porch fanning myself. " This arm that is now in motion," I mused, "must one of these days be dust. I wonder how long the time will bo ? " Then I mused upon the evidence I had of immortality. I couirl do thines that other people could not accomplish. I had gone through battle after battle, and though bullets sang and struck around ma thick as hail, yet I remained uninjured. I had passed through epidemics of yellow fever. My idea gained strength as I mused, and I was convinced that I should live for ever. No, this cannot be, for death follows all men alike. Yes, lam to die like other men, and I believe it is my duty to make the most of life; to malce money and enjoy myself, and to educate my children. I wanted to be rich, and I began to study over an imaginary list of enterprises. At last I hit upon radishes. People must have radiahe3. They should be in every store. They could be dried and sold in winter. I would plant fifty acres with radish seed, and people all over the country woald refer to me as the "radish king." I would form a radish syndicate and buy up all the radishes, and travel aronnd and be admired, I hastened to the house to , tell my wife that she was soon to be a radish queen. At the breakfast table I said: . " Julia, how would you like to be a radish queen?" " A what ? " she exclaimed. I explained my plan of acquiring great wealth, and during the recital she acted so curiously that I was alarmed. I feared that she was losing her mind. Finally she seemed to understand. She agreed with me, but told me not to say anything more about it. After breakfa&t I saw her talking earnestly with her father, and I knew that she was eiplaining to the old gentleman how she intended to pay his debts when I became known as the radish king. The old man approached me with much concern and told me that I needed rest and that I must not think of business. Pretty soon I went ouf, to inspect my radish kingdom. Looking around, I saw the old man following me. From the field I went to the village. I approached a prominent citizen, who had always been*my friend, and told him how I intended to become rich. He seemed grieved, and I saw at once that he was contemplating the same enterprise. It seemed mean that he should take advantage of me, and I told him so. He tried to explain, but he made me so mad that I would hare struck him if my father-in-law had not come up and separated us. I tried to calm myself, but could not. Those who had been my friends proved to me my enemies, and I was determined to be avenged, but before I could execute my will I was seized by several men. My father-in-law did not attempt to resouo me, and I hated him. I was taken to gaol. My wife came to see me, but she did not try to have me xeleased. I demanded a trial, but no lawyer would defend me. Then I realised that the entire community was against me. I became so mad that my anger seemed to hang over me like a dark cloud. It pressed me to the floor and held me there. Men came after a long time, and took me away, I thought, to t*he penitentiary. One d«iy a cat came into my cell, and I tried to bite it. She made the hair fly, but I killed her. I don't know how long I lemained hero, but one morning the sun rose and shone in at me through the window. It seemed to be the first time that I had seen the great luminary for months. A mist cleared irorn before my eyes. My brain began to work, and suddenly I realised that I had been insane. I called the keeper, and when he saw me, he exclaimed, "Thank Godl" and grasped my hand. I was not long m putting on another suit of clothes, and turning my face towards home. A physician said that I was cured, and everybody seemed bright and happy at my recovery. I boarded a train with a gentleman, and went home. My wife fainted when she saw me and learned that I had recovered my mind. I asked tor my little childien, and two big boys and a young lady came forward and greeted me. 1 had been in the asylum twelve years. —Toronto Globe.