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over me was maintained until I had al most regained my mental health. Then I was emancipated from my thraldom to him. Before I close this article I will refer to the old man again.

After I had been in the asylum a few weeks, the first excitement of my dwelling there had been worn away. I was settling into a monotonous round of action, and the mind, instead of throwing off its melancholic stupor, was sinking deeper into the mire of moodiness. One morning, soon after the breakfast hour had passed, and the tramp, tramp of the day had begun again, and I was walking listlessly through the hall, the feeling of utter hopelessness pressing like an incubus upon my soul, when the superintendent, at an unwonted time, unexpectedly appeared among us, and handing me a newspaper fresh from the press "There," said he, in a gladly excited tone of voice, "read that aloud to all who are in the hall." The tramp was stilled at once, and an anxious group gathered around me. I saw by the displayed heading what I was to read: Gen. Lee had surrendered to Gen. Grant ! The long agony was overpeace would soon return-the country was saved-the Union was restored-slavery was abolished, and a condition of greatness and glory was awaiting our reunited people in the immediate future. These were the thoughts which rapidly passed through the minds of reader and auditors in that apartment of an insane asylum on that April morning of 1865. Faces in that hall, familiar for their expressionlessness alone, were lighted up with gladness and gratitude-gladness for prosperity and peace returned at last, and gratitude to Him who had begun his blessed work of bringing good out of the evil war! Could the jubilant feelings awakened by that morning reading have been perpetuated, more recoveries would have been reported from that asylum, for that year, than had ever been before for an equal length of time. I had then a striking proof of the salutary effect of pleasant emotions upon shattered intellects. There was a scintillation of healthful mind flashing forth even through an injured medium.

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But a gloom proportionate to the joy which was caused by the surrender at Appomattox filled our halls when, a few days succeeding that, we knew that the "people's President had been stricken down, a martyr to that cause which he had served so well. Abraham Lincoln was mourned as truly by the inmates of our asylum as by any others throughout the land; and the solemnly majestic march of his funeral cortège from the nation's

capital was there watched as admiringly as by: those along whose streets it passed upon its way to the home of his early manhood.

There were some of my fellow-patients in whose cases I was intensely interested, and who exercised an influence, healthful or other wise, upon myself. I might fill my limits with a sketch of these; and some day I may attempt this task, but at present will content myself with one or two which may be of interest sufficient to justify their introduction here. A short time after my residence in the asylum began, a young man of about twentyone years of age was added to our company. He had the appearance of a gentleman of edu cation and refinement, and he did not falsify his looks. He was more than six feet in height, perfectly proportioned, straight as anarrow, and with a face radiant with intelligence and good-humor.

He had not long been in the ward before he was drawn into the moving mass, and commenced the tramp, tramp from end to end of the promenading hall; but, unlike the others, as he tramped he filled the hall with music little less enchanting than that of Orpheus himself. He had the finest male voice I remember ever to have heard, the softest and sweetest, and as he trilled the charming song, popular at that day, The Mocking-Bird, one could almost believe that the feathered songster of copied notes had found its way into our dreary dwelling-place. He was a member of a family high in social standing.

This young man was direct from the higher classes of the first university of his native State-sent thence because his mind had be come sickened beyond the skill of the home profession to relieve. For a time he rapidly improved, and our skillful superintendent hoped that he could soon be sent away to glad den his home again. But there was a return of symptoms, aggravated in their character; and the sorrowful conclusion was speedily reached that his case had become a hopeless one, and that the brilliant intellect of the pleasant, handsome boy would be darkened more and more, until death should usher him into the light of another world. It was an affecting scene when the sister of this hapless youth, a beautiful and loving girl, visited him in his asylum room. The meeting was a sad and tender one, although, for the sake of the afflic ted brother, she strove to wear a cheerful look; but as she turned to leave the room, after the good-bye kiss had been given, her pent-up feelings showed themselves in an outburst of tears and sobs of hopeless grief. But scenes like these were often witnessed within our

lls-the greater grief more often shown by e visitor than by the visited. The predicon of the superintendent respecting this ung man's case has proven to be correct. saw him a short time since. He was then nking into helpless, hopeless imbecility. erily "God moves in a mysterious way!" Another case was that of a lady, the wife f a physician of merit and standing, and the other of several children, fair and accomfished, and still young,-whose mind was disrdered only enough to justify her banishtent from home, for treatment in that inrmary. She brought into the asylum all e nice proprieties of life which had characerized her in her home society-the same ignified demeanor, the same regard for eatness and becomingness of dress, and an ttention to those courtesies and kindnesses hich make the company of some so pecuiarly pleasant. When my own mind was ecoming intact again, I accompanied one of the officers in his rounds throughout the nstitution. We found this lady in that department of the house where the lady patients who were least affected made their home. It was finely, almost elegantly furnished. She was dressed in a neat white wrapper, that served to set off her graceful person to the best advantage; and the few ornaments she wore were in keeping with the modest neatness of her attire. An open piano stood in the room, with a music-book supported by its rack, as if some one had just been playing upon it. I had heard that she was a musician, and I desired her to favor me with a tune and a song. Without the hesitation of affected modesty she returned to the instrument, and asked me what was my favorite piece. I declined to make a choice, and requested her to play and sing that which pleased herself. She struck the keys and commenced at once to warble the simple words:

"Do they miss me at home?

The place, the words, the singer, and my own condition, all together, combined to make the performance so intensely affecting that when the singing ceased, with moistened eyes, but without trusting my voice to speak, I bowed my thanks and good-bye to the

sweet musician.

When I had been for several months a patient in the asylum, my state had not apparently improved. But I was changed somewhat. Heretofore my vagaries had reference to myself alone. My mind looked inward, and it was upon myself I sat in

judgment; and as I looked unceasingly upon a mind diseased, and upon nothing else, I soon began to loathe the sight. The direction of my look at length was changed, and the asylum did me no greater good than by changing the object that I looked upon. How this was brought about I scarcely know myself, but believe the superintendent was the efficient cause. If this be true, it shows at once the extent of his resources and his wisdom in their application.

Having ascertained, as I believe, the inefficiency of all ordinary means to remedy my disease, he devised a bold and apparently harsh, but really benevolent means to effect the restoration of my health. This was by giving to my mind a shock so violent and rude as to throw it from the position it had occupied so long, and force it to assume another one; and by giving me a different stand-point of observation, and presenting. another class of objects to my view, cause my estimate of myself and others to be changed. It mattered little what effect the new direction of my look would have upon myself. The old associations would be broken up, and my mind would then gradually return to its normal state. Physicians sometimes create a powerful impression on a portion of the body not essential to its life, that by revulsive action they may save a vital organ. When the essential part is cured, the injury induced is left to nature's powers to remedy.

Applying this principle of revulsion to my case, the physician purposed to create within my mind another feeling, if possible more painful than the original one, and thus remove that which for so long a time had made my life a burden; and then, by showing that the one induced had no true foundation to rest upon, to work a full and perfect cure.

Hints of the treachery and enmity of family and friends were whispered in my hearinghints such as could not be understood by those who made them; but were evident to me. Of course the superintendent took no open part in making these most painful innuendoes. His was the hand which moved the springs, but hand and springs were both most carefully hidden. He had his agents, and he manipulated them at will, but they were ignorant that they were only puppets in his hand. The old man whose picture I have sketched was the most active instrument

used by the Doctor. And he was a willing worker. But if he had any it was but a dim perception of the scheme in which he was engaged. The scheme worked well. I be

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gan to be less concerned about those things which were the sources of my trouble at the first. Another feeling took its place, but one no less difficult to bear. Rage, hatred, jealousy then filled my heart against those treacherous friends for whom one day I would have freely sacrificed my life. My sole desire was that I might visit on these vile destroyers of my peace the justice which was due to them. But I was powerless. Shut up where my complaints of wrong would be treated as further evidences of insanity; even if I were free I thought the home conspiracy had grown so strong as not to be overcome,-and farther still, that the conspiracy had spread so widely as to embrace those within the asylum's walls, and also those without who overlooked its interests;-a formidable conspiracy!-a great confederate force arrayed against one poor stricken wretch, and he so stripped and desolate as to be dependent on his spoilers for his daily food!

And now the work was done. I had become as much as at any time before, though from a different cause, a being hopeless and forlorn-no home, no friend. The irritant which had been applied to counteract the ailment that would yield to no other mode of cure, was quite as hard to bear as was the malady itself. Still the remedy was a potent, though a painful one, and it was not long before its effects were seen.

Up to this period my mind had been like one of our Western rivers during its "freshet" swell the stream rising higher and higher; its current widening, and deepening, and moving resistlessly along; and its waters, filled with mire and dirt, foaming and boiling as though a furnace of fire flamed beneath them all along their course. But, like the same stream when the cause of its swell is gone, it first " comes to a stand," then slowly begins to recede, and ebbs more and more, until at length, confined within its banks, it flows calmly and placidly along toward its ocean home-so my mind, turned from the view of what had jaundiced it so long, began to be at peace. Light came, but it was feeble and uncertain for a time, and shone through a hazy medium. 1 was like the man in Bible times, who, when the hand of the Blessed One was laid upon his eyes, at first saw "men as trees walking;" and though I had such imperfect vision then, yet with it came a hope within my heart-a hope so small, so weak, that I was hardly conscious it was there at all. I know not when I felt it first. It was not until long after its birth was known to those

who had my case in charge. When these joyfully assured me that I should go out into the world once more, they only seemed as those who mocked. The difference in my mental state was great; but even now I cannot comprehend the modus operandi of the change. One thing, and but one thing, I know: that "whereas I was blind, now I see." That is all; and with that knowledge I must rest content. I was the passive recipient of potent influences, the effects of which circumstances from time to time revealed to my knowledge. A few of these circumstances I will now narrate.

Upon one occasion I went to the asylum library, as much to take refuge in that place from the annoying presence of some of my fellow-patients, as for anything I thought to find that would interest me there. While listlessly casting my eye over the array of books upon its shelves, my attention was fixed and my heart was thrilled by the title printed upon the cover of one of the most modest looking books of the collection. It was an epitome of that truth which my spirit needed at the time. One of the striking aphorisms of the royal preacher reads, "As a draught of water is to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." The truth contained upon the cover of the unpretending volume was to my thirsty, dried-up soul this refreshing beverage.

The library afterward became my favor ite resort. There I could, for the moment, lose myself and forget the things which were going on around me. One day I took up a volume which contained that strange poem of Coleridge, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." I had never read the piece before, and was but little taken by its title, but the jingle of the first few lines sounded pleasantly, and I still read on. As I progressed my interest increased, and I forgot myself and where I was. The Mariner's case I fancied paralleled my own, and I thought its sequel, whatever that might prove to be, would prophesy my fate. Then I became the mariner himself, sailing, with aimless purpose, upon a boundless sea. I was the slayer of the blessed bird, and I felt in consequence the ban upon my soul. I sailed on and on, and then slowly began the voyage back again. And I was wretched still. But when, at last, the curse was taken from my soul, and I believed that blessings might be mine again, it was an hour so filled with heartfelt pleasure that, like the waters from the smitten rock, following the hosts of Israel through their desert journeyings, its

essed influences have cheered me still ring all the wanderings of my after life. About this time the old man whom I have fully introduced to the reader, during one his seasons of darkest moodiness, quoted, is applicable to his own condition, one of ose passages of holy writ, which, read as nderstood by some, has proved a chain to old in thraldom many a wretched soul; but then interpreted as intended to be by Him ho wrote it, becomes the instrument of the oul's enfranchisement. I called in question he correctness of his interpretation of the words. He replied with warmth. Fearful that is awful exegesis of the text would blight my ew-born hopes, I argued at length its true nterpretation. The discussion became so varm that many of our fellow-patientsrowded around us, and I believe that light was then received by at least one wretched nind darkened as my own had been, and which, I trust, will shine on, brighter and brighter still, even unto the perfect day. This discussion was a help to me. It was a men-ginal and induced affections, that the one retal stimulus which strengthened me healthily. I thought that I had been victor in the intellectual contest, and this confirmed me in my views and hopes.

As I became better, more liberty was granted me. I was at first permitted to wander apparently alone over a limited portion of the asylum grounds, but attended by a sure though secret surveillance. Then the freedom of the whole estate was given; and at length all restriction was removed, and it was alone required that I should appear at meals and be within my room at night.

The following means of cure and test of the extent of my convalescence was resorted to by the superintendent. He told me that, during the winter which was then approaching, he designed to write a treatise upon the subject of the hereditary transmission of insanity, especially bearing upon the question whether the disease followed in the line of sex: that is, whether the insanity of the father usually descended to the son or the daughter, or indiscriminately to either one, and so of the mother. He desired me to search the great library of the institution for published cases or opinions bearing upon these points, and to write out abstracts of the cases. This was an exercise to me of absorbing interest. in requisition all my powers, and it was efficient for the purpose for which it was devised. I finished my work with mind and spirits consciously improved.

It put

Steadily, but slowly, my mental vision became less oblique; and as my soul was strengthened to endure the light, yet more and more was given. In the exact proportion as I had a clearer view of truth, my moodiness decreased and cheerfulness returned; and, so far as regarded my original affection, I might have been granted the enjoyments of home again, and have profitably engaged in the pursuits of active life. But the newlyinduced condition still continued, and, as already stated, it was as painful to endure as was the one it was intended to remove. There was, however, this difference between the ori

quired unusual measures to relieve, while the other could be removed by evidence that the belief had really no foundation in truth. The proof came at length, and it was clear and convincing; and though of vital consequence to myself, its detail would be of little interest to others, for my second error was of a common kind, and yielded readily to the force of

truth.

The emerging of a mind, affected as mine. had been, from darkness into light—its habits all changed, and unbroken melancholy giving place to constant cheerfulness-was necessarily a gradual work. sarily a gradual work. But it was a finished one. And now, the mind joying in God and confiding fully in those whose love is necessary to my happiness on earth, the way is bright before me. Life is a blessing. Its cares, its labors, disappointments, fears, these are but disciplinary means to fit it for the exercise of greater virtues, and prepare it for enjoyments higher and holier than earth can give, and more than the capacity of man can

hold.

TREADING THE CIRCLE.

So far, so far gone out of sight,

eyes

My strained follow thee no more; Thou to the left, I to the right,

Never to meet as heretofore.

Yet though the distance grows so wide,
We tread Love's circle year by year;
We're nearer on the other side

The farther we are sundered here.

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THE CHRIST.

FROM LEONARDO DA VINCI'S LAST SUPPER.

As twilight deepens in my silent room,
In glimmering outlines that recede in gloom
The friendly portraits on the walls appear,
But this one Face of faces grows more clear,-
A still, white shadow, taking shape in eyes
Behind whose closed lids boundless sorrow lies-
In lips that have kissed Death, and kept the print
Of all its bitterness in shape and tint,

While yet He fills with sweetness to the brim
The cup of those who sup their last with Him.

Poor wraith of woe, kinsmen in grief are we,
And through the dusk my heart yearns unto Thee,
And fain would spill, in breaking, all its balm
Of helpless love, to give Thee transient calm.

O blind! withhold thy kisses from his brow,
Until divinity is poor as thou ;-

Needing no smallest voice, no lightest sign,
Self-crowned with woe, He makes the night divine;
And I, who dared to pity, fear to pray-
So great He seems, so poor all I would say.
In love with present ease, afraid of pain,
Too short of sight to see its far-off gain-
Oh, have the soft arms of thy patience room,
For such to creep within from out the gloom?

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American Morals.

TOPICS OF THE TIME.

THE publication, through an argus-eyed and manyvoiced press, of every event and incident relating to the private and public conduct of American life, gives the impression that we are a corrupt and immoral people, and that we have a certain eminence among the nations for immoral practices. There is no reason why we should do ourselves injustice in this matter, especially when we are proving every day that the heart of the great mass is sound. Nothing can be more hopeful and encouraging than the frank publicity given to all those practices which tend to detract from our reputation, especially when the cause of this publicity is the effort that is everywhere making to correct them. The recent scandal connected with the Vienna Commission is certainly humiliating; but it did not reach the public ear until the government put into practical form its purpose to have a pure commission. The government made a mistake in its appointments, and corrected it as soon as possible. "The back-salary grab," as the political slang of the day designates it, has everywhere been characterized,

by press and people, as it deserves to be character. ized; and every man whose hands have been soiled by it is under a ban much worse than that of suspicion. The way in which the Crédit Mobilier business was received reveals the public virtue as truly as it exposes private and corporate venality. There never was a time when a virtuous people were after sin and sinners in high places with so determined a hand as at the present.

New York city is supposed to be very wicked, yet we have seen, within the last two years, that it has. not only the disposition but the power to redeem it.

self.

With all its immoral population, gathered from the four quarters of the earth, even New York is sound at heart, and holds within its bounds a great and overmastering host of good men. An independent and fearless press, leading a band of brave and earnest citizens, has made a victorious fight with organized and instituted corruption; and the thieves who for merly plundered the city which they ruled are fugi tives from justice, or are struggling with it, and on the defensive. Are we worse for the terrible exposures that have accompanied this struggle, or better? What

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