We cautiously search violent lunatics; who are then dressed in a plain flannel suit, and left alone. It is seldom we have occasion to retain them longer than twenty-four hours. They soon find they cannot injure themselves; their most violent efforts cannot elicit a sound. Their minds become calmed; and when released, they are perfectly quiet, and generally inclined to melancholy." They descended to the court yard, set apart for the men. Its inmates were pacing it hurriedly; some jabbering to themselves; others with groups round them, to whom they addressed some quickly delivered jargon. With one or two exceptions, all noticed the entrance of the strangers; and some of them bowed to them, with mock gravity. One man, who wore an old cocked hat with a shabby feather, tapped Sir Henry on the shoulder. "Vous me reconnaissez-Napoleon! votre Empereur !" He wheeled round, and called for his Mamelukes. The next moment, a young and interesting looking person came forward, the tears standing in his eyes, and extended his hand to Acmé. "Give me yours," said he, "as a great favour. I was a painter once in Naples-and I went to Rome and I loved Gianetta Cantieri!" A more ludicrous incident now occurred. At and since their entrance, our party had heard what seemed the continued bark of a dog. A man on all fours came forward from behind a group, and with unmeaning face, and nostril snuffing up the wind, imitated to perfection the deep bay of a mastiff. "That man's peculiarity," observed the Baron, "is an extraordinary one. He had a cottage near Catania, and had saved some little wealth. His house was one night robbed of all it contained. This misfortune preyed on the man's reason, and he now conceives himself a watch dog. He knows the step of every inmate of the asylum, and only barks at strangers." From the male court yard, the Baron ushered them to the female, where insanity assumed a yet moré melancholy shape. A pale-faced maniac, with quivering frame, and glaring eye-balls, continued to cry, in a low and piteous tone," Murder! murder!! murder!!!" One woman, reclining on the cold pavement, dandled a straw, and called it her sweet child; while another hugged a misshapen block of wood to her bared breast, and deemed it her true love. A third was on her knees, and at regular intervals, bent down her shrivelled body, and devoured the gravel beneath her. Acmé was happy to leave the scene, and move towards the garden; which was extensive, and beautifully laid out. As they turned down one of the alleys, they encountered five or six men, drawn up in line, and armed with wooden muskets. In front stood Napoleon, who, with stentorian voice, gave the word to "present arms!" then dropping his stick, and taking off his hat to Delmé, began to converse familiarly with him, as with his friend Emperor Alexander, as to the efficiency of Poniatowski and his Polish lancers. on. "Poor fellow!" said the Baron, as they moved He "Never was insanity more harmless! was once brigade major to Murat. This is his hour for exercise. Exactly at two, he goes through the scene of Fontainbleau. What will appear to you extraordinary is, that over the five or six men you saw around him, whose madness has been marked by few distinguishing traits, he has gradually assumed a superiority, until they now believe him to be, in reality, the Emperor he so unconsciously personates." In the garden, which was of considerable size, were placed a number of swings and whirligigs, in full motion and occupancy. On a stuccoed wall, were represented grotesque figures of animals dancing; opposite to which, one of Terpsichore's votaries, with a paper cap on his head, shaped like a pyramid, was executing agile capers, whose zeal of purpose would have found infinite favour in the eyes of Laporte. Having explored the garden, Delmé accompanied the Baron to a small room, where the sculls of the deceased maniacs were ranged on shelves, with a small biographical note attached to each; and heard with attention, the old man's energetic reasoning, as to these fully demonstrating the truth of Spurzheim's theory. Acmé, meantime, remained on George's arm, talking to a girl of thirteen, who had been selected to conduct them to the carriage. They entered their names in a book at the lodge, and then, turning to the benevolent director, paid him some well deserved compliments, for which he bowed low and often. The young girl, who had been conversing most rationally with Acmé, moved forward, and made a signal for the carriage to drive up. She was a fair-haired gentle-looking creature, with quiet eye, and silvery voice. She assisted Acmé to step into the carriage, who dropped a piece of silver into her hand, for which she gave a sweet smile and a curtsey. She stood a moment motionless. Suddenly her eye lighted up—she darted into the carriage, and clapped her hands together joyfully. "Viva! viva! we shall soon be home at Trapani!" The tears sprang to the eyes of the young Greek. |