A MADMANS EXPERIENCE IN THE AUCKLAND ASYLUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8986, 25 February 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

A MADMANS EXPERIENCE IN THE AUCKLAND ASYLUM.

A TOUCHING STORY. Having heard that the proprietors of the Herald sent free copies of their papers for the patients in the Asylum, who, by-the-bye, seldom get a copy, I resolved that when I got released from the Asylum I would reveal my case to the public, hoping that the Herald people would give me space to do so. If the people of Auckland will only take the trouble to read about my case, I am sure they will reap great benefit from their labour. If you will permit me to tell my simple story in my own unvarnished way I shall feel obliged.

MY TROUBLE. On arriving here a few years ago from the mother country, where glad tidings reached me about the social freedom, religious equality, and commercial prosperity of Auckland, I deposited my ample fortune in the Bank of New Zealand, settled my wife and six bonny children in a house suitable to their station, and then went in quest of a farm. Having amassed a snug fortune by industry in a large manufacturing business, I thought it would be delightful to end one's days on a quiet farm, where well-kept cattle could thrive in green pastures beside still waters. That picture was my ideal of rural life, and the very thought of it gave rest to my weary, busy brain. I was not long in finding that nearly every farm near Auckland was for sale, and, although the land agents worried me almost to death, I found the mto be courteous and straightforward. After three months' travelling a out, J. bought a farm in the Noi th, and sank £3000 in the outlay and general improvements. For five years —five happy yearsl and my family worked hard, but not excessively hard ; and, with suitable paid labour, we got the estate into good order. Fruit, and ornamental trees began to bear well and look lovely, the sheep began to multiply, and things went merrily as marriage bells. Owing to the expense and difficulty in getting anything to Auckland, I did not trouble to grow more than I required for home consumption and benevolent gifts to my less fortunate neighbours, some of whom were gumdiggers who had seen better days. Well, for a few years this state of things continued, and my boys and girls, having grown up, began to settle iif life—some near me, some in Auckland. My brave little partner and I still carried on the farm with hired labour, but things began to go crookedly. Some of my beat cows were missing one morning, and, on searching, we found they had poisoned themselves with a fatal berry ; and misfortunes came thick and fast upon mo. A pet horse got bogged, some dogs worried my sheep when they were lambing, and did them much damage ; but things of that sort were a minor consideration to me. Greater trials were in store. One of the boys married unhappily, one of the girls was early left a widow, and two of the others had indifferent health. My wife and I having from childhood been taught to confide in our Father in Heaven, who pitieth us even as a father pitieth his children, we unbosomed ourselves of cares, and laid them at His feet. Communion together and communion with God were our great solace. My resigned and peaceful attitude, however, received a severe shack, for my dear wife's health gave way, and, after a brief illness, she died. My heart was buried in her grave in that quiet little country churchyard, and there it will lie until the trumpet shall sound and the small and great shall stand before God. Oh, what bitterness there is in the sting of death when the nearest and dearest is taken from us ! Oh, what a victory the grave seems to claim when it unmans the most undaunted and manly ! I was brokenhearted. I felt I could never lift up my bowed head again.

THE MENTAL BREAKDOWN. As soon as I could, I tenderly put away all the little things which reminded me of one of the most devoted, brave, and patient wives that ever won a man's affection. All except her portrait was put away. For a considerable time I vegetated— cannot say I lived—in that desolate hoipe. My health began to suffer. I slept indifferently and dreamed incessantly. Sometimes I fancied I heard voices in the stillness of the night. More than once the thought flashed like lightning through my mind, "A shilling's worth of laudanum would deliver you from this and then I would pray, with a groaning which could not be uttered, to be saved from such a cowardly act as suicide. My only relief was in prayer and in tending the flowers grown from seeds by my wife.

MY ARREST. Time passed, and I spent my days about the farm and my evenings in literary studies alone. I managed well, but did not care to converse with others as formerly. I delighted to see others happy, but could not enter into their pastimes or pursuits. Imagine my unutterable grief and excitement when one day a police constable walked into my house, which is supposed to be an Englishman's castle, and arrested me as a lunatic. I begged of him to give me time to recover myself, and offered him a chair. He sat down, and told me that a householder, who believed me to be a lunatic, had caused my arrest. Yes, it transpired that, according to our Now Zealand Lunacy Law of 1882, "any householder may give information on oath to a Resident Magistrate" that a certain person "is believed to be a lunatic," and get him arrested. Surely the people of Auckland do not know that law. Any householder, however big a fool, however prejudiced or self-interested, who believes another man to be a lunatic, can get him dragged from his home to gaol, and thence to a lunatic asylum !

EXAMINED BEFORE A MAGISTRATE. Two gentlemen —doctors, I presume— came to see me in the lock-up, and asked me certain questions ; but I was so upset with want of food, chagrin at my arrest, and excitement at the idea of-herding with lunatics, that I confess I answered their questions confusedly ; but they were off in two or three minutes, having earned their guinea each. Then I was marched before the Resident Magistrate, who had blue papers— suppose the doctors' certificates —before him, and he took it for granted I was mad because the doctors said so. As quick as sayine Jack Robinson, a Napo-leonic-looking constable—McClennan, I believe—marched me back to the lock-up, and then took me in a cab to the Asylum. He smoked his pipe, and seemed to enjoy the ride, but I felt dazed and miserable ; it was all like a dream to me. IN THE ASYLUM. Now, all this was done so hurriedly, and I was so upset that lost my presence of my mind, or X would have sent for my son or my solicitor ; but the surprise took all my lighting capacity out of me. And so there I was in a mad-house. Good God! Dr. Cremonini received me, and beckoned two sturdy officials to take me away. I was searched, questioned, some entries were made in a book, and then I was taken into a yard enclosed with dismal buildings on tinea sides and a wall .vi\;d with iron

on the fourth side. What I heard and saw in that yard I cannot describe, and I shall never forget till the day I die. In an immense yard were about 150 lunatics of all ages, sorts, and conditions. One man was rushing about the yard, frantically calling to Heaven for deliverance that he might complete a railway line direct to England; another was slobbering and spitting; another tearing off his clothes ; others were singing, gesticulating, and two Maoris were fighting. Some idiotio boy came and tried to unbutton my waistcoat. I felt upset and alarmed. The dinner and tea were good, but my heart was so depressed I could not eat. I never dreamt I should come to that. How I sighed for the touch of a vanished hand, and the sound of a voice that was still."

THE FIRST NIGHT IN THE ASYLUM. But, if the day was hideous r the night was much more so. After the evening had been spent in reading, looking at pictorial papers, contributed, J. was told, by the people of Auckland, and some games at bagatelle, we were marched off to bed. The beds were closely packed, and one man next to me would insist on stroking me down the face. Being rather annoyed, I bit his finger, and then there was pandemonium. He jumped out of bed, seized me by the beard, and hit me with an indiarubber utensil from under the bed. I was by no means indifferent to what was going on, and I hit him straight in the wind, and made him relax his hold. But he was not done for. We had a set-to, and awoke the whole ward. The hubbub was fearful, when in came two attendants, and parted us. You may imagine, Mr. Editor, that I could not sleep that night; for, what with the torture experienced from having my beard pulled and the novelty of my situation, I could not sleep. And what sights I saw! One man got out of bed, and prowled, ghost-like, down the ward; another sat up in bed, and made grimaces at me, which seemed hideous in the dim gaslight ; another cried like a child ; but at last I dropped off into a restless sleep. In the morning we were forced into a bath one after the other, like dipping so many sheep, but the attendants did the work kindly.

THE DOCTOR. After breakfast Dr. Creraonini cam© round, and I soon recognised in him, in spite of his irritability and nervous excitement, a pastmaster in lunacy. He spoke to me, examined me, and inspired me with a hope of a speedy recovery. I felt from the first that he was concerned to get me well, and I resolved to leave myself in his hands, like clay in the hands of the potter. In course of time he gave the attendant instructions to let me go and work on tljp farm ; and I went with a will. But I soon found that, as I became useful, my prospects of getting out diminished. They evidently required men like me to work, and thus save paid labour; so I began to ease off. It is a feather in & superintendent's cap when he can run an asylum cheaply, and there is a better chance of his getting an increase in his own salary if he economises. In a country like this, which is so heavily taxed, of course all public administrators should be economical, but they should not impair the efficiency of their departments. Economy and cheapness may become a snare. My liberation was my chief concern,.

PINING FOR FREEDOM. I made my case known to the deputy inspector and the visiting justices, but they seemed to take it for granted that I was mad because I was in an asylum. I then wrote letters, which never reached their destination; hence my friends could not come to help me. So I persistently beset the visiting justices whenever they came to the asylum. They told me that unless Dr. Cremonini considered me safe to be discharged they dared not incur the responsibility of getting me out. I thought it wrong that any doctor —any one man— should have power to detain a person in an asylum, but bo it is ; your precious lunacy law make.'i the doctor supreme, and he can keep any poor soul imprisoned, if he thinks him dangerous. Finally, I got released ; and I hope the people of Auckland will never lose sight of the fact that, at their very doors almost, nearly 400 lunatics are imprisoned, that they need sympathy, and some a helping hand. Englishman.