Library Collections: Document: Full Text


Modern Persecution, or Insane Asylums Unveiled

From: Modern Persecution
Creator: Elizabeth P. W. Packard (author)
Date: 1873
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 1  Figure 2  Figure 3  Figure 4  Figure 5  Figure 6  Figure 7  Figure 8  Figure 9  Figure 10  Figure 11  Figure 12  Figure 13  Figure 14  Figure 15  Figure 16

Previous Page   Next Page   All Pages 


1683  

These attendants are highly cultivated, well developed women, who could enter into Mrs. Cheneworth's feelings, and sympathize with her in her trials. They not only knew how to treat her nature, but their principles controlled their feelings, so that her trials might not be increased by any injudi-cious act on their part. Neither did they seem to despise her for being so sorely afflicted, but pitied and longed to help her.

1684  

Alas! for poor Mrs. Cheneworth! her days for reasonable treatment expired when she was removed to the lowest ward, and consigned to the care of Elizabeth Bonner.

1685  

This attendant was a perfect contrast to her former attendants in character, disposition, and habits. She was a large, coarse, stout Irish woman, stronger than most men; of quick temper, very easily thrown off its balance, when, for the time being, she would be a perfect demon, lost to all traces of humanity. Her manners were very coarse and masculine, a loud and boisterous talker, and a great liar, with no education, and could neither read nor write.

1686  

To this vile, ignorant woman was Mrs. Cheneworth entrusted, to be treated just as her own feelings dictated.

1687  

Miss Bonner's first object was to "subdue her," that is, to break down her aspiring feelings, and bring her into a state cringing submission to her dictation.

1688  

Here was a contest between her naturally refined instincts and Miss Bonner's unrefined and coarse nature. Any manifestation of the lady-like nature of Mrs. Cheneworth, was met by its opposite in Miss Bonner's servant-like nature and position, and she must lord it over this gentle lady.

1689  

The position of the latter, as a boarder, must, at her beck be exchanged, by her being made to feel that she was nothing but a slave and menial. If she ventured to remonstrate against this wanton usurpation of authority over her, she could only expect to receive physical abuse, such as she was poorly able to bear.

1690  

And Oh! the black tale of wrongs and cruel tortures this tender woman experienced at the hand of this giant-like tyrant, no tongue or pen can ever describe!

1691  

She was choked, pounded, kicked, and plunged under water, until well nigh strangled to death.

1692  

Mrs. Coe assured me this was only a specimen of the kind of treatment all were liable to receive at her hands, since she claimed that this was the way to cure them! and this she insisted upon, was what she was put here to do.

1693  

Being strong, she was peculiarly adapted to her place, since no woman or man could grapple with her successfully.

1694  

This is the attendant who so often made it her boast that Dr. McFarland let her do with the patients just as she chose -- that her judgment, her feelings, and her temper could be trusted in all cases!

1695  

Oh! what is there of injury and physical abuse that this institution will not have to answer for, which has not been in-flicted by brutal attendants -- while Dr. McFarland has sustained them by knowingly approving of these things?

1696  

I do not believe the trustees would knowingly sustain these brutalities. But Dr. McFarland's statements are regarded by them as infallibly correct, and as he represents the treatment here bestowed upon the patients, they doubtless feel confident that they are humanely treated. But did they know what I know I believe they would disapprove of it, and not like Dr. McFarland, try to cover it up, lest the interests of the institution be jeopardized by the investigation.

1697  

The facts I have already placed before them in a written form would of themselves arouse their interest and summon their immediate investigation, did they not so implicitly rely upon the Doctor's contradiction as proof of their fallacy!

1698  

In this way they are believing lies, and under this delusion they are not only winking at iniquities, but publicly sustaining them. It is in their power to ascertain the truth, did they feel determined to know for themselves. But this investigation would be attended with more trouble and inconvenience than it is to let it go on, and thereby these slothful servants of the public are justly held responsible for the sins of this house.

1699  

Poor Mrs. Cheneworth could not await this retribution, but was driven to seek the only defence within her reach, death! yes, death -- the most dreadful of all evils -- was chosen rather than such a life as she was doomed to endure under the rule of this Inquisition.

1700  

I cannot, no, I cannot blame her for killing herself. I do not think God will blame her. She was like one who deliberately rushed into the flames, to escape the barbed arrows of an invincible foe. She only chose the quicker, rather than the lingering, agonizing death, to which she seemed inevitably doomed, at the hands of Elizabeth Bonner.

1701  

The last time I saw Mrs. Cheneworth was at the dance, after which she hung herself, being found suspended from the upper part of her window by the facing of her dress.

1702  

I never saw a person so changed. I did not know her when Miss Bonner introduced me to her that evening. Such a haggard look! such despair and wretchedness as her countenance reflected, I have never witnessed. My feelings were touched.

Previous Page   Next Page

Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  35  36  37  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  45  46  47  48  49  50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  58  59  60  61  62  63  64  65  66  67  68  69  70  71  72  73  74  75  76  77  78  79  80  81  82  83  84  85  86  87  88  89  90  91  92  93  94  95  96  97  98  99  100  101  102  103  104  105  106  107  108  109  110  111  112  113  114  115  116  117  118  119  120  121  122  123  124  125  126  127  128  129  130  131    All Pages