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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

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2148  

I now understand that God rested from his labor on the Sabbath, and so should we.

2149  

He has so constituted us, that more than six days of continued, unbroken labor, without extra rest, is a detriment to our mental and physical faculties. To go to meeting too much, may be breaking the spirit of the command, as well as working too much. It is rest that we need, and it is rest we should feel bound to take on this day, as an act of obedience to a law of our nature.

2150  

We should so spend the day as to find ourselves refreshed and invigorated for the active duties of our calling; otherwise we break the Sabbath.

2151  

CHAPTER XLV.
An Attendant put under My Charge.

2152  

Miss Adelaide Tryon, a young school girl of eighteen years, was introduced into our ward, to take Miss Smith's place. To all appearances, she is a girl of weak mind, and small abilities; but time alone will test her, and develop whether she is fitted for the place or not.

2153  

My first impressions of her are not good, still I intend to suspend judgment till a fair trial. My mind may be a little prejudiced, from my first interview.

2154  

I went into the dining-room, after breakfast as usual, to get my ice, when I met her at her duties. Since the ice had not come up, I waited a few minutes and entered into conversation with her.

2155  

She answered me rather short and abruptly, evidently try-ing to impress the idea upon my mind, that she regarded me as beneath her notice, except as her under-servant. She or-dered me to hand her the knives and forks, for her to put around the table, which I did; after which she ordered me out of the dining-room.

2156  

I silently obeyed, and returned to my room to ponder over the peculiar trials to which an imprisonment among maniacs rendered our moral nature liable.

2157  

While upon my knees praying for grace and patience to bear them with a Christian spirit, my devotions were suspended by the entrance of Miss Hall. She came with a full heart of grief and sorrow to pour out her complaints to me. She fin-ished by saying:

2158  

"Mrs. Packard, I had rather be taken out and shot than be looked upon as an insane person, and treated as we are."

2159  

"So had I, and so would hundreds of others here, could they have their choice."

2160  

Here God had sent me a remedy for my own sorrows; I must bear her burdens, to lighten my own. Like many others here, Miss Hall is suffering for the sins of her friends towards her, and now in addition, she has to bear the sins of Dr. McFarland's injustice by suffering his attendants to torment her.

2161  

After she left, Miss Tryon came to my room and attempted to bolt in, very unceremoniously. I arose and opened the door and introduced her in, when she, in a very abrupt man-ner, said:

2162  

"I came in to see what you were doing; what have you in your hand? Are you fond of reading?"

2163  

After answering her civilly, I tried to converse with her in an intelligent lady-like manner; to which she seemed heed-lessly indifferent, evidently seeming to regard what I said, as idle talk, beneath her notice.

2164  

Here, this little school-girl feels at liberty to lord it over me as much as she chooses, regarding me and my society with contempt!

2165  

Mean as she seems, I wish to do her good as a sister. But in order to do so, I think I must tell her that I am not her servant -- that she is my servant, that I am a boarder here, and she a hired servant to wait upon the boarders. If she at-tempts to rule over me, I shall regard it as an insult, such as I shall feel morally bound to resent. But by forbearance and patience, she may be led to see her faults for herself, and avoid them in future.

2166  

I have told her that I was the means of getting her here, for it was through my influence that Miss Smith was dis-charged, since I reported her to the Doctor for her abuse of the patients.

2167  

She said, "You won't report me, will you?"

2168  

"I don't expect to have occasion to do so, for I trust you will be kind to them."

2169  

It is due Miss Tryon to add that she became a reasonable and kind attendant; and so far as her subsequent treatment of me was concerned, I had no occasion to complain of her, and as Providence appointed, I was delegated by her father to be her guardian! This was a new thing in Asylum life, to have an attendant put under the care of a patient! The facts are these:

2170  

Miss Tryon one day brought her father to my room, and after introducing us, as I responded to her lady-like knock, by opening the door, she left us, and I asked him into my room, when we soon found ourselves engaged in earnest and intelligent conversation. As he took his leave, he remarked:

2171  

"Mrs. Packard, I see you are a sensible woman; now, may I not be allowed to place my daughter under your charge, since she is young and inexperienced, and needs the guardianship of some one like yourself?"

2172  

"Certainly, Mr. Tryon, I not only thank you for the compliment, but I should be happy to accept the charge, and will promise you to be to her a true friend."

2173  

Apparently pleased and satisfied with my answer, he took a respectful leave, and joined his daughter in her room, where he asked her about me, who I was, etc. To her reply that I was a patient, he expressed his astonish-ment by exclaiming:

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