Within An Inch Of My Life

During the earlier yeais of my meüioo-militarycareer 1 as Beiected as the Assistant Surgeon of tho Army Lunatic Asylura, then established in ofte of the eastern counties of England. At the time of the appointineDt i was riven to understand that it was ono which paia a hiffh compiment to my professiona abilities, and was bestowed as a reward see it quite ia the same ligbt 1 went and interviewed the chicf, -vho had thcmght so much more of me than I dul of him. "Sir " said I, "somc meu are born to honors', other.s have honors thrust upon them; the lattcris my case. I dontunderstand ono bit about the treatment, moral or medical, of the insano. I never saw but ono maflman in my lile, ana he I verily believo, was more knave than fooi; and 1 oan't help thinking that if you send me to the asylum you are sending the round mantoiitinto the square hole." "That is not of the sloightest conscquence," answored he vho;u 1 was drcssino-, m the ncnesi ui muguco, .. the laysto in loife. Round or square. the hole will suit you to at; and ïf ït be that ye don't know any lang oönsarmntr lunatics; whoy, the sooner ye larn the better. Ye'd bc plazed to ]ine widout delay. Good morning bo lie bowed me out, and I having a whoiesome dread of the powers that wcre, "iincil" forthwith. It is one of Shakspeere'swiaesay'ines that "Use dotli breed a habit in a man." Before there liad passed awaj many weeks of niy sojourn with the demented offioers and men of Quema Viotoria'a land forcea i found myself lugn1,7 irtif-sted u-ith their pretty and we 11 cared for home. running pleasantly in the groove I had so mvwh objoctecl to, andgetting ri'J forever and a day of that repugnance whicli every outsider naturally enough entertains when brouo-ht'into contact vvith the demzens of a madhouse. With a pass-key whioh was au open sesame to every loek in the establishment. 1 was accustomed to wander over it nnattended either by the "keeper" or the orderlies; and never was I molested or spoken to threatenino-ly save onee, and ttiat upon the occasion I havo elected to name "Within an inch of my life." In the afternoons, when the patients were not indoors. u was my practico to go through every part of the building, inspecting it sanitarily. I was doing so as usual upon a certain wintor's day, it i ■■!■■■ tt i-i wi f nn w L1 when, at a curre oí a cimium, a uiu.10 suddeDly upon a patiënt leonina gloominglv sgainst one of the pillara. Hh was'a private soldier oL the Forty-flfth, or Sherwood Forosters- a recent admission, and wlmse pháse of insaniu was somewhat puzJinr tlie head 3urgeon and myaelf. Without entering upon details, I shall merelysay that we had doubts upon his case, and had recommended his removal from the asylum to the care of his friendá. Meantimo, however, he was to be oloaely watched, and no garden tools or other implements put into his hands. How he'hail managed to elude the vigliance of'the orderly under whose surveillance he had been placed, and to be where I met hiin, was one of the things I never understood. But so it was. When he saw me his melancholic-demeanor ccised; he advaaced with rapid strides towards me, and í saw at a o-lanen thnt he meaut inischief oí some sort or other; for every nmsele of kis body was tretnbling witla passion, and onevery feature of liis face was pictured that of a demon. I confesa that fear carne over me. Whnt was this maniac to do? But to show apprehension would bc fatal, so I faced hira. boldly and exclaimed; "Hallo, Matthews! what are yon doing bere? Why are yon not in the airing-grounds with the others?" He tnrned a wild and flashing eye upon me, and glared like a wild beast. ïhen he howled out, rather than said: "Let me out of tkis!" "What do yon mean?" I replied, rc■jki4m íf vrtcchlí ín o-aín time and trusting that presently an orderly might pass and relieve me irom the terrible dilemma in wbich I stood. "Let me out!" he repeated. "I have been too long in this vile place. I want to rejoin my regiment, to soe my poor old inother and Mary, my sweotlioarl. Why ani I here? I am not mad like the others. God knowa that, so do you. But if I am kept maoh longer I sliall be stark-starring mad. Let me out. I say!" He was now boiling over with frenzy. Still I kept my ground. "Mathews," I said, "I knöw that you ar" not mad, so listen a moment. Ho w can I get you out! I am not the head-doctor. L can't act without his orders. Your removal has been recommended by him. 111 go and consult him now." "No, you won't, indeed." "Well, I can't release you. It woukl be as much as my oommission is wovth to connivo at your escape. 1 should be tried by court martial and oashiered, if not worso. That you must be aware That's no matter tome. I'U make you! Seo this!" He opened the loóse gray pea jacket lie wore. and. to my horror took írom withia it a round stom; of some pounds in weight, such as the courtyard of the buildidfi was paved with. How he had maoased to obtain and to secrete it was another inystery. A cold perspicatíon broke aat upon me. My Ufe seeméd to be hanoing by the stenderest oí tbreacte. I had no m-ans of defense, The rules preventod mv latviu iií'ju ulo iun.iivt "■■ " asylum even a walking stick, and man to man 'hu maniao was taller and stroner than I. lhe soldier raised the stono in his uplifted handsand helditovermy head, which was proteoted only by my regulation forage cap. 1 espected every instant that L should be eïrushed beneath it, but still the man séemed irrcsolute to strike. Then, wliile, Dainoclcs-like, the miá-i!o hung abovo me, a sudden idea lashed across my mind: '-What if I try to dodge him?" "Put down chatstone!" Icried out. Let me out, then!' ue amwered. "Put down that stone, and 1 will. But first declare thftt you will teil no ono who (liii it or now ït, v;is done. "Doctor, L gwear!" And thon.to rny inexplicable relief.he lowered his raised Lands. 1 looke;i round onpe ftgain, really to spyifunv official waa in sigiit: ))iit in such ii sly, coyerl waj as to make .Mathews believe that i feáred hh i dropper. "You k:iov the Locality outside the barraoksP" "Yes, I waa ed here fomc years ago with my regiment" "Wefl, this door" (pointing to om wliich was close to us) "leads down : very shorl :l anotherexil opon rtr nnto the De] Ho wad now all ears-cvcry ncrve straim-d to hcar what 1 had to teil hm). 'Here, tafce tliis key," 1 put mto lus stretcl.ed out hand one tliat I happened to have in mv pocket; I ïorget lo what it belonged, but L knew that lt would flt no look insidcthe asylum. He o-rasped it eageily, and at the same timo dashed the paving stona on the Hoor. "Whatthop', sir?" hc asked in less exciled tonest . i T ..Kuil "This Wilh my pass Kiy j uw'' vou into the passage Gropo your way (or a yard or two down, feel lor the lock of tlui outer door, open ït with this kev - and escape." 'Yóu will teil 110 one that I am gonc -take no stops to have me caughti Reny)mber thi.s: lf I ani brought back I'll munleryou." "Mathews! if you escape by the methoil T havo pointodout,nooncshallknow 1 "You ave tUe soldier's friend!" he replies. "Let mo shake hands with you t .i:.i ,,f foi innnv whfiii I foundmy palm wrong within bis, but I quickly opened the door alluded to, and without the least shadow of suspicion he entered immediately. Once he was fairiy in, I pulled it to with a bang whioh shook thfl very walls. Ho was inclosed in a bath-room. 'i' he stram of excitenient over, reaction carne on. I felt sick and faint.and knew no more until I saw one of the officials and my servant stooping over me. The íoriner, going on lus rounds, had found me lying on the Hoor; acd as soon as I carne to my seusea, I tolcl thcm what had happened; and steps were so tafeen to have Mathews so watched that in future paving stoncs would never again be in his possession. I took care also nover again to perambulate the asylum without my orderly escort.