For, whereas before, the cries of the restless only brought some savage keeper to strap them the tighter in their beds, now there came, in instant answer to their wants, a gentle hand, bearing some refreshing draught, or ready to make the bed afresh or put a cool, clean dress upon the fevered limbs; and then, with a kind and cheerful good night, to leave the poor creatures at least ealmed and grateful, if not to sleep.*

After this came the crowning-work of all, wherein men, by the MAGIC OF KINDNESS, were made to appear as gods, giving mind, and almost senses, to human creatures who seemed lower in intelligence than even the beasts of the field.

The troubled brain had been composed, and the heart of the maniac tranquilized, but it yet remained for the Spirit of Kindness to show that by her wondrous power even the crushed intellect could be restored and the lost affections regained.

Instantly with a wave of the Magic Branch, the kindly tutor was seen seated in the maniac school, among his crazy and idiot scholars, like a father among his children, encouraging them, assisting them, directing them, and promoting all kinds of easy and pleasant mental exercises, that might by gentle efforts lead back again those powers by the

* Dr. Conolly, on the Construction and Government of Lunatic Asylums.

loss of which all is lost that is worth preserving.* The tranquillity, the consent, the cheerfulness of that little room, was a thing to be remembered for all time.

Now one poor maniac, whose wandering eye still told the fever of his brain, stood up with cheerfulness, and recited a short poem; while those around, though as mad as he, listened atten. tively to all he said. Then the witless crew sang together, keeping time and harmony, without one to lead them whose senses were less disordered than their own, while the little band that accompanied them was played by creatures as crazy as the rest.

Next they ranged themselves in mimic rank and file, while the youngest of the class, a little idiot boy of five years old, who a little while ago could scarcely move his torpid limbs, followed the rest, imitating their actions-holding out first his right arm, then the left, and marching now this way, now that, at the word of command, to the sound of a drum, beaten with all the lively skill of a soldier's hand, by another idiot, who strutted along delighted with the drummer-clothes he wore.†

And all this was done by a band of beings whose powers both of mind and body, seemed the very despair of art, holding out such little hope of culture

* Dr. Fabret, at the schools for the insane and the idiotic at the Saltpétrière.

† Idiot school of M. Seguin, at Bicêtre.

that formerly the wretched, witless things would have been left to mope away their lives in uncaredfor indolence and apathy.

But among these many wonders was seen the greatest wonder of the whole.-There stood one who for many years had been an idiot in his intellect, his inclinations, and even his senses-a creature in utter discord with the human world without; signalized by a voracious, indiscriminate, gluttonous appetite-a hideous, insatiable craving -and a blind and terrible instinct of destruction. He was wholly an animal-without attachment, without tact, intelligence, power of attention, or sense of property or right. His eyes were never fixed, and seemed to act without his will; his taste was depraved; his touch obtuse; his ear scarcely recognized sounds; and he barely seemed to be possessed of the sense of smell. Devouring every thing, however disgusting; brutally sensual and passionate; breaking, tearing, destroying, whatever he could lay his hands upon, and, if prevented, then pinching, biting, and scratching himself, until he was covered with blood. He walked with

difficulty, and could neither run, leap, nor exert the act of throwing. Sometimes he sprang like a leopard, and his sole delight was to strike one sonorous body against another, and-to put the last ghastly touch to the degrading picture—he was so attracted by the eyes of his brothers, sisters, and

playfellows, as to be continually striving to push them out with his fingers.*

And now what a magic change had untiring care and loving-kindness worked! There stood this same poor idiot-boy, docile in his manners, decent in his habits, and capable-though not without some little effort-of directing his vague senses and wandering attention, so that his memory was stored with some little knowledge, and he could tell the names of the simple objects and figures that surrounded him, while he had become affectionately conscious of the presence of his kindly teachers and friends. Redeemed from the constant dominion of the lowest animal propensities -with the few fragments of faculties that had been left him, cultivated—and others even called into life-it was most affecting to see the poor little fellow come foward and hear him sing his little ballad, and recite his little prayer-to see him write as steadily and as well as most youths in his station of life-and watch him count by means of marbles or small pieces of wood. Sometimes, it is true, the poor half-witted lad would fail in his answers, but soon encouraged by the kindly voice of his master, he would make a second effort, and rectify himself—the crowning

* M. Voisin's description of Charles Emile, an idiot boy, who who was confined and actually educated in the Bicêtre Asylum.

glory of the marvel being that, while the senses, the muscular powers, and the intellect had received some culture, the habits had been improved, the propensities regulated, and play given to the affections; so that a wild, ungovernable animal, calculated to excite only fear, aversion or disgust, stood transformed by the wondrous magic of the Spirit of Kindness into the likeness and manners of a man.*

* Dr. Conolly's account of the idiot schools of Paris.