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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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1207  

After months of faithful labor, he found the tide of the house was setting against him, by keeping this sane woman so long from her family, and when he dared not resist this influence longer, he sent to her husband to take her home; but he would not come for her.

1208  

And now comes one honorable act on the part of the Doctor. He lent her money and sent her home alone.

1209  

A few days after, I ventured to congratulate the Doctor on doing so noble a deed, adding:

1210  

"If what I have been told is true, you have represented her in the discharge as one who has been falsely represented as insane."

1211  

This creditable part of the representation he indignantly denied, saying:

1212  

"No, she came here insane -- was cured -- and sent home!"

1213  

"No, Dr. McFarland, she did not come here insane; she came here an abused woman-shamefully abused by a drunken husband. She needed protection but not punishment, such as you have bestowed upon her."

1214  

But no, the "lords of creation" must be protected! or oppressed woman will rise and assert her rights, and man then will fail to keep her down.

1215  

What will men do, when this Government protect the married women in their right to themselves?

1216  

Oh, when this great Woman Subjector, Dr. McFarland, is exposed, where will these men send their wives to get them "broke in?" Oh! where?

1217  

I came here in defence of the same principle that Mrs. Sullivan did, with this difference; she used her right of self defence in a different manner from what I did. She used physical force in resisting usurpation; I did not.

1218  

I never did, nor never will quarrel with any one. I have followed Christ's directions, "If thy brother smite thee on the one cheek, turn to him the other also."

1219  

Mrs. Sullivan pursued a different mode of self-defence, but the issue is just the same in both cases. Our husbands both succeeded in getting us entered here on the plea of insanity, and I, although so perfectly harmless in my mode of self-defence, am required to stay three or four times her term of imprisonment! But, Oh, for woman's sake I suffer it. I will try to continue to suffer on, patiently and uncomplainingly, confidently hoping that my case will lead community to investigate for themselves, and see why it is, that so many sane women are thus persecuted at this period of the Christian era.

1220  

The sad truth that man has fallen from his noble position of woman's protector, and become her subjector, when apprehended, may lead our government to give protection to the identity of the married woman, so that she can be as sure of legal protection, where she does not receive the marital, as if she were single. When, therefore, she needs legal protection from marital usurpation, she can obtain it directly from her government, as other citizens now can.

1221  

This period of subjection through which woman is passing, is developing her self-reliant character, by compelling her to defend herself, in order to secure the safety of her own soul. That class of men who wish to rule woman, seem intent on destroying her reason, to secure her subjection. If they can not really put out this light in her, which so much annoys them, they will credit this work as done, by falsely accusing her of insanity, and when once branded by Dr. McFarland's diploma of "hopelessly insane," they fondly think they can keep her under their feet.

1222  

And this has actually been done in many instances, by the help of the Illinois Insane Asylum.

1223  

Yes, the modern mode of subjugating married women, is, to send her off to an insane asylum and get her publicly branded as "hopelessly insane." Thus, instead of the husband whipping his own wife with a "stick as large round as his little finger," as the old common law allowed him to do, he sends her off to an insane asylum to get the officials of that institution to whip her for him!

1224  

CHAPTER XXII.
My Life Imperilled.

1225  

My life was almost daily and hourly endangered. For example:

1226  

"I was one morning sitting in a side room by myself, for the purpose of enjoying my secret devotions undisturbed, which privilege the matron had kindly granted, as my own dormitory had too many occupants to allow me any opportunity of praying in secret, and being compelled, however, by Dr. McFarland's special order, to have the door of this closet wide open, while I occupied it for this purpose, I was compelled to submit to any such intruders as might chance to walk in.

1227  

Miss Jenny Haslett was one of the two maniacs who came in this morning, and seated herself on a low stool at my feet.

1228  

I was always obliged to carry my chair and footstool with me wherever I sat down, and by this arrangement I had my asylum writing-table, my lap, always with me, and at these times I made my entries into my journal and diary. The other maniac sat on the floor under the window.

1229  

I quietly read my chapter, while Jenny amused herself playing with the trimming on the front of my morning dress. I closed my Bible, and resting my eyes upon her, reflected upon the sad condition of this human wreck of existence before me. She was a handsome delicate girl of eighteen years, who was made insane by disappointed affection, and although generally harmless, yet at times, liable to sudden frenzies, from causes unknown. I could often hear her crying in the dead of night for:

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