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1、【英文文学】Ten Days in a Mad-HouseIntroduction.Since my experiences in Blackwells Island Insane Asylum were published in the World I have received hundreds of letters in regard to it. The edition containing my story long since ran out, and I have been prevailed upon to allow it to be published in book fo
2、rm, to satisfy the hundreds who are yet asking for copies.I am happy to be able to state as a result of my visit to the asylum and the exposures consequent thereon, that the City of New York has appropriated $1,000,000 more per annum than ever before for the care of the insane. So I have at least th
3、e satisfaction of knowing that the poor unfortunates will be the better cared for because of my work.Nellie BlyChapter i. A Delicate Mission.image On the 22d of September I was asked by the World if I could have myself committed to one of the asylums for the insane in New York, with a view to writin
4、g a plain and unvarnished narrative of the treatment of the patients therein and the methods of management, etc. Did I think I had the courage to go through such an ordeal as the mission would demand? Could I assume the characteristics of insanity to such a degree that I could pass the doctors, live
5、 for a week among the insane without the authorities there finding out that I was only a “chiel amang em takin notes?” I said I believed I could. I had some faith in my own ability as an actress and thought I could assume insanity long enough to accomplish any mission intrusted to me. Could I pass a
6、 week in the insane ward at Blackwells Island? I said I could and I would. And I did.My instructions were simply to go on with my work as soon as I felt that I was ready. I was to chronicle faithfully the experiences I underwent, and when once within the walls of the asylum to find out and describe
7、its inside workings, which are always, so effectually hidden by white-capped nurses, as well as by bolts and bars, from the knowledge of the public. “We do not ask you to go there for the purpose of making sensational revelations. Write up things as you find them, good or bad; give praise or blame a
8、s you think best, and the truth all the time. But I am afraid of that chronic smile of yours,” said the editor. “I will smile no more,” I said, and I went away to execute my delicate and, as I found out, difficult mission.If I did get into the asylum, which I hardly hoped to do, I had no idea that m
9、y experiences would contain aught else than a simple tale of life in an asylum. That such an institution could be mismanaged, and that cruelties could exist neath its roof, I did not deem possible. I always had a desire to know asylum life more thoroughly-a desire to be convinced that the most helpl
10、ess of Gods creatures, the insane, were cared for kindly and properly. The many stories I had read of abuses in such institutions I had regarded as wildly exaggerated or else romances, yet there was a latent desire to know positively.I shuddered to think how completely the insane were in the power o
11、f their keepers, and how one could weep and plead for release, and all of no avail, if the keepers were so minded. Eagerly I accepted the mission to learn the inside workings of the Blackwell Island Insane Asylum.“How will you get me out,” I asked my editor, “after I once get in?”“I do not know,” he
12、 replied, “but we will get you out if we have to tell who you are, and for what purpose you feigned insanity-only get in.”I had little belief in my ability to deceive the insanity experts, and I think my editor had less.All the preliminary preparations for my ordeal were left to be planned by myself
13、. Only one thing was decided upon, namely, that I should pass under the pseudonym of Nellie Brown, the initials of which would agree with my own name and my linen, so that there would be no difficulty in keeping track of my movements and assisting me out of any difficulties or dangers I might get in
14、to. There were ways of getting into the insane ward, but I did not know them. I might adopt one of two courses. Either I could feign insanity at the house of friends, and get myself committed on the decision of two competent physicians, or I could go to my goal by way of the police courts.On reflect
15、ion I thought it wiser not to inflict myself upon my friends or to get any good-natured doctors to assist me in my purpose. Besides, to get to Blackwells Island my friends would have had to feign poverty, and, unfortunately for the end I had in view, my acquaintance Nellie practices insanity at home
16、. with the struggling poor, except my own self, was only very superficial. So I determined upon the plan which led me to the successful accomplishment of my mission. I succeeded in getting committed to the insane ward at Blackwells Island, where I spent ten days and nights and had an experience whic
17、h I shall never forget. I took upon myself to enact the part of a poor, unfortunate crazy girl, and felt it my duty not to shirk any of the disagreeable results that should follow. I became one of the citys insane wards for that length of time, experienced much, and saw and heard more of the treatme
18、nt accorded to this helpless class of our population, and when I had seen and heard enough, my release was promptly secured. I left the insane ward with pleasure and regret-pleasure that I was once more able to enjoy the free breath of heaven; regret that I could not have brought with me some of the
19、 unfortunate women who lived and suffered with me, and who, I am convinced, are just as sane as I was and am now myself.But here let me say one thing: From the moment I entered the insane ward on the Island, I made no attempt to keep up the assumed role of insanity. I talked and acted just as I do i
20、n ordinary life. Yet strange to say, the more sanely I talked and acted the crazier I was thought to be by all except one physician, whose kindness and gentle ways I shall not soon forget.Chapter ii. Preparing for the Ordeal.But to return to my work and my mission. After receiving my instructions I
21、returned to my boarding-house, and when evening came I began to practice the role in which I was to make my debut on the morrow. What a difficult task, I thought, to appear before a crowd of people and convince them that I was insane. I had never been near insane persons before in my life, and had n
22、ot the faintest idea of what their actions were like. And then to be examined by a number of learned physicians who make insanity a specialty, and who daily come in contact with insane people! How could I hope to pass these doctors and convince them that I was crazy? I feared that they could not be
23、deceived. I began to think my task a hopeless one; but it had to be done. So I flew to the mirror and examined my face. I remembered all I had read of the doings of crazy people, how first of all they have staring eyes, and so I opened mine as wide as possible and stared unblinkingly at my own refle
24、ction. I assure you the sight was not reassuring, even to myself, especially in the dead of night. I tried to turn the gas up higher in hopes that it would raise my courage. I succeeded only partially, but I consoled myself with the thought that in a few nights more I would not be there, but locked
25、up in a cell with a lot of lunatics.The weather was not cold; but, nevertheless, when I thought of what was to come, wintery chills ran races up and down my back in very mockery of the perspiration which was slowly but surely taking the curl out of my bangs. Between times, practicing before the mirr
26、or and picturing my future as a lunatic, I read snatches of improbable and impossible ghost stories, so that when the dawn came to chase away the night, I felt that I was in a fit mood for my mission, yet hungry enough to feel keenly that I wanted my breakfast. Slowly and sadly I took my morning bat
27、h and quietly bade farewell to a few of the most precious articles known to modern civilization. Tenderly I put my tooth-brush aside, and, when taking a final rub of the soap, I murmured, “It may be for days, and it may be-for longer.” Then I donned the old clothing I had selected for the occasion.
28、I was in the mood to look at everything through very serious glasses. Its just as well to take a last “fond look,” I mused, for who could tell but that the strain of playing crazy, and being shut up with a crowd of mad people, might turn my own brain, and I would never get back. But not once did I t
29、hink of shirking my mission. Calmly, outwardly at least, I went out to my crazy business.I first thought it best to go to a boarding-house, and, after securing lodging, confidentially tell the landlady, or lord, whichever it might chance to be, that I was seeking work, and, in a few days after, appa
30、rently go insane. When I reconsidered the idea, I feared it would take too long to mature. Suddenly I thought how much easier it would be to go to a boarding-home for working women. I knew, if once I made a houseful of women believe me crazy, that they would never rest until I was out of their reach
31、 and in secure quarters.From a directory I selected the Temporary Home for Females, No. 84 Second Avenue. As I walked down the avenue, I determined that, once inside the Home, I should do the best I could to get started on my journey to Blackwells Island and the Insane Asylum.Chapter iii. In the Tem
32、porary Home.I was left to begin my career as Nellie Brown, the insane girl. As I walked down the avenue I tried to assume the look which maidens wear in pictures entitled “Dreaming.” “Far-away” expressions have a crazy air. I passed through the little paved yard to the entrance of the Home. I pulled
33、 the bell, which sounded loud enough for a church chime, and nervously awaited the opening of the door to the Home, which I intended should ere long cast me forth and out upon the charity of the police. The door was thrown back with a vengeance, and a short, yellow-haired girl of some thirteen summe
34、rs stood before me.“Is the matron in?” I asked, faintly.“Yes, shes in; shes busy. Go to the back parlor,” answered the girl, in a loud voice, without one change in her peculiarly matured face.I followed these not overkind or polite instructions and found myself in a dark, uncomfortable back-parlor.
35、There I awaited the arrival of my hostess. I had been At the temporary home for women. seated some twenty minutes at the least, when a slender woman, clad in a plain, dark dress entered and, stopping before me, ejaculated inquiringly, “Well?”“Are you the matron?” I asked.“No,” she replied, “the matr
36、on is sick; I am her assistant. What do you want?”“I want to stay here for a few days, if you can accommodate me.”“Well, I have no single rooms, we are so crowded; but if you will occupy a room with another girl, I shall do that much for you.”“I shall be glad of that,” I answered. “How much do you c
37、harge?” I had brought only about seventy cents along with me, knowing full well that the sooner my funds were exhausted the sooner I should be put out, and to be put out was what I was working for.“We charge thirty cents a night,” was her reply to my question, and with that I paid her for one nights
38、 lodging, and she left me on the plea of having something else to look after. Left to amuse myself as best I could, I took a survey of my surroundings.They were not cheerful, to say the least. A wardrobe, desk, book-case, organ, and several chairs completed the furnishment of the room, into which th
39、e daylight barely came.By the time I had become familiar with my quarters a bell, which rivaled the door-bell in its loudness, began clanging in the basement, and simultaneously women went trooping down-stairs from all parts of the house. I imagined, from the obvious signs, that dinner was served, b
40、ut as no one had said anything to me I made no effort to follow in the hungry train. Yet I did wish that some one would invite me down. It always produces such a lonely, homesick feeling to know others are eating, and we havent a chance, even if we are not hungry. I was glad when the assistant matro
41、n came up and asked me if I did not want something to eat. I replied that I did, and then I asked her what her name was. Mrs. Stanard, she said, and I immediately wrote it down in a notebook I had taken with me for the purpose of making memoranda, and in which I had written several pages of utter no
42、nsense for inquisitive scientists.Thus equipped I awaited developments. But my dinner-well, I followed Mrs. Stanard down the uncarpeted stairs into the basement; where a large number of women were eating. She found room for me at a table with three other women. The short-haired slavey who had opened
43、 the door now put in an appearance as waiter. Placing her arms akimbo and staring me out of countenance she said:“Boiled mutton, boiled beef, beans, potatoes, coffee or tea?”“Beef, potatoes, coffee and bread,” I responded.“Bread goes in,” she explained, as she made her way to the kitchen, which was
44、in the rear. It was not very long before she returned with what I had ordered on a large, badly battered tray, which she banged down before me. I began my simple meal. It was not very enticing, so while making a feint of eating I watched the others.I have often moralized on the repulsive form charit
45、y always assumes! Here was a home for deserving women and yet what a mockery the name was. The floor was bare, and the little wooden tables were sublimely ignorant of such modern beautifiers as varnish, polish and table-covers. It is useless to talk about the cheapness of linen and its effect on civ
46、ilization. Yet these honest workers, the most deserving of women, are asked to call this spot of bareness-home.When the meal was finished each woman went to the desk in the corner, where Mrs. Stanard sat, and paid her bill. I was given a much-used, and abused, red check, by the original piece of hum
47、anity in shape of my waitress. My bill was about thirty cents.After dinner I went up-stairs and resumed my former place in the back parlor. I was quite cold and uncomfortable, and had fully made up my mind that I could not endure that sort of business long, so the sooner I assumed my insane points t
48、he sooner I would be released from enforced idleness. Ah! that was indeed the longest day I had ever lived. I listlessly watched the women in the front parlor, where all sat except myself.One did nothing but read and scratch her head and occasionally call out mildly, “Georgie,” without lifting her e
49、yes from her book. “Georgie” was her over-frisky boy, who had more noise in him than any child I ever saw before. He did everything that was rude and unmannerly, I thought, and the mother never said a word unless she heard some one else yell at him. Another woman always kept going to sleep and waking herself up with her own snoring. I really felt wickedly thankful it was only herself she awakened. The majority of the women sa