ALFRED'S REIGN CONTINUED THOUGH UNDER ISABEL MAGDALENE.
It must be remembered that in Alfred's reign the hall on the second floor, occupied by females, was accessible to the hall above, occupied by male patients, as the stairs were not at the time cased up.
One day as I stood looking from the head of the stairs, I saw down at the foot, a female lunatic bound in a straight jacket in a squabble with Isabel the Magdalene attendant, then quickly passed by Alfred, and down to the ward-hall, severely laying hold of the almost helpless lunatic, crushing her to the floor upon her back, then jumping upon her bowels, with both his knees and with all his heft pounced upon her, like a ferocious animal upon his prey. It was a bloody battle, pray, judge ye, how I felt seeing the blood standing in pools on the floor. Yea, reader, drop a sympathizing tear for the unfortunate sufferers who are locked in lunatic asylums with such brutal outcasts for attendants. Union is strength, this the serpent-like know as well as the righteous. And He who knows all hearts hath said, "Though the wicked go hand in hand, they shall not go unpunished."