I watched their return in fear and trembling. Presently the two cowards, encouraged by David Hicks, a child of the devil Isabel, for he often called her mother for the sake of gain. Hicks was a strong person, of more than medium size. The three rushed up to me, Hicks grabbed me around my body and arms, hurling me to the floor in a moment, placing his heavy knee upon my left side. "Oh," said I, "You will break my ribs." "It is of little consequence," says Hicks. Holding me fast, whilst the two cowards bound me with the accursed harness. The attendant then raised me upon my feet; the three ruffians then kicked me into another room to a chair that was ironed to the floor, when seated, my hands being bound as seen in the engraving; the attendant ran strap B and B between my body and arms, on either side, then below to the rounds of the chair; then drawing strap F, which was fast to my feet, by cuff D and D, strap F was locked to the back round of the chair. In this suffering condition, in pain from my wounded side and ribs, all day long I sit, nothing to eat, not even a cup of cold water. I was much fatigued and faint when the sun set in the west. But, says the reader, as many others have said, who have listened to the rehearsal of this transaction, did the attendant cut your hair off, he did not, he loosed me in the evening, told me he would never bind me again, and he kept his word as to that.
REMARKS.
I wore the accursed harness but twice in the asylum, and that too against my will, not as a duty. But now in 1874 I am exhibiting a similar one that I bought of a Mr. Hogan, as a duty, to let the people know how patients are treated in lunatic asylums. Although I have received maltreatment in asylums in New York and Vermont States, I am not altogether opposed to these institutions, for there are insane persons who have no homes, yet I protest against maltreatment. We are received as insane, unfortunate beings, use us kind, and the good Lord will reward you. Will lecture upon this subject, and exhibit the asylum harness, when arrangements are made in proper places. Address M. Swan, Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer county, N. Y.
A charge to keep, I have,
A God to glorify,
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the skies.
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill,
Oh, may it all my power engage