| | 1 | Author: | Poe, Edgar Allan | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | THE SYSTEM OF DOCTOR TARR AND PROFESSOR FETHER  | | | | Published: | 2001 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | southern provinces of France, my route led me within a few miles of
a certain Maison de Sante or private mad-house, about which I had
heard much in Paris from my medical friends. As I had never visited
a place of the kind, I thought the opportunity too good to be lost;
and so proposed to my travelling companion (a gentleman with whom I
had made casual acquaintance a few days before) that we should turn
aside, for an hour or so, and look through the establishment. To
this he objected- pleading haste in the first place, and, in the
second, a very usual horror at the sight of a lunatic. He begged me,
however, not to let any mere courtesy towards himself interfere with
the gratification of my curiosity, and said that he would ride on
leisurely, so that I might overtake him during the day, or, at all
events, during the next. As he bade me good-bye, I bethought me that
there might be some difficulty in obtaining access to the premises,
and mentioned my fears on this point. He replied that, in fact, unless
I had personal knowledge of the superintendent, Monsieur Maillard,
or some credential in the way of a letter, a difficulty
might be found
to exist, as the regulations of these private mad-houses were more
rigid than the public hospital laws. For himself, he added, he had,
some years since, made the acquaintance of Maillard, and would so
far assist me as to ride up to the door and introduce me; although his
feelings on the subject of lunacy would not permit of his entering the
house. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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