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Editor's Table, June 1852

From: Editor's Table
Creator:  A (author)
Date: June 1852
Publication: The Opal
Source: New York State Library

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We promised in our last number to give in this, our views on the subject of "Spiritual Rappings." A month, dear readers, since then, has rolled away, bearing us still nearer to "that undiscovered country" from which not only "no traveller returns," but which He who made the world has shrouded in such deep darkness and silence that even no voice comes from it save that of revelation, speaking "I am the resurrection and the life," assuring us that in His own good time the grave shall give up its dead, and its hushed stillness burst forth in fullness of speech. And shall we follow the unhallowed feet of vain fools, and intrude ourselves upon the sacred precincts of death? We shall spare ourselves the labor We shall not dare the presumption. Our Superintendent allows us to state one fact, which speaks more than words; there are in this Institution Fourteen (!) persons whose reason has been dethroned by this unhappy delusion. This is all we have to say now; in some future number the subject may be treated more at length.

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The following Letter was received a few days since, with a pencil drawing of the figure which our accomplished artist transferred to wood with wonderful accuracy. We are proud to have the portrait of our only brother to grace our pages.

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TO THE EDITOR OF THE OPAL.

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Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane.
May 31st 1852.

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DEAR SIR, -- In looking over the May No. of the your truly useful and able periodical, we notice that you make mention of a paper styled the "Entertainer," which was, a short time since, published in this institution. Above, we give a fac-simile the finis of that paper, which, we flatter ourselves, will answer your inquiries as to why "you have known nothing about it." We in loco Editoris thank you for the kind interest manifested in the behalf of one of our own offspring, and also for the offer of your very efficient aid in adding strength to its columns.

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The "Entertainer" was a weekly publication of entirely original articles contributed by the inmates from both sides of the building, and while it performed the office consistent with its title, it, at the same time, by a happy combination of powers, robbed misery of its potency and sorrow of its sting. It was not averse to publishing "bubbles light as air," if it was thought they would tend to

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"Softly smooth the brow of care.
"And write a thousand graces there."

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In a word, the grave and gay were felicitously arranged in its columns, so that its appearance was always hailed with pleasure. The "Entertainer" has further been open to the examination, of strangers, and we have not yet heard of one declaring that it was unworthy of the efforts of those, tvho, as some suppose, are incapable of displaying any ingenuity when atnu~ing themselves at the "delectable game of draughts."

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But to return to our sketch. If on looking attentively at it, Mr. Editor, you think you can decipher an eagerness in the stride, or if you imagine you can trace in the tout ensemble any desire to "locomote" at an increased speed, we beg you to disabuse your mind of such false impressions, for we will make it upon ourselves to assure you, that the Editor of the "Entertainer" never left this Institution with that impetuosity which the artist has thought fit to betray it, the illustration given. No, Sir! not a bit of it! There are charms which (let the outside world think it ever so great a paradox) hovers over this spot, and which twines round the heart with irresistible power.

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We have now given you the facts. We would further hope that you will appreciate our intent, and that is, it a paper is established here permanently, the "Opal" is the first from whom we would claim sympathy and aid.

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We have read your periodical with feelings expressive of both pleasure and pride; pleasure, from the able and instructive properties of the papers, and pride, from your convincing the outside world of their utter ignorance when speculating in regard to our world impaled. And also convincing them of the humiliating fact of their being involved in more than Cimmerian darkness where they would be thought wise.

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I am, your's truly,
P. H.

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The Democratic Review in an article on "Fogey Literature" makes mention of the Opal as a monthly or semi-monthly paper published at the State Asylum, and says that Willis and Jones, and such-like "fellows," should not contribute to other papers, or write books, but rather write for our paper. Shade of O'Sullivan on Capital Punishment, deliver us! If a man cannot discriminate between a monthly and semi-monthly, he had better put up at an Ass-ylum, and invoke the aid of St. Nicholas to aid him to translate, -- Ne sutor ultra crepidam, and be content to acknowledge an affinity to the asinine species. Fogey is a word beyond our literature, but if we understand what is meant by it, we do not belong to the school. When we are fogey-ized, we will say so, and some one can "make a note on't." We have no room to answer this slander in the present number, but will take time to give our opinion on "Fogies and Fast Men" after the Fourth of July.

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