This patient once had a kind mother and an affectionate father, but where is he now? Go visitor, to lunatic asylums as visitor, but until you go as a patient you will know but little about the secret workings of these institutions. Fathers and mothers, friends and neighbors, send your sick and unfortunate ones to these places, and you little know how they are treated and dealt with. I have learned to my sorrow how patients are treated, and I would say to one and all, know you are right before you transport any to an earthly hell. Since I left the Ida Hill asylum, in 1871, I have often visited it, going through from center to circumference, being permitted so to do by Dr. Lomax, who was the resident medical superintendent, and is up to this time, 1874. Dr. Lomax is the only physician that I formed an intimate acquaintance with while a patient in this institution, and this acquaintance was first formed in the incurable house, and to do Dr. L. justice, in my opinion he is a gentleman. I found, in 1871, that he could not only reason, but that he was willing to hear others. After I had thoroughly weighed him in my own mind, I resolved to improve every opportunity of reasoning with him I had, for with him, I had learned, depended my permit to go _home_, and that I very well knew would not be until he thought me sane in body and mind. I often heard patients ask attendants if they could go home, "Ask the Doctor," was the get-off. A few of my interviews with Dr. L. are in future pages. APPARENTLY A GARDEN OF PARADISE. When first I entered this house, situated upon Ida Hill, in 1860, on the west side lay a beautiful garden, inclosed with a gate on either side, east and west, from gate to gate, was the vineyard forming a shady walk, between the house and the garden was a thorny hedge, within this garden were many kinds of trees bearing fruit, and like Adam and Eve, our first parents, I saw Mr. and Mrs. John Harrison often walking in this asylum garden, in the cool of the day. Soon after I entered this house, I found a circular containing the rules and by-laws of this institution, and in it I learned that Mr. Harrison was steward, and Mrs. Harrison was matron. I also learned that there was a chapel in the building, and Mr. Harrison often read a chapter and prayed at the sacred desk, though for ten long years he has not spoken to me, neither had I been into the chapel, and no one had given me an encouraging word, however much I needed it. In 1870, I found a friend, who encouraged my heart, and assisted me to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling. Since I left the asylum not a cloud has gathered o'er my mind to darken my hopes in regard to my future happiness and joys in a future state, which for more than ten years was the burden of my heart.