In my letter to the Governor I had laid more stress upon the abuses to which I had been subjected at this private institution than I had upon conditions at the State Hospital where I was when I wrote to him.  This may have had some effect on the action he took, or rather failed to take.  At any rate, as to the State Hospital, no action was taken.  Not even a word of warning was sent to the officials, as I later learned; for before leaving the institution I asked them.

Though my letter did not bring about an investigation, it was not altogether without results.  Naturally, it was with considerable satisfaction that I informed the doctors that I had outwitted them, and it was with even greater satisfaction that I now saw those in authority make a determined, if temporary, effort to protect helpless patients against the cruelties of attendants.  The moment the doctors were convinced that I had gone over their heads and had sent a characteristic letter of protest to the Governor of the State, that moment they began to protect themselves with an energy born of a realization of their former shortcomings.  Whether or not the management in question ever admitted that their unwonted activity was due to my successful stratagem, the fact remains that the summary discharge of several attendants accused and proved guilty of brutality immediately followed and for a while put a stop to wanton assaults against which for a period of four months I had protested in vain.  Patients who still lived in the violent ward told me that comparative peace reigned about this time.

XXVII

My failure to force the Governor to investigate conditions at the State Hospital convinced me that I could not hope to prosecute my reforms until I should regain my liberty and re-establish myself in my old world.  I therefore quitted the role of reformer-militant; and, but for an occasional outburst of righteous indignation at some flagrant abuse which obtruded itself upon my notice, my demeanor was that of one quite content with his lot in life.

I was indeed content—­I was happy.  Knowing that I should soon regain my freedom, I found it easy to forgive—­taking great pains not to forget—­any injustice which had been done me.  Liberty is sweet, even to one whose appreciation of it has never been augmented by its temporary loss.  The pleasurable emotions which my impending liberation aroused within me served to soften my speech and render me more tractable.  This change the assistant physician was not slow to note, though he was rather slow in placing in me the degree of confidence which I felt I deserved.  So justifiable, however, was his suspicion that even at the time I forgave him for it.  I had on so many prior occasions “played possum” that the doctor naturally attributed complex and unfathomable motives to my most innocent acts.  For a long time he seemed to think that I was trying to capture his confidence, win the privilege of an unlimited parole, and so effect my escape.  Doubtless he had not forgotten the several plans for escape which I had dallied with and bragged about while in the violent ward.