The Republic

A TOUCHING INCIDENT.—We find in the St. Louis Republican of the 28th ult the following history of some unfortunate unknown, who, perhaps has friends and relatives in Germany, unapprized of her pitiful condition:

"At the quarantine ground there is a pitiable, yet curious case of insanity, and one which demands the interference of some one, for the subject of it is a female.

"The person alluded to is a woman apparently about thirty years of age. She goes by the name of Catharine, and, when she can be kept still long enough to say any thing rational, gives her name as Catharine Weber. We have made several efforts to gather her history from her, but have always failed, possibly because we have had to use an interpreter, and she talks rapidly, and frequently incoherently. The most rational story is, that she is from Germany—has been three months in the United States—has a brother, Adam Weber, a watchmaker, who, she sometimes says, left her in Cincinnati, and at others that he left her in the mountains of Pennsylvania. She says that Mr. Angelrodt knows her family and connexions, and that she has relations living either in Potosi or Mine La Motte, but it is difficult, from her incoherent manner, to determine which place. She is entirely destitute, and provision should be made for her.

"She is a harmless creature, and might be said to be more idiotic than crazy. She roams over all the ground, visiting every bed, especially the sick, and seems to have a very correct idea of those who are going to die. A few minutes before death occurs, she is there, stands by them, and when they die, she is very officious in closing their eyes, laying their bodies out, and fixing their limbs in proper position. This done, she goes out, and from the shrubs she weaves a wreath, which she insists upon being placed on the corpse. She sees it placed in the coffin, and is particularly captious and nice to see that the lid is fitted down right; then follows to the grave as chief mourner. At the grave she has another wreath to lay on the coffin; this deposited, (as the men all yield to her fancies,) she waits until the grave is filled, and then for full half an hour she stands on or by the grave chaunting hymns and songs. She sings with a good, clear voice. She is up nearly all hours of the night and day; and whenever a boat arrives or departs, she stands upon the river bank chaunting her songs.

She is mild, always engaged in some work, either sweeping the ground or making tea or something for the sick.

"Of all the calamities which this world presents, the fate of a poor, destitute, and unfriended female, bereft of reason, is to us the most painful sight. We are not much given to the melting mood, but when we see a female exposed to the pitiless jests, annoyance, and even insults of the unthinking crowd, we are more affected than with death in all its haggard forms."

The condition of Catharine should enlist the sympathy of those who can understand her language, and learn from her something of her history.