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Lunatic Asylum humour - Upside down wheelbarrow
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Lunatic Asylum humour - Upside down wheelbarrow
Visitor to Dottieville Lunatic Asylum which is undergoing structural improvements (to harmless lunatic who is extremely busy wheeling a barrow upside down) - " You ought to turn that barrow the other way up!" Harmless Lunatic (knowingly) -" I did yesterday, but they put bricks in it." !!! Date: 1899
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Media ID 11574941
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Asylum Avoiding Barrow Character Common Crazed Crazy Daft Improvements Insane Insanity Institution Joke Labour Labourer Literal Lunatic Lunatics Madness Meaning Mental Phil Psychiatric Rebuilding Sense Silly Structural Study Upside Visitor Wheelbarrow Wild Witty Words Craziness Dotty Sanity Silliness
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "A Humorous Encounter at Dottieville Lunatic Asylum: The Upside-Down Wheelbarrow" Date: 1899 This intriguing photograph captures a light-hearted moment at Dottieville Lunatic Asylum during its structural improvements. In the image, a visitor, dressed in Victorian attire, is engaging in a playful exchange with a seemingly harmless lunatic, who is busily wheeling a wheelbarrow upside down. The visitor, with a quizzical expression, suggests, "You ought to turn that barrow the other way up!" The lunatic, with a knowing smile, responds, "I did yesterday, but they put bricks in it." This humorous interaction between the visitor and the lunatic offers a glimpse into the daily life at Dottieville Asylum during a time when the institution was undergoing renovations. The lunatic's response, a clever pun, showcases the wit and sense of humor that could be found even in the most unexpected places. The photograph also highlights the contrasting roles of the visitor and the lunatic. The visitor, representing the sane and rational world, offers advice from a place of common sense. The lunatic, on the other hand, challenges the visitor's perspective with his unconventional approach to labor and his playful use of language. The image also serves as a reminder of the historical context of the time, when the understanding of mental health and the treatment of the mentally ill were vastly different from today's standards. The photograph invites us to reflect on the complexities of mental health and the importance of maintaining a sense of humor and empathy in our interactions with those who are different from us. Overall, this photograph is a unique and humorous depiction of life at a lunatic asylum in the late 1800s, offering a glimpse into the past and reminding us of the importance of maintaining a sense of humor and understanding in our interactions with others.
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