Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Lymanbelievesthatthisnotecontainspositiveproofofawell-developedcaseofdementiapraecox,butWillettontheotherhandregardsitasthelastperfectlysaneutteranceofthehaplessyouth.Hecallsespecialattentiontothenormalcharacterofthepenmanship;whichthoughshowingtracesofshatterednerves,isneverthelessdistinctlyWard’sown.Thetextinfullisasfollows:

           100ProspectSt.Providence,R.I.,February8,1928.

           DearDr.Willett:—

           IfeelthatatlastthetimehascomeformetomakethedisclosureswhichIhavesolongpromisedyou,andforwhichyouhavepressedmesooften.Thepatienceyouhaveshowninwaiting,andtheconfidenceyouhaveshowninmymindandintegrity,arethingsIshallneverceasetoappreciate.

           AndnowthatIamreadytospeak,ImustownwithhumiliationthatnotriumphsuchasIdreamedofcaneverbymine.InsteadoftriumphIhavefoundterror,andmytalkwithyouwillnotbeaboastofvictorybutapleaforhelpandadviceinsavingbothmyselfandtheworldfromahorrorbeyondallhumanconceptionorcalculation.YourecallwhatthoseFennerletterssaidoftheoldraidingpartyatPawtuxet.Thatmustallbedoneagain,andquickly.Uponusdependsmorethancanbeputintowords—allcivilization,allnaturallaw,perhapseventhefateofthesolarsystemandtheuniverse.Ihavebroughttolightamonstrousabnormality,butIdiditforthesakeofknowledge.NowforthesakeofalllifeandNatureyoumusthelpmethrustitbackintothedarkagain.