TEE STOLEN LETTERS.
"Real ! of cause it's real eighteen
carats and a thorough good one goes
like one o'clock and the albert too ,
takca the shine out of the French mas
ter's , " and Tom Liuton , schoolboy ,
aged fifteen , in the exuberance of his
satisfaction , shook the albert vigorously
in the face of his admiring friend ,
Bertie Chisholm.
"But who it to ?
gave you your gov
ernor ? " queried the latter , as the
owner of tho watch proceeded
to detach the pendant from his
vest to allow his companion a closer
inspection.
"No ; Bob's sister. "
"Bob who ? "
"Bob Allerdyce. You don't know
him ; he left befdre you came. "
"It is a stunner , though , " said Bertie ,
as he took the shining toy in his hand
and examined it critically.
It was a small gold watch , exquisitely
chased and jewelled , and had attached a
slender albert chain of the same metal ,
exhibiting beautiful workmanship.
"You're a lucky chap , Tom , " said
Bertie , as he returned it. "You're al
ways coming in for something better
than the other fellows. You've got bet
ter bats and cricket rig than Smith in
the Sixth , and you've better fishing
tackle than any other fellow in the
school. That last trout rod my eye ! it
is a beauty ! " and Bertie relapsed into
a trance of admiration as he mentally
recalled the numoerless attractions and
perfections of that last trout rod.
"I'll lend it to Bert "
you , , said Tom ,
with an easy conscious superiority in
the matter of worldly possessions.
"Honor bright ? "
"Honor bright , any time you want it.
If you smash it , as you did the last one ,
lean get another where it came from. "
It may be here explained that Bertie
was an enthusiatic disciple of Isaac
Walton , and was in the habit of ' 'going
fishing" in the reedy stream behind the
village whenever he had a chance.
These excursions were to him produc
tive of more enjoyment than success , as
he invariably after decorating the trees
and bushes on the banks with various
separate casts of flies , and manfully try
ing to hook up boulders from the bot
tom of the water returned with the
stump of a rod , some yards of line , and
the information that he "couldn't get a
bite. "
IP. On the present occasion the prospect
of an early indulgence in his favorite
amusement rendered him effusively
grateful , and it was not till he had in
formed Tom that he was a brick , at
least three times , that he returned to
the subject of the watch by asking ,
"But , I say , you haven't told me yet
who she is that gave you that thing. "
"I did. She's bobVsister. "
"Yes , but that makes mo just as wise
as before , Who's Bob ? and who's his
sister ? and who's "
"Shut up. What a fellow you arc to
ask questions ! But , it's rather a queer
Jbtory , the way I got that watch ; so let's
sit down and I'll tell you. "
Accordingly , Tom "and his expectant
ly curious crony seated themselves on
the twisted roots of an old , moss-grown
oak , and the former began his narra
tion.
tion."You
"You couldn't guess what I got that
for ? it was a reward , you know. "
"It was something you did for her , "
hazarded Bert
"Yes , but what ? "
"Well , maybe you saved her from a
fire , or from robbers , or she was drown
ing , and you plunged in at the risk of
"
your
"Stuff ! " interrupted Tom , derisively.
"Such things don't happen only in
novels. "
"Yes , they do , " stoutlv insisted
Bertie , "because I know a fellow whose
big brother saved a young lady from
robbers two tramps one day. He
heard her screams , and ran mto the
wood , and they had knocked her down
and taken her watch and purse , and
were trying to get the rings off her hand ;
sand this fellow's brother went for them
-on the spot , and licked them so that
"they couldn't move , and the police got
7them , and they got penal servitude , and
"go\v fliis fellow's brother and the young
.lady arc going to be married , and that's
not in a novel , " concluded Bertie ,
triumphantlv. v b
"Well , " said Tom , dubiously , "that
may be , but it doesn't often happen , and h
any way it wasn't for anything like that b
that I got my present. " I !
"What was it for , then ? " asked Ber ii
tie. iiii
"Thieving ! " was the startling reply. ii
"What ? " iit
"Pocket-picking , " continued Tom , in
grinning enjoyment of his friend's
astonishment. "Climbed up the ivy to d
a fellow's window when he was absent , dsi da
rummaged his pockets and stole a pac si
ket of letters. My eye ! wasn't he wild sia
that afternoon , when he found that they a
? " and Tom chuck
were gone iniquitous ii
led with delight over the recollection of iisi
his victim's wrath.
si
"How was it , Tom ? Tell us , " per sin sia
sisted Bertie. n
Tom , thus adjured , proceeded with h
the following narration of his theft : a
'Well , it was just a year ago last a
Christmas. It was Bob's last term , and
he was leaving for good when the school
broke up for the holidays. He asked me
to go with him on a visit to his folks , S
and as he had been twice at our place ,
and father and mother liked him very
much , they allowed me to accept the
invitation. I was to go home for a day
or two , and then go by rail to Ellerton [
Bob's folks' place on Christmas Eve.
I.got through that programme right :
enough , and it was just growing dusk
on Christmas Eve when the train slow
ed up and I got out at Elk-rton Station
a toy-boy of a place stuck on the side
of a hill. , illerton village a cluster of
some fifty houses jumbled together any
how lay down in the hollow about a
mile below the station , and on the rise
of the valley I saw a large mansion-
house , which I afterwards found was
Ellerton Priory Bob's folks' place. I ;
didn't think much of it then. The cold
was beastly , the snow was two feet deep ,
and I was nearly frozen sitting in that
ice house of a railway carriage. I liked
, it better afterwards , though.
Bob waswaiting with a trap , and , as
we drove down toward the village , I
asked him a lot of questions about the
house , and whether they had many
visitors.
{ "A regular jam , " he said ; j "can't
I
move among them hardly. Too. and I
are the only two boys , though , so we'll
be pretty much left to ourselves.
They're not a bad lot , either ; there's
only one of them that I don't like. "
"Who's that ? "
"A sneak a cad , " replied Bob , sav
agely. "He's a lawyer , or a money
lender , or something of that sort , in the
city , and has heaps of money. "
"What's his name ? "
' Crocket Jasper Crocket. I never
go near him without feeling inclined to
punch his head. He's got the soft side
of the governor somehow , and I fancy
that he wants to marry my sister , little
Vi ; but he'll never do that I'll knock
his brains out first , " and Bob cut at the
mare so viciously that she plunged and
came near upsetting the trap in tho
deep drift that lay on the side of the
As we turned in at the lodge gates
and spun up the avenue I saw that the
Priory was a great deal bigger and
grander than I had imagined quite a
swell place , in fact. I mentioned some
thing of that sort to BOD , when he
laughed and said ,
"Oh , it's right enough ; we haven't
had it long , though. The governor
bought it about two years ago. But
here we are ; jump out. Martin , take
this box > up to Master Linton's room ;
the one next to mine , you know. "
As the flunkey marched off with my
trunk Mrs. Allerdyce came down the
steps to meet us , and Ttell you I liked
her right off she welcomed me so
kindly , hoped that I would enjoy my
visit , and all that
"Remember you're in Robert's
charge , and if you do not enjoy your
self he'll be held responsible , " she said.
'All right , mother , " said Bob ; "you
leave that to me. But you might send
us up something to my room ; we're
nearly famished. "
"If you will take your friend into the
' '
supper-room
"No , no , mother , " said Bob ; "there's
too much of a crowd there. I want to
have a chat with Tom lay plans , you
know. "
"Very well , dear , " she said , smiling.
"When you've arranged your plans ,
lit
'CONSENT AND I DESTROY THESE. "
ring Tom down stairs and introduce
iini to your father. "
"All right Come on , Tom , " and we
iiindled up stairs to Bob's den , where
got off my wraps , and set about thaw-
ng myself at the lire.
Some ten minutes after a maid came
n with a glorious tuck-in in the way of
ea ( , and we were just about to go for it
vhen somebody knocked at the door.
"Who's that ? " shouted Bob , as the
loor opened. "We've nothing to give
iway. We can do for this lot our-
elves. "
"You greedy boy. " said a soft'.voice ,
lud the prettiest girl I ever saw came
nto the room.
"Little Vi ! " exclaimed Bob , and as
he came up to him he got hold of her
ind hugged and kissed her till my
nouth watered. "What sent you up
icre ? I thought you were too busy
imong the swells down stairs to bother
iboutus. "
She made a face and said ,
"I don't care for the swells , and I'd
ather be with you ; besides I wanted to
ice < your friend. Introduce us , Bob. "
"Bother introductions , " replied Bob.
'See here , Tom , this is my sister Violet ,
he jolliest little sister in the world.
y"i , this is my best chum , Tom Linton.
want you to be friends. "
"I am sure we shall , " she said , as she
amc up to me , and gave me her hand.
I was sure of it , too , and said so. To
ell the truth , I fell in love with her on
he spot.
Jl'mnot good at descriptions , "but I'll
ry to tell you what she was like. She
vasn't big rather small than most wo-
nen but she was so well-formed and
graceful that one didn't think her so
ittle as she really was. Her face well ,
I've said she waspretty , but if I were to
it here talking for a week I couldn't
ell you how pretty. Her complexion
vas'clear pink and white , her features
lelicatc , her hair was of a golden color
icr eyes were like her name , violet
But what's the use of talking ? I can't fc
lescribe her.
Well she took charge of the tea
iings , and my shyness were off after a
ait , and then we got as merry as grigs ,
ind had a splendid time of it She
wasn't a bit stuck up , and could chafi E
u.Ji.u. L ' -/-Wj-ULTlTJ / . . .I
'with either of us. One thing I noticed ,
and that was that she and Bob were aw
fully fond of each other. I've seen
brothers and sisters loving enough , but
never anything like that It did me good
to look at them.
We had just fairly commenced to the
spread when another knock came to the
door , and Bob shouted "Come in" with
his mouthfuL The visitor came in a
Sung fellow with a heavy mustache ,
e was a regular giant , six feet high ,
and as'straight as a dart I guessed
him to be a soldier as soon as I saw
him.
him.As
As she caught sight of him Violet's
face went scarlet , and she made herself
very busy with the tea urn for a minute
or two.
"Well , " said Bob , "what d'ye want ? "
"Some slight refreshments for chari
ty's sake. " replied the stranger , with a
laughable attempt at a beggar's whine.
'I'm starving. "
Then why don't you go down to the
kitchen and , get some scraps ? " demand
ed Bob.
"Robert ! " exclaimed Violet , laughing
and blushing.
"Oh , it's all very well for you to say ,
'Robert , ' Vi , " said Bob ; "bust's my be
lief that you encourage these vagrants.
I can't have them here eating me out of
house and home. We'll have a round
dozen up here presently. Why don't
you go down to the supper room ? " he
asked the stranger.
"I'm too weak exhausted , " he an
swered , sinking down on a chair in a
manner that made us all laugh.
"Well , " said Bob , "since you are
here , I suppose you'll have to stay , so ,
Vi , you can look after him. Capt
Graham , this is my chum , Tom Lin-
ton. "
We shook hands , and in five minutes
we were as thick as thieves. He was a
thoroughly good fellow. Ho told stories ,
cracked jokes , and kept us all laughing ;
and then Violet looked so pretty , and al
together things went so swimmingly
that I think wo were all sorry when
Mrs. Allerdyce looked in at the door.
' . 'Come in , mother , " cried Bob. "We
only want you to complete the compa
ny. "
"I've come to turn you all out , " she :
said , smilling. "Violet dear , you must )
go down ; you've been missed. Capt.
Graham , I'll never forgive you for run-1 nt
ning away. Come , Tom , with me , and |
you follow , Robert ; " and so we had to h
goDown be
Down in the drawing-room I was in-
troduced to Bob's governor , a nice
cr
old but rather
enough gentleman , be
sleepy , I thought ; and then as the com ed
pany did'nt taKe much notice of me , I Eb
was at liberty to dodge about and make
observations. I wasn't long in the room i j
before I had Crocket pointed out to me ,
et
and I took a thoroughly dislike to him etTl
at first sighf.
It wasn't that he was old he couldn't
have been forty and it wasn't that he lo
was ugly either , but somehow when I ca
looked at him I quite understood the da
feeling that made Bob want to punch
his head. He was tall and thin , face
clean shaved and yellowish white , with tli
eyes like black beads shining out of it. as
He was always smiling in a half bland ,
half sneering fashion that was irritating
to see , and had a stealthy way of creep
ing about just like a cat.
Well , sitting there watching him out ut
of my corner , I would have been as blind
as a mole if I hadn't seen that he was
dead spoons on Violet , He kept follow
ing her about , and speaking to her in a vo
quiet whispering , persistent way , that
she couldn't very well resent , and that as
worried her half to death. She didn't
want him much that was plain ; w'as just in
civil , and seemed to shrink from him , he
and try to give him the slip. Once ,
when he sat down beside her , she rose fo :
and walked to the other end of the
room. He looked after her , smiling ; th
but if ever a man's eyes looked murder , thwl
his did then. wl
There was another one in the room
who was , if anything , worse than Croc
ket about Violet , and that was Capt.
Graham , only she didn't run away from It
him. I was sure that he wouldn't cut
the Crocket vermin out , and I was glad
of it
itWell
Well , there's no necessity for telling
you all about , the ball on Christmas ki
night , although it was a tip-top affair ,
too. What I want to get to is the ivj ft :
business , and to tefl you hovr beautifully
brown I did that white faced sneak.
Ifc was'two days after Christmas , and
I -WHS crossing toe hall when the library
door opened and Violet came out To
look at her frightened me. Her face
was as white as death , her eyes looked
horriblo with the pain and terror in them ,
and she had her hand squeezed agains- }
her heart
"Violet ! " I cried.
She leaned her arm on my shoulder
and said with a kind of sob ,
"Oh , Tom ! "
Before she could say any more the
library door opened again and Crocket
came out She gave one look and then
ran up stairs. He came up to me rub
bing nis hands together and grinning
like a Cheshire cat
"Oh , my young friend ! Good-morn
ing , " be exclaimed.
I didn't give him any answer , I was
too angry , but turned and walked away.
What was upL of course , didn't know ,
but I was sure he had been at some mis
chief.
It was a very unfortunate thing for
him next day , though , that I should
have gone into the library and fallen
asleep behind a screen very unlucky
indeed for Mr. Jasper Crocket
I had been snoozing for perhaps an
hour when I was awakened by the sound
of voic , and , peeping through the
screen , . I saw Crocket standing by the
fire , and opposite him , holding ou by
tho back of a chair , and looking as if
she was going to faint , was Violet.
I was just about to bolt out when it
struck me that I might as well keep still
and see what his attic game was. Of
course , you know , Bert , it wasn't a very
honorable thing to do , but then he was
such a sneak , and and well , I am glad
now that I did listen.
When I first looked out he was stand
ing on the rug with that beastly grin on
his phiz , and she was looking at him
with a deadly white face and wild eyes.
"No , Miss Allerdyce , you must see
that it will be better for all concerned if
you consent"
"And if I do not ? "
"In that case , I will certainty make
use of the papers I have so fortunately
discovered ; and you can imagine the
consequences to your brother , he an
swered.
"I do not believe it Charles has been
foolish , wicked even , but he would never
stoop to that , " she burst out
"My dear Miss Allerdyce Violet , I
may call you , it is unfortunately no sub
ject for belief ; it is a matter of fact
Here , " and he took a packet of letters
from his pocket , "here are proofs amply
sufficient to convict Charles Allerdice
before a judge and jury of shall I say
what ? "
She gave a low cry and sat down on
the chair , shaking like a leaf. He came
close to her and said in a threatening
tone
"Consent , and I destroy these ; refuse ,
and I will place him in the dock. I will
give you till to-morrow to decide. Do
you hear ? "
"Yes , leave me leave me , " she
gasped.
e went out smiling harder than
over. Violet lay down on a couch sob
bing ,
"Oh , Harry ! Oh , my love , my love ! "
While she was lying there crying I had
time to think a bit. I knew she had a
brother named Charles a good-for-noth
ing loot he was too , Bob had told me
but I was at a loss to know who Harry
was. At last I remembered that Capt
Graham's name was Harry , and then I
understood it.
She stayed there on the couch for
nearly an hour , and then she got up and
went out , looking like a ghost.
I came from behind the screen , and I i
reached the hall just in time to see
Crocket go down the front steps. I fol-
lowed him to the door and noticed that P
he had changed his coat. Instantly the r1
thought struck me to have a try for those "
letters. I watched him go down the
ivenue and then rushed up to his room ,
rhe door was locked. tlei
Then I thought of the window and the ein
"
vy , and went"out to have a look. It n
nras an "ugly climb , ana the risk was .
rreat. both as to falling and the danger H
being caught , but I determined to try
. I'd have run any risk to get the
vhip hand of that cad. His room was eisi
the left wing , and the window fronted siai
he wood , so that I was not so likely to aiw
e seen as if it had faced the front w . ,
Well I threw off my jacket and went I 1w
it , I was a good bit excited , and as I w
scuffled up among the leaves I couldn't siP'
iclp thinking what a jolty go it would , P'
G if 1 was had up for burglary. a
i o J I V
Near the I had almost
top come a
te
iropper through the trails giving way , JU
mt 1 held on like glueand at last reach-
the window. The hasp was not
ihot , and in two twos I was inside.
The first thing I saw was the coat ti
ying on a chair. I dived into the pock- tisi
, and found the letters right enough.
Che stupid ass had never thought of
ocking them up. th :
"You'd better believe I didn't stay thG
ong : after I got my claws on them. I tli
same down that ivy like a cat , and "
lanced a jig in the snow at the bottom. th :
Then I went to look for Violet. cr
I went up to her room and knocked at jd
he door. It was opened by a maid , who la
isked what I wanted.
"I want to see Violet. "
pc
"She is unwell , and can't see any th ;
thT
"But I must see her only for a mi&- Tl
ite. "
ite."You Pi
"You can't see her , " and she was th ;
joing to shut the door. dc
"I must. I'll kick the panels in if of
ou shut it , " I said in desperation. nc
"What is it , Mary ? " ' 1 heard Violet be
.sk.I . cl : ]
I pushed past the girl , and went right dc
. Violet was tying back in a chair by dcWi
fire , and looked miserable.
I want to see you by yourself just
a minute , " I got out
She looked surprised and then "told Wl
girl to go away. Wlte
" 1 was in the library to-dayand heard
rhat that sneak what Crocket said to frj
ou. "
She started , and her face got whiter.
"Those letters , I've got them , " and '
told her the whole story.
She sat staring at me , half dazed , till
put the letters in her lap. Then she , all
umped up , and got me round the neck ,
inghing and crying , and talk abou th
issiug ! Um , just so !
We'burned the letters and went down he
heSt
tairs. and I tlunk that Violet must St
have told the captain , for when Bob and
I came in from skating lie got me by the
arm and marched mo into the library.
Violet was there looking as bright and
happy as a bird , and they went on at
such a rate , that I was glad to get out
The Crocket beast came homo some
hours after , and behaved like a madman
when he found that the letters were
gone. He blustered and raved at every
body , but he didn't tell what the letters
were about : I suppose he was afraid
to , without proof.
At last he saw the rame was up , and
took his hook for London , and I've
never seen him since. I got the watch
from Violet and the rods and things
from the captain , and I'm to go to the
wedding , and get first kiss from the
bride , and that's all , and now we'd
better be shinning , or we'll get toko for
being late. Come on Bert.
Sleep anil Death.
The relationship between sleep , "the
cousin of death , " and death itself , is
probably real as well as apparent The
distance which separates them is great ,
but there are intermediate connections ,
grades of dissolution as of development.
Among these the similar states of trance
and hibernation are worthy of special
notice. For a sleep and for trance , one
cause , the exhaustion chiefly of the ner
vous matter , but more or less of every
organ and tissue , is assignable. The hys
terical stupor is the sleep of nerve cen
ters worn out with the assault and con
flict of stormy reflex action. Healthy
sleep is the rest of physical elements
wearied with the same strain applied
more gradually.
Cases have been recorded in which
somnolence , continuing for days without
cessation.has resembled trance in its du
ration , while preserving all the ordinary
features of natural sleep. Various facts
support us in associating hibernation
with the train of organic or functional
"
changes as the oilier"unconscious states
which we have been considering. It
comes like a habit ; it has , one may say ,
annual return ; its apparent cause is the
oppression of external cold , and the an-
ninials it affects are mostly those which ,
from their bodily structure or habits.are
subject to great periodic varitions of
temperature. Vital tissue is exhausted
and function is in part suspended prob
ably because the numbness of cold has
taken hold upon the radicles of the out
ward circulation.and of that of the brain
surface which is connected with it by
numerous anastomoses. In such a case
arnaenia would seem to be the cause of
the winter sleep , as there is evidence to
show that it is also the cause of that
temporary starvation of brain which
lulls without arresting its action in tho
natural repose of each night.
We may even regard the lethargy
ended by deatlf , into which a man falls
when exposed to great coldas short and
mortal hibernation. The same influence
acts upon him as upon the bear or fish
but the power of its shock is greater on n
his liner and less accustomed organiza nP
tion. Solikewise,5n other than the com
paratively coarse forms of life , in the si
weariness , paralyses , atrophy and gan te
grene of limbs in the leafless hibernation
of trees , and in their decay beginning at tlP1
the terminal twigs , the same teaching is P1
evident that vascular nutrition , in its ti
periodic variations , is the parent of ac tiP'
P'm
tivity and of life , as its absence is of P'fi
death. It is not , therefore , altogether fi [
surprising to meet with occasional in d
stances in which death is stimulated by
some great degree of stupor.
The case of George Childct , a laborer ,
living at Bridgewater , which was lately jfi
recorded in the ( laity papers , appears to jfit
have been one of this kind. The
trance-like state developed quite sud
denly and was mistaken by the relatives .
for ( death. Some slight degree of
warmth , in the apparent corpse induced
the clergyman in attendance to refuse
burial , , in spite of the decided wish of
the . relatives that it should take place. m
After eight days the signs of animation mw
were re-established , and the subject of w
this singular experience slowly er
recover '
'b
ed. In all sucli cases there is an ele
dii
ment of mystery , and one cannot al-
fu
vrnys , decide how much of this is due to
tii
the physiological or pathological condi
sii
tions or to some external agency.
We are not informed of the anteced CO ;
ents in the present instance , and cannot
say how much hard work , underfeeding , orm >
anxiety or other causes ma } * have to do m
with the result. The state described , so
fo
realty one of trance , affords a strik
ing example of the difficulty which w
sometimes , though very rarely , arises in TQ
proving ' the final point in diagnosis , and
warning that the most trivial sign of grj
vitality ] should not be overlooked in de
termining the fact of death. Lritish
Medical Journal. sim
A Great Newspaper Enterprise.
Journalistic enterprise of the old re
times , though not of much account be
side the wonderful no ;
achievements of the
present day , was well worth boasting
ibout anyway. For instance road
he following from The Louisville ( K\ * . )
Courier , of Friday , Dec. 10 , 1847 , under kn
Jie head of "The President's Message : " '
' ha
"This lengthy document , which we have
he pleasure of laj-ing before our road- cir
rs in the form of an extra , was delivor-
at Washington at noon on Tuesday
ost. It carried n'
was to Philadelphia by
special railroad express , and from that
joint it was dispatched to Louisville by
he magnetic telegraph expressly for bai
The , Courier Journal fui
, , and Democrnl. i .
Chis is the ' ]
greatest newspaper enter-
irise ever attempted in any quarter of US (
kn
he world , and is one of the most won-
lerfiu"feats ever accomplished by the aid
man's genius. The enormous outlay n'
accessary to procure this document may ou
judged from the fact that the regular
harge for telegraphing from Phila- a s
lelphia to Louisville is 8 cents for everv '
vord. " .
tjc
He Wanted a Rest do
"Don't jxni want to go to a better do
vorld , Tommy ? " asked a Sunday-school
eacher of the new scholar. ig
"No , mum , " promptly replied the cei
irank little fellow.
"And why not , Tommy ? ' ' lie
'Oh , when I die I want to go where a
'eller can rest"
"Well , my boy , you can rest there. "
"Well , in'the song we sung it said we'd pei
shine there. " go
"Certainlv ; don't vouwant to to shine stii
here ? " en
"No , mum. I get enough of that jes
lere. I'm a bootblack , mum. " Yonters ha
Statesman. pa ;
How a Post-Mbrtem is Made.
Few persons upon reading an account !
of a post-mortem examination stop to-
consider tho importance of tho matten
or tho time taken up to do the work of
an autopsy , says The Baltimore Sun.
Tho post-mortem surgeons are impor
tant officers , who make all tho medico-
legal examinations for the city , and are
tho medical witnesses for the state in
cases where post-mortem examinations /
are required. There arc two post-
mortem physicians in Baltimore , Dr. S.
V. Hoopman , for tho ten lower wards ,
and Dr. L. W. Councilman , for tho ten
upper wards.
A reporter , wishing to witness tho
post-mortem work , called , on Dr. Hoop
man a short time ago just as ho was
starting to'perform such a duty. The
case was a very important one , being
one of the late murders committed in
tho eastern section of tho city. Arriving
at the house , about twenty medical stu
dents were found who accompanied Dr.
Hoopman to the room where tho dead
body lay. A table was prepared by
covering it with an oil cloth. The
clothing was removed from the body
and it was placed on the table. The
doctor carefully inspected the corpse
and noted all wounds , which in this
case were found to be three , two bullet
wounds and one knife gash. The head
was first examined. An incision was
made from ear to ear over the top of
tho head , followed by a gush of blood ,
which made some of tho spectators re
member that they were needed outside
for a moment The scalp was deflected
backward and forward and the skull
exposed. The skull was then sawed
around on a line with the eyebrow.
When the top of the skull was removed
tho doctor took out the brain. That
beautiful organ , with its fissures and
convolutions , was a mass of blood , the
fatal bullet having plowed its way diag
onally through it. An inspection of the
neck showed that another bullet had
entered at the back , passed through , to
ward tho front , severing the carotid
artery and jugular vein. The next
move was to make a long incision from
the chin down to the navel. The breast
bone was dissected and the heart and
lungs taken out for inspection , After
carefully examining the ucart , the doc
tor remarked that the "columnoe car
nffl , chordae tendinea ? , and auriculo-
ventricular and semi-lunar valves are
all healthy. " The lungs were found
icalthy. A piece thrown in water
would not sink , which the doctor said
was a test for healthy lungs. The stom
ach , liver , spleen , pancreas and intes
tines were all in turn carefully removed
and inspected. All this completed , the
Organs were replaced and the incisions
carefully sewed up. So completely
is this done that when the body is
dressed the fact of a post-mortem ex
amination having been made is not ap
parent
"How many post-mortems have you i
made during the year ? " asked the re
porter.
"About forty , and about one hundred
since I havo been
making post-mor
tems. "
'Glancing at the watch , it was found
that four hours had .been occupied in
performing the interesting examina
tion. Post-mortem physicians arc ap
pointed ' yearly , their selection being
made by the mayor. In each cose they
He ] a report of the autopsy at the health
lepartment. <
A Philosophical Physician.
"Well , Henderson. " said the secreta
ry of state , addressing old Henderson \
Morgan , "what are you doing now ,
still preaching ? "
"Oh nor , son , quit dat long er go.
Dar wuz plenty o' love an' 'fection an
lalleluyahs in de 'fession , but Mars
Lias , dar want er miff inerpen'ent
noney in it ter suit me. "
"What do you mean bv independent
noncy ? "
'W'y , dc money er pusson ken spen'
vidout a great hue an' cry bcin' raised
srbout it. De church folks is so cuis
bout church erfairs dat da's losin' all
lar best timber ! Da is , Mars 'Lias is
ur a fock. I preached cr mighty laung
ime , an' ez cbcry body'll tell yer , de
iiuners bit at my hook 'bout as fas' ez I
oul' throw it in , an' ebery now an' den
vhen I'd drag a troll , I'd snatch out
ne o' de bigges' sinners in de debbil's
narket , sah ; but arter all dis , dar ariz
ome ( Hssatisfacshun in de church. Da
orgot : dat I turned in all de money dat
raz : due , an' den I summoned a com-
aittee ter meet me , on' arter dc com-
uittce i went back a 'po'tcd , w'y I turned
uyse'f outen de congregation an' de
innygog o' de shackty faith. I ken
tan' er heap , but I doan like ter be
spectcd when 1'se pretty well 'vinccd in
ay own mine dat 1'se innerccnt"
"What are you doing now ? " the sec-
etary of state asked.
"W'y sah , I'se practicin' medicine ,
OW. "
"What ? "
"Yes , dat's whatl's doin'\
"Look here , Henderson , you don't
now anything about medicine. "
" 'C'oseldoan. Who does ? Erhaw.
aw. Doan know nothiix' 'bout rnedi-
ine , ter he , he. "
"Are you very successful ? "
"Oh , yes , sah. Ain' los' er case yit ,
' some o' 'em wuz powerful ailin' . "
"What sort of medicine do you use ? "
"Wall , fur de chills , I uses * dogwood
ark , fur de feber I uses sasfrus bark ,
ordinary biliousness I uses black-
erry root an' fur eberything else , I
scs all dese heah mixed. * When I doan
now whut's de matter wid a man I
ives him er mixture o' de whole lot ,
' dat fetches him roun' nine times
uten : ten , "
"Henderson , those barks cannot help
sick man. "
"Dat may be , Mrs. 'Lias , but da ain'
wineter do him no harm. In de pru >
ce it ain' so much de medicine dat wiy
good ez it is de medicine dat won't
no harm. De harmless is de bes' . "
"Don't you know that you are violat-
a state law , practicing without li-
"
snse.
"You'don't mean to say that you have
cense ? "
"Yes , I does. "
"Where did you get it ? "
"Frum de 'thorities er jestice o' de
ease down in de country. Wall , I'se
er lot o' fever on ban * an' mus' b
nrrin' . I ain' got much time ter fool
rway. When yer gits sick , Mars 'Lias ,
' sen' fur me an' I'll doctor yer fui
alf pricCj an' take my pay in stati
apers. " Arbansaw Traveler.
„