-"
THE COURIER
10
THE KING'S EVIL.
H. WINNETT OUR.
For The Courier.
For seven hundred years there pre
' vailed in England a Eiiperetition regard
ing the healing of 1'sease which is of
interest both as a matter of history and
by comparison with some similar "sys
tems" of the present day. Beginning
in the reign of Edward the Confessor it
was believed that scrofula, or the King's
Evil, as it came to be known, wbb easily
to be cured if only the patient could be
touched by some member of the royal
family. This superstition was fostered
and encouraged until it gained such a
bold upon the people that during the
reign of Charles the Second, ninety-two
thousand people affected with this dis
ease came to him to be touched. Ac
cording to Wiseman, the King's physic
ian, they were nearly all cured. Testi
mony supposed to be reliable may be
secured to support even the most ab
surd propositions.
In the light of our present knowledge
regarding scrofula this short history is
interesting because it showB to what
extent the credulous may be led to accept
blindly any measures which are prom
ised as relief for conditions which they
do not understand. Scrofula is indeed
a seriouB local or general tuberculosis in
fection resulting in the formation of
abscesses in the lymph glands or disease
of the bones or joints. It is a fact that
many scrofulous children will recover
spontaneously, even under unfavorable
circumstances. If they are placed in
better circumstances, however, given
pure air and better food, a still larger
number will recover without other treat
ment. When Dr. Samuel Johnson was a
child of three or four years he was so
seriously affected by scrofula that the
glands of the neck and face were exten
sively involved and the tuburcular pro
cess had extended in such a way that the
vision of one eye was destroyed. Of
his journey to London to receive the
royal touch of Queen Anne, Boswell
says: "His mother, yielding to the su
perstitious notion which it is wonderful
to think prevailed so long in this coun
try as to the virtue of the regal touch, a
notion which our King encouraged aud
to which such a man as Carte gave cre
dence, carried him to London where he
was touched by Queen Anne. Mrs.
Johnson acted by the advice of the cele
brated Sir John Floyer, then a physi
cian at Lichfield. This touch, however,
was -vitbout any effect''
As Boon, of course, as the cases began
to accumulate where, beyond contro
versy, the touch had been "without any
effect," thi3 regal prerogative ceased to
be exerted, and, like other useless
methods of healing, it simply ceased to
be. The law which governs such pro
cedures ia still operative and the world
is better and wiser there is no "irregu
lar" system of healing the sick now ex
tant which will live one tenth as long as
this similar superstition of a few hun
dred years ago.
Just the Opposite.
"I understand that Gargoyle bested
Gummery in the scrimmage last night,"
said Hunker to Spatts
"Have you seen Gummery?"
"No."
"Well, go and mke an inspection of
him, and then you'll understand that
Gargoyle worsted him." Town Topics.
No Difference.
"Here's an article that says that some
of our officials who reside abroad can't
even speak tho language of the country
they live in!"
"That nothing. The same thing can
be said of those who stay at home."
Town Topics.
Woman Suffrage Convention.
The twenty-first annual meeting of
tho Nebraska Woman Suffrage associ
ation will be hpld in Lincoln November
12, 13 and 14. 1901.
All state officers, presidents of auxil
iary, county and local associations, and
three delegates of each local club, with
one delegate additional for every twenty
five members, are entitled to vote in the
convention.
The national president, Mrs. Carrie
Chapman Catt of New York, will ad
dress the convention and conduct a
question box.
A. L. Bixby of the State Journal and
Miss Laura A. Grepg, manager of the
woman suffrage headquarters, will hold
a joint debate on the question. "Re
solved, that the right of citizens to vote
should not be denied or abridged on
account of sex."
A symposium will be conducted by
eight prominent state workers on the
subject, "How would the enfranchise
ment of woman advance the progress of
civilization?''
Mrs. Emma Shuman of Nebraska
City will preside over a work conference
on "What methods of work have proved
successful in increasing membership,
stimulating activity and extending the
club influence?
All auxiliary organizations are urged
t0 6end complete delegations, and friends
of the cause, not identified with the or
ganization, are cordially invited to at
tend and accept the same hospitality
accorded to delegates.
Clara A. Young, President.
Ida L. Denny, Secretary.
When You Know How.
"I will be beautiful," she said as she
turned away from the mirror. "Surely
in this modern, progressive age it is
possible for any girl to acquire beauty."
So she invested in all kinds of cos
metics, had them applied by an artist
and went to a big ball. The next morn
ine she scanned the society columns of
the papers eagerly, but there was not a
word about "the beautiful Miss Brown."
She merely figured among those who
were "also present."
"Still," she added, "it is possible to be
beautiful when you know how, and I
will experiment until 1 discover the
secret."
Thereupon she employed a beauty
doctor, and was rubbed and massaged
every day for a moDth or more, but it
was no use. The gossip departments
of the papers spoke of this girl and that
girl as "beautiful," but never of "the
beautiful Miss Brown."
"Possibly," she thought, "something
is the matter with my gowns. Much
depends upon proper harmony or con
trast, which often makes the beauty.
I will have one designed especially for
me by the most gifted costumers.'
The papers said she was "beautifully
gowned," but that was all.
"I will become engaged," she cried, in
deepair. "If necessary, I will marrj.
Brides are almost invariably beautiful."
But when her engagement was an
nounced the papers merely referred to
her as "the charming and gifted Miss
Brown."
"Alas!" she exclaimed, "can I not be
beautiful? Is that great boon possessed
by so many girl6, no more favored by
nature than I am, to be always denied
to me? A mockery, truly! I will have
none of it.'
In this humor she went boating, and,
giving it the appearance of an accident,
deliberately fell into the water, from
which she was quickly rescued by an
athletic young man.
"Why," she cried the next day, as she
thought it all over, "was I not allowed
to die?"
Then her glance fell upon a daily pa
per, and her eyes instantly brightened.
"Gallant rescue of a beautiful girl,'
she read. "Pretty Adele Brown, the
beauty of the season, saved from i
watery grave."
"Why, of course," Bhe commented,
thoughtfully. "It's very simple when
you know how. Now I think of it, a
rescue or a scandal will make a girl
beautiful any day." Town Topics.
THE -NEW PRESIDENT.
Open to Question.
Mrs. Crabshaw-Second thoughts are
best, my dear.
CrabEhaw I don't know about that.
The creation of woman was a second
thought. Town Topics.
He Plays on Words.
Mrs. Henpeck (banteringly) That
old flame of mine has become so atten
tive that I fancy he'd like to run away
with me.
Henpeck I'd like to see him do it.
A MJAYER.
The following poem, by Clinton D . rtlt.lt)
is reproduced, by permission. fr..i ahann
sheets of the November Century.
Not for the silent chief whom Death
Gently and sedulously keeps
Within a splendid calm; naught man
His well won laurels where he sleeps .
Rather for him who newly stands
Half startled on a slippery height ,
Like a strong falcon which some hand
Unhooded rudely, whom the light
Floods unforeseen, but who shall prove
A wide winged strength !
For him we pray :
He shall restore us Yesterday !
Dillion, Ga.
Disconnected.
Drib They Bay that lawyer is well to
do. Drab lie was well enough to do me
all right. Town Topics.
THEATRlGAfo.
THE FUNKE.
"McFadden's Row of Flats." that,
spectacular farce which has made the
universe laugh will be seen at the
Funke Opera House on Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings, October 22nd and
23rd. "The Flats" is a "fireside" at
traction like "The Old Homestead.'
The staple features, such as the famous
Yellow Kids, the exciting and humorous
fire scene, the famous "billy" goat are
retained, while new features, novelties,
pretty girls, choice vaudeville acts
etcetera are made. Nearly fifty people
present this gorgeous Ecenic success in
the world of hilarious farce. The mu
sical numbers are the very latest. In
seeing "McFadden6 Flats" you see the
best of all modern farce comedies.
Prices 15, 25, 33 and 50 cents. Seats
now on sale.
"Say, Mame," said the hello girl dur
ing a lull in the calls, to her intimate
friend who occupied the next cbair. "is
it true that you have broken off your
engagement?"
"Sure thing,' answered Mame, as she
chewed her gum with renewed vipor.
"Oh, Mame, did you, really?"
"Well, I guess!"
"Oh, Mame, what was the matter?"
"He heard about my going down the
river with a strange young man."
"Oh, Mame, did he, really?"
"Yep. Then he had the nerve to call
me up over the 'phone and read the
riot act to me! Said if I was going to
carry on like that he didn't want me to
be wearing his ring."
"Oh, Mame, what did you say?"
"Ring off!" Detroit Free Press.
"What, using hair dye, and you only
nineteen!" exclaimed Mabel to Amy.
"Yes; the good dye young, you know."'
Parke Are you doing much in jour
business now?
Lane--Well. I should say so. Why,
we are bo busy that we employ a man to
insult new customers. Toyn Topics.
THE FUNKE
DIRECTION OP
F. G. ZEHRUR6 AND 0. T.
Cor. O and 12th SU. Phone 005
Tuesday and Wednesday,
October 22 and 23.
A true happiness producer,
ur5 McFADDBN'S V FLATS I
The One New Farce Comedy Spectacular. Fun Born Th
Season. Famous Comedians, Famous Singers,
Famous Dancers.
A Recent Growth of Wit. Nothing- but the title left -f
former production. The only new thing- under the sun.
Prices, 15c, 25c, 35c and 50c. Seats now on sale.
y xx o o
Geo. W. Montgomery, President. L. P. Funkhouser, Cash
HRUm' S VfcRCttKftTS'' NW,
15th and O Streets, Lincoln, Nebr.
Capital paid in fSO,OCO.OO
$ Accounts of Individuals. Firms, Corporations, Banks and Bankers Solicited
Correspondence Invited.
I FOREIGN EXCHANGE and LETTERS OF CREDIT on all the principa
x cutes ot Europe. Interest paid on time deposits. X
ocrt"&
XO44OO4OO0$OC-s
MMlHMomMIMOI0 090 0IMOrt'tl
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