The Exeter Advocate, 1894-5-17, Page 9THE SELECT STORY TELLER
SHORT, BRIGHT I'TCTION,
"1'i't Latest Stories by Popular, Wells
'Known Authors. Light Rending For
the 'whom Family.
JilDGE NOT.
It was an eloquent, soul -stirring ser
mon. The hushed, interested faces of the
largo audience betrayed strict attention.
The theme was charity, brotherly love,
good will to men. The voice of. the min-
ister was rich: and full, tender and per-
suasive; his person strong and manly;
his face attractive and earnest.
" A lovely sermon," murmured one
lady to another as they walked down the
richly carpeted aisle.
"How Could it be otherwise ?" laughed
the other, a golden -haired woman, with
large, spiritual blue eyes and a smiling,
roguish mouth:
U You wore always enthusiastic over
Dr. Tigers. Beware !"
" T really do think a great deal of him,
and his wife, too," admitted the golden -
haired. lady.
" She is not here to -night, I see."
" No, and I always go home with them.
Ah, Dr. Tigers," giving him her small
gloved hand, "I shall have to trouble
you to take me home."
"No trouble. Mrs. Oakley. I will meet
you at the door. I want to speak to
Brother Jones."
" What a lovely night, but rather
•chilly," said Mrs. Oakley, with a little
shiver, looking up in Dr. Tigers' face.
"Yes; let me draw your cloak around
you," as they came into the full glare of
an electric light.
" There—thank you. Mr. Oakley says
I n m so careless about my wraps that I am
sure to become consumptive,"
" Carelessness often leads to consump-
tion," said the doctor, gravely. " Our
little Annie is sick to -night ; sore throat,
you know, and we are so much afraid of
diphtheria."
" That is too bad, and Mrs. Tigers has
scarcely recovered her strength since
nursing Willie through that dreadful at-
twf;. of pneumonia."
"No, she has not, and she is feeling
uncommonly depressed this evening. I
think if you had not helped her with
Willie that she would have broken down
entirely."
" Well, I have no children of my own,
said. it is only my duty to help others.
Every one ought to be of some use in the
world. If I can be any help to her to-
night, clo not hesitate to send for ane."
" We can never forget your kindness,
nor repay it, either, I am afraid," he
said, as they reached the gate, and he held
it open for her to pass in.
" Don't mention it. Good night. Oh!
is.ruy cloak fastened in the gate?"
" Yes, and I fear I shall torr it getting
it loose„ Lean over this way and hold the
latch."
"Now it is all right. Thank you—
good-night again. Remember, Mr. Oak-
ley is away, and don't hesitate to come,"
she called back as she mounted the step.
" Yos. Good -night."
.A. block further on and the doctor
opened his gate and passed over the
threshold of his own home.
Deacon Follett was a very strict church
member ; a good. citizen, upright and
honest in all his dealings. He owed no
man, and no man owed him. Some peo-
ple said that he would not allow any one
to owe him anything. But be that as it
may, he paid his church dues, gave a cer-
tain amount of his income to the poor,
and in his will (for Deacon Follett was a
rich man) he had endowed a ministerial
college, besides leaving a good sum to his
children.
Like most self-righteous people, he had
little charity for those whose daily life
was not as spotless as his own. He not
only hated the offence, but had little
sympathy for the offender. Having no
bad habits, he wondered why other peo-
ple should have them, should cultivate
such an unnecessary " growth of weeds,"
as he expressed it. Tho allurements. and
pleasures of the world were not attractive
to him, therefore it required no effort to
resist them.
He would not willingly or maliciously,
by any act or cleecl, harm any human
being. He could not have slept with
such a thing upon his conscience. But
having this high standard of himself al=
ways before his mind it naturally follow-
ed that his associates suffered by compar-
ison. He was quick to detect their evil
tendencies, and unconsciously judged and
condemned without leniency, without
that charity and love to which all other
virtues are as " sounding brass or a tink-
1 sym.bol."
It was 2 o'clock in the morning follow-
ing the night on whieh our story opens.
Raw and chilly though it was, a muffled.
formmight be seen pacing back and forth,
on the sidewalk opposite the Tigers and
Oakley residences. Now and then it
would stop and withdraw into the dense
shadows as some belated pedestrian or the
night watchman came along.
Who could it bo watching those houses
and dodging the police ? None other than
Deacon Follett—Deacon Follett himself ?
What, poul,cl it mean?
The deacon was standing in the shadow,
leaning against a fence, apparently very
tired end sleepy, when his attention was
attracted by the opening of a gate. Then
Che saw a man conte out of Dr, Tigers'
yard and walk down the street. Tho dea-
con followed cautiously. The man stop -
Ped sit the Oakley residence and knocked
at the door, After some moments it was
opened by a woman in light gaz:rnonts;
the roan entered and the door was closed.
The deacon stood for a moment looking
at the closed door as if spellbound, Then,
smiting himself on the breast, he started
homeward, muttering c "Who would
have believed, it ? A wolf in sheep's
clothing. Well, well ! My duty is clear
before me—a painful duty, but I must
perform it!"
A few days after this Mrs, Oakley, ar-
rayed in the most becoming and tasteful
of tea -gowns, sat in her bright little par-
lor, with its pretty brie -a -brae and oheer-
ful grate fire, the picture of utter despair.
" Oh, what does it all mean ?" she
murmured, wringing her tender slight
hands in her lap. " How could such a
thing have got started? How cruel !
How horrible ! If Charley were only
home, or if I could write to him about it
—buil dare not put such a thing on pa-
per. The idea of people talking about
Dr. Tigers and me ! She said she told me
in kindness, as a friend, so that I could
bo ou my guard. Perhaps my best °ours°
is to go down and tell Mrs. Tigers and
the (locator. No, no•I couldn't do that !
If Charley would only come ! How can I
wait another week ? Oh, what shall I do
—what shall I clo ?"
She was interrupted by a sudden rap
at the door, and before she could reach
the hall Dr. Tigers came in.
` ` Oh, Dr. Tigers !" she cried, scarcely
knowing what to say.
" Excuse me for coming in so abruptly,"
he exclaimed, not seeming to notice her
agitation, "but it is a matter of life
or death. Old Brother Simmons is
dying, and has sent for me. He lives
out in the suburbs, and I thought the
quickest way to reach him would bo to
get Mr. Oakley's horse."
"Yes, you are quite right. He is in
the stable. The saddle and bridle are
hanging by the trough."
" So much obliged. I'll just go out the
back way."
He had scarcely disappeared when the
door bell rang.
"I hope it isn't a caller," sighed &Tars.
Oakley, as she went to answer it. • `c Good
evening, Miss Monroe. Come in. Such
a nice day to be out !" she said, assuming
a cheerfulness she diel not feel, for she
really liked her visitor, and wished to
treat her courteously.
"Very indeed," said Miss Monroe,
rather stiffly. " I thought some one was
here."
"No, 110 0110 but myself."
Then sho remembered who had just
been there, and was about to mention the
doctor's call, when the other horrible
thought struck her, and she checked the
remark as it came to her lips, the blood
rushing to her face. She changed the
subject, but conicl not hide her agitation.
Por some reason both parties felt ill at
oase, therefore the interview was a very
short and chilly one, and Mrs. Oakley
was infinitely relieved when it was over.
As she returned to the parlor after see-
ing her guest out, she noticed a man's
glove lying on the floor.
" Whose glove is this?" she thought.
" Dr. Tigers' of course. I wonder if she
saw and recognized it ? Matters are get-
ting worse. What shall Ido ? I will go
to Charley! Yes, I will pack niy valise
this very night, and start on the first
train in the morning."
Tho morning after Mrs. Oakley's depar-
ture Dr. Tigers received the following
note :
",Rev. Da. Tiwnns :—You aro request-
ed to be at the church at 2 o'clock this
afternoon, on a matter of importance.
Here followed the names of several of
the deacons, headed by that of Deacon
Follett.
Wondering what the meeting could be
about, the doctor made his appearance at
the appointed place and time, and was
very much surprised to see, beside the
men who had signed the note, several la-
dies present.
" This is unexpected. What has oc-
curred? Nothing serious, I hope," he
said, shaking hands with several.
" We aro afraid it is very serious," re-
plied Deacon Grimes, significantly.
"You astonish me. Let us proceed to
business at once," said Dr. Tigers, seat-
ing himself.
" Brother Follett, will you speak now?"
said Deacon Grimes.
"No, you introduce the subject."
" This is a very painful duty, and one
I would . like to avoid," said Deacon
Grimes, shifting uneasily from ono foot
to another.
" Speak out, speak out ! Somebody
must speak 1" cried the doctor, impa-
tiently.
" Well, then, Dr. Tigers, perhaps you
are aware that your recent conduct to-
wards Mrs. Oakl.ey has been such as to
require investigation. In fact, very grave
charges are laicl at your door."
"What do you mean ? Remember that
kfrs. Oakley is a lady, and my wife's
friend."
".She may be. That remains to be
proven. Brother Follett, whet have you
to say ?"
"I have this to say," rising suddenly
to his feet ; " I saw Dr, Tigers embrace
Mrs. Oakley under a street lamp ; I saw
them both lean over her gate as though
taking 'an affectionate farewoll of each
oth.or; l; heard her tell him that her hus-
band was away, and ho must not hesitate
to come ; I saw him enter her house at 2
o'elook time following morning."
Deacon Follett sat down as abruptly as
ho had risen.
"Gentlemen, brothers—" cried Dr. Tie
gees, half rising from his chair.
"Please bo seated until you have heard
the rest of the evnc.enoo. Miss Monroe,
step forward."
Mastering his emotion the doctor re -
mimed his seat, while Miss Monroe ad-
vanced, apparently with great releet-
amlee:
When I hoard those reports," she
said, "I did not believe them, . anct
thought I would go to. Mrs. Oakley and
tell her what people wore saying, so that
sho oouid exercise snore caution: As I
neared the house I saw Dr. Tiger's through
the window, and heard his voice as I re-
moved my rubbers at the door. When I
rang the bell and Mrs. Oakley invited me
in the doctor did not appear, although his
glove was lying on the floor.. I asked
Mrs. Oakley if any ono was there; and she
said she was alone, blushing and. looking
confused. She changed the subject, but
seemed so agitated and unlike herself
that I began to lose confidence in her, and
came away without telling the, object of
my visit, heartsick to think that one
whom I had so loved and respected could
be guilty of such falsehood and deception.
However, I afterward loomed that Mrs..
Moore had told her of the talk that very
morning. I have no more to say."
Miss Monroe sat down in tears, and a
deep, painful silence fell over the room.
Dr. Tigers, you have heard the evi-
clenco. What have you to say for your-
self ?"
" It is simply preposterous l Too ridicu-
Ions to. deny ! May God. forgive you,!"
And the doctor, seizing his hat, strode
from the room as though he would shake
the dust of such calumny from his feet.
* * *
" Good morning, Sister Gower," said
ktrs. Pinch, a sharp -faced, thin woman as
sho carne into her neighbor's kitchen one
morning. " Have you heard the news ?"
" No ; sit clown and tell me about it,"
and Mr's. Gower's comely face lighted up
with a welcoming smile.
"Dr. Tigers has resigned, and taken an
appointment in Cincinnati."
" Well, well ! And over that talk, I
suppose. I am afraid it will be a long
time before we get as good a man to fill
his place."
" Ah, Sister Gower," and Mrs. Pinch
shook her head mysteriously, "you never
know about such things. Sometimes I
think him guilty and sometimes inno-
cent, and I suppose others think about
the same way."
" I am one that don't," emphatically.
" Why. you surely don't doubt the
truth of such people as Miss Monroe and
Deacon Follett, do you?"
" No, I believe in their truth, but I
don't admire their discretion. They had
no right to put an evil construction on
what they saw as long as there was the
least shadow of a doubt. Beside, it was
all explained away."
" So they say. Perhaps he was just
fixing her wrap under the street lamp and
at the gate, and perhaps little Annie was
sick when he went for her that night;
but how clo you explain her denying that
any one was there the day Miss Munroe
called ? It looks mighty curious :kerne."
" Well, Sister Pinch, I have thought a
good deal about that, and have concluded
that as she had just heard the reports she
was considerably agitated, and thought it
would. not be prudent to tell that the doc-
tor had been there after the horse."
" It may be as you say, but somehow
never could trust those golden -haired,
angelic looking women. And preachers
are only human, you know."
" Of course they are only human, and
ought to be treated with human consider-
ation. Character is a sacred thing, not
to be lightly handled. I think it is
Shakespeare who says : ` Who steals my
purse steals trash; but he who robs me
of my good name, takes that which does
not enrich him, and leaves me poor in-
deed.' And for my part, I would rather
bo Mrs. Oakley and the doctor on the day
of judgment than those who accused them,
if they did tell the truth."
"Law sakes, Sister Gower, how you clo
talk !"
THE DRAWN BLIND.
Silver trumpets sounded a flourish, and
the javelin men came pacing down Tre-
garrick Pore street, with the sheriff's
coach swinging behind them, its panels
splendid with fresh blue paint and florid
blazonry. Its wheels were picked out
with yellow, and this scheme of color ex-
tended to the coachman and the two
lackeys, who hold on at the back by
leathern straps. Bach wore a coat and
breeches of electric blue, with a canary
waistcoat, and was, toned off with powder
and flesh -colored stockings at the ex-
tremities. Within the coach and facing
the horses sat two judges of the Crown
Court and Nisi Prius, both in scarlet,
with full wigs and little round patches of
black plaster, like ventilators,. on top
facing their lordships sat Sir Felix Felix -
Williams, the sheriff, in a Lightish uni-
form of the yeomanry with a great shako
nodding .on his knees and a chaplain bolt
upright by his side. Behind trooped a
rabble of loafers and small boys, who
shouted, "Who bleeds bran ?" till the
lackeys' calves itiohed with indignation.
I was standing in the arohwey of the
Packhorse Inn, among the maids and
stableboys gathered to see the pageant
pass on its way :to hear the Assize ser-
mon. And standing there I was witness
of a little ineidont that seemed to eseapo
the rest.
At the moment when the trumpets
rang out a very old woman, in a biro
camiet deals:, came hobbling out of 't,
grocer's shop some twenty yards up the
pavement, and tottered down ahead of
the procession as fast ars her decrepit old
legs would. move. 'There Was no occasion
i for
for h.uuirying to avoid the ° roved ; the
javelin teen had barely rounded the oor-
ner of the long street, ,and were taking
the goose-step very seriously and deliber-
ately.. Bat sho wont past the Packhorse
doorway as if swift horsemen were after
her, clutching the oainletcloak across her
bosom, glancing over shoulder and work-
ing her lips inaudibly, I could not help
remarking the position of her right arm.
She held it bent exactly as though she
held an infant to her old breast, and
shielded it while she ran,
A few paces beyond the inn door she
halted on the edge of the curb, flung an-
other look up the street, and darted =ass
the roadway. There stood a little shop
—a watchmaker's—just opposite, and
next to the shop a small opo with one
dingy window over it. She vanished up
the passage, at the entrance of which I
was still staring idly, when, half a
minute later, a skinny trembling hand
appeared at the window and drew dpwn
the blind.
I looked round at the men and maids ;
but their eyes were all for the pageant,
now not a stone's throw away.
"c Who is that old woman?" I asked,
touching' Caleb, the head hostler, on the
shoulder.
Caleb, a small, bandy-legged man, with
a chin full of furrows, and the furrows
full of gray stubble, withdrew his gaze
grudgingly from the sheriff's coach,
" What woman ?"
" She in the blue cloak, d'ee mean ?—
an old, ancient; wisht-lookin' body ?"
1: Yes."
" A timmersome woman, like ?"
" That's it."
Well, her name's Cordely Pinsent."
The procession reclaimed his attention.
He received a passing wink from the.
charioteer, caught it on the volley and
returned it with a solemn face ; or rather,
the wink seeined to rebound as if from a
blank wall, As the crowd closed in upon
the circumstance of justice, he turned to
me again, spat, and went on :.
" Cordely Pinsent, widow of old. Key
Pinsent,:was a tailor to all the grandees
in the county so far back as I can mind.
I can just mind Key Pinsent—a great,
red, rory-cumtory chap, with a high
stock and a wig like King George—`my
royal patron' he called 'en, havin' ' by
some means got leave to hoist the King's
arms over his door. Such mighty portly
manners, too. Oh, very spacious, I as-
sure 'ee ! Simme I can seethe old Trojan
now, with his white weskit bulgin' out
across his doorway like a shop -front hung
wi' jewels. Gout killed 'en. I went to
his buryin' ; such a stretch of experience
does a young man get by the time he
reaches my age. God bless your heart
alive, I can remember when they were
hung for forgery."
" Who were hung ?"
"People," he answered, vaguely, "and
young Willie Pinsent."
" This woman's son?"
"Aye, her son—her ewe -lamb of a child.
'Tis very seldom brought up against her
nosy, poor soul! She's so very old that
folks forgits abouts it. Do 'ee see her
window yonder over the cope?"
He was pointing across to the soiled
white blind that still lookeclblankly over
the street, its lower edge caught sap at one
corner by a dusty geranium.
"I saw her pull it down."
" Ah, you would if you were lookin'
that way I've a -seed her do 't a score of
times. Well, when the gout reachecl Key
Pinsent's stomach, and he went off like
snuff of a candle at the age of 42, she was
left unprovided, with a son of thirteen to
maintain or go 'pon the parish. She was
a Menhenniek, tho', from t'other side o'
the Dachy—a very proud family—and
didn't mean to dip the knee to nobody,
and all the less because she demeaned
hersel', to start with, by wedding a
tailor. But Key Pinsent, by all allow-
ance, was handsome as blazes, and well
informed up to a point that he read
Shakespeare for the mere pleasure o't.
" Well, sho sold up the stock in trade
an' hired a couple o' rooms—the self-
same rooms you see—and then she ate
less 'n a mouse an' took in needle -work,
plain an' fancy, for a lot o' the gentry's
wives round the neighborhood befriend-
ed her, though they had to be sly an'
hide that they meant it for a favor, or
she'd ha' snapped their heads off. An'
all the while she was toachin' her boy an'
tellin' 'en, whatever happened, to re-
member he was a gentleman, an' lovin'
'en with all the strength orf a desolate
woman.
"'This 'Willie Pinsent was a comely
boy, too ; handsome as old Key, an' quick
at his books. Ifo'd a bold, masterful
way, being proud as ever his another was,
and well knowin' there wasn't his match
in Tregarrick for headwork. Such a
beautiful hand he wrote! When he was
barely turned sixteen they gave 'en a
place in Gregory's bank—Wilkins &
Gregory it was in those aged times. He
still lived home wi' his mother, rontin' a
room extra out of his earnin's and muslin'
ono of the bedrooms into a parlor. That's
the very room you're lookin' at. And
when any :father in Tregarrick had. a
Bono to pike with his sons he'cl advise
'em to take example by young Pinsent;
so clever an' good, too, there was no
tellin' what ho mightn't comp to in time.'
" Well -a -well, to out at short, the lad
was too clover. It came out, after, that
he'd took to bobbin' his employers' money
agsn the rich anon up at the Royal Ex-
change. An' the upshot was that ono
even ir', while he was drinitial' tea with
his mother in his lovin', light-hearted
way, in walks a brace o' constables an'
says, 'William Pinsent, young chap, I
arrest thee uponb acharge o' countorfeitin'
old Gregory's hanclwritin' whieh is a
b
hangin' matter,"
An' now, sir, comes the eur'ous part
o' the tale ; for, if you'll believe me, this
poor woman, wonlcln:'.t listen to it --
wouldn't hear a word o't. 'What ! my
son Willie,' she flames, hot as Lucifer,
'My son 'Willie a forger ; any boy, that
I've nussed, an' reared up, an studied,
rn.arkin' all his pretty, tallcin' ways since
he learned. to - orawl ! Gentlemen,' she
says, standin' ug .an' facia' 'eon clown,
`what mother blows her son, if not I? 1
give you my word it's all a mistake.'
" Ay, an' she 'would have it no other.
While her son. was waitin' his trial in
jail; she walked the streets with her head
high, scornin' the folk as she passed.
Not a soul dared to speak pity; an' one
afternoon, when old' Gregory hissel' .let
her an.' began to mumble that 'he trust-
ed,' an' `he had a little doubt,' an''no-
body would be gladder than he if it Iirov-
ed to be a mistake,' she held her skirt
aside an' went by with a look that turned
'en to dirt, as he said 'Gad !' said he, 'she
eoliths' ha' looked at me worse if I'd a
been a tab !' meanin' to say, 'instead o'
the richest man in Tregarrick.'
" .But har greatest freak was seen when
th' Assizes came. Sir, sho wouldn't even
go to the trial. She disdained it. An'
when that mornin' the judges had driven
by her window, same as they drove to-
day, what tree think she did? '
"She began to lay the cloth up in the
parlor yonder, an' there set out the rarest
meal, ready for her boy. There was
meats, roasted chickens an' a tongue,oan'
a groat ham. There was cheese cakes
she made after a little secret of her own ;
and a bowl of junket, an inch deep in
cream, that bein' his pet dish ; an' all
kinds o' knickknacks, wi' grapes, an'
peaches, an' apricots, an' decanters o'
wine, white an' red. Ay, sir, there was
even crackers for mother an son to pull
together, with scraps o' poetry inside.
An' flowers—the table was bloomin' with
flowers. For weeks she'd been plannin'
it ; an' all the forenoon she moved about
that table, givin' it a touch here an' a
touch there, an' takin' a step back to see
how beautiful it looked. An' then, as
the day wore on, she pulled a chair over
by the window, an' sat down an' waiter..
" In those days a capital trial was kept
up till late into the night, if need were.
By an' by she called up her little servin'
gal that was then (she's a gran'mother
now) an' sent her down to the courthouse
to learn how far the trial had got, an'
run back with the news.
' ` Down runs Selina Mary an' back with
word :
" ` They're a-summ`n' up,' says she.
" Then Mrs. Pinsent went an' lit eight
candles. Four she sat 'pon the table an'
foto' 'pon the mantel shelf. You could
see the blaze out in. the street, an' the
room lit up, wi' the flowers, an fruit, an'
shinin' glasses—red au' yellow dallies
the flowers were, that bein' the time o'
year. An' over each candle she put a
little red shade. You never saw a place
look cozier. Then she went back an'
waited ; but in half an hour calls to Selina
Mary age.:
" ` Selina Mary, run you back to the
courthouse an' bring word. how far
they've got.'
" So the little slip o' a maid ran back,
an' this time 'twas
" ' Missis, the judge has done ; an' now
they're cousiderin' about Master Willie.'
" So the poor woman sat a while longer
an' then she calls :
"' Selina Mary, run down agen, an' as
he comps out, tell 'on to hurry. They
must be finished by now.'
" The maid was gone twenty minutes
this time. The evenin' was hot, an' the
window open ; an' now all the town that
wasn't listenin' to the trial was gathered
in front, gazin' cur'ously at the woman
inside. She was titivatin the table for
the fiftieth time, an' touchin' up the
flowers that had drooped a bit i' the
bowls.
".But after twenty minutes Selina Mary
came rennin' up the street, an' fetched
her breath at the front door, an' went
upstairs slowly an.' 'pon tip -toe. Her
face at the parlor door was white as
paper; an' while she stood there the
voices o' the crowd outside began to take
all one tone, and beat into the room like
the sound o' 'waves 'pon a beach.
" ` Oh, missis,' she begins.
"' Have they finished?'
" The poor °beaid was only able to nod.
" "Then, where's Willie? Why isn't
he hero?'
" ` Oh, ruissis, they're going to hang
'en !'
" Mrs. Pinsent moved across the room
an' gave her a little push out into the
street. Not a word did she say, but shut
the door 'pon her, very gentle -like. Then
sho went back an' pulled the blind down
slowly. The crowd outside watched her
do it. Her manner was quite ord'nery.
They stood there for a minute or so, an.'
behind the blind the eight candles went
out, one by one. By the time the judges
passed homeward'twas all dark, only the
blind showin' white by the street lamp
opposite. From that year to this she has
pulled it down whenever a judge drives
by."
A Mint of Information.
It has been said of Dr. Butyl, the :Bos-
ton clergyman who has just celebrated
the Sist anniversary of his birth, that if
you hoard ,.butt preach for a year you worn
acquainted with everything of importance
that was going on at the flub. He has
the distinction of having delivered more
notable eulogies of th.e great men of this
century who have cliod than any other
pastor in New :Idngland, with the possible
exception of the late Dr. Peabody.
It is state°. in Montrealthat the
hes decided to male a reduction of 10 per
cent, inits staff,
f1T)1!L TIV,I4 POWERS OF THE SUI'..
Its Bays Oar) Eleeteleal and pheneteal
'auction.
The direct influence of sunshine on the
eireulation, in paralysis, insomnia, nerv-
ous disease .and internal disorders is be-
ginning bo be known and acknowledged.
If I wanted to restore a 'withered arm, a
palsied or rheumatic limb, or to bring a,
oase of nervous prostration up rapidly, a
most eiiacient part of the treatment would
be to expose the limb or the person as
many hours to direct sunlight as the day
would. afford.
I knew 'a, delicate lady who had gone
insane through. mental trouble, loneliness,
and secluision, part of whose tender ing by the friend who brought her back to
reason and ease was daily to have her
bed, freshly made', drawn where the full
sunlight from 'a broad window fell warm-
ly on her. Fresh flowers; were placed
where her eye could linger on them, a
small music -box played a tune or taro,
and the invalid lay for hours in blissful
repose or softly sleeping, her couch gently
wheeled to follow the sunshine, every
nerve drinking the refreshment, till, from.
a brooding, sleepless melancholy, her days
were full of happiness and rest.
I know a case, too, of painful tumor in.
its early stages which nothing seemed to
relieve and penetrate like au hour with,
direct sunshine falling on the swelling.
For nervous debility and insomnia, the
treatment of all others is rest in sunshine.
Draw the bed to the window and let the
patient lie in the sun for hours. There is
no bromide, no tonic like it—provided the
good effects are not neutralized by ill-
leeding.
Tho effect of sunshine is not merely
thermal, to warm and raise the heat of
the body ; its rays have chemical and
electric functions. As a clever physician
lately explained, it is more than possible
that sunshine produces vibrations and
changes of particles iu the deeper tissues
of the body, as effective as those of elec-
tricity.
Many know by experience that the re-
lief it affords to wearing pain, neuralgic
and inflammatory, is more effective and
lasting than that of any other application
whatever. Those who have face -ache
should prove it for themselves, sitting in
a sunny window where the warmth falls
full on the cheek. To lie on a lounge
and go asleep in the sun is so much the
better. Two conditions are necessary—
an agreeably warm room and pure air.
One may be dressed or undressed. Cloth-
ing as light as will preserve comfort ad-
mitting swiftest effect. With the rheum-
atic twinge which calls fora shoulder
wrap or the sciatic touch which always
makes one limp after being on a marble
floor a few minutes, let the hip or shoul-
der be exposed, not uncovered, to the heat
of the sun's rays, and remain there till
the sun leaves. It is finer stimulus than
wine, electricity, massage, and we are on
the verge of delightful therapeutic dis-
coveries concerning it.
Dr. Thayer, of San Francisco, as re-
ported in the Medical Record, has conte
to the conclusion that the sun is the most
efficient of all surgical methods in the
treatment of " capillary aneurisems, ver-
ieose veins, indolent and eating ulcers,
epitherial cancers, birth, India ink and
powder marks, morbid growths, as warts,
moles, small wens and all parasitic skit
diseases."
Dr. Thayer is candid enough to admit
he is not the first to discover the surgery
and dermatology of the sun. Some years
ago a London surgeon by using the sun's
rays, presumably with a lens, removed' a
wine mark from a lady's face, and de-
stroyed a malignant growth in the same
way.
Says Dr. Thayer : " During a practice
of more than a quarter of a century I
have found no caustic or cautery to com-
pare with solar heat in its beneficial re-
sults. Unlike other caustics, it can be
applied with safety on the .most delicate
tissues and the system reeeives this treat-
ment kindly. The irritation and inflam-
mation following are surprisingly slight
and of short duration, the pain subsiding
immediately on removal of the lens.
There is a curative power in the ehemz-
cal rays.of the sun yet unexplained."
With weak lungs, let the sun fall on
the chest for hours. If internal tumor or
ulceration is suspected, let the sun burn.
through the bare skin directly on. the
point of disoase for Hour's daily. There
will be no doubt left in the mind that
there is a curative power in the chemical
rays of the sun.
Women especially need to make syste-
matic trial of the sun's healing and reju-
venating powers.
From that nervous depression which
results in shedding hair, in, sunken feat-
ures, anti ushers dread. tuberoulosis, tu-
mor and internal inflammation, sun is the
specific—sun and rust together.
For the chilliness which causes blue
hands and bad. color, resort to the sun :
let it almost blister the skin and the cir-
culation will answer the attraction,
For grazing hair and baldness, try the
sun ou the scalp for lessor periods, say 10
minutes, often repeated. A.ucl the woman
who wants a cheek like a rose should pull
her sofa pillows into the -window, and let
the sun blaze forst on one cheek, then the
other, and else will gain a color warranted
not to wash off. The sun draws the Mood
to the surface better than a hot bath, and
exhilarates sachet than wealtens. •
What Ito Would Say to Ills Vire.
Itobinson-It is awfully tato, T3rown.
What will you say to your wife ?
Brown (in a whfspor)-0h, I shan't say
much, you know. 'Good morning, dear,
or something of that sorb. Shell say the
rest,