The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-03-24


an expression which have several times
heard him usc-T saw what o'clock It was,
and set my watch TO the time
'Oh = well, II SEQ now how matters stand I!
The fact is, I did observs the extraordinary
posture Of affairs you complain Of. immediate.
ly when entered the room, but supposed you
were joking with me. and twisting your head
round in tha. odd way fer the purpose ofhoax-
| ing me; 30 resolved to wait and see which OF
US could pla, our parts in the farce longest
Rat are you in earnest in having your head
turned Z N earnest. doctor replied mr. N.
in amazcmeit. Why, do you suppose this
happened bJ my wnwill andagcncy' Absurd
'0h, no, po--most assuredly not; it is pbe.
nome enon---lem hem "a phenomena on - not
unfrequentf attending on the nightmare =
answered, fith as good grace ~ possible.
'Phc, do&or. Nonsense You must really
think me aj,hild, to try to mislead me with
such stuff y that! tell you again, am in
as sober possession of my senses as over was
in my life, ,knd once more, assure you, that,
in truth aHl reality, my head is turned lite
rally So
We'll 80 Gses: tits, indeed very ex
traordinarJ case very unusual one but
don't, by any means, despair of bringing all
things round again Pray tell me how this
sing olar &aillicting accident happ pensdto your
Certainly, said he, dcspondingly. Las,
night, or rather this morning, dreamed that
| ! had got 10 the West Indies--to ,Rarosdoes,
an Island where have, az You know, a little
estate left me by my uncle C: and that,
few moments after had entered tho panta.
| tion, fnr Che purpose Of seeing the slaves at
work, there came a sudden hurricane, a more
tremendous one than ever was known in those
I parts; trees, canes, huts--all were swept be
fore il !. Even the very ground on which We
stood seemed whirled away beneath usi turn
cd my head moment to look at the direction
in which things were going, when, in the We
~ act OF turning, the blast suddenly caugh,
my head, and. -oh, my God blew it com
pletely round on my shoulders, till my face
looked quite directly behind me- over my
back Ia vain did | almost wrench my head
off my shoulders, in attempting to twist /,
| round ngain; and what with horror, and ,-and,
altogether--in in short. | awoke- and found the
I frightfnl reality ofmy situation Oh, gracious
l1eaven' Continued mr.. ~, clasping his hands
and booking upwards, what have done to
I, deserve such horrible visitation as this ?
! Humph il is quite clear what is the matter
here, thought | so assuming an air ofbecom.
| ing professional gravity, felt his pulse, beg.
| inquiries about his general health, and then
proceeded TO subject all parts OF his neck to a
most rigorous examination before, behind.
on each side, over every natural elevation aud
depression, if sucll the usual varieties of sur.
face may be termcd did my fingers pass he,
all tho whilo signing and cursing h,s evil stars,
and wondering how il was that he had not
been killed by 'dslocation = This little farce
over, continued silent for some moments,
scarcely able, the while, tn control my incl.
nation 10 burst into fits of laughter, as if pom.
dcrrg the possibility Of being able to devise
some means Of cure.
'Ah.- thaak God IL have i'll have il -
What what oh what il it /"
I've thought Of remedy, which, if--if-if
any thing Ia the world can bring il about, will
ssi matters right again = will bring back your
head To its former position.
i'Oh, God be praised - Dear--dear DOCTOR
-if you do but succeed, shall consider a
thousand pounds but the earnest Of what |
aeh do TO cvineA my gratitude T. no exclaimed,
squeezing my hand iervsntly. But am not
absolutely certain that we shall succeed said
cautiously. 'Wo will, however, give the
medicine a twenty four hours trial; during
all which, time you must be in perfect repose,
and consent TO lie in utter darkne,s. Will
you abide by my directions' 2
oh, yes--yes dear doctor! What is
the iucstimabie remedy ? tell me, tell me,
the name Of my ransomer? III never di-
vulge II, never.
'Tha, is not consistent with my plans ut
present. Mr. N----,' replied seriously;
but, if successful, Of which own I have
very sanguine expectations, pledge my
honour to reveal the secret to you.' We'll
--bu,--at least you'll explain the nature Of
its operation--eh Is it iniernal--exter-
nal whats? The remedy, told him,
would be of both forms; the latter, howey-
er, the more immediate agent ofhis recov
cry; the former, preparatory e dispos
ing. may tell the reader simply what
my physic was to be: three bread pills ithe
ordinary placcbo in such cases. every hour:
a strong laudanum draught in the evening;
and huge brend.and- water poullice for
his neck, with which it was 10 be environed
till the parts were sufficiently Modified to
admit Of the neck's being twisted back !
q gain into its former position; and, when !
that was the case--why--to ensure its
permanency, he was to wear broad band
of strengthening plaster for a week This
the bright device struck out by me
all at a heat and, explained to the poor
victim with the utmost solemnity and de-
liberation Of manner, sufficcd to inspire
him with some confidence as ia the re-
sn,s. ! confess shared the most conf
dent expectations Of success. After quit
ting tho holse, could not help laughing
at the recollection Of the
scene had just witnessed; and mrs. M
-, who happened to be passing on the
nther side Of the street, and observed my
involuntary 9risibilty, took occasion to
spread an III natured rumour, that was in
The habit Of making myself merry at the
expense ofmy pstIents!
About III the next morning, I paid N.
J second visit. The door was opened rs
usual by his black servant, Nambo, by
whose deneanor Isaw that something or
other extraordinary awaited me. His sa-
bio swollen features, and dancing white