The daily crescent., 1851-11-08
| to live and keep up appearances in the mean.

"and knew a. much about the thing as you do,
I'd give lectures on anatomy. In that way you'd
get known"
But who'd come to them. That is, who'd
pay to come to them land without fees couldn't
do it.''
..rIl II. tell you wha. would bring you fees"
"Not talking alone, admit; but get subiects--
show them what you teach, and you'll get plenty
of students to come TO you, warrant"
81 dare say. But how am to get subjects :
Why, K-gave f40 for one lately"
81 know that" answered O'Grady; :" but there
on the table, he leaned across and in low voice
communicated to Gerald the secret he alluded to-
At that time-and it is not so very many years
since these circumstances soccurred-surgeons were
expected, as much as now, to be acquainted with
all the mysteries of the human frame,, while the
Legislature placed every impediment in the way of
their diving into its secrets. There was no prov-
sion made for supplying them with subjects, ,whilss to
obtain them by violating the grave-yards was an
unlawful act. OF course, however, they were 80
obtained many man lived by the trade, and the
surgeons under the necessity of countenancing
the crime, or remaining in Ignorance of what they
were bound to know. Some Of the dire conse-
quences of this short-siehted legislation became
known to the world, and we have verb adopted
in our vocabulary which will carry down the
legend 10 posterity; but 1t is well understood that
there were many more deaths by burking in differ
ent parts of the kingdom, especially in London,
than ever became public, as also that the annals OF
the resurrectionsts would record many strange
escapes and frighsful Adventures
But to return to our story. Shortly after the
conversation alluded to between Spencer and
O'Grady, the former made known his intention Of
giving lectures on anatomy; indeed he put adver-
tisements into the papers to that effect, while it
was secretly circulated among the students that
subject would be provided for each lecture. AS
the opportunities for practical observation were
so limited as to render such occasions extremely
desirable, and the abilities Of the lecturer were
well known among students Of medicine, he had
even from the first pretty good attendance; ; and
their favorable report spreading, soon brought more,
especially the fee was moderate, till at length
he could boast of crowded audience. Of course
every man present was aware that the subjects,
which formed the chief attraction, were illegally
procured but it was everybody's interest to keep
the secret and nobody sympathizes with laws that
run counter to human necessities. So the lectures
continued and fourished and the fame they shed
brought patients, till the young surgeons fortunes
improved far and promised well for the future
that he ventured to make his proposals to Mr.
Manwaring and the lovers being quite weary Of
living on protracted hope, they pleaded their own
energetically that the fathers consent was
won, and they were married. t-5 ..ss
On this event taking place, trusting that his
practice would increase, and be sufficient to main
tain himself and his wife, Mr. Spencer resolved to
abandon for ever those midnight expeditions with
O'Grady to which his pecuniary necessities had
won him to consent, but which he had never
undertaken without feelings Of horror and disgust,
as well extreme apprehension Of the danger Of
discovery which would probably have SO far
shocked the public to do him irreparable mis-
chief in his professional career.
For some little time, therefore, he depended on
his legitimate profits to furnish funds for his family
expenses but these were not always sufficient
and empty purse sometimes drove him to his
old resources-resources, however, Of which his
,vif~ cd ,vhollt, That ha
lectures occasionally she knew, and that he was
every now and then out great part of the night
| with his friend O'Grady; but how they were en-
ployed, though she sometimes wondered, she was
never told.
In the mean time, Lucy, who having yet no
child, had great deal Of time to herself, and who
had been accustomed in the country to visit and
minister to the poor of the neighborhood, had
joined society Of benevolent ladies', which had
originated in proposal of Mrs. Fry and sister of
| hers, Mrs. Schmmelpennick-a beautiful woman,
who married German, or rather, believe, a
Dutchman-for the purpose OF visiting, improving
| and relieving the poor Of the metropolis. Each
lady had her district appointed, and some of these
spread extremely bad neig ghborhoods but the
founders of this society maintained tnat the very
worst, there existed no danger for the visitor; and
they themselves fesressly set the example of going
| into quarters that less enthusiastic women would
have certainly eschewed.
Lucy, however, was an enthusiast both in be-
| nevolence and religion; and she would have des
pissed herself for refusing follow where those she
looked up to led. She therefore cheerfully accepted
the district appointed to her. which was of the
best; and as experience seemed TO confirm the opn
| ion of the presiding ladies, she went amongst all
sorts of people without fear-witnessing an i'm
mense deal of wretchedness, the consequence of
an immense deal of vice, from which generally,
though the least corrupted, the women were the
deepest sufferers and it was by them she most
gratefully received. Often when the men were
sulIen, the wives expressed by their tears feelings
they burst not otherwise give vent to-above all,
when they saw their sick children relieved and
| comforted.
Amongst others, there was house in her dis.
| trct, the ground floor of which was occupied by
some people of the name Of Vennell. The family
consisted of man and his wife and two children /;
and although they lived in great deal of dirt and
| muddle, and apparent wretchedness, they did n t
seem to be in any want, which was a circumstance
the less to be expected, that Venns, from all she
could learn, was an idle fellow, who followed no
/ regular occupation, and his wife was sickly wo.
man, not fit for any.
On the whole, it was a very unpromising sort OF
i menage; and on Lucy's first visit the woman re-
ceived her SO uncivilly, saying, amongst other
things, that they wanted nothing of her, that she
some time afterwards, that Mrs vennell was very
i'll, she called, and found her in bed with rheu
matte lever; whereupon she not only sent the dis.
trict physician TO attend her, but being anxious to
make an Impression on the woman, who, from hav.
ing rejected her minisrations she concluded to be
more than commonly in want of them, she returned
| frequently, carrying her such little comforts and
indugences as the funds of the society could afford
and often reading to her for an hour at time by
her bedside. The effect Of all this kindness, how.
in certain degree grateful, but she was not soft
ened She continued close and reserved, and there
was dark, ominOus cloud ever on her brow, tha,
produced an involuntary impression against her
sh,to. .