The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-06-30

seeing you last, I have enjoyed rich
intellectual treat"
a" Indeed - The countenance of Miss
Gray frightened
Yes" he resumed. In the
British and Coloniil Medical Review
for July, is an article that has deeply
interested me. 1t is philosophical
inquiry into the cause why man who
has his arms or les cut off feels his
fingers and toes in the exact places
where they had previously been. You
are no doubt aware of this curious fact,
Miss Gray :"
Miss Gray looked blank, and gave a
confused aud reluctant negative.
Pardon me for having asked the
Fqueston. [ know it is rude to ak such
questions in conversation, but this fact
is so commonly known that | did not
dream that any one could be ignorant
thereof" "
The young lady bowed and looked
Stlll gTdVcT ludll DeloIc.
|, You are aware, of course" resumed
the doctor, that the cause of this
phenomenon is variously explained
some favoring one theory and some
another. l have even heard the exist
ence of spiritual body argued from thi.
well known fast advocates Of this
tidea contending that all sensation was in
the spiritual body, which remained per-
fectly organized and susceptible of feel
ling even after its material covering was
removed that, in fact, it was the spir-
itual hand or foot that felt after the
natural hand or foot was removed
Doubtless there is truth somewhere in
this region of assumed, not fairly argued
conclusions. That our natural bodies
are merely the clothing Of our machines
by which our spiritual and really sub
stantial bodies act in the material world,
[ think may be true What is your
opinion, Miss Gray? You have doubt
less, as your mind is highly philosophical,
thought good deal on this deeply iu-
teresring subject"
The young lady was cornered again,
and had to own that her reading and
habits of thinking had never led her to
look at this subject.
Gradually he went deeper, and in
troduced subjects appertaining to human
| physiology, yet managed to keep them
sufficiently free from technicalties to
enable almost any person to UNDER
stand, and even to join in the conver-
sation with interest, if even smat-
tering of anatomy had been acquir-
ed But Miss Gray had not even a
smattering on the subject, and she was
compelled to expose her ignorance at
every turn.
With the most consummate tact and
GOODNESS did the young physician con-
tinue to worry his victim for full an
hour, and did it with so much apparent
good humor and inconsistencies, that
she dared not show any symptoms of
being offended She understood, too,
his meaning fully, and felt humbled.
More especially was this the case after
wards, when sober reflection came, and
she saw how easy it was for any one to
direct his or her mind to particular
course of reading and study, and thence
be enabled to put to blush another who
had devoted an equal time to study, but
in a different department of knowledge.
As for the auditors who were present
during the conversation, they were
delighted. Miss Gray's habit of victim
izng every young man who veutured to
converse with her was well known, and
had been carried so far that almost
every one felt outraged. The incident
soon became known through the village,
and DR.. Philips was congratulated on all
hands. He had fought the conceited
fair one with her own weapon, and COM
pletely discom6tted her.
For a time, Miss Phoebe Gray was
terribly mortified. But she had some
good sense left, and this kept her from
running away from Floraville.
Many weeks did not elapse before
the doctor and Miss Gray again met,
aud as on former occasions, in company.
So complete had been the discontinue