Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1855-03-29
WsceIiaqy.
Anecdotes of the late DR.. Chapman.

Anecdotes OF the late DR.. Chapman.
The late DR.. Chapman, of Philadelphia,
mourned Of many who will laugh at his wits
no more, has left behind him memory that
will be transmitted through successive gen.
erations. His wit was equal to his skill.
|. was hard to say which did his patients
the most good, and as he always gave his
best of both at the same time, they proba-
bly, helped each other. Just as it happened
when one of the patients revolted at mon
strous dose of physic, and said:
"Why, Doctor, you don't mean such a
dose as this for gentlemen %
"Oh, no." said the Doctor, "it's for
| WORKING men -
And good laugh is often as good as a
medicine. With him the pleasantly was
as certain as the opportunity. Even IN er-
fremis it would come out OF him. He was
walking in the streets and BAKERS cart,
driven furiously,w about to run bin down.
The baker reined up suddenly, and Just in
time to spare the Doctor, who instantly took
off his hat, and bowling politely, exclaimed,
" on are the best BRED man in town.
At a great gathering in Philadelphia of
the Medical Society of the United States,
our literary and distinguished DR.. Francis
and DIR. Chapman met, as they had done a
thousand times before, having been friends
for half a century. At large dinner party
a pompous little DR.. Mann, presuming tina.
these gentlemen were strangers, said to DR..
Francis, "Let me introduce you to DR..
Chapman the head of our profession in Phil
adel pha.' 1t was too much for DR.. Chap
man, who retorted, ''Dr. Francis, let me
introduce you to DR.. Mann, the TAIL Of our
profession in Philadelphia" Little Mann
left the lions alone after that.
Very much against his will the DR.. was
made ves,ryman in his parish church, and
one of his duties was to pass the plate for
contribution at the morning service. He
presented it with great politeness and beco-
ming gravity to the gentleman at the head
of the pew nearest the cliancel, who was
not disposed to contribute. The faithful
collector, nothing daun,ed, held the plate
before him, and bowed, as if he would urge
him to think the matter over and give SOME
THING, a little something, and refused to go
on till he had seen his silver on the plate.
In this way he proceeded down the aisle,
victimiZing every man till he came to the
pew nearest to the door, where sat an aged
colored woman. To his surprise she laid
down piece Of gold. dear me" said
the Doctor, your must be a GUINEA niger
They never troubled the Doctor to 60 round
with the plate after that.
But we are telling too many of the good
things of this good physician. A volume
might be made, and a racy one it would be
by any one who would take the trouble to
gather up the tribes the Doctor let fall in
his public and private walks. One more,
and we will leave him.
DIR. Chapman was delegate to the con-
vention Of the church, which was to hold
its annual session at Pittsburgh. Party
spirit ran high, and tha members both cler
ical and lay, being men Of like passions with
other men, became more excited in word
and tone than was becoming so reverend
and grave a body. When things had gone
on at this rate for two days, and were moth
ing bettered, but rather grew worse, one of
the most venerable members arose and said,
that he Thought; these scenes were highly
indecorous, especially as they were enacted
in tho presence of God, whose servants we
all profess to be. DR.. Chapman for the
first time now stood up, and with peculiar
twisting Of his words and the profound at
tention of the whole convention. remarked
i" MIR. President, think so too. 1t is too
bad. The members ought not to 90 on so.
But DO not feel the force of the last re-
mark. The gentleman says we ought no,
10 conduct in this>manner in the presence OF
God ' now. sir, to my certain knowledge,
He has not been in this place since We came
together"
The rebuke was so just, so pertinent. tina,
the priest and people felt it alike, and tho
business of the convention was conducted
with dccorum to its close.