The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-19
DOCTOR CLARKE.
SKETC FROM LIFE.
BY MRS. s. C. HALL,

"DoCToR CLARKEl'-the name was engrav-
ed on neat, small card, and accompanied by
letter of introduction from friend in Boston
it was delivered by sharp-looking, dusty boy,
to gentleman in his counting house, where, in
the twilight of city atmosphere, he sat with
considerable composure at desk, which to my
eyes seems always heaped with bewildered
mass of letters, deeds, parcels, samples i and,
if truth must be told, q scrap of poetry, or the
proofsheet of a perfected poem, might coca
sionally be seen, half crumpled up, as if sulky
or ashamed of its company rose amid BRAN
bles-leading to the belief that not only was
the lord of the counting-house good man OF
business, but that he also cultivated an &C
4uaintance or friendship with the Muse, who
aid not desert him, even amid the turmoil OF
London life.
To the man of business belonged the letters,
.}eeds, parcels, and samples. The man of genius
brought poetry and sundry scraps of painting
within those misty walls and it was marvel
s5ous in what excellent keeping the two extremes
seemed to be with our good friend. If you
looked at him when the card and letter were
presented by his antipodes of a West-end page,
3ou would have been at once struck by the ESQ
20 say) contradictory harmonies of his features
the full brow telling of-but l must come at
once to abr. Clarke" and the letter.
ooh, oh /" exclaimed our friend (mental-
lyl-" another America" he is a great ad-
roirer of America and the Americans-but
love person or people ever so dearly, when
sn Englshman is at business, he does not like
to be disturbed; and without rising he said,
otter pause, "Show the gentleman in, looked
Immediately down upon the letter he had re-
ceived, and consequently did not see the "grin "
which distended the mouth of the dusty boy.
In another moment, hearing a footstep, he
booked up-up high, because in general his
American visiters are very tall-and he ex-
pected to see the usual long, lean, brownish-
gray man, crowned by the everlasting grim
"wide-awake" he looked gerry Highland saw
nothing except the "bit" of "Poussin," or
whatever he believes it to be, which hangs upon
the wall so he brought his eyes down, down,
l0wer-yes, and lo,oer and then he saw the
delicately-pencilled brim of Paris bonnet
and then, fair, smooth, intellectual brow; and
then, such lovely blue eyes; and then and there
stood Doctor Clarkel" Our friends annoy
ance at being disturbed had commenced its
departure as he caught sight of the Paris bon
net but the blue eyes caused him at once to
rejoice, and, rising from his chair, he received
Doctor Clarke with true cordiality, and ex-
tended the feeling to her brother, whom she at
once presented.
"Doctor Clarke" is known by repute already
~ many persons in England, as the first of
several American ladies, who, having studied,
earnestly and diligently, the medical profess
Son-chiefy, if not las it ought to bel entirely,
with view of understanding and ministering
TO the cure of those diseases which "belong,"
so to say, to women and children, have become
entitled to the distinction of M. D., and OBJ
tanned Degrees accordingly. have never felt
inclined to quarrel with nature, because / was
born of the 6weaker sex" nor with the laws of
ny country, because they persist in keeping