The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-07-15
Selttt Mlistellanp,
THE suReEoN,s REVENGE.

The following deeply interesting sto-
ry was related by DIR, Gibson, in one
of his lectures before the medical men
of the University of Pennsylvania
The hero of the story is Vesale,. one of
the most eminent of italian surgeons:
Andrew Vesale frst saw Hight in the
city of Brussels. His father was an
apothecary attached to the service of
the Princes Margaret, aunt of the EN-
peror Charles V. and governess of the
low countries.
Up to the period when Yesale irstren
dered himself conspicuous, the anatom-
of the human body was so imperfectly
understood, as scarcely to merit that
the term of science should be applied
to the dim and confused ideas relating
to it. Vesale was the first TO break
through the trammels with which igno
rance and bigotry Lad crippled the march
of science. surmouuting with admirable
conrsge and coustaucy the disg ,st, the
terror, aud the peril, inseparable from
the description of labor to which he had
devoted himself. Hewast be seen whole
days and nights in the cemeteries, sur
rounded by the fostering remains of NOR
tality, or lowering about the g;bbets
and disputing with the vulture for its
prey, in order to compose perfect skel
etou from the remains of executed Grim
inals, left there to be devoured by the
carrion bird.
1t was during sojourn at Basle, af
ter his return from Italy, that Vasale
first beheld, at the house of Hans Hol-
bein, the painter, Isabella Van Steen-
wark, the daughter of q rich merchant
of Harsem, who was destined to exer-
else some influence over his future life.
He was scarcely twenty-eight years of
age, and already he had attained the
summit of well directed ambition.
The family of Van Steenwark was q
wealthy and honorable one, far superior
to that of W Vesale in birth and fortune !;
but the distinguished position the latter
had acquired for himself, entitled him
to aspire to an alliance even more exalt-
ed. The son of the Princess Marga :
ret's apothecary would have been reject
ed by the rich Halem burgher, but as
the emperor's first physician was accept
ed by him as the most eligible sOuin
law. The marriage solemnized, Vesale
accompanied by his young bride, set of
for Seville, where Charles then held hi
courtship.
Though she loved her husband, there
was so much awe mingled with her offec
tion, as to throw an appearance of re
straint over her demeanor toward him
even in the privacy of domestic life
The very nature of his pro ession and oc
cupation was calculated to increase tha
awe, and even to create some degree o
repugn1nce in a shrinking mind, whicl
nothing but a strong affection coult
over come. Isabella's nature requiret
skillful drawing out and tender foster
ing. Vesale, unfortunately, mistool
this timidity for coldness, and resente'
it accordingly; this led to estraugemen
on her part, which he attributed to dis
like, and jealous distrust at last too
possession of his soul.
Vesale's house became the resort Q
all that was noble aud gallant in Sevil le
and he for q time believed his own sci
entifc conversation to be the attraction
At first tie young wife showed her usua
calm Indifference to the admiration tha
followed wherever she was seen; but a
last, something in her manner and cour
tenance, whenever one particular perso
appeared or his name vas mentioned