The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-06-30
Michelet's idea of the husband as he

= -
Miehelet's idea of the husband as he
should be, is this:
Nothing has been of more service TO
me than the friendship of those to whom
everything is told mean physicians.
| have been intimately acquainted with
several of the most illustrious of this cen
tury. have been, for ten years, more
than the friend, | may say the brother, Of
an eminent physiologist, who carried with
him into the natural sciences al exquisite
sense of moral things.
learned much from him on many sub
jects, but especially Of love
One thing struck me in this very deli
cate and gifted man, the systematic per
lection of his domestic life. He had a
wife, eomely but graceful, ignorant but
charming, "a native of Savoy. He had
found means to engage her in his ideas,
his researches and his discoveries.
He worked with no display Of iastru-
mcnts, no laboratory, near her and BY his
fireside-inventing such a reduced and
convenient apparatus as to carry on in q
common room experiments, often compli-
Gated, which, on : large scale, would nave
taken him away from home and from his
wife, and thus broken I'D this union and
harmony of minds.
A great trial come upon him. His
wife, in consequence OF a family malady.
became insane, and continued 50 Tor !
year or two. He kept her with him, and
continued his labors in the midst Of this
narrowing distraction.
Her madness was mild enough. but She
talked continually. She dreamed wide
awake She was troubled with vain fears.
She interlarleJ all lcouverSation with queer
speeches, and hardly permitted YOU to fol
low the thread Of 81 idea. Her husbands
patience never failed him. Que day l
expressed my admiration Of his conduct
He said 70 ne: In Al asylum, where
they would treat her harshIy. where they
would not put up with her little Elins
she would become entirely mad, and would
never recover. But well treated. not be-
ing startled or frightened, seeing only q
3 friendly face, hearing only connected
and sensible words. she viii be cured at
last without any other remedy" And 80,
il fact, il did really happen.
! DO not believe that a more remarka-
bic example Of affection can anywhere Be
found Young men, in their first trans
ports f0r young and pretty mistress, who
has nothing bnt roses for them, think
themselves Yery far advanced in love
. They would give their life for her"
dare Say. Life itSalf Is often easy 70 give.
and 10 give Is but the affair Of IN instant;
but the plrseTering gentleEess u vel.
tried patience, which enduT1s fo- years
the pains of continued interruption, the
tranquil endurance which c1aSeleSslr rec
titles, re1ssuTe, strengthens : poor wander
,pg and diseased mind, possessed b evil
dreams. Is, perhaps. : P7oot ot the great
ar:, of tie hishes. love.
Wha; surprised ne more than Il Eas
the obedience that La obtained from har
= 10 matters size could ID, understand
j result of the complete harmony and
perfect moral development In which she
had lived. With body very much in
paired, : mind utterly bsv;.lsre3, some
thing slill remained IN her. surviving al
the rast-eomPaaioUzhiP and the Hecaszi-
" OF uleasing: in = wo-l. Love
fe.t assured bv this tzct, and b others
analogous 70 i, that between the prasc.it-
a world ot PhySsolo-is-S, and the world,
uC-e o. les tree, Eaere.a U1-z.l=cs abide,
: mixed sphere, which ! may czl HAT
q voluntary t4t4lity-tL2. : % say. @:
habits INDUCED, 2ni tr=e 81 i-ss, which
through l3Te, beo3na a lzSs : h-Ppy -e-
caSsiiy 2at second nature.
/: ! he gra-. Ec-E !. lore . create
tbs.