Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-29

The modification inflicted upon this trait
of his character seems, in connection with
the conduct of Madame Trumpy, and the gen
orally maddening circumstances Of the whole
case, to have profoundly depressed the I'M
happy hero of this most unhappy drama.
He turned for relief to his bride elect but,
only to meet with new vexations. The guard
ian of Flora Trumpy vehemently opposed the
marriage of his ward, and the family of DR..
Demme himself do not seem to have looked
with favor upon his alliance with the daugh-
ter of a worse than dissipated father, and a
mother who, if not maniac, must clearly be
set down as something worse than maniac
Driven quite to despair by this fresh com
plication in their destiny, the lovers sudden
ly left Berne, and passing by Freyburg to
Bulle and Vevey, took a small boat at Ouchy,
near Lausanne, and, rowing out on the lake
of Geneva, buried themselves and their sor-
rows forever beneath It's placid waters.
The following letter mark the stations oi
this most tragical pilgrimage;
"FREYBURG, Nov Is, 1864
posted four days later at lausanne
DEAR PARENTS AND Brothers: I know
Seli that the news of my DEATH which this
letter bears to you, will cause you fearful
pain. But know, too, that the unalterable
love you bear to me will secure for me the
pardon which I now beg of you. The step
which this letter tells you have taken has
not been taken lightly, but upon calm reaec-
ton and after careful examination of all the
circumstances.
"My existence is shattered by. the terrible
events Of the past year
" I did not wish to turn my back on the
battle. | resolved to see my conscious limo
cence VIGOROUSLY established, despite the
terrible complications which have come to
pass, and to this end persevered as long as
my honor and that of my family were threat
ened. But l could never recover from the
wound unjustly inflicted upon my medical
honor by the tribunal
"My enemies were not content with all
the misery which has this year overwhem-
ed me.
"They have prosecuted me down to the
last moment, and have even sought to tear
from me her who has Loyalty born up with me
through all the storm, and whom have vain
ly implored to leave me now. I declare
that codlQ never have been happy after
what | have suffered; thab the honor of our
name is safe that, so far as | have been free
to do so, have given my life, not to dissipa.
ton, but to conscientious labor. These con,
siderarions, dear parents, should be to you
q consolation.
"My parting from yon has been terribly
agonizing to me. But it must be Oh re-
ceiye my gratitude for the love you have
shown me, the sacrifices you have made fol-
me, and forgive me the sorrow have caused
you. Do not lament US for We have been
faithful in our love till death.
"My dear parents, leave to you all that
nHcGpga and bpp of Won nDju To c,;rra n co.,,,o,y,
of me to each Of my true friends. Give tc
my brothers something which may be usefu
to each Of chem. beg you to give nv col
lection Of pathological anatomy to the city ol
Wurzburg, the city in which my dear father
passed the most important years of his life
and which has always been dear to me ; send
with it few serious and kindly words; SEND
my manuscript to }, and beg him to find
some one who can continue and complete. it.
"ln case my father should have worthy
successor in his clinical chair CDR. Demme
Senior, is one Of the leading professors al
Berne in the University, I bequeath mygaI.
vano-elastic apparatus to the university: 9th
erWise, let my family keep it.
To my mother, with my hearts farewell.
leave the clock which has measured out the
Weariest hours of ny life. You Yill under
stand that at this solemn moment cannot re-
call all that [ would wish done; I trust in the
thoughtfulness Of my parents to fulfill all that
[ forget to mention.
If, dear parents and brothers, you will
protect my memory if in the steps take
you will see, not an act of cowardice, but the
determined action Of an incurably wounded
man, shall be satisfied. l have patiently
borne all that it is most fearful to bear.
have never trembled. Ny death, now that
my Innocence has been established, can give
rise to no sinister interpretations. Forgive
me, then Would might have taken the
pardon Of all of you with me. This might
not be Dear parents, farewell Farewell,
beloved brothers Faithful friends, farewell |
May you find strength TO bear this news, and
not be crushed by it. Preserve yourselves,
dear parents, for my brothers, who so much
need you, and remember with love your
Hermann.
Nov. IA, 1854, Noon.-I have Just reach
ed Bulle, and add few inmost aQieasz to my
letter. We have judged it best to win this
one day more for happiness ere we part
The spot which shall mark our last step you
will know Of only by the postmark. 1 have
our letter ready. Farewell! From the bot
tom of my heart, farewell ForgiVe-forgive
the unhappy a
- L0uSlnu5-He have IedcQeQ LaUsduAeg /
and are on our way TO Geneva, our last sta |
ton. We shall leave the world in this way: |
We will take a walk, and getting into boat, |
will row out upon the lake and cast ourselves !
in. Perhaps we may do this at a particular !
point known to US, where the lake is particu-
iarly deep, that our bodies may not De found.
This seems to US the best course. Farewell,
Ill whom love These shall be my last
words. Keep loving memory Of US and
forgive us :"
On her part the faithful Flora left the fol.
owing letter:
To Hay very dear FatIsa: i1a-ag and Jfot6er-i1s
lar:
81 thank you, thank you with ny whole
oul for all your goodness to me for all the |
owe you have shown to ne, a poor, forgaken |
hid. Probably I can never repay you for |
have resolved to leave this world with Her |
mann. The happiness l have known with |
i'm is worth a whole life, and leaves me
othing to repent of. Forgive the suffering
ny poor parents drew down upon you for
i've them, for the love of me who would so
lady have compensated you for every bitter
our with double love, and double reTer-
nee; now | never can Farewell my dear
God parents
God, the almighty and merciful, in whom
re all believe, will never forget you, and will
eward you for all.
"Your grateful daughter,
FLoRA.n
These letters first published in the Swiss