Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-01-29
written expressly for the Staunton Spectator.
OUR MESS A REBEL SUBALTERN
CHAPTER V.
WONDERS OF SCIENCE.


Both armies remained at a stand like two
belligerent boys with clenched fists and eyes
flashing vengeance on each other,-but one
afraid and the other dared not So, we Of the
mess had many cozy meetings, and the gar
made in our number by the death Of MildeW
was soon unnoticed. He was occasionally men
toned as brave and accomplished soldier and
even Muckton accredited to him more nerve
than he ever believed he possessed. He had
died on couch of glory, and each of us asked
ourselves whose turn would come next?
Major Stretcher, after metaphysical dis
cussion one day, volunteered the following
strange story in support OF his argument:
s'The story | am about relating, said the
Major, putting down his meerschum, is fact
[ can vouch for its correctness, for | was an eye
witness, and presume there is no one here
that will impeach my veracity.
wagon guard in my department. was wounded
in the head at the battle Of Cedar Run. The
wound was mere fracture, made by a spent
ball-yet, it so affected his brain, that he hao
succession of fits.
''We had him removed to the hospital land af
terwards to Richmond but his spells of mad
ness were still frequent, though in his lucid pc
riods he was as gentle as lamb. [ advised
him to consult a skillful Phrenologist then prac
tising his science in that city. He did so, ano
the learned professor told him that he coulo
cure him, provided he would submit to his
mode of treatment. The man agreed to any
thing rather than suffer as ne did.
Il had the utmost reliance in the skill ano
learning of the professor, whose room was or
namented with a great variety of human skulls
and plaster of Paris busts. Some of the human
specimens were complete, being entire skeleton
heads An examination of the wound took
place, and the professor was of opinion thai
trappaning would not dot was dangerous
1t will take some days to cure you, sale
he, and, as | must have the wound continual
ly under my observation, you had better leave
your head with me until | can return it to yor
perfectly restored.
THE soldier demurred, but, as he had prom
ised to submit, remarklng, with good deal o.
plausibility hat am to do for head ir
the meanwhile?
ooh, will supply you with one, said the
Professor; and he went to the shelf and took
down one of the skulls
"'This' continued he, will answer your pur
pose admirably, it is the head of poet who
died in the poor house-a young man Of bril-
liant intellect, sir-I assure you.
''To my surprise, gentlemen, and, no doubt, tc
yours also, the soldier submitted to the opera
ton his own head was neatly taken off, ano
the head of the defunct poet screwed on in its
place
"For.. days the soldier wandered about the city
writing melancholy poetry On the walls and fen
ces; ;-frequenting graveyards, and solitary
places. He also entered book stores-rum bleo
among the dusty volumes and poured over po
etical works Some of his contributions ap
peared in the literary periodicals and were much
admired. But his ghastly appearance, instead
of attracting the crowd as genious should
struck people with alright and no one would &C