The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-03
EpIsODF IN A eURGE MS LEE

| had been about year a lecturer
on anatomy In a large town 10 the
North; | shall not name it, as the
events | am about TO relate really
happened. and some might recognize
them At the date Of their occur
renee | was suffering from one OF
those Heaven sent blows under which
the strongest and most phio3ophic
succumb for a time-many forever
As | was neither strong nor philO-
sophie, the greatest affiietion man can
suffer passed over me, and left me
walking, eating, sleeping, but in the
manner of those animals to which we
anatomists attribute little or no self
conscious ess in their actions, and no
pleasure in the fulfillment Of them
We may be wIO1g; the hungry-look
ing arms OF the anemOne may obey u
mare than mere unconscious stimu-
lus when they touch aud secure their
prey; but, at all events, man, who
possesses all the nervous organic ltion
for being, doing and suffering, is in as
doubtful a case when in such circum
stances as those to which | a ide
/ was sitting one snowy December
night, with my cigar and CicerO's Let
tiers to Attieus, trying t pas q
time, to keep my eyes from that shad
Ow on the wall which every C. W and
then drew them from the large folio
leaves on which the great good man
has unburdened his big heart o his
friend often, too, the empty chair
beside me seemed occupied by figure
which seemed substance till l looked,
then shadow, then mere memory.
Thus was | YEARLY getting through
the night, when my servant brought
me a nOte-a small, long, black edged
envelope, addressed in a lady's hand
it was this:
DEAR sIR--Is 1t possible l., take a
cast from the face OF one VINO has la ID for
Two weeks In a colin? The bearer waits
your answer"
There was no signature. [ tore #
the blank half of the note sheet,
wrote Yes upon it, and gave it 10
my servant. The mere taxing of c asts
from the dead body is part Of the
business of an anatomist, he by such
meats preserves those outlines which
sink so SON uader the pressure Of
the atmosphere, after those chemical
changes have occurred which our It's
sues undergo when the spirit leaves
u stranded here, lying wherever it
may chance to desert US, ia beds or
on bleak waste lands, inside houses
or on door steps, until our bodies
take again their mysterious part in
the formation of an imTOrtal being
had taken many casts Of the dead 4,
but had never been asked to do so be
fore; By a small note in such delicate
writing, it was clearly from some one
oppressed with feelings much akin to
my own. She is, thought, infu-
enced by that curious perplcxity, or
that perplexed curiosity, we all feel
about our dead 1t is not, / thought,
the mere desire for 4 cast; human iu-
stincts would answer her question as
we'll as | could, but What shall we
DO with our dead2' has been a ques
ton for each nation as it appeared.
/ thought how some arc now passing
their four thOusandth year In swath-
ing and cerements, how others are
lying in catacOmbs, eazed on by
curious visitors, who seem to think
death but a mere national popularity
and passion. | thought of others,
useless Id their lives, who are after
death noble monuments, built UP for
usefulness in the minds Of men. I
thought, too, of the first time [ had
seen a funeral, it was In mid Atlantic;
the moon shining now and then pa t
masses Of black cloud, and the large
ocean steamer plungiug bows under /;
how the dead man was laid on the
sponsor, covered with flag. A cler-
gyman who happened to be on beard
as passenger read the service as We
clustered round, holding on as best
we could. l remembered how the
words, know that my Redeemer
llYeth, rang out over the rushing Of
the water, and how IN a little time we
committed the body 10 the deep. till
the sea shall give up her dead Then
L thought of dust | had Worshipped
which had returned to dust, and yearn
ed for the time when mine too should
eOm;ngle with its first elements.
| was aroused from this half sIeer
condition by another ring, and pres
emily another note in the same hand
SIR: Will you be at-Cemete ,
in one hour from nolg, and bring with
YOU what you think necessary 70,
taking cast? All expenses will b.
paid no explanations are needed"
"An hourl" / exclaimed; wLC
ever took cast in a cemetery at on,
o'clock in the morning? 1t may be
misdemeanor, for all know; it ma
be hoax, most likely. No, it j., il
all probability. what | thought a
first. Here, too, is a poor broken
hearted one, doing what l would d
were it my power Why am l to Sc
difficulties ia ner way or question tn
wisdom o. her proposal? So calliu
my servant, J took small bag 4
plaster of Paris, a tin basin, irO